Page 7 of Forever After All

There was a good chance she was supposed to be doing something, but all she could think about was why Linc was looking at her like that.

Instead of hanging around for the awkward party, Jess got her bearings and stood to her feet.

The stupid shoes were to blame. And the dress. Never, ever again.

She focused on brushing off her knees and swiping down the front and sides of her dress.

Huh. Linc still wasn’t moving.

Jess offered him her hand again. Maybe she should just brace herself better this time.

Linc finally grinned and waved her hand away. “I got it.”

Jess assessed the damage. He didn’t seem to be bleeding. “Are you okay?”

“You might weigh a hundred pounds. I think I’ll live.”

Now that warmth that usually brought her peace was rising to her ears. That wasn’t a good sign. “Sorry.”

Linc gave a quick huff that was probably meant to be a chuckle. “If you wanted to throw yourself at me, you could have waited about thirty more seconds, and I would have caught you.”

And just like that, the heat in her face and ears began to subside. She hadn’t scared him off or offended him. He might be the only person left who hadn’t been ruffled by something she did, and she needed to hang onto this one remaining person she hadn’t damaged with her “personality.”

“For the record, I think you did catch me.”

Linc wiped the wrench on his pants. “Happy to do it, ma’am.”

Jess rolled her eyes and crossed her arms in front of her chest. At least he wasn’t laughing at her. “Like I was saying, can you help me? I have a date tomorrow, and I’m lost as a goose.”

“Do geese get lost? That seems unlikely.”

She huffed and brushed a hand down the side of her dress. “Focus, Linc. I need to know what guys expect on a date.”

Linc put the wrench away and took his time doing it.

“Please? I don’t know what I’m doing,” Jess said, almost pleading. He was her best chance of doing this whole dating thing the right way.

He closed the drawer on the toolbox and wiped his hands on a rag. “I think you should talk to someone else.”

“I can’t go to any of the girls here. They’ll get all mushy and talk about how it’s time to settle down and do the whole ring, babies, and minivan thing.”

Truly, she was tired of being told she needed those things. Sure, she wanted a husband. She’d settle for a boyfriend at this point, but the idea of having just any man as her partner didn’t appeal to her one bit.

Spending her life with someone she clicked with? That’s what she wanted. She wouldn’t settle for anything less.

“What about your brother?” Linc asked.

Jess’s shoulders sank. There was no way on earth she’d take dating advice from her brother. “I don’t want anyone to know about it. I’m not even sure I want to date, so I don’t want there to be expectations when this falls apart before it even gets started.”

Linc rested a boot on the creeper and rubbed his jaw. At least he wasn’t telling her a flat-out no. And if he wanted to, he would.

When his silence continued to drag, she asked, “What if he wants to kiss me?”

Linc jerked his chin up, and his wide eyes settled on hers. His foot propped on the creeper went flying, and he was on his back before she could get her head on straight.

“Ow,” Linc murmured. His brows knitted together, and his eyes closed tight.

Could they get through this humiliating conversation without Linc taking another hit? Maybe she should just try again later.

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