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The explanation sounded reasonable to her, but she still didn’t believe him.
“Does it?”
“I wanted it to since the price is so low. I could park it at The Last Riders’ and be able to drive when I visit. I decided against buying it, though. It’s a tad bit small for me.” Cole shrugged. “Then I remembered you mentioned having car trouble. I would have called or texted you, but you’re not accepting either.”
“I wonder why,” she said through tight lips.
Cole cleared his throat. “Anyway, I told Joel you might be interested. He came up with the idea of ordering food since he’s hungry. ‘Kill to two birds with one stone’ kind of thing.”
“Oh …” Her irritation drew the word out longer than necessary. “I think it was meant to take out one bird for you, too.”
“Could be.”
How was she was supposed to stay angry at him when he was so adorably maddening?
Exasperated, she looked at Joel to see he had finished and was tossing the bag in the trash. “How much is the car?” There was no need to look at the car if the price was out of her range.
Joel cracked his knuckles, as if he was preparing to barter. “Three thousand, but it’s worth five. Plus, I put on brand-new tires, wipers, and did a fluid check. She’s raring to go.”
“I have a few minutes to spare. Where’s the car?”
“Cole. you mind showing her? I can’t leave the register.”
“Not at all.”
The men shared triumph grins, as if she weren’t watching.
“How am I not surprised?” Shaking her head at the two nuts, she followed Cole outside.
“This is it.” Using a gloved hand, Cole brushed away a thin layer of snow. “What do you think?”
“I think it looks too good to be true.”
“I drove it around town; the only problem for me was leg room.” Cole reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. “You want to take a test drive?”
“Yes.” She took the key and opened the door, then watched as Cole went to stand by the ice machine. Something about the expectant way he stood, waiting for her to drive off without him, hurt a part of her that she didn’t know could still be touched. “Aren’t you coming?”
His smile lit up his whole face.
Megan felt a tingling pain in her lower stomach, as if some mysterious force was playing pinball with her ovaries.
“Go ahead and get in. I need to check if any orders are pending.” She raised her cell phone and stared at the dark screen until Cole was inside. Waiting a mere second after hearing the door shut, Megan laid her face on the roof, expecting steam to rise. She blinked falling snowflakes off her lashes to clear her vision.
How was she supposed to resist him? He was the Christmas wish she had asked Santa for after watching an animated movie where the prince had swept the beautiful girl off her feet to make her his princess. She had believed in that fairy tale until Curt gave her a dose of reality and showed her that fairy tales, tooth fairies, and Santa didn’t exist.
Tonight, standing in the light of the gas station, with snowflakes glistening in his blond hair, and true happiness glinting in his eyes, Cole had restored that cherished childhood belief.
Santa did exist.
Twelve
“Are you warm enough?” Cole asked solicitously. “You don’t need to turn the heat up higher?”
“No!” Megan quickly lowered the volume of her voice at realizing how loud it sounded in the car. “I’m comfortable.”
“What do you think?”
She refrained from sharing the inappropriate thoughts swirling through her mind and focused on the car instead. “Joel must have babied this car. It drives like a dream. It handles much better on the roads than mine.”
“I’m glad you like it. Are you going to buy it?”
“I want to. I’ll ask Joel if he’ll give me a couple of weeks to come up with the money.”
“I could—”
“No, thanks. If Joel can’t wait, then I’ll find another car.”
Megan felt Cole’s eyes on her profile in the dark.
“Or I could lend you the money.”
“Thanks, but no. I appreciate the offer.”
Megan heard Cole’s heavy sigh and saw him twisting in his seat to face her.
“You’re a very stubborn woman. Do you think I would expect something from you if I lend you the money?”
Dammit, did he have to sound so darn hurt?
“I truly appreciate your offer. I know you mean well. It’s just … I want to prove …” Megan tightened her grip on the steering wheel. When she turned down a connecting side street, she caught a glimpse of his face in the light of the streetlamp.
He was worried about her car breaking down. She wasn’t being fair to him, nor herself. He was too good of a person for her to continue to let him believe she was worthy of being his friend, much less starting a relationship with.
