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“Really? You actually believe that?”
Faye stared at her sister, dumbfounded. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Adam could have gotten anyone to teach him how to ride. You do realize that he’s the only mechanic in town. And there are several others who are more qualified to teach him how to ride. He could have made this trade with anyone. So why did he pick you?”
Her mouth opened but no words came. She snapped it shut and then attempted again, only for her brain to let her down again. A mixture of a growl and groan burst from her chest, and she stomped toward the kitchen.
“I’d follow Bri’s advice if I were you. Be careful,” Grace’s voice called after her, but Faye refused to acknowledge what she said. She was wrong. They were all wrong and she’d prove it.
Faye came skidding to a stop right before she entered the kitchen. She didn’t want to have to feel her father’s judgmental stare on her. She turned on her heel and headed for the front door instead. She didn’t need her boots. She’d be working on her truck, not riding. All she needed were her tennis shoes and her keys.
* * *
The whole way to town,Faye argued with herself. Grace had made one good point she couldn’t find an explanation for. Adam had picked her to help him with his training. Why would he do that? He didn’t know her except that she was a Callahan. Just because she knew horses didn’t mean she’d be a good rider or even a good teacher.
Yes, she thought she was, but that didn’t mean anything.
Adam hadn’t shown any interest in her. He hadn’t made any moves or comments. And all the messages he’d texted her were related to fixing the truck or setting up the first riding lesson. Grace and Brielle were just trying to mess with her. That’s what this had to be.
Faye pulled into the parking lot of the mechanic’s shop and put the truck into park. She climbed out and headed straight for the entrance and right up to the counter where Adam stood.
“You don’t like me, do you?”
He stared at her like she was crazy.
And maybe she was.
One thing was for certain, she didn’t like beating around the bush, which sometimes got her in trouble, and as it turned out, this was one of those times.
He glanced to the person beside her—someone she hadn’t even registered was there in the first place. “I’m sorry about that. Here’s your invoice. We changed the oil, topped off your wiper fluid and brake fluid, and cleaned out your filter. You’ve probably got another ten thousand miles before you should consider replacing that. Otherwise, your truck is in good shape.”
Faye glanced at the older man as she scooted away from him. Her face was completely flooded with a searing heat, so hot it was almost painful. The guy let out a chuckle as he nodded toward her before he headed for the door.
As soon as the door shut, Adam turned to her. “Okay, now what’s this about you thinking I don’t like you?” A smile tugged at his lips, and her blush intensified.
Faye swallowed hard and dropped her gaze. This was so embarrassing. Why did she have to realize her mistakesaftershe blurted everything she shouldn’t? There had to be a better way for her to bring up this concern. “Okay, first off, sorry about that.”
He chuckled again. “No problem.”
“Second of all, my sisters have gotten it in their heads that you only offered to help me with the truck because you wanted to spend time with me. I told them that’s not true. I told them you have a thing for some rodeo chick.”
His eyes danced with amusement. “You’re correct. I do have a thing for a rodeo chick.”
“Then why did you make me this offer? There are better teachers out there.”
Adam moved around the reception counter and leaned his hip against it, his arms crossed over his chest. The way he could just stand there so casually, looking so ruggedly tantalizing… her heart flipped, but then she put a stop to that right away.
No. She wasn’t going to look at him that way. He wasn’t available, and she wasn’t interested in finding love. There was too much drama at home for that to be a good idea.
Adam tilted his head to the side, allowing the tension in the air to build. He was teasing her. He knew he had the upper hand, and he was willing to make her squirm because he liked it.
She folded her arms and nearly stomped her foot—but that would have been childish. Instead, her eyes narrowed. “Will you just give me an answer so I can prove my sisters wrong?”
“I suppose I made the deal with you because it made sense.”
“That doesn’t answer anything. Think about it. I’m a girl.”
“Yeah… So?”
