Landon (In Safe Hands Book 1) by S.M. Shade Read Free Book Online Page A

sister. “All right then, I’m going to shower and go to bed.”
    “Night.”
    “Night,
brat.”
    I
spend Sunday studying and catching up on housework. For once, I go to bed
early, but still sleep until after nine. I have a class from one to three, so I
plan to go to the mall to shop for Landon’s stuff right after school.
    Ethan
is asleep on the couch when I leave. He may as well enjoy it while he can since
he goes back to school next week.
    Landon’s
only request was that the bedding not look like it belongs in an old folk’s
home. When I pull into the mall parking lot, I’m a little excited to go
shopping with a no limit credit card, even if the stuff isn’t for me. All four
guest rooms really are in serious need of a makeover. I decide to do two in
soft, neutral colors, and two in a darker, more masculine hue.
    My
cart is piled high with bedding, curtains, and a few items he still needs for
the kitchen. I can barely fit it all in my trunk. Sweat rolls down my temple as
I climb into my car. It must be over ninety degrees and the sun feels like it’s
close enough to singe the hair from my skin. My only thought is the iced tea I
plan to grab on the way to Landon’s when I turn the key in the ignition.
    Nothing.
Instead of the engine turning over, all I hear is a click. Oh no. Not again. I
can’t afford another repair bill. My palm smoothes across the dash as I mumble,
“C’mon now. Start.”
    Click.
Click. Click.
    I
hate my life. No matter what I do, I can’t get ahead. I must’ve pissed off some
unseen force since it just keeps pushing my head underwater. My forehead drops to
the steering wheel while I try to decide what to do.
    I
really can’t afford to tow the car back to the shop. Maybe I just need a jump?
A peek at the time shows me I can’t call Frannie. She’s at work. Shit. Landon
it is, then. I was going after his stuff anyway. I’m sure he won’t mind coming
to jump my car. I’m only a few miles from his house.
    He
answers on the first ring, catching me off guard. Am I ever going to be on
equal footing with this man? “Landon, I’m really sorry to ask you, but I’m
stranded at the mall. My stupid car won’t start. I have all your bedding and
items in the trunk, so I really don’t want to leave the car here. Can you come
and try to give it a jump?”
    A
silent pause unwinds until I think he may have hung up. “Are you there?”
    He
releases a long suffering sigh, making me regret that I even called him. “What
lot are you in?”
    “Lot
C, row 3.”
    “I’ll
take care of it,” he says. “Let me call you right back.”
    Um,
okay. Does that mean he’s coming or what? The phone goes dead in my ear before
I can ask. Five minutes later, he calls back.
    “Dare
is on his way to check out your car. He’s about forty-five minutes away.”
    Dare?
His friend that kept flirting with me? Why send him? “Are you not at home?”
    “I’m
busy,” he snaps.
    Anger
heats my cheeks. “Forget it. I can take a cab to your house, then figure out
what to do when I get home. You don’t have to bother your friend. I shouldn’t
have called you.” I’m not sure why I did. I know better than to count on anyone
else.
    “Dare
will get your car going or bring you here. So don’t be stubborn.”
    “Don’t
be an asshole.”
    His
deep chuckle rumbles in my ear. “It’s hot out. Go wait inside. I gave Dare your
cell number. He’ll text you when he’s there.”
    “Fine,”
I grumble. “Thanks.”
    Maybe
I interrupted him with his flavor of the week and that’s why he’s so testy. Or
maybe he’s sick of having an employee that can’t keep a car running. That
really isn’t fair, though. I was getting to work on time and I’ve never asked
him for anything before today. I’m sitting on a bench in the shade, sipping an
iced tea when I get a text from Dare that he’s in the parking lot.
    A
huge black SUV is pulled nose to nose with my little car, the hood already up.
A smile breaks across Dare’s