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Sam shook his head, tapping out a text to Arran asking that very question. “It’s weird, because he told me not to tell anyone that I was lending to him.”

“I’m assuming this is where your butlering dosh has been going?”

“That’s right. Though I didn’t tell him I was doing the butlering. He wouldn’t accept the money if he knew I’d taken on a second job for it. Plus, the fewer people that know the better.”

“Because of Cat?” Her voice always sounded a little flat whenever she said Cat’s name.

“Yeah. Nico knows, and you. No one else, because I figure then there’s more chance of it getting back to her. But also because I’d feel guilty if too many people knew when she doesn’t.”

Maya was silent for a moment, and Sam’s phone buzzed with a message from Arran.

I’m trying to big you up, pal. Maybe she’s changed her mind about ditching you. I’m doing what I can to help my buddy.

Sam put the phone away. It didn’t feel right to reply that Maya had made her feelings clear in the past, when the woman was sitting right next to him. He’d speak to Arran about it later.

“What’re you going to do about your butler gig at the weekend?” Maya asked. “Have you got transport?”

Sam rubbed his neck. “Not yet. I looked at the bus route through that way but it’d mean either getting there two hours early or two hours late.”

Maya frowned. “No other cars to borrow?”

“I’m not insured on anyone else’s.” He shook his head. “And there’s no way I’d try to get insured on Nico’s. It’d cost a fortune with his flash Porsche.”

“How much longer do you need to keep doing it?”

“Probably just a couple more gigs, to get Arran this light he needs for the studio. Then he should be set. And after that, I’ll be getting my pay rise anyway.”

She was silent for a second. “I’ll drive you.”

At first, he didn’t know what to say. He waited for the familiar sick feeling to surface, the one he detected whenever he felt inadequate. But it didn’t. “I can’t ask you to do that.”

“Aha, well. You’re not asking, are you? I’m offering.” She tapped the side of her nose. “Big difference, pal.”

An infusion of warmth filled his chest. “You’ve already done a lot for me. I know I came across badly before, but I really am grateful that you arranged for my car to be towed, and I’ll pay you back whatever I owe for that.”

“Don’t sweat it. There’s no rush. To be honest I don’t even want the money back anyway.” She abruptly stopped talking, shooting him a glance.

She’s worried I’m going to react negatively. It occurred to him that his previous reaction might’ve come across as his being a dick about a woman providing assistance. But that hadn’t been why his pride was hurt. It was because it was this woman, the one who had thought him not good enough, and his concern had been that he’d been coming off as confirming his inadequacy.

However, she hadn’t behaved as if she looked down on him, more like she wanted to help a friend. And yet they weren’t even friends. Although, the past couple of days, it’s felt like we are. “If you give me a lift at the weekend, then I’m definitely giving you fuel money. And I’m buying you a drink. Maybe at the after event for the sled race?”

Maya held her hand out as she drove. “You drive a hard bargain.”

Sam took her hand in a quick shake. Even that brief touch sent a ripple of flame over his skin. Distracted for a moment, he realized too late that they’d missed the turnoff for her parents’ and were on their way to his house. The warmth from Maya’s touch turned icy. “Just drop me here. I don’t want you going farther out of your way.”

“I’ll take you home, we’re only two minutes away.”

Sam’s pulse spiked. “Here’s fine. There won’t be anywhere to stop outside my place. The street gets busy.”

She glanced over, then began to maneuver to pull in, and he could tell that she knew the real reason. If Cat saw Maya dropping him off, it’d put her in a bad mood all night. It had been out of sight, out of mind to an extent, if Sam walked to Maya’s and back again.

They came to a stop and he climbed out, sticking his head back through the door. “Thanks again for helping with my transport woes.”

“No problem. Thanks for your sibling-related advice.”

He gave her a wave. “Let me know how it goes.”

Closing the car door, he headed along the road, giving her another wave as she pulled away, and already looking forward to seeing her again.