Page 18 of Catching Sparks

“The shop. To Brody, I suppose.”

“You know mechanics?” I hope the shock I’m feeling isn’t obvious in my tone.

“No. But there was an . . . incident yesterday, and it turns out I’m not much of a help anywhere else. Wade ordered me to head to the shop this morning.”

“What kind of incident?”

He narrows his eyes on me, a warning to piss off with my questions, before he says, “I didn’t particularly want to take my rental car over these horrific roads again, but that seems to be my only option now.”

“I could take you to the shop. Teach you a couple things about driving stick while I’m at it,” I offer, my voice surprisingly shy.

He hides his surprise well, but not well enough. I watch it flick across his features before he’s scowling again, as closed off as ever. I don’t let it bother me. It doesn’t matter.

“Or not,” I add.

“What would you want in return?”

“Excuse me?”

“You want to do this for me, why? Surely you want something for it.”

I scoff in disbelief, a pit growing in my stomach. “What could I possibly want from you?”

“What wouldn’t you want?”

I grip the window hard before dropping my hand to my side and stepping back. He watches me closely, examining my every breath.

“Right then. Have a great day, Garrison Beckett.”

I’m grateful the gawking group of gossiping men has dissipated as I stalk back to my car, my blood boiling. Fuck that guy and his?—

“Are you trying to intimidate me by using my last name every possible chance you get?” he barks, the door creaking open.

I whip around and curl my lip, losing the hold on my frustration. “I was trying to help you!”

“I didn’t ask for your help!”

“Is that what you’re used to in your life back wherever it is you came from? Having to beg for help when you clearly need it? Expecting someone to demand something of you when you do ask for it?”

His nostrils flare, mouth sealing shut as he replicates my stance with his hands on his narrow waist. A power stance. One I’m sure has won him more than a thousand battles as a big, fancy CEO.

“For God’s sake, stop picking a fight with everyone over everything. This ranch is full of good people. Really, really good ones. The best I’ve ever met. So just cut it out already,” I say on an exhale.

“You don’t know me, Poppy.”

“That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

There’s no attempting to hide his following wince. Not when I’m watching him so intently. I revel at the glimpse of emotion, already itching for another.

“Clearly, I am out of my element here. I appreciate your offer. Truly,” he says, voice calmer than I’ve heard it thus far, but that isn’t saying much.

I nod. “Okay, so, do you want a lesson, or shall I leave you to figure it out on your own? I do have a hair appointment to make sometime today.”

Realization fills his gaze. “Ah, so that’s what Anna does.”

“You didn’t know that? Aren’t you supposed to know everything about everyone?”

“Most of the time. There seem to be a few things in this town I don’t know about still.”

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