A few minutes later she turned into the garage parking lot and pulled into the space next to Rusty’s truck. The lights were off in the main garage, but the ones in the smaller garage in the back were on. She couldn’t help but smile, already feeling more relaxed as she carried the cupcakes to the open bay in the garage.
The GTO was raised off the ground a few feet, and Harper saw jean-clad legs and work-boot-covered feet poking out from underneath. Classic rock played on the radio in the background. She set the cupcake container on a table covered with tools and turned as he scooted out from under the car, a flat rolling cart underneath his back.
“Uh, hi,” he said, moving to a seated position. He grabbed a cloth off the floor and wiped his hands, surprise in his eyes.
“Hi.” She went over and crouched in front of him and smiled. “Senior sent me.”
He grinned. “He did, huh. Now how did you two end up talkin’ tonight?”
“I stopped by with cupcakes.” She got up and went to the container, then held out her hands as if she were showing merchandise on a game show. “Carrot cake, to be exact.”
“I did say I wanted to try your bakin’.” He jumped up from the cart and walked over to her as he shoved the rag into his back pocket. “And I do like carrot cake.”
“Hope you like cream-cheese frosting, because I went a little overboard.” She took off the lid and picked up one of the cakes. When she started to give it to him, he held up his greasy hands.
“Need to go wash up first.”
“I got it.” She unwrapped the cupcake and put it up to his mouth.
He hesitated before he took a bite. “Mmm,” he said, then swallowed. He ate the rest of the cupcake in a second bite and licked his lips. “That was delicious. You sure are a good baker.”
She smiled, then noticed he had a bit of frosting at the corner of his mouth where his beard grew. Without thinking, she brushed it away with her finger, feeling the soft hair of his beard against her skin.
His eyes widened and he took a step back from her.
Her cheeks burned hot. “Uh, what are you working on?” she asked, walking as nonchalantly as she could to the GTO. She wanted to face-palm herself for such a dumb question. Obviously he was working on his car. But she had to shift her attention somewhere. Her innocent gesture of wiping off the frosting had turned awkward.
“The oil pan is leaking, so I’m trying to diagnose the problem. I’m hoping to get this done tonight. Today we had several folks make appointments to bring their cars in, and with the parade coming up and the...”
“Auction,” she supplied.
“Yeah. That. And then there’s trying to look at houses too. I reckoned I wouldn’t get to work on her for a while.”
“I won’t keep you, then.” She could tell him another time about Miles Road, when she had some other properties to show him. “Enjoy the cupcakes.”
“Thanks.” When she turned to leave, he said, “Harper?”
“Yes?”
“Are you okay?”
She opened her mouth to tell him yes, everything was fine. Perfect. Just dandy, as Erma McAllister would say. But she couldn’t lie, not to him. Her bottom lip started to tremble as she tried to control her emotions. She failed. “No,” she whispered. “I’m not.”
***
Rusty went to her, unsure what to do. Harper’s hands were shaking, and he saw her mouth quivering, although he tried not to pay attention to that part of her face. But it was the defeat in her eyes that shot straight to his heart. And in that moment, he wanted to put his arms around her, to stroke her soft hair, to tell her that whatever was wrong, no matter what it was, he would fix it.
Thank God he caught himself, and not just because he was filthy and she looked picture perfect even though it was the end of the day. He pulled over an old desk chair that rivaled Senior’s advanced age and motioned for her to sit down. Then he quickly grabbed a few clean paper towels and set them on the seat, just in case.
“Thanks,” she said, her voice sounding thick. She didn’t look at him, so he wasn’t sure if she was crying or not. Either way, he was concerned. “What happened?” he asked, crouching in front of her.
“I’ve been letting everyone down lately,” she said. “Including myself.”
Now that he was so close to her, he saw the weariness inher eyes. Heard it in her voice too. “You’re plum tired, that’s what it is,” he said. “You need a break.”
“I’ll be okay.” She sat up straight, steady once again.
“When was the last time you took a day off?”
