“Oh, yeah, Randy called a few days ago. He said your car is so old that he has to hunt around for the part. Once he can locate an alternator for that make and model, it shouldn’t take him too long to fix it.”
Haven sat up on the edge of her chair. Her eyebrows knitted together. “Did he check the junkyard?”
“I’m not in the automotive business. Something breaks down around here; we usually hire someone to fix it or get a new one.” The smirk on his face made Haven want to shake him.
“The lifestyles of the rich and famous, meanwhile the rest of us have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.”
“Yeah . . . about that. I’ve been intending to talk to you. I was thinking of increasing your salary to cover whatever you’re making at your part-time gig. My grandmother needs you to be alert.”
Haven pulled her bottom lip into her mouth. She was worried. “Did she say something? Is she upset with me? I thought I was handling everything okay.”
“No. She didn’t say anything about being displeased, but she worries. I don’t want her to worry about anything.” Ellis meant that. But, if he were honest, his reasons were twofold. He didn’t want his grandmother worrying, but there was some kind of caveman instincts trying to take over when it came to Haven. Even though, she wasn’t his responsibility.
“I-I can’t . . . I won’t accept charity, Ellis. I don’t want you or Ms. McKenna to think I’m taking advantage of this situation. Remember, you said I was a snake or a vulture. I’m neither.”
He felt the sting of her words in his gut and was a little ashamed of them now that he knew her a little better. “I’ll admit, when we first met, I had my doubts about you. But, hell, I have doubts about everybody.” A flashback of his grandmother giving him the business over it made him laugh. The rumble of his chuckle made his chest shake. “My grandmother set me straight pretty quick too.”
Haven’s vision blurred. Heat crept up the back of her neck and spanned out throughout her entire body. She tried to clear her vision by blinking and taking in deep breaths. Oh shit. What was happening? Was she about to faint?
“Haven?” Ellis’ smile faded. “Are you okay?”
Her eyes lifted to his but she didn’t say anything.
“Are you okay? Should I get Dr. Lawrence?”
She blinked rapidly, trying to recover and fanning her hot face with her hands. “Um . . . I . . . um, I'm all right, I think.”
“Are you sure?”
After a few more deep breaths, her vision slowly started to return, and her temperature cooled. She wouldn’t dare tell Ellis what just happened. Instead, she tried to play it cool as if that little episode hadn’t happened. She responded in a low whisper, “Yes. I just . . . checked out for a second.” Haven exhaled slowly. “I’m fine, I promise.” She desperately wanted to stop him from staring at her like she was a science project. Her voice sounded far away even to her own ears. “Anyway, about the raise. I’m not a charity case.”
Ellis wasn’t so sure Haven was fine but had to take her word for it. He spoke slowly while staring intensely, looking for signs to back up her claim. “I don’t think you are—a charity case.”
“I’m okay, Ellis. Stop looking at me like that.” It was making her even more uncomfortable. “I’m just a little tired. Millions of people have done what I’m doing. Plus, I never want to prove you right.”
He raised a brow in question. “About what?”
“You thought I was an opportunist, remember?”
“Let’s put that to rest. I said it, but I’m happy to proclaim that you are not. What you are is stubborn.”
“No apology then?”
“I was protecting my grandmother. I’ll never apologize for that.”
“And you say I’m stubborn?”
Ellis stood. “Maybe we have that in common. Are you sure you’re alright?”
She used her hands and shooed him away. “I'm all right.”
“If you say so, I’ll have to take your word for it.”
“I’m saying, so.”
Ellis initially debated if he should leave but then remembered, Haven was an adult and not his responsibility.
She was the reason he needed to get out of the house, to begin with. He glanced at his watch. “I don’t have much time, so, here’s the deal. I’ve already instructed accounting to add the increase to this Friday’s paycheck. Give your other job your notice today.”
“What?! You're a little high-handed don’t you think? What if I like my job?”
“You don’t, and even if you did, between being here for most of the day and going to classes, when do you have time to study or anything else for that matter? It just makes sense. But, more importantly, it makes my grandmother happy.”
Haven was about to protest, but the words died on her lips when he mentioned Ms. McKenna.
“You know what I’m proposing is the right thing to do even if you are too stubborn to admit it.”
He was right and that pissed Haven off more than anything. “I’ll mull over your proposition. But, if I accept your offer and quit, I’ll have to give at least two weeks’ notice. I can’t just leave my bosses high and dry.”
“Two weeks? I can accept that.”
Haven could only shake her head. “I’m so glad, the decisions that affect my life meet your
