Trusting Love by Dixie Lynn Dwyer Read Free Book Online Page A

you won’t. It’s my job. My brothers and I own the cottage. We’re your landlords and you’re supposed to tell us if something is wrong. I hope to hell the window doesn’t have to be replaced or the cabinets under the sink.”
    She nibbled her bottom lip.
    “Could it get that bad?”
    “Honey, water can cause serious damage. Let’s go. It’s a good thing I’m driving you home and can take a look right now.”
    “Today?” she asked.
    “Hell yeah, because if something needs fixing and that window is rotting, this storm is only going to make matters worse.”
    He guided her out the door and she tried covering her face as the wind and rain whipped against her. “My bike.”
    “Forget it. I’ll drop it off tomorrow.”
    “I need to do errands tomorrow. It’s my day off.”
    He opened the truck door and then helped her get in. It was so high up, she needed the boost.
    He closed the door and she inhaled the scent of his cologne in the cab of the truck. Everything about the truck was big like Milton. Including the shotgun that lay behind her head and above the small glass window that looked over the bed of the truck. She swallowed hard.
    “What kind of errands do you need to run tomorrow?” he asked her, pulling from the parking lot and heading back to Repose.
    “Just grocery shopping and I was going to visit with Antonia.”
    “Why don’t you have your car back yet?” he asked her and she didn’t know what to say. Was he asking because he heard that Antonia was registering the car under her name and insurance? She didn’t want to lie and she didn’t want to tell him why.
    “It’s taking time to process the insurance and registration.”
    “I thought Nancy was helping out with that after Cesar spoke with her.”
    She was surprised that Milton knew about that. Then he must know about Antonia registering the car under her name.
    “It’s no big deal. I have it covered and should have the car in a few more days. That’s why I wanted my bike.”
    “Well, I’ll give you a ride anywhere you need, and Jesse and Jack will be available, too. That all depends on what I’m walking into at the cottage.”
    She felt bad, like maybe she made matters worse by not contacting him all because of the attraction she was trying so hard to ignore.
    If things were normal then she would be giddy right now and completely smiling that she was in Milton’s truck with him and they were talking so nicely. That wasn’t the case. She needed to remain friends only.
    “I appreciate that you are giving me a ride home, and that you’ll check out the leak and the window. I hope it isn’t bad.”
    “Me either.”
    As they entered Repose and then her neighborhood, the rain continued to pour. It was also a little chilly and she was so wet.
    As they got out and ran to the door Milton saw the stream of water coming from the side of the house around the foundation.
    “Shit, have you looked in the basement lately?”
    “No. I haven’t been down there since I moved in.”
    “Well, that doesn’t look good from here. There’s a window on the side of the house.” He stepped onto the grass to look and she followed, getting soaked and then heard him curse. She jumped and then she saw what he saw. Water was basically pouring into the window on the side of the house and foundation.
    “What do we do?” she asked as he turned abruptly and she grabbed on to his arm to not fall.
    “Get you inside before you get sick. We may need to pump out water. Let’s take a look inside.”
    They hurried to the front door and dried their feet a little before trekking across the tile floor to the basement door. A quick glance to the left and she saw not only the water leaking into the window by the kitchen and sink but also water on the floor.
    “Oh, God, the place is flooding.”
    He pulled out his cell. “Yeah, got water problems big time at Carina’s cottage. Checking out the basement now. Bring the pumps. If they aren’t strong enough we may