Page 31 of For Your Consideration

“Your car is old, you can’t plug it in at the office. I’m going to start it and brush off the snow.”

Surprise lit up her face, like it was shocking that someone would do something for her. I didn’t want to be pissed off, which I was sure whatever she was going to say would make me, so I spoke again. “Please.”

A surprised puff of laughter came out of her before she shook her head and grabbed her purse. “Why did that word sound foreign coming out of your mouth?” she asked as she dug around.

“Because it was.”

She found the keys but as she reached out to pass them to me, she pulled back. “You don’t have to do this, Asher. It’s not cold enough that it needs to be started.”

I raised an eyebrow, my hand still out even though she was one hundred percent right. It wasn’t cold enough to start. She sighed, rolled her eyes, and then gave them to me.

I nodded as I turned away and then headed outside. Her car was thankfully out of her line of sight.

“Well?” I asked, coming up next to the mechanic and his crew who were pulling supplies off their truck and looking at her car.

“Tread is terrible. The tires wouldn’t have lasted another winter. Doesn’t look like she switches them,” one of the men said.

“Replace them, then take a look at the battery and let me know on that too,” I said as I passed them her keys.

“You got it. As requested we’ll be done in thirty minutes max.”

I nodded, waiting a few minutes before I headed back inside. The mechanic was the best that Jaxson could find. He was more than happy to accept the money I’d offered for him to come here and switch out Sutton’s tires for new winter ones. I’d change them to summer tires in a few months but the risk of snow and freezing wasn’t gone yet so I couldn’t do that now.

Money made a lot of things easier.

The men were moving quickly. The car was up on a jack, tires already coming off. I didn’t think I’d be able to replace the battery today but at least I could leave knowing she had safer tires. It would have to do for today.

I returned inside, making my way to Sutton’s space at the back. She looked up from her computer as I moved to the side of her desk and swiveled her chair to face me, crossing one leg over the other.

“Aren’t you worried about leaving my keys in my car? They say you aren’t supposed to leave your car unattended while heating it up. What if it gets stolen?”

I sent her a look. “Would probably be doing you a favor if it did.”

She scoffed. “It’s a good car, Grizzly. It may be old but it’s safe and works just fine.”

“Grizzly?”

“Yeah, like a grizzly bear. They’re huge, intimidating, and you grumble kind of like a bear. I thought you’d like it more than Teddy for a nickname.” I scowled at that as she sent me a cheeky smile. “Teddy bear, because I actually think you’re softer than people know.”

“I am not.”

“Sure, Grizzly.” She reached up and patted me on the shoulder.

“Ash is a nickname.”

“Yeah, but I wanted one that was just for me.”

How the hell am I supposed to object to that?

She would probably let this go eventually.

“How was the rest of your weekend?” I asked to distract her. It worked.

She told me about how she went for a walk with Sophie, how they had lunch at a café and then made dinner with Iris. She told me how after she finished getting Sophie to bed she watched a few episodes of Schitt’s Creek. When she asked if I had seen it and I shook my head she looked shocked. She said it was her third time watching it and she found something new to laugh at every time. She didn’t think she’d ever tire of it.

I wouldn’t tire of sitting here listening to her tell me mundane things all day long. And when she asked me to give the show a try, I knew I would find a way to get her to watch it with me.

My phone beeped. Sutton thought it was a timer I’d set as a reminder to go turn her car off but it was just the mechanic letting me know the work was done. I made my way back outside, gave the man the cash tip I’d promised, adding a little extra because they’d brushed off her car, and then grabbed the keys and headed back inside.