Page 6 of Forever After All

Linc’s wrench clanked against something underneath the truck. “Think of it as helping with minimal effort or expense.”

“That’s the definition of not helping at all,” Jess said.

Words had meanings, and she preferred when people used them accordingly. Say what you mean and mean what you say.

Hanson’s date proposal crept into her thoughts. She didn’t like the tightness that seeped into her shoulders. It was just a silly date. What was there to be nervous about?

More importantly, how was she supposed to handle nervousness?

She’d seen a few counselors in her teen years, mostly before her dad died. After that, she hadn’t wanted to talk to anyone. But one thing the counselors agreed on was that Jess hadn’t learned how to handle emotions and filter her reactions.

She still battled with it every day, but at least she was aware of it.

Linc bumped against a few things under the truck. She liked the fact that she could trust him to tell her the truth, even when it wasn’t what she wanted to hear. He’d be upfront with her. And he wouldn’t laugh about her lack of dating experience.

Guys didn’t like a woman like her. She was too blunt and didn’t stroke their ego enough. It also didn’t help that she could change her own flat tire and cut her own grass. She could do almost anything on her own. What she didn’t know how to do, Linc could teach her.

That’s why he was a good one to come to with this particular problem.

Jess readjusted her feet and cleared her throat. “What do guys like on a date?”

“Wha–?”

A bang came from beneath the truck, and she had a hunch it was Linc’s thick skull hitting the frame.

“You okay under there?” She couldn’t afford to lose her co-worker. Not right before the tourist season.

Linc moved around on the creeper for a few seconds before answering, “Fine.”

He slid out from under the truck, and her body warmed. There was something about seeing Linc that made her feel better. Every time.

Like, right now, she didn’t care that her nose was frozen.

She reached out a hand to help him up, and that peaceful warmth seeped into her hand.

Then he pulled, and instead of helping him up, she was falling toward him.

She landed on his chest with a loud grunt from both of them. Linc was flat on his back, and Jess was…

She was on top of him. Somehow, she hadn’t ever pictured herself in this position with Linc. Or any man, come to think of it.

When she lifted her head and looked at him, his nose was about an inch from hers.

So close. Closer than she’d ever been.

And he wasn’t looking at her like he was annoyed or any of the other usual looks she got from men once they realized she wasn’t as sophisticated as her blonde hair and feminine frame would suggest.

Linc’s eyes were wide, his mouth was open, and he looked like she’d just waved a snake in front of his face.

He hated snakes, but she promised him she’d never tell a soul.

To this day, she hadn’t. And she would keep her word.

Jess shrugged a shoulder. “Oops.”

It seemed funny, until Linc continued staring. She had a hard time reading social cues on a good day. What was she supposed to make of his frozen silence?

And his arm was around her, keeping her from falling the remaining three inches to the dirt beside him.

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