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“Well, you’re fixing Berta free of charge and letting me drive around your loaner.” I lifted the vase. “This isn’t nearly enough for everything you’re doing for me.”
“This is a mutual business arrangement. We both benefit. But I won’t say no to sprucing up the waiting room.”
Pleased, I said, “Good. I’ll just set them on Maisy’s desk. I’m sure she’ll know where to put them.”
Ryan held up a hand. “Wait. Let me get Jake.”
He walked over to the farthest bay from where I was standing. I heard murmurings but not the actual words. The longer I waited, the more nervous I got.
Ryan headed back over to me with a huge smile on his face. “Thank you for the flowers. Jake will be right over to talk to you.”
“Okay.”
Ryan walked past me to grab his keys and phone from the counter. “I have to get home. Hailey will have dinner on the table any minute now.”
“Have a good night.”
He waved a hand and walked out of the open bay.
I set the flowers on the counter because it was getting heavy. Then I didn’t know what to do with my hands. Lean against the counter? Scroll mindlessly through emails on my phone? Before I could decide, Jake stood, wiping his hands on a nearby cloth, and headed over to me.
“I wasn’t expecting you.”
I couldn’t read anything from his expression; it was blank. “We didn’t have an appointment or anything like that. I was just doing my deliveries. You know, for my new subscription service. And I thought about how nice it was that I had your loaner, and you were fixing Berta, so I wanted to do something.” I broke off my rambling, wishing the concrete floor would open up and swallow me.
“You thought flowers would do it?” Jake asked, his lips tugging upward as he tossed the rag into a bucket.
“I know it’s a little lame for a garage, but it’s what I do. I don’t have anything else to offer you, and I thought it would brighten up your waiting room. Soften the hard edges of the garage. It will be inviting for the female customers you said you’re trying to appeal to.”
He moved to stand in front of me. “You listened to me.”
“I did.” He smelled so good, like sweat and grease. He was a man who worked hard. Desire stirred inside, remembering the confidant way his hands moved over my skin, building me up, and taking me over the edge.
“You didn’t need to get us anything, but we appreciate it. I’m sure customers will like it.”
“Good.”
“Well, I’ll get out of your hair.” My face heated because I was rambling and resorting to clichés. I was flustered and couldn’t remember ever feeling this off-kilter around a guy.
“You have more deliveries to make?” he asked as I turned to go.
“You were my last one.” I wasn’t going to delve into why I’d settled on that decision. I suspected a part of me hoped for a repeat of last night.
“I should finish up here and head home. Ryan wants me to work less. Hire another mechanic to help out.”
“You should listen to him.” Ryan was his best friend and probably had his best interests at heart.
Jake moved closer to me. “Should I?”
His proximity had my brain short-circuiting. “What?”
“Should I listen to Ryan?”
“Well, you are working a lot of hours,” I said, my brain blanking on what he’d asked.
“And we never got to talk about your grandfather’s car.”
I waved a hand at him. “We don’t have to do that tonight. I took up enough of your time.”
