Page 39 of Trusting a Cowgirl

There was one thing for certain.

Grace wasn’t going to chase after him. But if he decided to ask her again…

She wouldn’t sayno.

15

Riley

Just when Rileythought that things would work out between himself and Grace—if he were to try—she went and said something that proved she was way out of reach. It was fine. Any normal person in his position would agree that pursuing a girl like her was problematic.

It wasn’t just because she was his therapist. There was the age difference. And then the obvious—she would never understand what he went through or how to help him. Not really.

The only people who had been able to get close to empathizing with him had been therapists who were once in the military themselves.

At the time, Riley had been so against therapy he’d burned every bridge he’d had. No one wanted to work with him back home.

No, they didn’t turn him away. But he could see it in their faces. They weren’t invested in helping him and he didn’t want their help anyway. So why waste his time?

Grace pulled her truck into a parking lot that had half-a-dozen cars parked there. The place was small and run-down, like it had been erected when the town was organized. It had to be the oldest building on the street. If not, it came really close.

Without looking at Grace, he climbed out of the truck and headed around back. He wasn’t surprised that Grace didn’t follow him. The space in that cab had felt tight. They were suffocating with the awkward position they’d put themselves in. Grace had put him in his place without even trying. He didn’t begrudge her for it. She was right, after all.

Riley just wasn’t cut out to find a relationship with a girl as amazing as she was.

He got the bike out of her truck and walked it toward the front of the shop. Then he headed inside. An older woman popped her head up from her computer and smiled at him. “Good afternoon. How can I help you?”

Riley thumbed over his shoulder toward the door. “I have a bike that needs to be looked at. I was hoping you guys could fit me in?”

She turned toward a door that led to the garage portion of the shop. “Bridget!”

A woman in coveralls and grease marring her face and hands wandered in from the back. Her hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail. She glanced in his direction with a wide grin then moved over to the woman behind the counter. “What did you need?”

“This young man has a—”

“Harley Davidson. It’s giving me troubles and I have to drive it back to the city in a few months.” His chest constricted. He’d done so much to prepare to stay, but at the current rate, he might be heading home after all.

The grease monkey wiped her hands on a rag, her focus on the windows behind him. “You staying with the Callahans?”

Riley jumped and looked back at the truck, clearly visible. “No. I—er—I’m staying at the country club.”

Understanding filled Bridget’s gaze. Apparently, it wasn’t any secret what Shane was cooking up at the club. Riley wasn’t surprised. If people were coming from out of state to a small town like this, there was bound to be talk.

He cleared his throat and gestured toward his bike which was also visible. “Do you think you’d have time to look at it this week?”

Bridget turned to the receptionist. “What’s my schedule like this week, Ms. Jacobs?”

She turned to her computer and clicked her mouse a few times. “Looks like the earliest slot is on Friday.”

They both turned to him expectantly. “Grace said this is the only place in town. It’s not like I have many options.”

Bridget snorted. “Of course she’d put it that way. I’ll have you know I have more experience fixing cars than ninety percent of the guys who work in shops like this one.”

“I don’t think she meant anything by it. She still brings her truck here,” Riley hurried to add. “I’m perfectly happy to wait until Friday.”

At least Bridget’s smile still appeared to be genuine. She didn’t look too upset by their conversation. In fact, her smile seemed brighter. “You tell Grace that I appreciate the referral. And if her truck starts acting up again, I’ll give her one on the house.”

Confusion washed over him. “Okay. I will.”

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