Page 62 of Mustang Summer

“Let’s give him a few moments before we take off,” Josie whispered.

Brock was deciding between standing awkwardly by his door or backing away when Josie crossed to Mr.Blackwell and threw her arms around him.He muttered some gruff words in her ear.They broke apart and he shuffled toward the house.Josie wiped her cheeks.

“Is that what it’s like to have grandparents?”she asked after they both climbed into the truck and drove away.

Brock mulled over the question but couldn’t figure out what she was asking.“What do you mean?”

“Kind people who say things that make you think they really care.”She wiggled in her seat until her legs were tucked under her as much as the seatbelt would allow.“My dad’s parents retired to Florida and I never see them.It would’ve been cool to get to know them.They immigrated here from Brazil, but moved as soon as my dad was old enough to be on his own.Hated Minnesota weather.My grandpa used to call me his little Mustang when he’d call.”She chuckled.“His filly that runs wild and free.My mom’s parents both passed when I was young.I hardly remember them.”

Brock had a close-knit family and that included grandparents.“I don’t know how to answer your question.”Man, it was nice to just be able to say that without worrying about the following interrogation.“My Gram lives in the nursing home.We lost Gramps when I was in high school.My mom’s parents are snowbirds who stay in Arizona year ’round instead of just the winter.”

“You had them all around growing up?”

“Yes.Big family gatherings.We’ll still smuggle Gram out of the home for holiday gatherings and barbeques.We’re having one this weekend if you want to stay.”

She didn’t answer.He glanced at her.Instead of being pleased at his invitation, her mouth was set and tears brimmed.

“What’s wrong?”

She looked at him in surprise and blinked back the tears.“Is the big gathering because my brother’s getting sentenced?”

“I don’t know.Probably.”He wasn’t clueless enough to miss the connection between her tears and their party because her brother was put away.“I’m sorry.”

“I know.”She focused out the passenger window as he turned onto the highway that’d take them back to Moore.

“I don’t need to go.It’s at Travis’s place.”But his cousins had discussed having it on the cement pad that survived her brother’s arson.“We’ll have our own barbeque.”

“That’s really sweet, but I shouldn’t keep you away from your—” She twisted in her seat, her mouth pulled down as she peered behind them.

“What?”

“Nothing.I thought I saw a car that looked familiar, but I can’t see around the Shelby.”

Brock let off the gas to slow down.

“No,” she almost shouted.Then she flopped around to face forward.“Just keep driving.”

Josie didn’t talk much the rest of the way home, and neither did he.She continued to monitor the rearview mirror with a line creasing her forehead.

The turn for the road to his place approached.“Are we still being followed?”

“No,” she said, her voice dull.“I must’ve been seeing things.”

When they arrived at his place, he swung around to back the trailer into the barn where he’d made room especially for the Shelby.It wouldn’t take much work before he’d move it to the long garage, but he’d get the grunge out of it and outline was needed to be done.

Josie followed his directions as they rolled the car off the trailer.Brock left her by the car to park the trailer and unhitch it.He left Josie unhooking the straps and parked his truck.

Dillon rolled into the yard and aimed straight for the barn.Brock jogged to meet him.Dillon might possess more manors than Cash, but Brock wasn’t going to leave Josie alone with him.It was Dillon who had the right to hold a grudge.

Brock met him before he reached the barn.

Dillon rolled down his window.“I saw you pass by when I was unhooking the sprayer.”He peered into the barn.“You got the Shelby.”

“Josie just helped me off-load it.”

Dillon got out, but didn’t make a move to go into the barn.“Things serious between you two?”

How’d he answer?He wasn’t interested in anyone else.He dreamed of her.Her body soothed him like no candle, hammock, or melody ever could.“I like her.”

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