Chapter 6

Six

Lily

O n the long drive home, after my deliveries were completed for the day, I worked out plans for the new subscription service and what I wanted to offer. I thought about possible arrangements that would be cost effective for me, plus provide satisfying blooms at each time of year. I made a mental list of the things I’d need to do: update my website with the options, find out who could create personalized vases, the distance I was willing to go to make deliveries.

My heart stuttered when I saw heat rising from Berta’s hood. “No, no, no.”

I slowly eased up off the gas, not sure what to do. I couldn’t exactly search online for answers while I was driving on a major highway. I didn’t want to be on the side of the road again with tractor trailers flying by. It wasn’t safe.

I was most likely out of Jake’s tow zone. I gripped the steering wheel tighter as I carefully changed lanes until I was in the far right one, hoping for an off-ramp.

“Come on. Come on.” I chewed on my lower lip as the smoke continued to rise from the hood.

What was I going to do? I didn’t want to pull over. I wasn’t sure how long I’d need to wait for a tow truck. Could I make it to an off-ramp? Was it a good idea to keep driving with the engine overheating? It didn’t sound like the best idea, but then, pulling to the side of the road on a highway wasn’t a great option either.

I wished I’d taken Jake up on his offer to do more maintenance on the vehicle.

I sighed as I tried to ease the tension in my neck and shoulders. I wished I had Bluetooth in the van so I could call and ask someone for advice. As it was, I was too nervous to take my hands off the wheel to dial my phone.

Finally, a sign indicated there was an off-ramp coming up. I eased off the highway as soon as I saw the exit lane. The smoke was heavier than when I’d first noticed it. I wished I could have made it to a lit parking lot, but I wasn’t sure it was a good idea to keep driving.

Pulling over to the shoulder on the side of the ramp, I grabbed my phone, wondering who I should call. Jake’s card sat on the console, beckoning me. I rested my head on the seat back. Jake would be pissed I was in this situation again. Would he even come?

No, he’d told me to call if I needed anything, and he had a tow service. It was quicker than calling a different service and waiting five hours for someone to show up. If they did at all. I’d been in that situation before.

I drew in a deep breath and dialed the number Jake scrawled on the back of the card. It was after-hours, so his cell was my best bet.

Jake answered, and everything in my body froze.

“Jake.” My voice cracked.

“Lily? Are you okay? Where are you?”

“I was on 95 when smoke started coming from the hood.”

I heard a rustling noise over the line.

“I wasn’t sure what to do.” I continually scanned the area for anything suspicious. Other than the occasional vehicle on the off-ramp, it was quiet.

I heard a door open and close. “You on the highway?”

“I pulled off to the exit ramp.” I relayed the number so he could find me.

He grunted. “Are you safe?”

I looked around. “It’s getting dark, but there hasn’t been much traffic on the ramp since I stopped.”

“Listen, I’m on my way, and, Lily, please call me if you need me.”

Tingles erupted over my skin when he’d said my name.

“Even if it’s just to have someone to talk to.”

“I can do that.” His voice settled my nerves.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.” The rumble of his engine met my ear.

“Thank you, Jake.” I wanted to tell him to hurry, but I knew he already was. I was unbelievably grateful for his steadying, take-control voice in my ear.

“Call me back for any reason.” His voice was insistent.

“I will.” I turned off the van’s lights so that people would think it was an abandoned vehicle and wouldn’t stop.

He clicked off, and I relaxed slightly, knowing Jake was on his way. I wanted to close my eyes and sleep for a year, but I should be aware of my surroundings. A woman alone in a broken-down vehicle wasn’t a good situation.

I kept my fingers on my phone in case I needed to call Jake or the police quickly, but thankfully, no one stopped.

It was probably only forty-five minutes, even though it felt like hours, when Jake’s tow truck rumbled past me, pulled off onto the shoulder, and backed up.

The door opened, and I expected Jake to hitch the van to his truck, but he stalked toward my door, so I rolled down the window.

His mouth was drawn into a tight line, his face filled with concern. “You okay?”

I let out a breath. “I am now.”

Something flashed in Jake’s eyes, but I couldn’t determine what it was. “Why don’t you get in the cab of my truck? It’s warmer.”

“Of course.” I grabbed my purse and the one extra flower arrangement I still had and opened the door. Jake helped me hop down and used the flashlight on his phone to lead the way to the passenger side of his vehicle.

He gave me a boost into the passenger seat of the tow truck, which was considerably taller than any vehicle I’d been inside before. “I’ll just be a minute.”

He shut the door and moved to attach my van. Berta looked small and forlorn behind the large tow truck. Was I making a mistake in continuing to use her when she wasn’t reliable? She needed more work than I could afford.

It was time for me to be realistic. I’d seen a used van at a lot the other day. It would be fine for what I needed. Jake climbed easily into the driver’s side and slammed the heavy door shut. “You good?”

I swallowed over the lump in my throat before hiding my face as I fastened the seat belt. “Yeah.”

