by Reina Torres
He sensed her tense up beside him and knew that whatever came out of her mouth was going to be either something vague or not-quite-truthful.
“I got the car this morning in Utah. I guess you could say it was an impulse buy.”
Adam turned to look at her, surprised. Her words all had the ring of truth to them. Still, there was something very wrong with the engine laid out before him.
“Did you get it at one of those storage auctions? This thing is ancient.”
Oh, he’d climbed up on her nerves again. Even though he wasn’t the best at reading woman, it seemed like Blake Lennox was almost an open book to him, in hind sight.
And at that moment, he could tell that she didn’t like what he’d said.
Not at all.
“She’s a perfectly good car, but I think I overworked her. You know,” she gestured in the air in a vague circular pattern, “like when you get a cramp after getting back into exercise. I hardly gave her a chance to wind down. As soon as I bought her from Mrs. Lawrence we were on the road and on our way here.”
“So, you’re not just driving through?”
There it was again, that hesitation before she spoke.
“That depends on my old friend. She’s tried to get me to come visit a bunch of times, but I was always busy working and fighting for new opportunities. Now that I finally have a chance, I couldn’t pass it up.”
He leaned further, reaching for a cap and giving it a good twist. Rust came off, coloring his fingertips. “Well, this might take me a while to look at. If it’s giving you trouble you may be right, it might take more than quick fix to get her back on the road.
“But you’re in town to see a friend.” Adam looked at the clock displayed prominently on the wall of his shop, “I can take you to see them and get you something to eat.”
“Something to eat?” She lifted her chin to argue the point, but her stomach made its displeasure known with a loud growl that painted her cheeks a rosy pink. “Looks like I’ve been outvoted.”
He couldn’t help the smile on his face when she gave in.
“Don’t worry,” he reassured her, “I’ll fix your car. There hasn’t been one beyond my superpowers yet.”
She turned away and swept her hand over the front fender. “Okay, we’ll see if you can deliver.” Blake closed the door with a snap and turned back around.
Adam heard the sass in her voice he shook his head. “Now you’ve made this a thing.”
Blake gave him a curious look. “A ‘thing?’”
He nodded, taking his time, considering his words. “You gave me a challenge and I’m taking you up on it, I have to prove myself.”
Her expression changed, almost sad... maybe regret.
“Hey,” he walked around the fender and stopped within a foot of her so she could see his own expression, “what did I say?”
She shook her head. “Sorry, forget it.”
“Uh, no.” He didn’t know why, but he reached out and tucked the knuckle of his index finger under her chin and held her still. “If I was an ass, tell me.”
Blake blinked and tried to turn away, but he followed her, leaning into her line of sight.
“Blake-”
It was the sound of her name that turned her back to look at him.
“There you are.” He smiled, because how could he not when this beautiful woman filled his sight. “I’m not trying to hurt you. If I said something stupid, and... I probably did. Tell me.”
He saw the inward gasp of air that substituted for a breath. “You don’t have to prove anything to me, Adam.” Her eyes flickered up to his for a moment as if she didn’t know how he’d react, but he just smiled.
“I know, but I want to.” He moved his hand and extended his finger so he could lightly trace the graceful line of her jaw. “Call it a guy thing. I’ve got to show the pretty girl that I’m not all talk.”
Shock. “Pretty?”
“That and more,” he explained, lowering his hand back to his side, “but I’m trying not to mess up more than I already have.”
Her cheeks flushed with color. “Now I know you’re joking.”
Adam’s jaw tightened and a muscle at the back of his neck cramped. He raised a hand and rubbed at it. Trying to wring a happy smile out of Blake Lennox was quickly becoming a compulsion for him.
And he certainly wasn’t fighting it.
“Okay. Let’s get something out of the way,” he gave her a pointed look, “I mean what I say. I don’t just say things to make people feel better. It would be easier if I did, but I don’t. That doesn’t mean that I know who to explain myself clearly. I know my mother and then my sister tried to teach me.” He waited for some kind of reaction and got it. A little nod of her head. “So, here’s what we’re going to do.”
She watched him like she wasn’t quite sure where this was going. Thank goodness he did.
He was going to develop a little trust between them, because he couldn’t stand the idea of Blake doubting him, even though he knew that meant he’d probably gone a little crazy.
But as long as Blake Lennox remained close enough that he could see the way she swept her tongue over the lush curve of her bottom lip, he was fine with being a little off his rocker.
“You said you came to visit a friend.”
Her eyes brightened at his words and he continued.
“Since your car isn’t working, will you let me take you to see them? Pretty sure I know everyone who lives within twenty miles.” He saw her blush deepen.
“Well, I was going to have to ask you for directions any way. I didn’t bring my phone and the only map that shows Eagle Rock just shows the town as a dot on the road, nothing street level.” He gave her a nod hoping that she would continue. “She’s not even expecting me, so this might be a mistake.”
He had to admit how relieved he was that she hadn’t told him no, so he decided to keep her talking.
“I doubt it. Folks around here drop in on each other all the time. It’s no big deal when it comes to friends.”
