The Last One by Tawdra Kandle Read Free Book Online

boyfriend. She told me about him the other night. This has nothing to do with her, other than she must be a saint to put up with someone like you.”
    My fists clenched, nails digging into my palms. “Fuck you.”
    His face went dark again. “You know what? Right back at you. I don’t know why I should care. Not like I’m ever going to see you again.”
    “Not in this lifetime.”
    The door behind me opened again, and I turned back to the counter, resting my elbows on the edge and bringing my fingertips to my temples so that my hands blocked any view of the jerk on the other side of the room. Boomer slapped my credit card and receipt on the Formica and hunted up a pen.
    “Here you go. Vic’s got her around front, and she’s ready to go. Nice little car there. Looks like you’ve taken good care of her.”
    “Thank you.” I signed the receipt and pushed it across to Boomer. Keeping my gaze firmly on him, I added, “Taking care of your car is the responsible thing to do. I keep up with maintenance and I don’t drive like a maniac.”
    Boomer nodded, though the edges of his eyes crinkled in confusion. “Uhh ... yeah. Well, the keys are in it. If you have any more problems with her, y’all give me a call.” He stuck one grease-tinged hand into the front pocket of his navy blue coveralls and came out with a creased white business card. “Numbers on here, and all our work is guaranteed.”
    “Thanks.” I forced a wide smile. “I appreciate it, and you’ve been great, but I’m not planning on being back here again. Ever.”
    I picked up my copy of the paperwork and pivoted toward the door. Sam took an exaggerated step back, hands behind his back. I opened the door and then let it slam behind me as I stomped to my car. I slid into the driver’s seat and went to jam the key into the ignition before I realized they were already in there ... and what I had in my hand were the keys to the crappy little Chevette.
    “Damn, damn and double damn.” I blew out a breath and wished I could pound my forehead into the steering wheel without drawing too much attention. Instead I climbed out, and gritting my teeth, went back inside. Sam was leaning over the counter, talking to Boomer, and both men turned in surprise at the sound of the bell over the door.
    I marched over and dropped the keys onto the counter. “Sorry. I forgot to return the keys to the loaner. It’s parked outside. Thanks again for that.”
    I felt Sam’s eyes drilling into my back as I flung open the door again. I didn’t bother to acknowledge Boomer’s call of thanks behind me. I got into my car, locked the doors and pointed it toward Savannah.

I BANGED OPEN THE kitchen door and stamped through it, dropping the paper bag with my spark plugs onto the table. The sack tipped over and hit the salt shaker, spilling small white crystals all over the checked tablecloth.
    “Sam! What the hell?” Ali turned around from the stove and glared at me. “Don’t put your crap all over the table. Can’t you see it’s already set for dinner?”
    I bit back the smartass reply I wanted to make and instead picked up the bag. “Where am I supposed to put it, then? So much shit all over every surface here. I don’t have any place to put anything down before you’re griping at me to move it.”
    She stepped toward me and tugged open a large drawer at the bottom of the built-in roll top desk that flanked the long kitchen table. “Here. Put it in the drawer, and feel free to leave any of your precious junk in there. I promise I won’t touch it.”
    I grunted and tossed the bag inside, feeling just a touch of guilt for taking my lousy mood out on Ali. It wasn’t her fault I’d had a run-in with the party girl from Savannah when I’d stopped in town, but she made a handy target. Not that I was going to bother to explain it to her; she wouldn’t understand why the pretty redhead with the huge green eyes stepped on my every last nerve. Hell, I wasn’t sure I even