Jake shot me one more concerned look before doing the same, then he checked the rearview mirrors and pulled slowly onto the ramp. “What happened exactly?”

“As soon as I noticed the smoke, I pulled into the slow lane, hoping for an exit ramp to get off. I didn’t want to stop on the highway. I was far from town and wasn’t sure how long it would take a tow truck to get to me.”

“Normally, I’d say that was smart, but driving on an overheated engine causes irreparable damage.”

I shivered at his word choice. “Maybe it’s for the best.”

Jake glanced over at me before turning his attention to the road. “What are you talking about?”

Feeling resigned, I sagged farther into the seat. “I think it’s time for me to replace Berta. You can tow her to my farm.”

When he remained silent, I continued. “I’ll go to the used car lot tomorrow. There’s a van there that could work.” It was a little more than I wanted to pay, but the salesman said vans were popular, and it wouldn’t be there long.

Jake gave me a noncommittal grunt.

I turned in my seat to face him. “What does that mean?”

“Are you sure that’s what you want?” He said each word carefully before turning his head to look at me.

I ripped my gaze from his. “I just said it was, didn’t I? I thought you’d be pleased. You said restoring Berta is a waste of everyone’s time.”

Jake was quiet for so long that I wasn’t sure he was going to respond to my outburst. Finally, he said quietly, “That’s not exactly what I said, and besides, I changed my mind.”

I shifted in my seat so that my knee was folded on the seat and I was facing him. “I’m sorry, you did what now?”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “I said I changed my mind.”

I leaned closer, wishing I could see his eyes and figure out what he was thinking. Was he messing with me? “You had a change of heart?”

I didn’t think that was possible.

“Yes.” Just that one simple word.

It was like pulling teeth to get information out of this man. He was infuriating. “So, first, you think restoring her is a waste. Then you say it’s not.”

I didn’t know what to believe or why he was saying what he was saying.

“I want to help.”

“You want to help me?” I asked, letting disbelief fill my tone. My impression of him was that I was an inconvenience to him, something he needed to take care of so he could get back to more important work. I irritated him.

“That’s right. My partner, Ryan, and I talked about your situation.” He swallowed, and I was mesmerized by the slow up-and-down movement of his Adam’s apple.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

“We want to help you. We’d like to restore Berta.”

The warmth I’d felt at his earlier declaration quickly chilled with the use of the word we . “Why would you be interested in doing that when I said I couldn’t afford a complete restoration?”

A few nights ago, I lay in bed daydreaming about getting the money to cover the repairs.

“If the garage restores Berta, it’s good for both of us.”

“How does that work?” I couldn’t imagine how restoring Berta would be good for him, especially if I couldn’t pay for the work.

“We’re helping you out. It looks good for us.”

My eyes narrowed on him, and I wished more than anything he wasn’t driving so I could see his expression. “You want to fix Berta to help yourself?”

Jake sighed, shaking his head. “I’m not explaining this right. I’m not good with this stuff.”

“You’re not good with people? Women? Talking to potential clients?” The stress of the smoke, being stranded on the shoulder, it was too much.

“All of the above. I should have let Ryan handle this.”

“Why didn’t you?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Because you called me. You trusted me to help you.”

“You gave me your number.”

He shifted in his seat as if he were admitting something he didn’t want to. “Last time, you called your friend to come get you.”

He was pleased that I’d trusted him enough to call him.

“You showed up last time. I figured you were reliable.”

“The garage will cover the cost of the repairs. It’ll be like a pro bono job.”

“I’m not a charity case.” I hated the way this sounded. I didn’t like handouts. I wanted to earn my way. Prove to my parents that I could do this on my own. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of finding out I’d gotten help.

“I never said you were.” Jake was content to leave it at that, but I wasn’t.

“I don’t get it. What changed?” I shifted in the seat so I could see the profile of his face. His jaw was tight, his gaze steady on the road ahead of us.

“It was Ryan’s idea. He thought it would be good for the garage and for you. You get a reliable van that works as your brand. The garage gets publicity for doing a good deed.”

“So, you’re using me for goodwill.”

“Fuck. This isn’t— It’s not like that. Forget it.”

Was his offer off the table? I hadn’t even allowed myself to consider what he was saying. Berta restored? No more rust or breakdowns. She’d be shiny and new. I could drive her around town with pride.

“Ryan thought the paper might do a piece on your van and mention the garage had done the work. So, yeah, maybe you could look at it like we were using you, but, trust me, that’s not what this is. I want to help you.”

He said that last sentence with such sincerity I couldn’t help but believe him. “Why?”

“I like you. I even like that van. I want you to have her. Besides, I love a good challenge. My passion is restoration, not routine oil changes and tire rotations.”

My shoulders sagged. I suspected I was hearing his truth for the first time. Ryan might have suggested it as a mutual business agreement, but now I was seeing what made Jake tick. “It sounds too good to be true.”

“We’ll write up a contract so there are no misunderstandings. I’ll outline our responsibilities and yours. I’ll need your input on what you want me to do for her.”