He reached up to the top snap on his coveralls and she raised her hands between them. “Whoa, cowboy, what are you doing?”
He didn’t stop, opening three snaps before she visibly relaxed and he guessed she must have seen his t-shirt. Less than a minute later he bent down to remove his work boots.
Turning his head to look at her, he enjoyed the rosy flush that made her face a pretty rosy pink. “So, Blake Lennox, who is your friend in Eagle Rock?”
She wrapped her arms around herself as if she wasn’t sure she should answer and he started to wonder if the friend she was going to see was a boyfriend. And he wasn’t ready to hear that either.
But he offered to give her a ride and he was trying to prove his word to her, so he was stuck.
“Sadie Patterson.”
Yep, the fates were trying to kick him square in the backside. It was a good thing he was already bent over.
“Okay,” he pulled the overalls off and stepped back into his boots, “let’s go see your friend.”
Chapter 3
When they left the main part of town, he heard Blake’s soft sigh as she looked out of the windows. “It’s so beautiful out here. I don’t think I had a chance to really enjoy it when I was driving in. Between the map and praying that Thelma would hold together, I didn’t really look around much.”
“Thelma?” He’d heard some crazy names over the years. “Where did that come from?”
“Well,” she slid a look at him before she looked out the window again, leaning her cheek against the cool glass, “it was an impulsive decision on my part, but it was the first thing I thought of when I bought it.” Her shoulders shook in silent laughter. “I got in and said, ‘Well, Thelma, ride or die.’”
“Ride or die?” Adam slowed a little and turned to look at her. “Are you on some sort of multi-state crime spree?”
“No.” She paused and then added a couple of words that threw him for another loop. “Not re
ally.”
Her laughter was forced, but he wasn’t sure how to call her on it and not have her clam up.
“Should I take out a loan for bail money?”
“You’re giving me a ride to see my friend. That’s huge.” She shifted in her seat and it drew his attention to the way her knee bounced up and down. The road was bumpy enough that he hadn’t heard a sound.
“Okay,” he said the word and saw her visibly relax, but what she didn’t know is that he wasn’t going to let it go that easily. “Just know that I’m pretty good at solving problems.”
She turned and gave him a quick smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “If you can fix my car then you’re already a miracle worker. That’s all I can ask for.”
Oh, there’s a lot more that he could do. He just had to find a way to get past her tight smiles and placating comments. She didn’t want to ask for his help and he always liked a challenge.
So, he decided to switch to a different topic and work his way back around.
“How did you meet Sadie?”
Again, he saw her give him that incredulous look that she’d given him earlier, like she didn’t understand why he didn’t know her name. It wasn’t about ego. No, Blake wasn’t puffed up like some folks, but she really seemed confused about it.
Oh. Hmm.
“You work in Hollywood.”
She shrugged and he saw a self-depreciating smile on her face.
Oh boy. He’d messed something up.
Again.
“I work from time to time. Sadie’s always great to film with and she’s always the most gracious person on any set. It’s impossible not to fall in love with Sadie.”
“Hank’s a lucky man.”
“You know Hank?” Blake turned in her seat to look at him. “How?”
“We were both in the military.”
He heard her shift in her seat again, but he was ready for what she said next.
“You’re one of those under sell but over produce guys, right?”
Adam’s eyes narrowed on the road and he felt the skin between his brows furrow. “I have no idea what that means.”
“You’re one of those ‘still waters run deep’ guys. You understate everything. So, when you say you were in the military, you say it like you were just some dude in a uniform.”
He laughed at the surfer tone she gave to the word ‘dude.’
“When in reality you were probably more like G.I. Joe, super soldier.”
“G.I. Joe.” He shook his head. “You saw the movie?”
She gave him a huff. “I have all the comics,” her tone was full of pride, “I’ve seen every episode of the cartoon.”
“Okay,” he agreed with a nod, “then tell me-”
“Please tell me you’re not one of those guys who’s going to make me prove I’ve seen it.”
He gave her a little look and she held up her hands in surrender.
“Sorry. My bad. Go on.”
“Then tell me,” he paused waiting for her to cut in, and then continued when she covered her mouth with her hand, “who is your favorite Joe?”
“Lady Jaye.”
Her answer came out in a rush and they both shared a little chuckle at the speed.
“I can’t help it,” she told him, “she is the coolest person on the show. She can kick butt and look good while she’s pulling the wool over Destro’s eyes. Classy and strong, who wouldn’t fall for her?”
“So, you like her because you’re like her.”
Whatever she was going to say fell silent on her lips. “What?”
She sounded so confused, that he couldn’t help but smile. “You’re like Lady Jaye,” he explained. “Strong and classy. And I’m pretty sure you could knock me down if you wanted to.”
“Really?” She sat back in her seat, folding her arms over her chest. “That, I’d like to see.”
He had to tighten his grip on the steering wheel when all he wanted to do was pull off to the side of the road, wrap a hand around the back of her neck and kiss her senseless.
Oh, she could knock him over all right. And she wouldn’t need to lay a hand on him, just her lips.
