“No, it really didn’t.I felt bad that I was going to have to leave her and go out, but she automatically assumed that she’d come with me.”He gave his dad a rueful smile.“And it’s a good thing she did.”
His dad cocked an eyebrow.
“I couldn’t figure out what was going on with Cara’s car.Savannah knew immediately – she just tapped on the dash and got it running again.”
His dad laughed.“Uh oh – how did that feel?That she outsmarted you?”
He knew what his dad meant, but… “It was freaking awesome!I mean, sure, I felt dumb for a second.But it was one of those little fixes that, unless you know, you can’t know.I love that she’s so smart about cars, about fixing them – about pretty much everything.”
His dad grasped his shoulder.“I don’t know her all that well, but Sadie and Harvey think the world of her.Dom’s gotten to know her as well, and he speaks highly of her.I know you’ve only been on one date – and by the sound of that, it didn’t turn out like you expected.All I’m saying is, I know you’ve waited a while for a chance with her.I hope it works out.”
“Me too.”
“Are you seeing her again soon?”
Jake grinned.“This afternoon.”
“Then you’d better finish your workout and get going, huh?Jo’s going to call to see if you want to come over for lunch tomorrow.”
Jake met his gaze.“Mind if I let you know later?”
His dad chuckled.“Not a problem – especially if you’re seeing Savannah again tomorrow.”
“That’s what I’m hoping for.”
Chapter Five
Savannah went to check herself in the mirror.It wasn’t like she was dressed up or anything – she and Jake were only going over to the plaza at Four Mile Creek.But still, she wanted to look nice.
It might not be evening, but it was still a date.The face that stared back at her made her wonder if she should take Tiff up on her offer.Tiffany was always saying she could do her makeup for her or teach her to do it herself.
Savannah ran her fingers through her hair.She was fine.She wasn’t the kind of girl to wear loads of makeup – she never had been.Just because she was excited about seeing Jake didn’t mean she needed to start now.
Her heart sank.She had to remember that she wasn’t reallyseeingJake.This wasn’t going to go anywhere, no matter how much she wanted it to.She’d promised herself no more than a handful of dates.
Of course, she’d love more than that.But… She blew out a sigh.Part of her wanted to say screw it.Her mom – and her mom’s problems – had dominated enough of her life already.Was she really going to let the chance at a relationship with a wonderful guy like Jake slip through her fingers just because she was afraid her mom’s mess might come back around?
She blew out another sigh.
She knew damn well that if she told Jake what was going on, he’d be right there by her side if Rick did come back and give her any more trouble – whether they were seeing each other or not.And besides, there was no guarantee that Rick would show his face again.But when he’d shown up just after Sadie came home, he’d made Savannah’s life miserable.Things had gotten so bad that instead of starting a new chapter here in Summer Lake, like she’d planned, she’d moved down to the city just to get away from him and his threats.
She often wondered what might have happened between her and Jake if she hadn’t left.The attraction had been mutual; neither of them had hidden it even back then.Jake was new in town.She’d just gotten her job at the resort in Summer Lake.
It didn’t matter what might have happened – none of it had.Rick Harlow had made her life so miserable that she’d fled.
She checked her watch.Whatever hadn’t happened between her and Jake in the past, somethingwashappening now.They had a chance – whether it turned out to be just a few dates or whether she decided to take the risk of letting Jake know what was really going on.
She grabbed her keys from the little table by the door.She could worry about all of that another time.For now, she was going to pick Jake up so they could go for lunch at the café.
She smiled as she climbed into her Camaro.Jake had said he’d come pick her up, but he’d driven last time – and she wasn’t the kind of girl who was used to being chauffeured anywhere.She would’ve been happy with it; it was sweet of him to offer.But she knew he loved the Camaro almost as much as she did.
When they’d gone to help Cara out on the hill the other night, he’d told her that his insurance through the business covered him to drive any vehicle.Normally, she wouldn’t let anyone sit behind the wheel of the Camaro.But since it was Jake – and since he was insured – she planned to see if he wanted to drive over to Four Mile Creek.
He’d joked before about how envious he was.That was one of the many things she loved about him.He didn’t just respect that she knew what she was doing when it came to cars – he was as enthusiastic and as knowledgeable as she was.
She smiled to herself as she pulled away from the apartment.Well… he was almost as knowledgeable.Probably more, in a lot of ways.But she was pleased with herself that she’d known something he hadn’t when it came to Cara’s little Civic.
It was weird driving through Jake’s neighborhood.It felt like going back in time in some ways.Some of her friends had lived over here when she was in high school.Thinking about Elle and Abbie made her smile.They were both living back here in Summer Lake now, even though they’d moved away after high school.She hadn’t spent much time with them since they’d come home – she was usually too busy to hang out with friends.
