<More Than A Favor
Chapter 66
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“Are you seriously using last night and our history to blackmail me?” I confronted Ashton directly.
“No,” he mumbled, avoiding eye contact.
Classic guilty behavior. I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to deck him.
“I’m just new here and could use some help. I’ve helped you before too,” he said meekly.
Great, now I’d feel like a jerk if I refused.
Debts were debts, whether money or favors.
I sighed. “Fine, Mr. Drake. Where to? What do you need?”
“House hunting,” he replied, throwing me off guard.
“Houses? Weren’t you heading back after this job?”
“Might stick around, so I’m looking early.” His words hit me weirdly.
I felt strange, couldn’t explain why.
“Your company isn’t even based here,” I reminded him.
“I can quit!”
I was speechless.
“Just renting, by the way. Too broke to buy.” He admitted his financial situation without shame.
That was rare these days, when guys maxed out credit cards for fancy watches just to look rich. But here was Ashton, openly admitting he was broke.
“And you still want to quit your job?” I muttered.
He ignored that, acting like he hadn’t heard.
Maybe it was pity over his broke status, but I ended up driving him downtown.
“Rent must be steep here,” he noted.
“Suburbs are cheaper but the commute’s brutal. As an engineer, you’ll probably work downtown. Living here saves time,” I explained.
He went quiet. Thinking about his empty wallet, I added, “I could loan you some money. Pay me back.
whenever.”
“Trying to be my sugar mama?” His comment made me choke.
I glared, remembering his hints about feelings for me and that marriage proposal.
Smirking, I shot back, “Dream on. I’m the one looking for a sugar daddy.”
His face darkened slightly as I started the car. “Let’s check the suburbs then.”
At the suburban real estate office, my phone rang before we could get out.
“Hello… What? Okay, coming now.” I hung up and turned to him. “Go ahead without me. Emergency came up.”
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He didn’t move. “What happened?”
“Burst pipe at my place. Need to find a plumber.”
My downstairs neighbor had called about water flooding the hallway.
“I can fix it,” Ashton said suddenly.
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Before I could respond, he added, “Every minute means more water damage. You could end up paying for neighbors‘ repairs too.”
Know–it–all. But I drove him to my place anyway.
The hallway was flooded, neighbors gathered around pointing and chattering.
Ashton moved faster than me, checking things out. “Where’s the main water shut–off?”
Someone pointed to a metal plate. “Under there, but it’s rusted shut. Nobody’s been able to turn it.”
Ashton was already lifting the cover. “Which unit is yours?”
“Fourth floor, east side.”
He immediately laid flat on the wet ground, reaching for the valve.
“It won’t turn!”
“That rust is years old.”
“Ground’s too packed around it.”
The peanut gallery commented while I watched Ashton.
Thadn’t expected him to just lie down in the dirt. His muscles strained visibly with effort, looking surprisingly powerful. His shirt clung to his back, revealing the kind of strength you wouldn’t guess at first glance.
Still, the valve wouldn’t budge. His face was turning red from exertion.
“Give up, young man. Strong guys already tried,” an elderly lady advised kindly.
“Ashton, let’s just call someone,” I suggested, feeling bad watching him struggle.
He suddenly relaxed, “Done.”
He got up, casually dusting himself off. “Let’s check upstairs.”
Water was still cascading down the stairs. “Maybe wait for it to drain?”
He glanced at my shoes. “I’ll carry you.”
My eyes went wide. “No way!”
My face heated up, aware of the audience of curious neighbors.
Understanding my embarrassment, he said, “I’ll go up alone. Keys?”
His f
fingers brushed mine taking them, sending an electric shock through me.
I’d never felt that with Logan.
Maybe we’d been too familiar, growing up together. Holding hands or hugging never gave me
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butterflies. With Logan, everything had been comfortable, expected – but never electrifying like this simple touch.
I finally understood what Logan told Caleb about passion and chemistry.
Ashton splashed up the stairs like some water–walking superhero, not even hesitating at the cascade of water. When he disappeared upstairs, I realized I was still staring after him.
“Is that your boyfriend, miss?” a neighbor asked. “He seems very capable.”
“Not afraid to get his hands dirty either,” another added. “That’s rare these days.”
“Don’t see young men like that anymore. You’re lucky, dear.”
My face burned as something fluttered in my chest. The water gradually subsided, and I made my way upstairs.
The door was open, water everywhere. I rolled up my pants and waded in, finding Ashton in the bathroom working on the valve.
“This part’s shot,” he explained. “Probably corroded from disuse.”
He was right – it hadn’t been touched in over ten years.
“All the pipes here are old and corroded,” he continued, already removing the broken section. “Best to replace everything before this happens again.”
“Sounds complicated,” I said nervously
“Not really,” he replied, handing me the broken piece. “Get six of these, a pipe wrench, 22 meters of PVC pipe, and four faucets – one each for bathroom and kitchen sinks, two regular ones.”
Seeing my hesitation, he added, “I’ll text you the list. Just show it at the store.”
Y territory.
“Maybe we should hire someone,” I suggested. This seemed way beyond DIY
Weirdly, the complex lighting at the amusement park didn’t intimidate me, but this plumbing job seemed overwhelming.
“Don’t you trust me?” he asked simply.
“It’s not that…” I trailed off, noticing his soaked clothes and dirty shirt. Guilt twisted in my stomach.
“I’ve got this,” he said softly, patting my head. “Go on now.”
That pat sent tingles through me. Miles had done the same thing recently, but it felt completely differ ent with Ashton.
This feeling was impossible to describe – warm and sweet but with an edge of something else. Like finally getting something you’d been craving without realizing it.
Unable to meet his eyes, I hurried out to buy supplies. When I returned, Ashton had already mopped the hallway clean. Inside, the flooded floor gleamed like new.
He hadn’t wasted any time while I was gone.
Seeing the house looking like it had never flooded, emotion caught in my throat.
“Checked downstairs – no damage. You won’t need to pay for repairs,” he reported.
Capable and thorough the combination left me speechless.
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I watched him work on the pipes, his hands as skilled with plumbing as they were with lighting.
Leaning against the doorframe, I asked, “Is there anything you can’t do?”
“Yes,” he answered without looking up.
“What?” What
He glanced back with a hint of a smile. “Giving birth.”
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