A beat of silence.
“Bruce?”
“Hey Greta,” he rasps. “I, uh, got into a little fender bender.”
“Oh my gosh. Are you okay?”
Leo glances over at the alarm in my tone.
Bruce coughs. “I hit my shoulder pretty hard off the steering wheel, but the doc says I’ll be fine with rest and limited movement.”
And now I understand the meaning of his call.
“I’m sorry about tonight.” Regret roughens his voice. “I hate letting you down.”
“No. Don’t apologize. You need to rest.”
“I’d offer my truck to pull the float, but it’ll be a while in the shop.”
My heart sinks as I lower onto the stool. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about me. I want you to get better.” I hang up with Bruce and can’t help the sag in my spine. I’ll have to back out. Not only was Bruce my driver, but he was the key component of the float. Ugh. It’s mandatory for Main Street shops to have a float in the parade, but what else can I do?
“Everything okay?” Leo’s voice breaks in.
“My wingman can’t make it tonight.”
“For the parade?”
“Yeah, Bruce has hauled my float for the past five years. Both he and his truck are out of commission.”
Leo sets down the pen and hands me the contact form. “I have a truck.”
Temptation is a six-foot man with a backward hat offering to save my Light-Up Night. “Don’t you have to drive the firetruck and annoy everyone with the siren?”
“No, the city allows families to ride along. Those with kids get first dibs.” He shoots a smile. “So I’m all yours tonight, if you want me.”
“Your phrasing is questionable.”
“I’m under your command.”
“Worse.”
“Come on. Let me help.” He dimples at me as if he knows that a dented smile never fails to get him what he wants. He’s not exactly wrong because I feel myself caving.
“I don’t know.”
“If you’re worried I’ll ghost you again, I promise to remain by your side until parade time.”
Well, that’s a danger all its own. “It’s more than that. Bruce promised?—”
Leo raises his right hand as if swearing a vow. “I’ll do anything Bruce was supposed to do.”
“You don’t realize what you’re signing up for.”
“Who’s this Bruce guy?” Now Leo’s acting alpha male as if Bruce is his rival. I hold back a laugh, even as his gaze is hot on mine. “Please?”
“Why do you want to help me?” I could think of a million better things to do with my time than volunteer for a night full of festive chaos. “What’s in it for you?”
He steps closer, pinning me with his dark gaze. “A spot on your nice list.”
