Drive Me Wild

by Melanie Harlow

  “Whoa. This is serious.”

  “That’s what I’m saying.” I rubbed my face with both hands. “So can you please just help me out? Did she say anything?”

  My sister relented and spoke softly. “Of course she did, Griffin. She’s in love with you.”

  My heart immediately shot into my throat. I fisted my hands in my hair. “She said that?”

  “No, but she didn’t have to. I could just tell.”

  I dropped my arms. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “If you want her, go get her back. But I’ll tell you this, Griff.” My sister’s voice took on a warning note. “Do not mess with her. She has a really great thing going up there. A place to live, people that care about her, a job she loves. She’s definitely hung up on you, and if you apologized and asked for another chance, I bet she’d give it—but you better be sure it’s what you want.”

  I didn’t even have to think about it. “It’s what I want.”

  “Finally.” She opened her arms and gave me a hug that felt surprisingly good. “I love you, you big jerk. Why do you have to make things so difficult?”

  “I don’t know,” I said. “I guess I just like to fight.”

  She laughed and patted my back. “Well, now you have something worth fighting for. Go get her.”

  Later that afternoon, I was still trying to think of what I could say to Blair that would convince her I deserved a second chance when Charlie Frankel approached me. “This is wonderful, wonderful,” he said, shaking my hand.

  “Thank you.”

  “Your dad and granddad sure would be proud.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  “Did you see those apple pies over there? Blair baked them. With Betty’s recipe.” He looked sheepish. “I had it all this time, you see. I had my reasons for keeping it to myself, but Blair reminds me so much of Betty—such a good heart and a bright spirit—I knew she was the right person to trust with it.”

  I swallowed hard. “Blair will take good care of it.”

  “She stopped by to see me today.”

  Jealousy kicked me in the gut. “Oh?”

  “Yes. She brought me a pie of my own, and we sat on the porch and had a piece with some tea, even though it was just nine in the morning.” He chuckled at the thought.

  I swallowed hard. “Sounds nice.”

  “We had a nice chat,” Frankel went on, scratching his head, “and she talked a lot about this event and all she’d learned working for you. I hope you won’t think this too forward, but she also mentioned that the bank has been reluctant to give you a loan.”

  “Reluctant is one way to put it,” I said stiffly.

  “Well, I was thinking. I’m a very good customer at that bank. My family has been for generations. And I bet if I co-signed on that loan, they’d be more willing to approve it.”

  My jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”

  “Sure. I see the good work you’re doing here, and I know how hard it can be to keep a small, family-owned business running. I believe we have to invest in the people we know, the people who make this town what it is. Your family has been in business here a long time too, and I’d like to keep it that way. Let me help you.”

  I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say you’ll come over sometime soon and we can talk about what you need. Then I’ll make an appointment with the bank, and we’ll go in together.”

  I held out my hand. “It’s a deal, Mr. Frankel. And thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, Griffin. Now can I offer a piece of advice?”

  “Sure.”

  “Girls like Betty and Blair don’t come along too often. They’re special. One in a million.” He put a hand on my shoulder. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but I offered Blair the loan first. I thought she could use it to start her own bakery in town, but she said no. She said if anyone deserved the help, it was you.”

  Again, I found myself at a loss for words, which made Frankel laugh.

  He gave my shoulder a squeeze. “Don’t let her get away, son.”

  I swallowed hard. “I won’t. I promise you, I won’t.”

  That evening, Cole and I sat side by side in the dugout, waiting for the game to start. “Hey, I’m sorry about yesterday,” I said.

  He gave me a funny look. “You don’t owe me an apology.”

  “Yes, I do. You were trying to be honest with me, and I didn’t want to hear it, so I was a dick. It’s not you I’m mad at.”

  He laughed. “I know. I’ve been your best friend for twenty-five years, remember? I see through all your bullshit by now.”

  I laughed too, feeling better. “Anyway, thanks for the advice.”

  “You gonna take it?”

  “Yeah. But don’t let it go to your head.” I grinned at him. “Now let’s win this thing so I can go fix what I broke.”

  The game was a nail-biter—no score until the top of the seventh, when Cole’s arm started to give him trouble and the Mavs scored a two-run homer. Thankfully, I managed to get on base in the bottom of the eighth, Moretti hit a double right after that, and then Beckett ripped a monster line drive up the third baseline that the Mavs’ third baseman couldn’t get a glove on and the left fielder fumbled. I scored, Moretti scored, and Beckett made it to third. But the batter after that struck out, and we took the field for the final inning with a tie game.

  Thanks to Cole’s resilience and a kick-ass double play, we managed to keep them from scoring during the top of the ninth. All we needed was one run to win this game and keep our championship title—which we got when I swung at a fastball at the top of the strike zone and sent it flying over the fence in left field.

  I ran the bases with a smile on my face and crossed home plate to celebrate the win with my teammates, who were rushing out of the dugout, hands in the air, yelling at the top of their lungs.

  That’s when I looked up in the stands and saw her. She was in the visitors’ section of the bleachers, wearing the white dress she’d worn the night of our picnic, a floppy sun hat on her head, and sunglasses covering her eyes.

