Free Tangled Lies by Connie Mann Page A

walk, Sasha.”
    “Did I say it was a problem?”
    Jesse looked at the set of her jaw and figured something was the problem. “Mama doing OK today?”
    “I guess. Maybe. I don’t know, OK?”
    “Okaay.”
    “She hasn’t been out of bed today. Pop says it’s because of all the excitement of the party, but I don’t know. I haven’t been around enough to know what’s normal ”—she made air quotes—“and what’s not.”
    “I’m not sure there is a normal in this situation, but I get what you’re saying. And it’s really OK. You can let me out here.”
    She waved that away. “Don’t be stupid, Money-boy. I’m going that way anyway.”
    Her irritation fueled his own, so he said nothing until they pulled into the parking lot of Safe Harbor’s only car lot and auto repair.
    “Thanks for the ride, Sash. I really appreciate it.” He gave her a tight smile and Bella another scratch, grabbed the compressor and headed into Safe Harbor Auto.
    A little bell jangled above the door. While vehicles old and new lined the lot outside, the inside was clearly divided between the tire and auto parts sections, with the garage and its work bays in the back. Captain Barry, who had inherited the business from his father but spent his weekends as a charter-boat fishing captain, came out from the small office. When he saw Jesse, the welcome-the-customer smile slid off his face.
    “We’re not open yet.”
    Jesse hitched a thumb over his shoulder. “Sign on the door says you opened two hours ago.”
    “Well, I don’t have—”
    “Look, you don’t have to like me or want me in your town, but my money’s green. I need four tires for my truck.” He rattled off the make and model he wanted and waited.
    Barry cleared his throat and rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, not meeting Jesse’s eyes. Finally he said, “Four of them there model don’t come cheap. You have cash? I don’t take no plastic.”
    Jesse nodded. “I have cash.”
    Barry peered out the door. “Where’s your truck? The tires come with alignment and balance.”
    “I’ll put them on myself and bring the truck in for the alignment and balance.”
    Barry scratched his bald head. “Wouldn’t it be easier just to—”
    “It would, if someone hadn’t slashed all four tires during the night.” He hadn’t planned to say anything, but now that the words were out, he watched Barry’s reaction.
    “Well, dang, probably a bunch of kids.”
    Their eyes met, and Barry finally looked away. “I’ll get the paperwork started and get them tires for you.”
    When Jesse rolled the first two tires outside twenty minutes later, Sasha was still sitting in the Jeep with her head against the headrest, eyes closed. Bella saw him and stood on the seat, tail wagging. Sasha sat up and folded her arms over the steering wheel.
    “We can get all four of them in here if Bella sits on your lap. I have bungee cords to tie them down.”
    She still had that mutinous look to her, so Jesse didn’t say anything, just went back inside and came out with two more tires. He helped her secure everything in the back and motioned Bella up on his lap. He waited until they were almost at his cottage before he said, “Thanks for waiting. You didn’t have to do that, you know.”
    She slid her sunglasses down the bridge of her nose and peered at him over the top. “I know you’re not stupid, so quit acting like it.”
    “I could have—”
    “I know. And rolling them two at a time would have taken all afternoon.” She roared into his driveway.
    Bella hopped out of the Jeep, and he followed and hauled the compressor and the tires out of the back. As soon as the last tire hit the ground, Sasha put the Jeep in gear and Bella quickly hopped back in. Jesse reached over and laid a hand on Sasha’s arm.
    “Let me buy you dinner.”
    She shook off his hand. “You don’t owe me anything.”
    He grinned. “Didn’t say I did. I just want to take a pretty lady to dinner.”
    He wished