Page 32 of The Way You Are

“Thank you for helping me with Berta. I wouldn’t be able to do this without you.”

Jake shifted on the couch, the leather creaking underneath the weight of his body. Finally, he said, “We’re happy to help.”

I noticed that he’d saidwe’renotI’m. It was an important distinction he thought was necessary to make. I already knew Ryan and Jake thought restoring Berta would be good for our businesses. That Jake wasn’t doing this out of any sort of affection toward me. We barely knew each other. This dinner wasn’t special. I shouldn’t mistake it for something more than it was. Yet, the entire conversation felt intimate, like this was a first date and we were getting to know each other.

His choice of words served as an important reminder and created necessary distance between us.

Jake went into a recitation of how things were when they first opened the garage. How they offered free classes on oil and tire changes to draw in more women. It was inspiring to hear that they struggled when they first opened and went through different marketing methods before they found a few that worked.

We finished eating and cleaned up the trash and leftovers. Jake stood in front of me, his hands in his pockets. “If you’re okay with it, I’ll get started on phase one this week. Feel free to stop by anytime to check on her progress.”

“I might do that.” I wasn’t sure I’d be able to offer any advice on the progress, but I’d like to see Berta and ensure she was okay. “You said you had a vehicle I could drive in the meantime?”

I was eager to escape this garage and Jake. I liked being around him too much. I had no business being attracted to him. We needed to work together.

“Let me grab the keys.” Jake turned on his heel and headed inside, presumably toward the office.

I took the few seconds to draw in some breaths, but his scent lingered. Everything in this garage reminded me of him. Needing fresh air, I walked outside.

He returned a minute later with a key ring. “It’s not Berta, but it’ll get you from point A to point B without an issue.”

Jake led me to a small, white SUV, opening the back so I could check out the storage area for my deliveries. It was small, but it would work. It was a newer model, so I wouldn’t need to worry about it breaking down. “Are you sure it’s not too much?”

Jake closed the hatch. “You’re doing us a favor. This is the least we could do.”

Again with the reference toweas if Jake wasn’t orchestrating this. I appreciated the reminder because that first date feeling returned, and I wondered if he’d kiss me when he stopped at the driver’s side door.

Instead of leaning toward him like I wanted to, I smiled woodenly. “You have it wrong. You’re the one helping me out.”

Jake gave me a look. “I can’t work on Berta unless I know you have a reliable way to deliver your flowers.”

I flushed at his teasing. “I hope that doesn’t happen again.”

Jake leaned in close, and my brain short-circuited. “Take the keys, Lily. I’ll feel better knowing you’re safe.”

There was no mistaking that this time he’d saidI. The low rumble of his voice vibrated through my body as his scent washed over me. Grease, sweat, and something primal. I wanted to step into his space and kiss the underside of his jaw and lips.

Instead, he took a tiny step back and held the keys in the space between us. When my fingers closed around the metal, he dropped his hand. I missed his proximity. I’d hoped he’d make a move, but he hadn’t because this was a business deal, not the beginning of a relationship, or even the start of a fling.

I was an idiot when it came to guys, reading into things that weren’t there, wishing for something that would never work out. Jake and I were too different. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’re doing.”

“It’s nothing.” Jake stuffed his hands into his pockets as he stood several feet away, his feet shoulder-width apart. He was all man, but he had this boyish look to his face when he was doing something out of his comfort zone.

I rolled my eyes at his characterization because it was everything. His good deed might allow me to offer more deliveries, the subscription service I’d been planning, and maybe even add revenue for the farm. It was everything.

I opened the door and climbed inside, hyperaware that he was watching me.

“Call if you have any questions.”

“I’m sure it will be fine.” I’d have an excuse to stop by and see him. That was the only thing that kept me in the cool leather seat when he moved closer to shut the door.

I wasn’t even sure he was interested in me. It was probably my overactive imagination always hoping to find the guy who might be my happily ever after, but those were only in fairy tales.

He seemed like a bad boy. A guy with a checkered history who needed someone to love him. He was essentially my catnip. Unfortunately, that same radar had left a string of failed relationships in my past. I wasn’t going down that path again.

Nine

JAKE

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