“I guess because she didn’t want to feel like a burden. She’s always talking about how you’re trying to conquer the world. Maybe . . . Maybe she felt as if she were interfering with your life.”
“That’s ridiculous. My grandmother is the only family I have left.”
“And, you’re the only family she has left, too.”
The car was quiet again as he let her words sink in. He seemed lost in his own thoughts, and Haven left him to it. She had her own to attend to. It wasn’t until the GPS told him to make a right turn at the next corner that there was sound in the car again. As if on autopilot, Ellis turned. Once they were closer to her school, Haven gave him additional directions.
“My building is up on the right.” She could see how upset he was by the set of his jaw and the crease between his eyes. She genuinely felt bad, but there was nothing she could do.
Ellis drove his Mercedes as close to the building as he could get.
He stared straight ahead and spoke in a mundane tone. “What time did you say your class was over?”
“I’ve already missed the first half hour. Can you come back in an hour? Is that okay?”
He nodded. “I’ll be here.”
Haven got out and watched his car as he drove away. Even though her heart was pained, she knew she didn’t have time to take on anyone else’s problems because she had plenty of her own.
*****
Getting through her class was grueling. Somehow, she managed it, and as promised, Ellis was waiting when it was over.
Haven slid inside his car. “Hey. Thanks again for picking me up.”
Ellis pulled away from the curb. “It’s the least I can do.” He still had that troubled look on his face. “I had someone take your car to get it fixed. It really is a piece of junk. You ought to consider getting a new one.”
Haven had been feeling sorry for him, but he quickly changed that. Ellis irritated the hell out of her. It didn’t help that Dylan still hadn’t called her back. Haven snapped, probably more than she would have if Dylan had called. “You don’t have even a little sensitivity in your entire body, do you? Newsflash, I’m not rich. I don’t have money just laying around to go pick up a car like some people buy underwear. Remember, I work for a living for your grandmother.”
He completely ignored her lashing out. “Your car is a piece of shit. I won’t take that back. Maybe I shouldn’t have said it, but it doesn’t make it any less true.” As if thinking to himself, as an afterthought, he continued to speak. “We’ll have to figure something out.”
“We? No, I think I can handle things on my own.”
“Uh-huh. You’ve done such a great job of it already. You know, ‘Thank you, Ellis,’ works too.”
Haven pinched the bridge of her nose. “Thank you for bringing me to school and for being a pain in my ass! Gaaaaaawd . . . You bring out the worst in me. I’ve never cursed so much in my life as I have since I met you. That can’t be a good sign.”
Ellis’ phone rang saving him from wringing her neck. He didn’t think he’d ever met a more ungrateful woman.
He answered the call through his Bluetooth. “Hey, sweetheart. Yeah, I know. I was helping someone out and couldn’t get back to you. I’m still with her now.” He exhaled in frustration. “I’ll call you later.” He disconnected.
She snorted. “You . . . have a girlfriend? Miracles never cease.”
“First, stop eavesdropping. It’s not sexy, and I don’t do the girlfriend thing. She’s one of several women I spend time with when I’m in town.”
Haven rolled her eyes almost out of her head. “Riiiight. Okay.”
“If you wanted to know if I had a girlfriend, all you had to do was ask.”
“I don’t care if you have one or not. I’m just grateful that I’m not your girlfriend. I don’t have to believe you.” Haven thought about her answer for a second and couldn’t resist taking her frustrations out on him. “But, you know what I don’t get? I don’t understand why men can’t commit to just one woman? And, if you can’t commit, why not just be honest about it!”
He focused those piercing eyes on her again. “Are you talking about me or the guy you’ve been calling all night?”
Haven didn’t respond. His knowing gaze made her regret asking the question.
“Look, I don’t lie. I have no reason to. I’m always upfront about the fact that I don’t have time for a relationship. However, if a beautiful woman would like to spend time with me when my schedule allows, we can do that.” He shrugged. “If she wants more, then I have to move on. It’s never my intention to give anyone false hope.”
“False hope,” she whispered. “Sometimes, it’s hard to know the difference. How can you tell what’s real and what’s not?”
Ellis sighed. He wasn’t usually a sucker for damsels in distress, but there was something about Haven that had him wanting to comfort her—a little. It was probably his damned grandmother’s conscience burrowed into him. “I hate to admit this to you, but for the most part, my grandmother is an excellent judge of character. Let’s both agree that you and I got off on the
