Page 56 of An Uncertain Road

Then she lunged forward and threw her arms around his neck. Jensen held her, unable to keep his hands from caressing her back as she sniffled against his shoulder. His heart was beating so hard she must be able to feel it. What did this mean?

Finally, she leaned back and spoke. “Jensen, I need to tell you I spoke to Mr. Franklin today.”

Blinking in confusion at the change of subject, Jensen’s mind raced to determine what his former rival might have said that made her refuse to drive for Mr. Harrison. “I didn’t know he was back in town.”

Nodding, she bit her lower lip. “I’m the one who needs to apologize. He confirmed that you’ve been telling the truth. Sam only thought you’d gone through with it because Mr. Franklin believed you had and told him so. But Mr. Franklin confirmed that you refused to give in to his manipulation no matter what he tried and that you were honest and trustworthy at every turn. I’m sorry for assuming the worst about you.”

Jensen’s heart lightened, despite his fear over where the conversation was headed. “Apology accepted, without hesitation. Archie has changed, hasn’t he?”

She smiled, but sadness tinged its edges. “I think we all have.”

Silence fell between them as Flora picked at an invisible spot on her skirt. If Mr. Harrison had offered her the job again at dinner, had he also told her about Jensen’s participation? Should Jensen tell her that he’d taken a step of faith for her and joined the team? Or did she need time to trust him again, even though she knew the truth now?

Before he could decide what to do, she rose from her seat. “I suppose we should join the others, then.”

Crestfallen, he tried to read the emotions crossing her face without success. “If you’d like. Will you be at the shop tomorrow as Mr. Harrison requested?”

She offered only a short nod before heading toward the door, leaving Jensen more unsure of his position in her heart than he’d been before dinner. Replaying the conversation in his mind, he tried to see where it had gone wrong but came up empty-handed.

The only thought that carried him through the rest of the evening with Flora sitting across the room from him was that he had one more chance to show her how much he loved her. Tomorrow at the shop, he would have to convince her to stay.

CHAPTER 25

Flora straightened the jacket of her plaid suit and drew one last deep breath while standing in front of the door to the racing shop. It was exactly three minutes before the meeting started, and she would rather be anywhere else at that moment. But she was there because she couldn’t disappoint Mr. Harrison after the kindness he’d shown over her abysmal failure in the tour.

It had nothing to do with Jensen.

She certainly wasn’t standing in front of that familiar door because of the longing she imagined in his eyes the night before as he watched her across the Harrisons’ parlor.

Nor because of the way he’d held her when they were alone at the table, his touch sending shivers up and down her spine.

Her respect for Mr. Harrison drove her to finally step inside the shop, which was still shiny and clean despite the work they’d done on the Decauville before the tour and the disassembled Packard that now sat at the first workstation. The men who were already gathered all turned to watch her trek across the smooth floor to join them. She smiled at the crew members she recognized. But she couldn’t bring herself to look at Jensen.

Not that she doubted him any longer. After speaking to Mr. Franklin, Sam, and Owen, she’d been able to see all the ways Jensen had proven himself time and again. His apology the night before had been a balm to her soul. Yes, he made mistakes and occasionally took over in his efforts to protect her. But his heart was as different from Clement’s or Henri's as it could be. His actions always stemmed from concern for those he loved.

The problem was that he hadn’t yet said that she was a person he loved.

As the men talked amongst themselves, she snuck a glance at Jensen, finding his gaze already on her, warm and inviting. A thread of worry weaved its way through her heart. He’d said so many things she wanted to hear the night before, all spoken in genuine remorse. But he hadn’t made any mention of feelings that matched hers, of caring that went beyond friendship.

She’d turned Mr. Harrison’s job offer down during dinner because she believed Jensen would see it as a sign of her willingness to build a life they were both comfortable with. But he’d seemed so upset with her decision. Then, faced with doubts about his affections, she’d fled from her plan to explain her choice when they had a moment alone. Questions and regrets had plagued her ever since.

The door opened again, and Mr. Harrison entered the shop. Flora managed what she hoped was a pleasant smile as he greeted her on his way to stand in front of the group and start the meeting. “Thank you all for coming. Some of you have been working with us already, preparing the Packard for our next event, a track race in Buffalo. But you’ll notice several newcomers joining us today.”

Mr. Harrison gestured toward Jensen and grinned, a gleam brightening his eyes. “I’m thrilled to present our new lead mechanic, Jensen Gable. Most of you know him already. He’ll bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our crew.”

Flora’s trembling hand rose to adjust the narrow bowtie at the base of her throat. Jensen was working with the team? Why hadn’t he told her?

She didn’t have much time to dwell on the question, though, because Mr. Harrison continued. “I’m hopeful we’ll have the question of our driver settled soon enough. For now, I’m going to let you all get acquainted a bit with each other and the shop, for those who are new. Feel free to look around.”

Pulling Flora aside while the men began milling around, Mr. Harrison got right to the point. “I’m still holding out hope that you’ll change your mind and agree to drive for us. Jensen seemed sure you would want to once you learned he’s joined the crew.”

Letting her eyes stray to where Jensen stood with a few of the others, Flora’s conflicting emotions clouded her mind. “As I said last night, it may be best for me to leave Philadelphia. Isabelle and I might settle somewhere warmer. Or spend some time in New York where we’ll be close to a few of her distant relatives.”

Narrowing his eyes, Mr. Harrison watched her for a moment. “Jensen didn’t declare himself last night, did he? I’d hoped the boy would follow his grand gesture with the proposal we all know is coming.”

His words made her want to fling something across the room. “Everyone keeps telling me that he has some kind of deep, meaningful feelings for me, but I’m starting to believe you’re all wrong. He didn’t declare any feelings. He didn’t even mention he’d changed his mind about working in racing again. He must see me as a friend, a former teammate. Nothing more. And I’ll thank you all to stay out of our business from here on out.”

Realizing her voice had grown louder than she’d intended, Flora saw with horror that most of the men were looking her way.