  At first glance, I thought maybe I’d been mistaken. My mother and Cheyenne had both insisted Blair had left the house as quickly as she’d arrived this morning, claiming she had to get back to her job.

  But it was her. I knew it because she took off her sunglasses right then, and the moment we locked eyes, my heart exploded. She immediately shoved them back on and started making her way to the end of the row, as if she were trying to make a quick escape. I wanted to stop her, but I felt myself being hoisted onto my teammates’ shoulders and paraded back to the dugout. By the time they set me down, she was gone.

  I didn’t wait around. I grabbed my keys and took off running. If I didn’t catch her on foot, I’d catch up to her on the highway. There was no fucking way I was letting her go again.

  “Dempsey! What the hell! Where you going? Come back!”

  Ignoring the jeers from my team, I sprinted toward the parking lot and was halfway to my truck when I heard the boom of a tire blow out.

  With a glance at the sky, I picked up my pace.

  Twenty-Four

  Blair

  No.

  This couldn’t be happening.

  What the hell did the universe have against me?

  Had I been a total jerk in a previous life? Was this some karmic bullshit I couldn’t escape? Maybe there was such a thing as fate, and my stars were way, way out of alignment.

  Just like my steering wheel.

  I flopped forward and banged my head against it.

  I’d only wanted to see the game. It had been so important to him, to everyone. I’d thought if I sat in the visitors’ section, wore a hat and sunglasses and stayed quiet, I’d go unnoticed.

  But he’d seen me, I knew he had. We’d locked eyes, and I hadn’t been able to breathe.

  Then I’d panicked—it was so embarrassing! So obvious that I was still clingi
ng to hope, even after he’d told me in no uncertain terms we were through. I’d rushed out of the stands and raced toward the parking lot, praying I could get out of there before anyone else spotted me. Jumping into my car, I tossed my hat aside and took off so fast, my tires spit gravel.

  But I was flustered and I’d gotten turned around in the lot, unsure which way the exit was. Was it over there by the tennis court? Over this way by the soccer field? My eyes blurry with tears, I found myself speeding up and down row after row like I was in a maze I couldn’t get out of. There were a bunch of orange and white barrels everywhere, and the pavement was all rocky and pockmarked. Finally, I saw a way out, and I hit the gas.

  And then—boom! I felt a familiar explosion beneath my car and slammed on the brakes.

  My car skidded sideways, wobbled and shuddered, jumped the curb and struck a huge boulder on the school lawn that had two words painted on it: WELCOME BACK!

  God. This was so unfair.

  I choked back a sob as I got out of the car.

  “Blair!”

  Startled, I looked to my left and saw Griffin running at me across the parking lot as if his life depended on it. Reaching my side, he fell forward, hands on his knees, breathing hard. “Blair, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. Are you okay?”

  “Yes.” He straightened up, still huffing and puffing. “Just don’t faint yet. I need a second to catch my breath.”

  My face burned, and I shook my head. “I’m not going to faint.”

  “Good. Are you sure you’re all right?” He took me by the upper arms, and gooseflesh rippled across my skin.

  “Yes. I’m just really embarrassed.” Fans from the game were heading toward their cars now, and many of them were staring at us.

  “Why?”

  “Because I didn’t want you to see me here. And I just blew another tire. Also I might have damaged this rock that’s probably been here for a hundred years.” I gestured toward it.

  “I’m sure you were legally parked when it hit you.”

  I almost smiled. A tear slipped down my cheek. “I’m a disaster.”

  “Stop it. You’re beautiful.” He brushed it with his thumb. “Do you know how happy I am to see you here?”

  My heart stopped beating. “You are?”

  He took my face in his hands. “If it weren’t for that game, I’d already be on your doorstep right now, begging your forgiveness.”

  “You would?”

  “Yes. I’m so sorry, Blair. I was wrong to send you away like that. I lied about how I felt because I was scared. I swear to God, the minute you were gone, I realized my mistake, but I was too stubborn to admit it.”

  “You really hurt me,” I said quietly.

  “I know. And I’m sorry. I hated myself for it. You just . . . took me by surprise. I had no idea someone like you even existed, and I was totally unprepared for the way you made me feel. But I don’t want to fight it anymore.”

  The crowd behind him was closing in around us, and I could hear some people murmuring with curiosity, and others shushing the murmurers so they could hear better.

  “Um, we’re surrounded,” I whispered.

  “Doesn’t matter,” he said with a wry, crooked grin. “It’s not like it’s possible to have any secrets in this town.”

  “True.”

  “Nothing was good without you, Blair. I need you in my life. And I don’t care who knows it.”

  “Griffin,” I said, tears splashing down my cheeks.

  He wiped them away with his thumbs. “Say you’ll give me another chance.”

  “I want to, but I’m scared. I trusted you.”

  “Don’t be scared.” He pressed his lips to my forehead. “I am the man you thought I was, Blair. Let me prove it to you.”

  I felt like the crowd was holding its breath right along with me.

  “Say yes! He means it!” someone shouted.

  “Mariah, be quiet!” a man’s voice scolded.

  “But Dad, you can tell he does. And she’s wearing a white dress. Maybe this means they’ll get married for real.”

