“I didn’t know any of that.” Sully tilted his head in surprise. “The hummingbirds help keep the red ones pollinated.”
Charley nodded as if she knew that, too, and changed the subject. “You did a great job building your house, Sully,” she said with one last look. “It’s spectacular.”
“Five thousand square feet of peace and quiet. Thank you,” he replied and held out a phone charging cord to her.
“You’re welcome.” She plugged in her cell phone and told him, “I’ve never ridden in a truck before.”
“Is that right?” he asked, heading the Dodge Ram north.
“That’s right,” she replied, taking in the countryside. Looking back at him, she added, “I’d never ridden a horse until yesterday either. And never have I been in bed with?—”
Nearing the crossroad where they would head west toward the Triple C Ranches and Colorado Springs, he cocked a brow at her and waited. “With?—?”
“With, umm…such crazy circumstances.”
“Okay.” Sully chuckled. He drove to Triple C Ranch-South and turned left onto the gravel road leading to the log cabin.
“Sully, thank you again for your help last night and this morning,” Charley said, without getting specific about sharing a bed. “I really appreciate it.”
“My pleasure.” That was an understatement.
They saw her car and stared.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“The convertible top has been dented,” Charley whispered. “Was it like that last night?”
“It could have been. It was dark when we were here, so we could have missed it. Man, somebody’s got a bad temper.” Sully brought the truck to a stop alongside her car. “We should call the cops.”
Charley put her doubt into words. “What good would it do?”
“You’ll need to make a report for insurance purposes,” he said. “Vaughn obviously has a bad temper. Maybe the police can get fingerprints and figure out if he did this.”
“I don’t know.” Charley unbuckled her seat belt and said, “I respect and support all police, but I’ve dealt with them a lot lately. They’re probably tired of me.” She opened her door and got out of the truck. Walking around her beloved Mini Cooper, she fought back anger and tears as she mumbled, “Darn it.”
“Four tires and a repaired convertible top and you’ll be back in business,” Sully said, walking toward her.
“Yes,” Charley agreed and pasted a smile on her face.
“Does your duplex have a garage?”
“No, just a two-car parking pad,” she said, shaking her head as Sully frowned.
“Here comes the tow truck.”
The tow truck driver was adept at his job and soon had her car loaded up. After asking the man to take it to a body shop Sully had recommended, the tow truck driver hauled her car onto the highway and disappeared down the road.
“So, how about the breakfast, brunch, or lunch I promised you?” she asked.
“I’ll take all three.”
“Okay,” she said with a laugh. Sully opened the truck door for her, and she climbed into her seat. “It’s almost lunchtime, what sounds good?”
“Mexican?”
“Perfect. I love Mexican food.”
Sliding in behind the wheel, Sully started the engine. “I know a great little place in Old Colorado City,” he said, referring to her neighborhood. Built along Colorado Avenue, the nineteenth-century red brick buildings housed a variety of art galleries, jewelry stores, quaint shops, and cozy cafés. “It’s called the Canyon Cantina.”