The thought of working with Jake, of being close to him while he did something he loved, appealed to me. Despite his gruffness, I liked him. I wanted to peel back the layers and get to know him. I also wanted that vision of Berta I saw in my head. “Okay.”

He looked over at me. “Are you serious?”

“You’re offering to fix up my baby for me for free. Of course I’m on board. I’m not an idiot.”

“I never said you were.”

It was my turn to make a noncommittal grunt.

“I’m sorry if I came across as an asshole. I tend to do that. I get so focused on things that I don’t see the big picture. But now, I’m focused on you and Berta, and bringing her back to life.”

I could hear the passion in his voice. He was telling the truth when he said he loved restoring cars. He would enjoy this job. “Let’s do it.”

He gave me a measured look. “You know we have to work together. I can’t do this without you. It’s your van.”

“Berta’s my baby, all right. I wouldn’t agree with this if you weren’t open to listening to me.”

Jake nodded. “We have a deal then.”

“You said you’d write up our agreement. I’ll look at it.” I might come to my senses tomorrow and decide I’d be crazy to subject myself to more of Jake. But my traitorous heart was beating a staccato rhythm.

“Why are you smiling?” Jake asked me.

“I’m imagining what Berta will look like without rust.”

“She’s going to be amazing.” Jake smiled at me, and even though we were discussing my rusted-out van, I felt a pang in my heart.

“I can’t wait.” I needed to guard my heart because this man was liable to wear down my defenses. I’d vowed I wasn’t looking for another fixer-upper. A man with a damaged past. I wanted a nice guy from a good family with no baggage. Was that too much to ask? Or did everyone have a complicated history?

None of it mattered, because Jake wasn’t interested in me. But I couldn’t ignore the fact that he’d come when I called tonight, and he’d seemed worried for me.

“Thanks for coming tonight. I’m sure I interrupted your evening.”

“I’ll always come when you call, Lily. Hopefully, it won’t be necessary once we fix up Berta.” He gave me another one of his rare smiles.

I wanted to take a picture of it and keep it for later. I doubted he smiled often, even with his friends and family.

I settled deeper into the seat. Jake wanted to restore Berta. It was some kind of a professional challenge for him. And who was I to stop him? If he wanted to help, I’d take it. Because, in the end, Berta was what mattered. She was good for me and the business.

This pesky crush I had on the mechanic would pass. Jake would do something to upset me, and I’d remember why he irritated me so much and why we couldn’t be anything more than business associates.

He towed Berta to the garage, and I opened the door and slid out of the seat. My ankles twinged when I hit the ground. Jake rushed around the truck’s hood. “I would have helped you. You should have waited.”

“I’m okay.” I pulled out my phone as Jake did whatever he needed to do to unhitch Berta.

“What are you doing?” Jake asked when he was done.

“Calling for a ride.” I turned the screen to show him there was a car ten minutes away.

“I can take you home.”

I smiled. “That’s not necessary. I’ve already interrupted your night.”

His jaw tightened. “Let me take you home. I don’t like you getting a ride from a stranger.”

I bit my lip. Was this a good idea?

“I know you don’t know me well, but I won’t let anything happen to you.”

My heart skipped a beat when he said that. Tucking my phone away, I said, “Okay.”

“You ready to go?”

Suddenly, I was exhausted. Whether it was from the adrenaline of the situation or just being with Jake, I wasn’t sure.

He led me to a large black truck. “I would have thought you’d drive a motorcycle.”

“I do, usually,” he said simply as he unlocked the doors.

The interior of the truck was black leather and spotless. There wasn’t a spare jacket or piece of paper. Jake was different than I expected.

I gave him directions to the farm. He pulled down the long driveway and stopped in front of the white house with the wraparound porch. The one I’d spent many hours rocking on the chairs with my grandmother while she imparted wisdom and advice. A pain pierced my heart. I missed her.

“Are you okay?” he asked when I met him at the hood of his truck.

“Yeah, this place just holds memories of my grandmother.” There was the house and then the newer barn. The original barn had crumbled years ago.

“You moved here after she passed?”

“She gave me the farm, the van, and some money to open the flower shop.”

We stopped on the porch, facing each other.

“She supported you.”

“She did. She gave me my dream after she died. I feel a little guilty about that sometimes.” That she had to die so I could live how I wanted.

“She’d want you to be happy,” Jake said.

“I have ideas for the farm too. I’m excited about the future. I don’t want her gift to go to waste.”

“I’m sure it won’t. You’re already doing what’s right for Berta.”

A smile spread slowly over my face. “I never thought you’d be referring to my hunk-of-junk van by her name.”

“She’s growing on me,” he said grudgingly.

Was it wrong that I wanted him to talk about me the way he talked about my van? “I’d better get inside. Thank you for picking me up and bringing me home.”

“No problem. I’ll be in touch about Berta.” Then he turned away, jogging down the steps to his truck.

“I’m looking forward to it,” I called after him.

I turned the key in the lock, feeling hopeful. Things were working out. Soon, Berta would look like new, and maybe I’d have some help in renovating the farm too.