NovelGoldChapter 591
"Is your car giving you trouble?" Haynes asked.
Stella barely glanced up from the engine, answering absently, "Yeah, something's off," as she continued to tinker
under the hood.
Wind and rain lashed the empty road, and Stella was soaked to the skin. She looked utterly bedraggled, hair
plastered to her cheeks and clothes clinging uncomfortably.
Haynes leaned out his window. "Cget in my car-I'll drive you home."
She shook her head, trying to sound casual. "That's all right. I'll just call a friend to pickup."
Haynes frowned. "It's over an hour to the city from here, and with this weather, anyone coming out would take
close to two. The sun's already down for the day, and this is the middle of nowhere. It isn't safe for you to wait
out here alone."
Stella didn't want to get involved with Haynes any more than necessary. Her tone was deliberately
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtnoncommittal. "I'll be careful."
When she still made no move to accept his offer, Haynes abruptly pushed open his door and stepped out into the
storm, holding a large black umbrella.
Stella tensed, watching him warily as he approached, but Haynes said nothing more. He simply walked over and
began inspecting her engine, one hand awkwardly holding the umbrella, the other reaching under the hood.
Between the two of them, the umbrella barely shielded their upper bodies from the downpour. Rain hammered
against the fabric, cold water dripping down Haynes's sharply cut features.
Stella hesitated—she'd wanted to refuse his help, but now that he'd gone out of his way and was getting soaked
himself, insisting again would just seem petty.
She reached for the umbrella. "Lethold that for you."
"Thanks," Haynes said, handing it over without looking up.
He finished his inspection and straightened, rainwater running down his face. "Engine's got a
P. You're not going to be able
to start it-you'll need a mechanic."
Stella frowned, worry creasing her brow.
"Letdrive you back," he insisted. "It's cold out, and sitting in the car won't help. You've got that big
competition coming up, and you're still prepping for your concert.
Getting sick now would be ther
worst
thing for you."
Stella paused, considering. He had a point—she could hardly afford to lose time
to illness with her schedule already packed.
She nodded, conceding. "All right. Could you takeas far as downtown? I'll have my friend meetthere."
Haynes looked at her for a moment, then said quietly, "Stella, with Keen between us; it's impossible to pretend
we're strangers. Drawing such hard lines-it can't last. You've always believed | wronged you. If that's true, why
not letdo this as a way to make amends?
Her voice was flat, emotionless. "You're a businessman, Mr. O'Brien. Everything you do forcomes with a price
tag-one I'm expected to pay back eventually."
Haynes's expression darkened, shadows flickering in his eyes.
Stella handed his umbrella back and turned toward his car.
She pulled open the rear door, surprised to find she wasn't alone. Mr. Walden sat
on the back seat, and Rachel was in the passenger seat up front.
Rachel looked back at her. "Con, Stella. The rain's getting worse-get in." Neither Rachel nor Mr. Walden
looked at all surprised to see her, as if they'd been expecting her to join them all along. Walden nodded a silent
greeting.
Stella slid into the back seat. There was plenty of room-she didn't feel crowded at all.
A few minutes later, Haynes climbed in, his clothes dripping wet. Rachel quickly handed him a clean towel.
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