Page 3 of Wanting His Girl

And all I can think about is how I'm the cause of it.

"Melanie," I call out. "I am so sorry about this."

Her eyes lift to mine, those deep blue pools reflecting a storm of emotions.

"Jake?" she says. For some reason, the way my name spills from her lips has my heart hammering against my ribs. “You smashed my windshield?”

"It was an accident, I swear. I was messing around with my brothers in the park, and the ball sort of got away from me.”

Melanie bites her bottom lip. “I see.”

I glance at the box on the hood, then back at her stricken face.

"Can I give you a ride?” I ask, the instinct to protect, to fix this for her, roaring to life inside me. “Looks like you're on your way somewhere."

She gives me a half-hearted smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Actually, I'm heading to an event at the Cooper Hills Fine Art Museum. I just started as their marketing coordinator and... well, I'm already late."

"I’ll drive you," I say quickly, desperate to erase that expression from her beautiful face. "My brothers will stay here and get your car towed to Boone Pierce's autobody shop. I’ll pay for everything, I promise.”

Melanie looks up at me through dark lashes and whispers. “Okay.”

Glancing over at my brothers, I notice for the first time they've been standing off to the side, observing my entire interaction with Melanie. Their expressions are a mix of amusement and fascination, smug grins plastered across their faces.

"Wes," I call out, turning back to them. "I need to take Melanie to her work event. Can you handle getting her car towed to Boone’s?”

Wes's grin widens even more as he crosses his arms over his chest. "Yep, don't worry about us, bro," he retorts with a chuckle. "You go worry about your girl."

I roll my eyes at his remark but can't help the warmth that spreads through me at the thought of Melanie being 'my girl'.

Shaking off the feeling, I stride back towards Melanie and guide her towards my truck parked nearby. She's all curves and softness as she settles into the passenger seat, a stark contrast to the hard lines and leather of my truck's interior. Then I climb in beside her and start the engine, the familiar rumble a comforting backdrop to the churn of thoughts in my head.

This is a hell of a way to get time with a woman.

For weeks, I've been wrestling with the idea that someone like Melanie could ever go for a guy like me, a retired athlete whose glory days are behind him.

But here she is, right next to me, looking every bit the part of a mountain man's dream, even if she doesn't know she's in that role yet.

Maybe, just maybe, this unexpected detour will give me the opening I need to show her that age is just a number and that what we have—or could have—is worth exploring.

And damn if I'm not ready to find out.

Chapter Two

MELANIE

“Sorry again about your windshield," Jake says as he steers the truck out onto the main road.

“It’s okay,” I reply softly. “I know it was an accident.”

"Boone’s shop is closed on Sundays,” he continues. “But I’ll make sure he takes a look at it first thing Monday morning."

“That sounds good.”

Jake glances at me warily. I can tell that he thinks I’m being short with him because I’m angry.

But in truth, I'm just biting back a squeal of excitement.

I've had a crush on Jake Andrews ever since he laughed at my lame joke about abstract art during Harold Parker’s retirement party two weeks ago.

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