Page 55 of To Belong Together
When John caught a glimpse of Erin, he smiled for the first time since getting behind the wheel. The tension from driving and from the situation with Tim had fed a headache. He’d taken something for the pain as he waited for her. Now, as she exited Hirsh Auto and turned his direction, he deemed it all worthwhile.
She wore jeans—the kind that comfortably hinted at shape without hugging every curve—and a hooded sweatshirt emblazoned with a tool manufacturer’s logo. She might know his identity, but she hadn’t turned into a groupie.
Another reason to like her.
He let the car roll forward, out of the parking space.
The sun hit her hair so the blue shone, but as she neared, he noted her drawn expression. She dropped into his passenger seat without making eye contact.
“Ready?”
She took a deep breath and forced a smile. “More than.”
“Me too.” He punched the car into a small opening in traffic to prove the point. Panic checked him too late to back out of the maneuver.
Pulling out with so little room to spare hadn’t been his safest move.
No harm, no foul.
He’d know he’d recovered from the accident when he no longer had to convince himself.
Since he’d warned her they were going to Montclair, he followed the country highway that direction without explanation. Snow had melted off some high spots, but most of the countryside remained white.
Erin’s hands fidgeted in her lap.
He’d instigated this, so the burden of conversation must fall to him. “What car should I get?”
“What do you want?” Her voice was incredulous, like she couldn’t believe he’d ask.
“Your advice. What’s your dream car?”
When she responded with silence, he looked over.
Her cheeks flushed, and she bit her lip.
He’d flustered her? His concerns about being in another wreck battled with his desire to watch her more closely.
“I’m riding in it.”
“What?” That had backfired. He’d expected to give her the fun of test driving her dream car, and then they’d go home and he’d order his sedan. But if this was her dream car … “You want to drive?”
“Maybe later. For now, I’m perfectly happy in the passenger seat.”
If her tone didn’t reinforce the statement so perfectly, he’d dismiss it as a pointless attempt at being polite and would pull over to switch seats. But she seemed to mean it, and they had the whole day ahead of them.
“Besides. Don’t let it go to your head.” She smirked. “Obviously,minewill be blue.”
He smiled. “Obviously.”
“Anyway, this isn’t about my dream car. It’s about yours. I could see you in a hybrid.” She hunched her shoulders and held her hands up as if to steer a clown car. “Efficient and environmentally friendly. You like the environment, don’t you? I saw the forest tattoo.”
He chuckled. “I’ll help the environment other ways.”
She relaxed into her seat. “Then try some of the other popular sedans.”
“Why those?”
“Because there’s a reason you don’t drive this—or something even flashier—everywhere.”
