“Happy to.” Jake took the tire iron, and squatting down, he slipped it onto the first lug nut and spun it as if it had never been tightened. As he loosened the remaining lug nuts, Emily folded her arms over her middle while enjoying the view of the taut muscles in his shoulders and arms flexing.
Jake was so fit, so kind, and so...amazing.
She swallowed a sigh.
Get it together, Emily!
“I tell ya,” Mr. Tompkins began, “I’m not as young as I used to be. Forty years ago, I could’ve removed those just as fast as you did.”
Jake stood up and adjusted his ball cap. “It’s no problem.” He pointed to the back of the car. “I’m assuming the jack is in the trunk?”
“Sure is.”
Jake scooted around the car and returned with the scissor jack and spare tire.
“It’s good to see you, Emily,” Mr. Tompkins said. “Last I heard you’d sold your folks’ place and moved out to Charlotte. Are you back for good?”
She shook her head. “I’m here helping Jake with some plans for the orchard.”
“I’m hoping to convince her to stay.” Jake gave her a wink while he removed the flat tire. Then he slipped on the spare and began replacing the lug nuts.
Mr. Tompkins shoved his hands in the pockets of his khaki shorts and began jingling a pocketful of change. “It’s a good idea to get some help with your orchard. It looks like your competitor is going to give you a run for your money.”
“What makes you say that?” Jake’s posture and expression went rigid while he tightened everything into place.
“I’ve heard some things.” The portly older man shifted his weight on his feet, and the change in his pocket jingled.
“What kinds of things?” Jake lowered the car and shielded his eyes from the sun.
“Well, I’m not the type of person to tell tales, but...”Jingle jingle jingle.“My wife has her schoolmates over for tea every Friday, and last week those ol’ biddies were just gossiping away.”
Emily took a step toward him. “Go ahead and tell us, Mr. Tompkins. We won’t share it with anyone.” She shrugged. “And if we do, we won’t say where we heard it. Right, Jake?”
Jake’s lips flattened as he nodded.
Mr. Tompkins cleared his throat. “Folks are saying that the new place is going to put the Hughes Family Orchard out of business since it’s been...ahem, going downhill.” He held his hands up. “Those aren’t my words. I’d never say that about your family’s place. I remember picking apples there when I was a child. Your orchard is a fixture here.”
Jake’s face pinched as he loaded the flat tire into the trunk and shut the lid.
Uh-oh.
“We have some plans that will knock your socks off, and we’ll show everyone that Hughes Family Orchard is still the bestaround.” Emily rested her hand on Jake’s forearm and smiled at him. “Right, Jake?”
“Yeah.”
He nodded, but she could feel his worry in his tense muscles.
Mr. Tompkins shook Jake’s hand. “Well, thank you for stopping to help me. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem,” Jake said. “You’re all set. If you take the tire to Burns Auto Repair, they can fix it for you.”
Emily waved to Mr. Tompkins and then climbed into Jake’s Dodge pickup.
Jake took his spot in the driver’s seat. A frown clouded his handsome face while he turned the key, and the truck chattered to life.
Emily rested her hand on his thick bicep. “Hey. Look at me.”
He met her gaze.
