Undone (A Country Roads Novel) by Shannon Richard Read Free Book Online

bearings.
    “You got a job? That’s great news,” Oliver said, giving Paige a genuine smile. “Did Brendan tell you about your car yet?”
    “We didn’t get that far,” Brendan said.
    “My car?” Paige said, coming back to herself.
    “Yeah, we ordered the part. It’ll be in tomorrow morning and you should have your Jeep back by closing.”
    “How much?” she asked, biting her lip.
    “We’re looking at about five hundred for everything.”
    Brendan watched as Paige’s whole face fell.
    Oliver opened his mouth to say something but Brendan cut him off. “We can set up a payment plan,” he said, taking a step toward her.
    Oliver glanced at Brendan, a dumbfounded look on his face.
    “When do you start your job?” Brendan asked.
    “Tomorrow,” she said, looking back and forth between the men. “I can’t ask you to do that.”
    “It isn’t a problem,” Brendan said, shaking his head. “We’ll discuss terms when you pick up your car tomorrow.”
    “Brendan, I—”
    “It’s done, Paige. Don’t worry about it.”
    “Thank you,” she said softly.
    “No problem.”
    “I have to go,” she said, backing up toward the door. “My dad needs his car back. I’ll, uh, hear from you tomorrow?” she asked, looking at Brendan.
    “Tomorrow.” He nodded.
    “What was that?” Oliver asked as the door shut behind Paige. “Payment plan?”
    “She’s going to pay us back.”
    “Oh, I have no doubt about that. But if this is one of your new ideas for the garage I’m going to have to veto it immediately,” Oliver said, frowning.
    “We aren’t going to offer it to everyone,” Brendan said, shaking his head. “Just her.”
    “Just her ,” Oliver repeated, his frown slowly turning into a smile. “You know I wasn’t that engrossed in that invoice when I walked into the office. I saw you two spring apart like the other was on fire.”
    Brendan had no doubt about that.
    *  *  *
    “You almost kissed him?”
    “I didn’t almost kiss him,” Paige said as she paced the floor in her bedroom. “ He almost kissed me .”
    “Are you kidding me? You’re going to try to discuss semantics with me?” Even though Abby was almost one thousand miles away, Paige could see her as if she was standing in the same room, waving her arm in the air in exasperation.
    “It’s not semantics . It’s what happened.”
    “Did you attempt to move away?”
    “Well no, but—”
    “No. No buts. You would’ve let him kiss you. You wanted him to kiss you.”
    “You’re like a dog with a bone.”
    “And you’re completely delusional. Just admit it. You wanted your hot mechanic to kiss you.”
    “Brendan. His name is Brendan. And as I’ve told you a dozen times, he is not mine.”
    “But he will be. Just give it time.”

Chapter Three
    A Harlot at the Funeral Home
    O n Wednesday, Tara dragged Paige into the kitchen for a cup of coffee before she gave Paige the full tour of the Adams and Family funeral home.
    The kitchen had black-and-white tile on the floors and counter. The cabinets were old fashioned but the white paint on them was fresh. An industrial refrigerator stood in one corner and an old stove in the other.
    “We make punch and coffee for the funerals, but all of the food is catered,” Tara said, handing Paige a green coffee cup. “So mainly staff uses the kitchen,” she said as she poured both cups full of the steaming liquid. “Coffee, milk, and sugar are communal,” she said, opening the fridge and pulling out a gallon of milk.
    As they fixed their coffee, a small boney woman with streaky gray hair came into the kitchen. She put a bag in the refrigerator and turned around.
    “Hi, Verna,” Tara said brightly. “This is Paige Morrison. She’s going to be making those new tributes.”
    Verna looked at them, a scowl on her face. She looked Paige up and down, her eyes focusing on Paige’s feet. Paige was wearing her bright red peep-toed heels, which she’d paired with a conservative stretchy