Addy nibbled on her thumbnail while she considered it. “Do you think it’s too much? It’s bigger than what I’m used to driving,” she said, sounding as if she planned to talk herself out of purchasing it.
“Does it have everything you use in your old vehicle or wish your previous one had?” he asked, watching her.
“I don’t really need all the extras. As long as it gets me from point A to point B, has a radio and a large enough area for Zeus, I’m fine,” she admitted after some thought.
“Life isn’t about only feeling fine. It’s meant to be lived. You don’t always need things, but they make your life better. For instance, this has heated seats and massage. We don’t require those things, but they sure come in handy after a long ride or a really cold day.”
“They might’ve come in handy when we got stuck on the side of a mountain, huh?” she said, grinning.
Liam laughed and nodded. “Yes. Close your eyes. Can you see yourself driving this?”
Pausing, Addy relaxed in the seat, took the wheel, and pretended to drive. “Yeah.”
“Then you have your answer. Shall we take it for a test drive?”
He led her into the dealership, and a salesman named Tom approached.
“Hi, how can I help you?”
“I’d like to test drive the SUV over there, the blue one,” she told him nervously.
“May I have your driver’s license and insurance card?” Tom asked.
Addy dug into her purse and pulled out the two cards, handing them to him.
“I’ll return shortly with the keys,” he said, walking away.
“Maybe you need to drive it,” she suggested.
“It’ll be your vehicle,” he insisted. “I’ll sit beside you, and if I notice anything, I’ll tell you.”
“I can do this,” she said, as if talking herself into driving it.
“Yes, you can,” he encouraged softly. “I’ve seen you command a whole room of nurses without a second thought. How can one short salesman compete?”
Addy smiled. “You’re right. I’m overthinking this.”
“You’re nervous. You’ve driven a car a million times. This one happens to be new,” he said, trying to downplay it.
“I’m replacing my vehicle because I drove mine down the side of a mountain ,” she reminded him.
“No. You’re purchasing a new one because a tree nearly demolished us, and your vehicle took the hit for us. Don’t undermine yourself.”
The salesman returned, handing the keys to Liam. He didn’t say anything as he took her hand and led her to the parking lot. As they approached the vehicle, he passed the keys to her and opened the door.
Tom sat behind her while Liam took the passenger seat.
Addy glanced over at him, appearing anxious.
“A whole room full of nurses,” he murmured.
Addy straightened, swallowed, and turned the ignition. “Wow, it’s quiet,” she said, impressed.
“It’s one of our most popular models. It drives like a dream,” Tom told them.
She drove out of the lot and took a right. A low smile spread as she got the feel of the vehicle.
Liam leaned over and put on the heat and massage buttons for her seat and his. Bracing his hands behind his neck and leaned back.