  I started to laugh, even though I couldn’t stop crying. “I really do love this town.”

  “Does that mean you’ll come back?”

  “It means you can have your second chance. Beyond that, we’ll talk.”

  Then his lips were on mine, the crowd around us cheered, and I felt myself being lifted right off the ground.

  That’s when I knew—if a place could love you back, or grow arms and hug you, that’s what this place would do.

  After we towed my car to the garage, I called Frannie to let her know what happened.

  “Oh my God, really?” she shrieked. “You blew another tire? That’s some seriously bad luck.”

  “Or good luck, depending on how you look at it.” I exchanged a smile with Griffin as he opened the door of his truck for me.

  Frannie laughed. “Right! So you guys got back together right there at the scene? With a crowd around you?”

  “Yes,” I said, climbing into the passenger seat. “We’ve given them something to talk about tomorrow for sure.”

  “I can’t wait to hear all the details,” she squealed. “Listen, don’t worry about coming back tonight. Just stay there and enjoy.”

  “Are you sure? Griffin said he’d be glad to drive me.”

  “I’m positive. And since we’re closed on Mondays, you don’t have to rush back tomorrow either. Take the whole weekend.”

  “You’re the best, Frannie. I’ll see you Tuesday.”

  “All good?” Griffin asked, sliding behind the wheel.

  “All good. You don’t have to bring me back right away.”

  He grabbed my hand and kissed it. “I might never want to bring you back.”

  I smiled. “We’ll talk.”

  Griffin and I met up with the rest of the team at the pub to celebrate. The moment Cheyenne saw me, she hugged me hard and dragged me into the bathroom to get the scoop.

  “Did he grovel?” she squeaked. “I can’t believe I missed the big scene!”

  I laughed. “Kind of. He was pretty apologetic and took all the blame. He asked me for a second chance.”

  “Good. He told me earlier today he was going to get you back, and I was so worried he’d mess it up.”

  I shook my head. “He didn’t. We still have some things to figure out, but I have a really good feeling we can make it work.”

  Cheyenne grinned. “Me too.”

  “You know what this means, though,” I said as we walked back to the table.

  “What?”

  I steered her toward the empty seat next to Cole. “It’s your turn next.”

  “Bisou!” The moment I saw her, I dropped to my knees on the floor and scooped her up, misty-eyed. “I missed you so much!”

  “She missed you too,” said Griffin. “I’m going to grab a shower, okay?”

  “Sure. I’ll feed her.” I snuggled the cat for a minute before setting her down, but even after I stood, she wound herself around my foot and rubbed her head against my ankle. Laughing, I reached down to pet her again. “I’m not going anywhere yet,” I promised.

  I fed her, turned out all the lights, and undressed in Griffin’s bedroom. When he came out of the bathroom, I was already under the covers.

  “God, you have no idea how happy I am to see you back in my bed,” he said, crawling in beside me. “I had no idea how lonely this place could be.”

  We lay on our sides, facing each other. “I was lonely too,” I told him, running a fingertip over the ink on his chest.

  He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Can you forgive me for being such a stubborn jerk?”

  “Maybe.” I smiled mischievously. “But I get to ask you some questions first.”

  He groaned. “I forgot about you and the questions.”

  “Those are my terms.”

  “Then I guess I have to meet them. Ask away.”

  “Were you really going to drive up n
orth to get me back today?”

  He nodded. “I promised both my sister and Charlie Frankel I would. They will vouch for me. And speaking of Charlie Frankel, he offered to co-sign a loan for me at the bank.”

  “He did?” My heart trilled happily. “Did you say yes?”

  “Of course I did. If you’re stuck in a tower and someone offers to lend you a ladder, you’d be stupid not to use it.”

  I laughed. “Right.”

  “I know it was you that encouraged him to make the offer, Blair. And I can’t tell you how much that means to me. To my family.”

  “Well, you deserve it. You work so hard. How was the event?”

  “It was amazing. And it sucked.”

  I gasped. “It sucked? Why?”

  “Because you weren’t there. And you’d done so much to make it the success that it was. I kept looking around all day, hoping to see your face in the crowd.”

  “I made myself stay away,” I told him quietly. “I was scared I’d break down if I saw you.”

  “What made you come to the game?”

  “Are you kidding? I couldn’t miss the old man baseball league championship!” I slapped at his shoulder. “I lied and told your mom and sister I was going right back to Traverse City so they wouldn’t look for me. But the truth was, Frannie had given me the whole day off in case . . . just in case.” I sighed. “So I hid out at Charlie Frankel’s house all day. He was the only one who knew I was there.”

  “He adores you.”

  “He’s sweet.”

  “I adore you.” He ran a hand over my hip, and his cock stirred between us. “And I can’t wait to show you how much. Are we done with questions yet?”

  “Nope. I get two more. Is it true that you hid the parts for my car for over a week because you didn’t want me to leave?”

  He sighed. “It’s true.”

  “You big lug, why didn’t you just say you wanted me to stay?” I shouted, although it made me happy to hear him admit what he’d done.

  “Because saying that out loud would mean owning up to feelings I did not want to have,” he said.