“Needs new spark plugs.” He gulped down more tea. “Also new struts, brakes, and an oil change.”
“Goodness.” She uncrossed her arms. “Why don’t you get it fixed?”
“Don’t wanna spend a fortune on a car I don’t use much. I don’t go anywhere other than Maple Falls. Ain’t got a hankerin’ to, neither.”
“I’m sure Rusty would work with you on the price,” she said.
“Don’t want no handouts.”
Erma frowned as she got up from the chair. “You’re the most stubborn old coot I’ve ever met.” She went to the counter and removed the foil from the pan of leftover hummingbirdcake Bea had shoved at her at their emergency meeting this morning when everyone refused to take it home. “It’s not a handout. It’s called being helpful. That’s what neighbors do—help each other.”
She cut two pieces, put them on glass plates, and grabbed two forks out of the drawer. Truth was she wasn’t too mad that she’d been stuck with the rest of the cake. It was scrumptious. She set Jasper’s plate in front of him. “It’s a hummingbird—”
“I seen a hummingbird cake before.” He eyed it. “Bea Farnsworth’s recipe?”
“Yes.” She sat across from him, which wasn’t that far away due to her table being on the small side.
“Real cream-cheese frosting?”
“You know Bea doesn’t mess with that canned stuff.” Erma took a bite, and pineapple-coconutty sweetness exploded in her mouth.Bea sure can bake.
He picked up a forkful. “When you gonna tell me why you stopped in front of my house?”
Rats. Back to that again. She’d hoped plying him with a quality baked good would sidetrack his brain. Well, nothing left but to tell him the truth. “I was wondering how you were doing. That’s all.”
He stopped midchew and gaped at her. “You were?”
“Yes. And don’t talk with your mouth full.” She pressed the side of her fork into the cake, refusing to look at him and hoping he wasn’t looking at her, because right now her cheeks were flaming.
They ate their cake in silence, Erma for once not knowing what to say. As for Jasper, he was enjoying his cake. She hadto admit it was kind of nice to have a surprise guest, even though it was Jasper. Usually only Riley and Hayden stopped by unannounced, as they were always welcome to do.
Jasper scraped the last bit of crumbs and frosting from his plate and shoved the fork into his mouth. Then he drank the rest of his tea. When he set the empty glass down, Erma noticed he had crumbs on the front of his shirt. “Here,” she said, holding out a napkin.
“What’s that for?”
“You really are a caveman, aren’t you?” She leaned forward and brushed off the crumbs. There were some on the corner of his mouth, and she moved to wipe them off too.
“Erma,” he said, his voice softer than she’d ever heard it. Gently, he took the napkin from her. “I’ll do it.”
She sat back, dazed at the fluttering in her stomach as she watched him dab at his lips. She had plumb lost her mind. She hadn’t had that feeling since she’d first met Gus, her late husband and love of her life. This was Jasper, the exact opposite of her darling Gus. Although she liked to joke and say,“I ain’t dead yet,”she didn’t exactly have a young libido. And how could she possibly be thinking about her libido with her archnemesis right in front of her?
“Well, guess I’d better be gettin’ along.” Jasper stood, obviously oblivious to Erma’s reaction.
“I can take you home,” she said weakly. Land’s sake, perspiration was forming on her brow. She grabbed one of the napkins and quickly wiped it off. Hot flashes?Really?
“Nah. I’ll walk.” He left the kitchen.
She trailed behind him. “Are you sure? It’s still hot and muggy outside.”
He turned to her. “I’ll be fine, Erma.” He walked to the door.
“Wait!” She scurried back to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and snatched a water bottle off the shelf. “You’ll need this.” She handed it to him, almost smiling at the surprise on his face.
Jasper took the bottle, tipped it at her, then opened the door and left.
Erma collapsed into the chair, fanning herself. This was ridiculous. This wasJasper. And she was too old to be having hot flashes and a fluttering stomach.
She rushed to the bathroom where she kept her thermometer. When she took her temperature, it was normal. Drat.
