Page 56 of Just Enough

I ignored her and cut off the engine. “Just take a loaner until you find you one, that’s all.”Lie.

I knew this whole situation made her uncomfortable. She hated the idea of having to take from me. But I didn’t see it like that at all. I always wanted to help her, she knew this, much to her annoyance sometimes, but I wasn’t ever going to change.

I didn’t want to take away her independence either, only wanted to help her along with it. It was only a matter of time before she’d be able to quit Crash’s for writing full-time. It might not be Gorilla Ben and Rosie that made that happen, but she’d write something that would be the one that would let her hobby become a full-time job. I was optimistic, and I’d annoy the shit out of her until it happened.

So, I guess I was pushy too.

“No.”

No wasn’t going to work on me. I stepped out of the truck and walked over to her side. She locked the door, and I unlocked it with my key. She glared. I showed my teeth. I took her hand and held it tight in mine as I helped her out of the car.

“Wait, Benjamin.” She grabbed my hand that held hers and met my eyes with panic. “Just let me use your truck for now, and you can use one of the loaners. Just until I find myself something.” She took a deep breath and immediately looked better. “There, I asked you for help. I don’t know how long it will take, but I’ll try to save up quickly.”

I never thought to give her mine. “Okay.” She sighed in relief and released my hand, but I tightened my hold on hers. “Let’s go pick me out a new ride.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re so obnoxious.”

All I could think about though was how she let me hold her hand.

Thirty minutes later, after gauging her reaction to every vehicle in the parking lot, I decided on the green Ford Raptor. She wouldn’t give me any opinions on what she thought I should get, so instead, I had to watch her for a reaction as we walked through every vehicle in the lot until I saw the look she had while looking at the truck.

So, I got it. I tossed her the keys to my truck—let’s just call it mine even though I wouldn’t ever take it from her and went inside while she waited outside.

Dad was in his office. There were several closed-off offices throughout the building for his dealers so that they could deal with families alone—giving them privacy. He looked up from paperwork. “Did she find herself something?”

“She’s just gonna use my truck. I’m going to take the green Raptor off the lot for myself.” I grinned, and he shook his head.

“I just got that one in too.” He sighed.

“This is better though, she’s more comfortable with the idea of using mine than taking one from the lot.” He nodded. “Besides, I saw her reaction to the truck. She loves it. I’ll just let her drive it when she wants.”

He tilted his head and considered something. “Good bunch, her and her dad. Nolan sure straightened up. Never saw him come out of the house while he drank. Good company, too.” I just looked at him because I had no idea why he was talking about Emily’s dad. “Junior,” he started, and I already dreaded whatever it was he was going to say. “You ever going to tell her how you feel?”

“I don’t want to talk about this.”

“You need to talk about it. You’re invested in her so much—heart and soul—seems like.” Didn’t I know it. “Feelings like that…that get a chance to fester and grow through the years are just like anger. You hold it in too long, you’re gonna eventually burst, and you can’t predict the outcome when it happens.”

“I got it perfectly under control.”

“I don’t think you do.”

Truthfully, neither did I.

______

Emily

“Get in the buggy, Emily,” Benjamin practically growled behind me. With the authoritative tone and his already deep voice, my stomach swam with a million butterflies.

Being around Benjamin was like a whole new experience, one I didn’t know if I could master. I was strangely nervous and aware of every little thing he did or said whether it was his movements or the way he grabbed my hand.

He gestured toward the shopping cart in his hand, and I frowned. “I’m not getting in there, so you can stroll me around. What are we, twelve?”

He arched a dark eyebrow. “Could be. You haven’t gotten any taller since then.”

I ignored that comment and folded my hands underneath my chest. “I’m hungry. Let’s not leave until the buggy’s full since you’re buying.”

He peeked at me from the corner of his eye. “Says the one that was just complaining earlier about—”

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