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“You’re not good with people? Women? Talking to potential clients?” The stress of the smoke, being stranded on the shoulder, it was too much.
“All of the above. I should have let Ryan handle this.”
“Why didn’t you?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Because you called me. You trusted me to help you.”
“You gave me your number.”
He shifted in his seat as if he were admitting something he didn’t want to. “Last time, you called your friend to come get you.”
He was pleased that I’d trusted him enough to call him.
“You showed up last time. I figured you were reliable.”
“The garage will cover the cost of the repairs. It’ll be like a pro bono job.”
“I’m not a charity case.” I hated the way this sounded. I didn’t like handouts. I wanted to earn my way. Prove to my parents that I could do this on my own. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of finding out I’d gotten help.
“I never said you were.” Jake was content to leave it at that, but I wasn’t.
“I don’t get it. What changed?” I shifted in the seat so I could see the profile of his face. His jaw was tight, his gaze steady on the road ahead of us.
“It was Ryan’s idea. He thought it would be good for the garage and for you. You get a reliable van that works as your brand. The garage gets publicity for doing a good deed.”
“So, you’re using me for goodwill.”
“Fuck. This isn’t— It’s not like that. Forget it.”
Was his offer off the table? I hadn’t even allowed myself to consider what he was saying. Berta restored? No more rust or breakdowns. She’d be shiny and new. I could drive her around town with pride.
“Ryan thought the paper might do a piece on your van and mention the garage had done the work. So, yeah, maybe you could look at it like we were using you, but, trust me, that’s not what this is. I want to help you.”
He said that last sentence with such sincerity I couldn’t help but believe him. “Why?”
“I like you. I even like that van. I want you to have her. Besides, I love a good challenge. My passion is restoration, not routine oil changes and tire rotations.”
My shoulders sagged. I suspected I was hearing his truth for the first time. Ryan might have suggested it as a mutual business agreement, but now I was seeing what made Jake tick. “It sounds too good to be true.”
“We’ll write up a contract so there are no misunderstandings. I’ll outline our responsibilities and yours. I’ll need your input on what you want me to do for her.”
The thought of working with Jake, of being close to him while he did something he loved, appealed to me. Despite his gruffness, I liked him. I wanted to peel back the layers and get to know him. I also wanted that vision of Berta I saw in my head. “Okay.”
He looked over at me. “Are you serious?”
“You’re offering to fix up my baby for me for free. Of course I’m on board. I’m not an idiot.”
“I never said you were.”
It was my turn to make a noncommittal grunt.
“I’m sorry if I came across as an asshole. I tend to do that. I get so focused on things that I don’t see the big picture. But now, I’m focused on you and Berta, and bringing her back to life.”
I could hear the passion in his voice. He was telling the truth when he said he loved restoring cars. He would enjoy this job. “Let’s do it.”
He gave me a measured look. “You know we have to work together. I can’t do this without you. It’s your van.”
“Berta’s my baby, all right. I wouldn’t agree with this if you weren’t open to listening to me.”
