Free Tangled Lies by Connie Mann

She pulled back in shock and looked at his stunned expression. She figured her own probably looked the same.
    “What was that about?”
    “You make me crazy,” he muttered, walking away. “Leave it alone,” he tossed over his shoulder.
    Sasha watched him go, her mouth still tingling from his kiss.
    She heard a noise and spun to see Pop struggling under a heavy box near the marina store. She rushed over to take it from him.
    “Pop, that’s too heavy. Why didn’t you say something?”
    He looked at her over the box. “Would have, if you’d been here.”
    Chastised, she tugged the box from his grasp and said, “Where do you want it?”
    He pointed, and she spent the next two hours moving inventory, cleaning the store, and trying not to think about somebody in town slashing Jesse’s tires.
    Mostly she thought about that unexpected kiss. When she was with him, everything else faded away, and that’s what worried her. She had responsibilities here and was determined to do right by her family. Even in high school, she’d been drawn to more than his sexy smile. The way he seemed so comfortable in his own skin attracted her like fish to bait. More importantly, he’d always treated her like she was a competent, skilled person, not a constant disappointment.
    She shook her head. Now what? She’d heard all the gossip about his time in prison for drugs, and none of it jibed with the man she knew. Which was the real Jesse? Until she knew for sure, she’d have to keep her guard up—for everyone’s sake.

    Jesse hated asking for help, but he didn’t have a lot of options. He set down his wrench and scrubbed the grease from his hands. He needed new tires. Today. Ideally he’d have the truck towed to the tire place, but he didn’t see that happening. He couldn’t afford it. Plan B would be to borrow a vehicle big enough to hold his air compressor and all four tires, so he could replace them in his driveway. Then he’d drive the truck over to get the new tires balanced and aligned.
    He stepped out of the shed and looked around. There was no way he’d ask Pop if he could put tires in Mama Rosa’s pristine Buick. Pop’s ancient pickup was gone, so he couldn’t ask to borrow that. Time for plan C. He’d hoof it to the tire place and roll two tires at a time back to the cottage. It’d be a pain in the butt and take forever since the auto repair and tire place was downtown, at least another mile past his cottage.
    Sighing, he loaded the compressor and a tire iron on a hand cart, locked up the shed, and started walking.
    Fifteen minutes later, he heard a vehicle behind him and turned to see Sasha pull off the road in an old Jeep that looked like it was held together with rust and duct tape. Bella woofed a greeting from her perch in the passenger seat.
    “Hey, Bella.” Jesse walked over and scratched behind her ears, getting a doggy kiss in return.
    “You heading home to call a tow truck?”
    He kept his tone neutral. “Not in the budget. But I am heading to the tire place.”
    She muttered something about small-minded idiots. “Hop in. I’ll give you a ride.”
    “Thanks. Appreciate it.” Jesse finally looked at her, and was glad his expression was hidden behind his sunglasses. Despite his seething frustration about the tires, Sasha could stop him dead in his tracks. She’d changed since this morning. With her gorgeous hair tucked into a tidy braid, eyes hidden behind movie-star sunglasses, and athletic frame wrapped in a snug tank top and shorts, his body took one look and said, Oh yeah, while his mind screamed, Run!
    He never had been very smart. He loaded the compressor in the back and opened the passenger door.
    “Scoot over, Bella.” The dog obediently hopped into the backseat as he climbed in and slammed the door. She put the Jeep in gear and hit the gas, and he grabbed the roll bar, just in case. “You late getting somewhere?”
    “I have a lot to do this afternoon.”
    “If it’s a problem, I can