You, Me and a Family

Twisting the key in the ignition Mario groaned when the engine raced but didn’t start. ‘Not again. Not tonight.’

Last week he’d had trouble starting the engine but he’d cleaned the spark plugs and hey, presto, it had gone like a dream since.

He turned the key again, and again. The whining sound of the engine spoke volumes. Slapping the steering wheel he tugged at the catch to release the bonnet and pushed out into the cold. With a torch in one hand he lifted the bonnet and stood studying the wires, the battery and the spark plugs. Everything appeared to be in order. Huh. Like he knew what he was looking for. Topping up the water and oil had been sufficient until now. He pushed and poked everything, shook some wires that meant absolutely nothing to him, went around to try the ignition again. Nothing but that squealing sound.

Definitely time he took the car in for a service. His fingers pushed through his hair. Damn it. Why did cars break down right when you needed them? He had to get home before the nanny did her usual sulky thing. If only he had a few hours to find another, more obliging girl to take care of Sophia when he was at work.

‘Problem?’ One word and Alexandra made it sound so sweet. Not to mention irritating.

He spun around, stared down into the dark pits of her eyes. It was probably just as well he couldn’t see her expression clearly in the half-light of the street lamps. No doubt she’d be laughing fit to bust. ‘My car’s packed a sad.’

‘Bad timing, right?’ When she waved her keys in the air the locks on the sports car popped.

Of course that red racy thing would be Alexandra’s. It suited her. Small, compact and sexy. He might be abstaining but his hormones had taken a hit today. They still knew a great package when they saw one. Working with her just got a whole lot more difficult.

‘Very bad timing. I need to get home quickly.’ Hint, hint. Would she offer him a lift? Though being squeezed into that sardine can with her might prove to be the hardest thing he’d done all day. Even ten minutes rubbing shoulders would only make him crankier than he already was. But he’d do anything for Sophia, right? So he’d accept a lift.

But she shocked him. ‘What exactly is the problem?’

What? You think you’re a mechanic now? Are you teasing me? ‘I turn the key and all I get is a noise. The engine’s not firing.’

‘But it sounds like it wants to?’

He was gaping at her, his mouth half open. Not his best look, for sure, but what the hell was this woman on? She was a paediatrician, not a grease monkey. ‘Yes, it keeps up a steady noise but doesn’t even hint at catching.’ He reached for the bonnet, began to push it down. If Alexandra wasn’t forthcoming with an offer of a ride, then he had to get cracking with finding a taxi. Sophia needed to be in bed within the next half-hour.

‘Wait. Don’t close that yet.’ She placed her handbag inside her to-die-for car and came over to peer under the bonnet of his people-mover. Make that children-mover. Taking a hot date, namely Alexandra, out in it would be a novelty. For her, at least. Reaching in, she pulled a spark plug and blew on it. ‘Looks okay.’

‘I cleaned them a few days ago.’