“Nonsense. He’ll be happy to do it, and he won’t charge you a dime for it.”
“No one does anything for free these days, Bonnie,” she said as she watched the woman dial a number and put the phone to her ear.
“Hey Jaxon, this is Bonnie. Yeah, I’m good, how about you?” The woman gave her a wink as she spoke. “Listen, an old friend of mine, Maple Hudson, is here at the library. She’s got a problem with a faucet. Do you think you can help her out?”
Maple chewed on her bottom lip. Maybe things would work out after all.
“He wants to know what’s wrong with it, so he knows what to bring?” Bonnie asked.
“The taps just spin without catching.”
Bonnie relayed the information and listened to whoever was at the other end of the line. “Great. Oh, hey, since I’ve got you, do you know if Mick still has that fridge in his garage? That’s on the fritz, too. If Maple can’t find a fridge, she won’t be staying in town.”
Bonnie glanced at her. “He wants to know what time you’ll be back. He’s free today, and he’ll find you a fridge.”
“I need to get the supplies for the faucet, a few groceries, and then I’m heading back. Can you ask him how much for the work and the fridge?”
“She’s heading back there soon. How much will you charge her for fixing the faucet?”
Bonnie grinned. “That’s what I thought. Alright. Thanks, Jax.”
She slipped the phone back into her pocket. “He’ll be there in an hour. No fee. And he’s bringing the fridge and whatever he needs to fix the faucet with him.”
Maple stood there staring at the woman who’d just made her life a hell of a lot easier. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you.” She hugged Bonnie, her heart lighter than it had been all morning. She wouldn’t have to go back to the city after all.
“That’s what friends do, even if we don’t see each other in decades. I better get back to work, and you better get your shopping done and get back home.”
She couldn’t keep the smile from her lips as she left the library with plans to meet up with Bonnie at the diner down the street in a few days and her cabin problems all but resolved.
Five
Jaxon hummed as his truck bounced on the rough gravel road leading to the Hudson cabin. Another dozen or so miles to go, and he’d be spending the next few hours—longer, if she’d let him—with Maple. He slowed for a sharp curve ahead. He and Mick had secured the fridge well, but he wasn’t taking any chances. Having it topple out of the truck bed at this point would delay him getting to the cabin. For one thing, he’d have to find another fridge—hell, he’d bring her his if he had to—but then he’d have to turn around and head back to town before coming back, wasting precious time. Unacceptable.
Pulling out of the curve, he slowed the truck even more, a smile tugging at his lips. There, on the side of the road, was a bright blue car with more patches of rust than he could count, and standing on top of the hood, of all things, was Maple. Coming up behind her, he stopped and got out. What the hell was she doing?
With her cell phone in one hand, she held her bright pink skirt down with the other, thwarting the wind’s efforts at giving him a peek of the luscious woman underneath.
“Need a hand?” he asked as she nibbled on her bottom lip and looked around the car as though trying to figure out how to get down again.
Her cheeks flushed scarlet, but then she burst out laughing. “Hi. I’m having car trouble. I was hoping to get cell reception up here to call for a tow, but nothing,” she said as she waved her cell at him.
“I see. Can I help you?” He’d bet the temperature of the hood was too hot on her feet. When he glanced at them, sure enough, she had her toes pointed up away from the car.
She smiled and came closer. “I’d appreciate it. Getting down again is a little problematic with the dress. If you could give me your hand—”
He didn’t let her finish her sentence before his hands were on her waist. He tugged gently, pulling her closer still. Her scent, fresh and sweet, curled around him. He stifled a moan as need pounded through him. “Hang on to my shoulders.”
The moment she did, he lifted her from her perch and lowered her feet to the ground, sliding her body along the length of his as he did. Maple gasped but didn’t pull away. If the amount of material bunched at her waist was any indication, her dress had slid up, and the only thing separating them was her panties and his jeans. She stared at him, her big, chocolate brown eyes open wide, and her lips parted. Yeah, there was no way he could hide his body’s reaction from her. He didn’t want to.
He leaned in close until only an inch separated their lips. “Stay right there, I’ll get your shoes. Where did you leave them?” he asked, his voice rough with the wolf so close to the surface.
Her gaze darted to his lips as she waved her hand toward the front of the car. “By the bumper,” she said in an almost whisper that sent heated pleasure jolting through him.
What he wouldn’t give to take her up on the invitation her eyes were sending his way. He struggled between the need to crush her lips with his and getting her shoes. More than anything, he wanted a taste, but she was standing on hard gravel. The need to care for her won out. “Don’t move.”
When he returned, he knelt in front of her and put
