“Hey. Is Kane around?” Dom says before he catches sight of me in the doorway. His tattooed hands give Belle a ruffle behind the ears.
“Hey, Dom. How’s it going?” I walk over towards his car with a busty redhead sitting in the passenger seat. I point towards Vi. “You remember Alison?”
He nods, then his brother, Dan, steps out of the Fiesta. “Hey, Kane.” He gives Vi a once over. That’s just him, always in sleuth mode.
“I’m Letty.” She smiles and waves her hand.
“She’s Alison’s daughter. She’s staying with me for a while.” I raise my voice so Dan hears, but he’s still scrutinising her, probably wondering if I’m fucking her or not.
“I remember. I’m sorry about your ma, lass,” Dom says.
“Thank you.” Violet hugs her body. The sun sets over the fields, making way for the chilled night air.
“Violet go inside.” Trouble tends to follow these two. There’s only one reason they’re here with a girl and car in tow and it ain’t for afternoon tea. They need my help, though Dom’s a decent mechanic, so I’m a little confused about why he’s brought the car here. Unless he needs to hide it for a while.
I nod toward the door. “Violet.”
She gives me an eye roll. “I’m fine.”
Dan smiles. “Pretty damn fine, if you ask me.” He gives her another once over. He’s good at reading people and finding out as much information as he can.
“Thanks.” Vi shuffles on her feet with a nervous giggle. Is she flirting?
I glare at Dan. He wants to gauge my reaction and get a rise out of me. Dom’s older brother has always been the same with the three of us. He might be an annoying fucker, but he’s always had our backs like a big brother to all of us.
I clear my throat, focusing back on Dom. “What’s the problem, Dom? She broke down?” Dom and I walk around his Range Rover to pop the bonnet of the Fiesta.
“Something like that.” He digs a tin of baccy from his jeans and offers me a smoke.
I take it between my lips, flick my lighter, and inhale on the roll-up. “Since when do you need me to fix your girlfriend’s car?”
A curvy redhead opens the door, slipping out of the leather seat. “He’s not my boyfriend,” she says, looking every bit fiery as her hair in the setting sun.
“Yet.” Dom lets the tendrils of smoke curl from his lips with a smirk. “I could fix it, but I don’t have the time or space at Dan’s place to give it a thorough overhaul.”
“Dan, flip the bonnet,” I say, rounding the Fiesta. “What sound does it make?” I grip the roll-up between my lips while I inspect under the bonnet.
“The engine won’t turn over. Looks like someone messed with the distributor cap.” Dom flicks ash onto the gravel.
The redhead moves between us. “I’ve had problems with the battery for a while. I was meaning to get a new one.”
Dom gives me a look. Knowing Dom and Dan’s line of work, it’s likely someone has tampered with the car. I’ll need to give it a full MOT.
“Can you leave it with me, and I’ll strip it down?” I stub my smoke out under my boot.
“Sure. I wouldn’t trust her with anyone but you, Kane.” He pats my back and I untie the tow rope with Dan’s help.
“Nice to meet you.” Vi must have got bored already as she walks back to the house. “Come, Belle, let’s go inside.”
Dom hands me the keys. “She’s all yours. Just call me when you know what’s what. She’s more trouble than she’s worth, but Poppy won’t part with her.”
“I know the feeling.” I clench my fist around the keys. Glancing back at the house, Vi’s purple hair brightens the kitchen window and I can’t part with her either, no matter how much trouble she causes.
* * *
I’ve got usedto finishing work in the barn or garage and coming inside to the smell of her cooking these last few days. We’ve settled into a routine. One that suits us both. She stays here rent free in exchange for keeping the house clean and cooking. I’m not one for saying a woman’s place is in the kitchen, but it’s nice having someone take care of me in that way. Most girls that show up here do little around the house, although some have tried. But since Ali, I’m not the settling down sort of guy.
Tonight she’s cooked steak with potatoes and green beans. “Thanks Vi.”
