“Oh, right. Good idea.” She hated to think of her disabled car and the hassle of getting it fixed. She couldn’t imagine being without wheels for even a few days and shuddered to think that it might stretch into weeks if the mechanics couldn’t find the problem or get the part. On top of the inconvenience, there was the money to consider—extra money she didn’t have right now. Again she thought of Tiffany’s offer and she realized it was just a matter of convincing Josh. But whether he liked it or not, they would have to move; it only made sense. She set a platter of sandwiches on the table and then poured Josh a glass of milk. Holding the glass in one hand, she paused to pick up a scrap of turkey left on the cutting board, then headed back to Josh’s room.

By the time she’d handed Josh his milk, thrown Blue the morsel and returned to the kitchen, Luke was on the phone and instructing the towing company as to the location of her car. “We’ll be there in forty-five minutes,” he promised and hung up. “All set,” he said, winking at her.

Stupidly, her heart turned over.

“All-Star Towing to the rescue,” he elaborated.

“Great. Thanks.” She scrounged in a drawer and found a couple of napkins that hadn’t been used for her Independence Day picnic. Emblazoned with red and blue stars, they gave a festive, if slightly out-of-date, splash of color. “I, uh, appreciate all you’ve done for me.”

“All in a day’s work.”

“Only if you’re into the Good Samaritan business.” He smiled and she felt herself blushing for God only knew what reason. Motioning to the stack of sandwiches on the platter, she added, “Please . . . help yourself. We believe in self-service in this house.”

“Good.”

“Is there anything else you’d like—something to drink? I’ve got juice, milk and water. Or coffee.”

“Decaf?” he asked, lifting a blond eyebrow. “Isn’t that what you said you needed earlier?”

“Yeah, yeah, but I lied.” She measured grounds into a basket, then poured water into the back of the coffee maker. With a flick of a switch, the coffee was perking. “I think I need to be turbocharged right now.”

“Aren’t you always?”

The question caught her off guard. “How would you know?”

“Seen you around,” he said.

“Where?” She was surprised he’d noticed. She knew she didn’t exactly meld into the wallpaper, but she didn’t think Luke Gates was the type of man who paid attention to most women. He seemed too aloof; too distant.

She took a seat at the table as the smell of French roast filled the air.

“I’ve seen you over at the apartment house with your sister and a couple of times in town. That convertible of yours is hard to miss.”