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I could save her some embarrassment and finally introduce myself at the same time.
The chatter around me wasn’t registering at all, but I muttered a quick, “Excuse me,” and retrieved the keys before pushing outside.
Spotting her quickly, I jogged over, not caring how the rain instantly soaked my t-shirt. Just as suspected, she was viciously digging through her bag in search of the missing keys.
“Looking for these?” I held them out to her as she froze at the sound of my voice.
Slowly, her face turned toward me, those pale eyes guarded. I didn’t miss the way she’d moved away from me back there, as if I repelled her. The way she wouldn’t hold my gaze for too long.
“They must’ve fallen out of your bag,” I explained as she took the keys from me.
“Thanks,” she murmured, oblivious to the rain now.
“I’m Baker, by the way.”
“I know.”
Oh.
She fisted the keys in her hand. “We, uh, we graduated the same year. Different schools, but I remember you from when our teams played each other.”
So, she knew about my injury. Was that why she seemed uninterested in me? Was I damaged goods?
Because if she was shallow like that—
“And the guys talk about you like you’re some kind of legend around the gym,” she added. “I hear you can bench press a Buick or something.”
I shook my head. “They got it all wrong. I can bench presstwo. And I drink a dozen raw eggs at a time. I eat treadmills for breakfast. Run eighty miles a day. I’m incredible.”
Slowly, like a little miracle, the side of her mouth curved upward. “Well, I knew they were full of it.”
I wanted more.
“Yeah, you see… this is why you can never take things at face value. If you’d gotten to know me first, you’d know I don’t even use my tow truck to haul cars. I just throw them on my back and go. People don’t even blink. They’re just used to it.”
“That right?”
I tilted my head, taking in her amused expression.
“Mostly.”
“But if you’re so amazing, how do you explain what just happened in there? I brought you down easy, Mr. Incredible.”
“Oh, that?” I shrugged. “All part of my master plan.”
“Master plan?” Her smile rounded out both cheeks now, making my damn heart rattle behind my ribs. “So, you’re not only a hero, you’re some devious schemer too?”
“Devious? Maybe a little.” I couldn’t help flashing her a grin that reflected her assessment. “But I’m more concerned with the idea that you thinkyouknockedmeoff my feet… when it was clearly the other way around.”
A crease formed between her eyebrows, creating the cutest expression. She hardly looked like the perfect, pristine beauty I’d been obsessing over for the past three weeks. Hair drenched, makeup fading to reveal faint freckles across her nose. Raindrops accumulating on her lips.
She was a mess… and Ilovedit.
“What are you saying?” she asked. “That you made me fall?”
“Us,” I said, repeating her correction from earlier. “You slipped first. I just made sure the situation worked to our advantage.”
“Our advantage?” She scoffed. “Tell me, what was your goal? This oughta be good.”
