“Sorry, Liv. Dee’s working,” Frank said as he shoved his phone back into his pocket.
Based on everything else this week, she’d expected that answer. “Thanks anyway for trying, Frank.”
* * *
Matt caught the tail end of Liv and the tow truck driver’s conversation as he approached. He didn’t know what Frank had been unsuccessful at doing, but he heard the disappointment in Liv’s voice.
“We’ll inspect the damage as soon as we can and call you. Your other van should be all set sometime on Monday for you to pick up.”
“Sounds good, Frank. Enjoy your weekend,” Liv said before the tow truck driver walked away.
“I’d ask you how your day was, but I can tell it’s not going well,” Matt said, stopping next to Liv once the other man climbed into his truck.
“You could say that.”
“What happened?”
“Some idiot got behind the wheel drunk, and instead of using his brakes to slow down, he used the van. And now I don’t know what the heck I’m going to do.” Liv raked her hands down her face and took several steps away before turning back toward him. “We’re catering a surprise retirement party tonight, and I have no way of getting the food there.”
He’d attended catered events but never thought about how the food got there. Did it require a special vehicle capable of keeping food either hot or cold? Before he could ask, Liv continued.
“Everything won’t fit in my car at once. It would probably take me five or six trips to get everything from here to the VFW hall.”
Well, that answered that question. No special vehicle was required.
“The car rental agency doesn’t have anything available large enough, and the only person I know with an SUV is cruising around Bermuda right now.” Liv’s frustration became more pronounced with each word. “This couldn’t have happened at a worse time.”
On that, she was wrong. She knew someone with an SUV who wasn’t cruising around an island. “I have an SUV.”
“If this happened next week, I’d have the other van to use.” Liv dropped her head back and looked at the sky as if she’d find an answer there. “Wait, what did you say?” she asked, looking at him.
“I have an SUV you can use.” Matt had purchased the vehicle during a previous visit to the area, and to date, he’d only used it once for a camping trip he’d taken.
“Really?”
He wasn’t sure if she was surprised that he owned such a vehicle or because he was offering to let her use it. Either way, it was sitting in his garage, and he didn’t need it tonight.
Matt nodded. “We can head over to my house now, and you can get it.”
Liv’s eyes widened in surprise, and she threw her arms around him. “Matt, you’re a lifesaver. I’ll grab my things, and we can go.”
An unexpected surge of energy sparked all his nerve endings. Women of all ages had hugged him, and he’d never experienced anything like it. “Not a problem. I’ll wait for you by my car.”
As if just realizing she was hugging him, Liv dropped her arms and moved away. “Sorry about that.”
“No need to apologize.” Rather than help, his response caused her face to go from resembling a cherry blossom to a strawberry.
“I just need to lock up, and then we can go.” She took a few steps toward the building and then turned toward him. “Were you planning to get something to eat?”
It was a logical question since he’d parked so close to the restaurant. And while it had been part of his reason for being there, it wasn’t the only one. He’d been unable to shake their last conversation and the sense that something was wrong, so his visit this afternoon had more to do with appeasing his curiosity and seeing her again than eating.
“Yeah, but I have food at home, or I can come back later and get something.” Even though he’d offered her a solution to the immediate problem, she still appeared stressed. Not that he blamed her. The accident wasn’t her fault, but she’d still have a lot to deal with because of it.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.” He wouldn’t have offered if he didn’t want her to use the vehicle.
For a second, he thought she would argue, but then she opened the door marked Ocean View Catering and walked inside.
