Page 13 of Mustang Summer

The older man sipped his lemonade and reclined in his chair.“What do you think it’d go for nowadays?”

“Fully refurbished, they’ve been known to sell for over a hundred and twenty thousand dollars, some up to two hundred thousand.”

Blackwood set his lemonade down and slapped his hands on his knees.“Well, I think we’re done now.You can go on home.”

Brock blinked.“But I haven’t seen it.”

“You don’t need to.”Knees cracked as Blackwood stood.“I’ve got someone else coming to interview.”

Brock’s mouth set, but he remained where he was.“I’d like to buy the car.”

It was the one he and his dad talked for years about working on together.

“So would a lot of people, but what you don’t seem to understand is that it isn’t just a car.”

No, he didn’t understand.And if he did, he wouldn’t be able to explain it anyway.What did Mr.Blackwood want other than to sell the car?Brock answered every one of his questions honestly.What had he done wrong?

He rose and stormed to his truck.

Always say good-bye.

“Bye,” he nearly shouted before he slammed his door.

He left while replaying the conversation.Were there any parts where he forgot to heed his mom’s advice?Running through the whole visit, all three minutes of it, he couldn’t find the place where he upset Mr.Blackwood.

He neared the turn to the bigger gravel road he’d been lost on and rolled to a complete stop.

A red sports car raised a cloud of dust in the distance.It drew closer and Brock stayed parked.

Candy apple red, the Mustang stood out against the brown dirt road and green countryside.Like the car Brock had hoped to purchase, it was a Shelby GT500, only fifty years newer.

The car slowed and the outline of the female driver became visible.She had sassy, dark hair that was all too familiar.

It turned in front of him, the driver wearing large sunglasses that covered half her face.Josie Alvarez.

She stopped next to him and lowered her window.He did the same, with a stirring in his stomach that threatened to move south.Matching emotions with what his body was feeling was always a challenge, but this was more obvious.She was sexy, and her car was nice, too.

“Why the long face, farm boy?”

Farm boy?What was she doing out here?There was nothing behind him except the spread of an ornery car dealer.“Are you going to see Mr.Blackwood?”

Her mouth curved in a sly smile.“It’s a nice car he’s got for sale.”

“I wouldn’t know.He wouldn’t let me see it.”

Surprise registered.“That picky is he?”She shrugged.“Eh, I can sweet talk him.”

She’d definitely have an advantage and not just because she was striking with her wild hair and yellow tank top.From the height of his truck, he got a peek of her toned legs bared from her impossibly short shorts.She wouldn’t succeed because of her looks, she’d be able to actually talk with him.

He swallowed hard with frustration and ran through his mental turmoil identification list to sort out what he was feeling beyond frustrated.He was irritated with Mr.Blackwood for brushing him off.And at himself because he wanted to hang out with Josie longer, ask about her car, peek under the hood.“Why do you want the car?”

His voice came out gruff and the way she peered at him, she must suspect he was angry or infatuated.And she was probably right on both accounts.

“It’s a nice hunk of metal.”Her tone lightened, but she didn’t offer a deeper explanation.

He studied her car.He was more of a collector guy, but there was no doubt her ride was sweet.Sleek, hot, and fast…like the girl behind the wheel.

“You like Mustangs,” he said.

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