Her hands... she could put those on him too, but that would be another problem for him. So many decisions. How did she like to be kissed? Did she like to be on top? Did she like-
“Hey.”
Her voice pulled him back to the moment and he had to admit that he’d been lost in his thoughts.
“Isn’t that the turn off?”
Sitting up, he saw Blake pointing back over her shoulder. Looking up into the rearview mirror he saw the sign for White Oak Ranch behind them.
“Sorry, I didn’t see that.” Easing the speed of his truck, he edged off the road and made a quick and easy U turn and then turned onto the drive for the ranch. “Good eyes.”
He saw the lift of her chin and the slow curl of her lips into a smile. She looked good. So damn good.
Before she could say anything, Blake sat forward on the passenger seat and set her hands on the dash as she stared at the ranch house. “Goodness!”
Adam tried to keep his eyes on the road and off the way her blouse was riding up in the back and showing him the sweet curve of her backside.
He silently growled at himself. What was he doing? He wasn’t usually this... this... interested? That was true, but there was something else. He found women attractive, but Blake got under his skin and he was sure he wasn’t going to get it out of his system anytime soon.
“Her house is beautiful!”
“You and my sister,” he laughed. “She calls it the White House of Eagle Rock and she’s not far off. Sadie and Hank are pretty much our first family. Me? I just look at that house and cringe over the size of their heating bills in the winter.”
Blake laughed and he saw her sag back against the passenger seat. “That’s the practical way to look at it, I guess, but I think I see their story looking back at me. There’s a lot of love in that house.”
He couldn’t help but be affected by the warm and wistful tone of her voice. “Is that what you want? A house that big?”
He saw her nose wrinkle up. “Goodness, no. I’d need to hire maids to keep something that big clean. I don’t need a home that big. I’d be happy with anything if I found a man who loved me the way Hank loves Sadie. I could be blissfully happy in a tiny house.”
There wasn’t time to continue their conversation. Adam brought his truck to a stop a few feet shy of the front steps and set the brake. He pushed open his door and turned to look at Blake. She seemed frozen in her seat. Her gaze focused up at the door.
Reaching over, Adam touched her arm. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” Her voice was a tight, strangled sound. “I’m fine. It’s just been awhile.”
“If you want to come back later, I’ll bring you out again.”
“No.” She shook her head once, as if she had to convince herself that she meant her words. “I’m not going to take up any more of your time than I already have with this visit.” She pushed open the passenger door and hopped out before he could get there to give her a hand.
All he had to do was catch up to her on the steps and by the time they reached the porch, he had his hand on her lower back, gently moving her toward the door.
She felt his hand on her back and fought the urge to lean into his touch. It didn’t feel awkward when he touched her. She didn’t feel like he was trying to manhandle her like other men had.
Or the others who thought they had to hurry her along because a curvy girl just had to be slow, sigh. What surprised her even more was her instinctual need to tuck herself against his side and see if he was as warm and comforting as she hoped he was.
What was happening to her?
She was going insane. On the run across almost half the country. She needed a place to hide, not a crush. But oh, how she would love to have him crush his lips against hers.
For the first time in a long time she was really upset that sh
e wasn’t the kind of woman who could really attract a man like him. A lead actress like Sadie. Being the chubby best friend wasn’t fun to begin with, but moments like this made being the ‘friendzone’ girl really suck.
They stopped just short of the front door and that’s when she got cold feet.
Blake hesitated and Adam turned to look at her.
She didn’t look right at him, couldn’t. Being a chicken wasn’t something she enjoyed. The last thing she wanted to do was to see some kind of judgment on his face. Okay, really the last thing she wanted to see was sympathy or something like that.
Blake felt sorry enough for herself. Seeing pity directed at her would push her closer to the edge. Even though Adam had distracted her with a little banter and laughs, she was already wound tight wondering what had happened back in Los Angeles since she’d been gone.
Her only hope at the moment was to see if Sadie would help her, give her some advice on how to handle the storm that was coming.
“Blake?”
Adam’s hand lifted from her back and she felt the loss immediately. Then she felt it on her shoulder, brushing her hair back before it settled down enough to give her a little squeeze.
“Is something wrong?”
“Just- It’s just nerves,” she blurted out, “I should have called. Maybe we should go back and I’ll call, but-” She blinked back unwanted tears. “I don’t have my phone so I don’t have her number,” she gasped in a breath, struggling to hold herself together. The weight of her worries was suddenly bearing down on her like heavens pushing Atlas toward the ground. And she wasn’t anything like Atlas. She was just Blake Lennox, the fun fat friend to leading ladies everywhere. “I can’t-”
The front door opened and if Adam’s hand hadn’t been on her shoulder she would have fallen backwards with shock. The man that filled the doorway was a real honest to goodness cowboy. He could have been dressed in a three-piece suit but there was something real and natural about him that just from a look at his face she could imagine him sitting tall in a saddle, his gaze sweeping the land.
Maybe it was just fanciful thinking, but it felt right down to her bones.