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not to be distracted by his hypnotic eyes and smoky voice. “I don’t have much choice,” I said.
    “Her car was repossessed,” Charlie said. “She needs to come up with a lot of money. Fast. What do you think, Lucas? eBay?”
    Lucas stared at me, obviously shocked. “Repo’d?” He turned to Charlie and they exchanged a meaningful look. I wondered how much Charlie had told him about my AWOL dad.
    “Yeah,” I said. “My dad is the loser on Letterman and my family is going broke and falling apart and I just want to get my car back.”
    “Letterman?” Lucas frowned. So I’d found the one person in town who hadn’t seen it.
    “Never mind,” I said, fiddling with my napkin.
    Lucas spun his stool so he faced Charlie. “eBay will take too long,” he said, “and you have to be eighteen to pawn it.” He glanced at me. “Are you?”
    I shook my head. My eighteenth birthday was six months away. My earlier frustration washed away as I sat there watching him. Of course he thought I was a high-maintenance rich girl. What else would he think after being sent to rescue me from my castle like I was a special princess?
    And he was right about me not shopping here. Yeah I wore jeans, but they weren’t from Wal-Mart. And I’d just showed him a box full of expensive jewelry.
    While Lucas pondered my problem, I rested my chin in my hands, staring at my reflection in the mirror behind Charlie’s counter. Even though middle-aged cougars thought my dad was hot and my mom had been the queen of every school dance, I’d just ended up average. Highlights from Mom’s salon didn’t help my boring brown hair, and I was stuck with my too small nose and too wide mouth. I could be a Picasso model.
    Lucas finally spoke. “My cousin had his car repo’d once. He was able to negotiate with the bank. Have you talked to anyone at your bank?”
    I felt like he’d ripped off a huge scab, exposing a gaping wound. What was I doing here, asking two people I hardly knew for help? I suddenly felt raw and drained. I needed to leave.
    Charlie must’ve sensed this, because he moved quickly around the counter. “Let’s go say hi to Liz, then I’ll take you home.”
    “But I thought you had boxes to unpack,” I said, confused.
    “I can drive her home,” Lucas said.
    Charlie shot Lucas a cryptic look and shook his head. “You stay here. I’ll take Liz’s car.”
    “Whatever you say, boss.” Lucas crossed his arms over his chest, watching me with an unreadable expression. He was probably relieved his chauffeur duty was over.
    Toby jumped up, sensing something was happening. Lucas leaned over to pet him again and I caught a glimpse of a tattoo peeking out from under his shirt sleeve. I couldn’t tell what it was, so I turned away before he caught me ogling him.
    “Thanks,” I whispered to Charlie, horrified to feel tears threatening to breach the dam. No way could I break down here. I walked quickly to the door and shoved it open, juggling my hatbox and Toby’s leash. “Thanks for the ride, Lucas,” I said in a voice thick with unshed tears, but I didn’t think he heard me over the loud Halloween laugh.
    Charlie caught up to me as I walked quickly down the sidewalk, headed for the coffee shop I’d noticed when Lucas and I had first arrived. I didn’t want to meet someone else tonight, but since Charlie was my ride I didn’t have much choice.
    “I’m sorry, Darcy, if we upset you somehow.” Charlie’s voice was soft with concern.
    “You didn’t.” I swiped tears off my cheeks with the back of my leash-holding hand. Damn it. I was not going to cry.
    Charlie wrapped an arm around my shoulder, and I was stunned at how much he felt like my dad. I let out a long breath.
    “Would you like to just go home?” Charlie asked. “You can meet Liz next time.”
    Next time? I doubted there’d be one, but I nodded, grateful for the opportunity to leave sooner rather than later.
    I followed Charlie around the corner to the alley to