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“Mmm.” Her assessment was right on. I was working on a difficult engine, and her call had pulled me away from that. It was Ryan’s Saturday off.
“The truth hurts sometimes.” But Lily smiled, softening the effect of her words.
“I should order the sushi,” I said to avoid her scrutiny. She was seeing too much.
I picked up my phone so I had something to distract me from the sight of Lily in my garage. The warm spring breeze drifted in through the open bay windows. The sun was already setting as I dialed, hitting speaker when the phone rang.
I ordered my usual and then moved closer to Lily. “What did you want?”
She pointed out a few rolls on the menu in front of me, and I relayed her choices. I gave my cell phone number, and they said they’d be there within thirty minutes.
Lily tipped her head slightly. “I didn’t know that place delivered.”
I clicked off the phone. “They don’t.”
Lily leaned so her elbows were on her thighs. “So, you’re saying you managed to charm someone?”
I smiled, catching on to her teasing tone. “Are you saying I’m not capable of charm?”
She cleared her throat. “I think I need to see it in person.”
“We can arrange that.” My voice lowered, and Lily’s eyes widened at the promise in my words.
I should take a few steps back, literally and figuratively. Lily in my space was overwhelming my senses. She was all soft edges and sweet words in this garage that should have made her out of place, but she was anything but.
I liked having company in the evenings. The thought was a shock to my senses and had me finally moving away from her and toward Berta. “Want to discuss your girl?”
When had I ever enjoyed anything other than my solitude? Growing up, I’d helped Nana around the house and protected Hailey. I never felt like the usual teenager who ran around with his friends. I felt the weight of responsibility as soon as my mom left us.
I unfolded the original estimate I’d given to Lily. “Are you on board with these changes?”
“Honestly? I don’t understand most of it.”
“The pressing issue is the overheated engine. You must have driven on it for a long time because it’s damaged beyond repair.”
She could drive it, but it would never run the same.
She cringed. “I didn’t know.”
“You did the right thing. Your safety is more important than an engine. Replacing it won’t be difficult, and it will run like a new vehicle.”
“Still. I don’t want to create more expenses.” She took the estimate from my hands, perusing it before adding, “More than we already have.”
“Maisy’s good at getting deals on parts. Let’s go over the first phase. If you have any suggestions or changes, let me know.”
“I probably don’t know enough to help.”
“It’s still important that you understand what we’re doing to your van. She’s your baby, and your opinion matters. If you don’t understand something, I’ll go over it until you do.”
She touched my forearm. “I didn’t think you were any other way. You’ve explained things from the beginning.”
She stood close. Too close. Her scent invaded every pore of my body, making my muscles tense at the anticipation of her moving even closer, pressing her body against mine. But that couldn’t happen. She was a client. A business associate. Nothing more.
Eight
LILY
Jake stepped away to open Berta’s hood, rattling on about the engine and what happened when it overheated. Apparently, there was a leak in the coolant.
