Page 7 of Courageous Yearnings

“Blythe,” he whispered, hesitating. “Why… why thank you. I really appreciate the head’s up because they wanted to charge sixty-five bucks to put it in the truck, and well, it’s something I can manage.”

“Exactly,” she muttered. “When do you work at the station again?”

“Tomorrow.”

“I’ll drop by tomorrow after I get off work, giving you the filter and the receipt. Just keep it in your glove box, and if anyone asks you – we’re related or some goofy excuse.”

“We’re dating?”

“We’re not, remember?”

“We’re banging each other?”

“Yeah, and that sentence right there is why I need my head examined for helping you out,” she muttered, starting to walk away… only to hear his soft laugh as he grabbed her hand.

“I’m kidding,” he admitted, looking at her. “But maybe someday we can grab dinner eventually.”

“When I want to dredge the sewers – perhaps.”

“Ouch, I have feelings, you know.”

“Let me guess – they’re all in your pants?”

“Clever girl,” he grinned, winking at her. “Gosh, I adore a feisty woman and…”

“Lance, don’t,” she began, looking at him, feeling a knot in her stomach because her radar had been soooo wrong regarding him. “Whatever you are about to say, just let it go. We obviously have two different views of what dating, relationships, or what intimacy looks like.”

“I haven’t stopped thinking about you,” he admitted in a hushed voice, his eyes holding hers. “If we need to take things slow, we can.”

“Lance, look, I’ll be honest with you,” she whispered, her eyes searching his, looking for any clue that he was shutting down. “I’m not your type. Am I attracted to you – sure – but we have very different values. I’m looking to have a partner in life. Someday, I want to get married, have a child, the works… and if you are looking for that, then I’ll happily admit that I am wrong about you.”

And there it was.

She could see it in his eyes the second those hazel orbs flicked to the side. He was about to lie to her, give her some false hope, or spout out a line of hooey that wouldn’t be worth the paper it was written on, and she braced herself.

“I’m not ready,” he said hoarsely, not looking away from her. “I really wish I was right now, but I won’t lie to you either.”

“Thank you,” she whispered tearfully, realizing that it was at least something. He respected her enough to give her the truth and if nothing else, she could appreciate that. “I would like to maybe talk someday or have coffee. Perhaps we could grow to be friends… but I just don’t think it’s in the cards for us, no matter what else is there.”

“Those feelings in my pants?” he chuckled softly, his eyes warming as he tried to crack a joke to bridge the divide between them that seemed to be yawning and growing wider every second.

“Exactly,” she smiled, nodding. “I’ve got to get back to work.”

“See you tomorrow?”

“I’ll drop it off.”

“Thank you again,” he began and hesitated. “Would it be weird if I kissed your cheek as an ‘I appreciate this’ gesture?”

“Probably,” she chuckled. “Goodbye, Lance.”

Backing away, she gave a little wave before turning and striding back across the parking lot toward the showroom doors. Yeah, she had just done her good deed for the day, hopefully countering the rest of the garbage she was spewing with each contract.

Sure enough, her boss was watching.

“Boyfriend? I recognize the photo on your desk.”

“Ex-boyfriend,” she amended, realizing it was a half-truth. She did have a photo on her desk, and she wished he was her boyfriend, but there was no way they were dating right now.

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