Deciding to ignore her comment, he said, “What seems to be the issue with the car?”

She gave Domino a final pat and gently pushed him down. “The fuel pump bit the dust.” She held up greasy hands. “There’s nothing for it but to get a new pump. That means my car will be at the repair shop for a few days.”

Wyatt dragged his gaze from her full lips to the exposed engine. He’d never met a woman with so many talents. He wasn’t really surprised to learn that they included shade-tree mechanics. She could make a guy feel inadequate without half trying. “Any way to jerry-rig it so you can make it into town?”

She shook her head. “Nope. Replacing the pump is my only option. I was about to call for a tow truck.”

Wyatt’s boss, Slade Wilder, was Erin’s uncle, so Wyatt knew she didn’t make much money as a junior deputy. Towing services didn’t come cheap, and the expense would put a dent in her budget. “No coverage for roadside services, I take it.”

“I canceled it last month. Doesn’t that figure? I paid the premiums for fifteen years and never needed to use it. Then, right after I drop the coverage, bang. Call it bad karma, I guess.”

Wyatt preferred to think of it as plain old bad luck, at least for him. She needed help, and he was elected. His pickup was capable of towing her car into town, and he couldn’t in good conscience allow her to call for assistance she couldn’t afford when he was already on-site.

“I can tow it in for you.”

She shook her head. “I appreciate the offer, but I don’t want to bother you.”

She bothered him more than she could possibly know. “I carry everything I ever need in my toolbox, including a heavy tow chain. Unfortunately, I don’t have a tow bar, but that only means you’ll have to steer the vehicle and tap the brake when necessary so you don’t rear-end me. Think you can do that?”

She folded her arms at her waist. And a very slender waist it was. When she wore a uniform, which was most of the time, her attractive figure was buried under loose-fitting clothing, and her waistline was bulked up by a belt loaded with cop paraphernalia. Today, dressed in feminine attire suitable for a backyard wedding and reception, she looked good enough to make a man’s mouth go dry. And that was his whole problem with her. He couldn’t be around her without wanting to taste that kissable mouth of hers—and other parts of her as well.

“I can do that, yes. But, like I just said, I don’t want to be a bother.” She rested a slender hand on Domino’s head, her fingertips absently stroking his silken fur.

“No bother. I’m making a grocery run for the bunkhouse, so I’m going into town anyway. I’ll drop your car off at the Timing Light and then give you a lift home.”