She mulled that over before asking, “Wait, does that mean you were a pilot?”
He didn’t usually hesitate before he answered that question – people asked often enough.He was proud of his work, but he knew pilots were viewed as the heroes.He was usually happy to clarify that he wasn’t one of them, but just for a moment, he hoped Savannah wouldn’t be disappointed.If she were, then… he’d know.
“No, I stayed on the ground.Just kept those guys in the air.”
“Oh, wow!”Her wide-eyed admiration made him shift in his seat again.“Seriously?I never thought about that, but it makes so much sense.You obviously know your way around engines, but you’re not familiar with some of the cars, are you?Sorry, no offense.But it’s because you’re used to working on airplanes.That’s amazing.”
He felt like he grew a foot taller.He was used to dismissing what he did asjust the mechanic, but Savannah understood what that really meant.
“The pilots…”
She put a hand on her hip and said indignantly, “Don’t you dare give me anythe pilots are the heroescrap.We both know better than that – I mean, they are, of course, but they’d be nothing without guys like you.Did you know Art did that, too?”
He nodded.Their shared history was, he believed, the detail that had convinced Art he should sell him the garage.
“Right, I should have guessed that.I always thought it was weird that he was so adamant you were the right guy to take over the business, even though you’re an out-of-towner.But where I was going was to say that it was how Art always used to put it.When he was in the military, he kept the planes flying.People might think he was just a mechanic back here at the lake, but it was still the same thing.
“What use is a heart surgeon if he can’t get to the operating room because his car broke down?How could teachers educate kids if they couldn’t get to school?”
Jake could only smile as he listened to her.After a few more examples of people who might seem important in society but wouldn’t be much use if they couldn’t get to work because their car broke down, she finally ran out of steam.She pushed her bangs away from her forehead and rolled her eyes.
“Sorry.But don’t ever give me thatI just kept the other guys in the aircrap again, okay?”
He chuckled.“Received.Loud and clear.”
She rested her hand on his shoulder and leaned in closer.“And while I seem to be on a roll – it must be you, you bring it out in me.I can’t even blame the beer.”She glanced at the still-full bottles on the table.“I’m going to say what else I want you to do.”
“What’s that?”He ground the two words out while trying to clench his jaw.With one hand on his shoulder and the other on his thigh, she was making it hard for him to focus on her words.
All the tension left his shoulders when she breathed, “Kiss me.”
His arms closed around her, and he hauled her onto his lap.
Before he knew how they got there, they were lying on the sofa, hands wandering over each other, tongues tangling as they got to know each other way better.
After what felt like hours but could have been minutes, she lifted her head and smiled down at him.“We should set an alarm.”
“Huh?”
She chuckled.“You said Josh will be home at eleven, right?”
He gave her a rueful smile.“You’re right.”He tapped on his watch and said, “done,” before cupping the back of her neck and drawing her to him again.
“Time is going to be the last thing on my mind.”
She proved him right when she snuggled closer, her full breasts pressed against his chest as she let out a needy little moan.As he reclaimed her mouth, he lost all sense of time, place, and everything that wasn’t the feel of her body against his.
Chapter Ten
“What have you been up to, lady?”Taryn asked Savannah when she came into the break room on Thursday afternoon.“You did this whole lunch service with the biggest smile on your face.”
Savannah looked up, feeling guilty.“Sorry.I …”
Taryn waved a hand at her.“You have nothing to apologize for.In fact, I should be the one saying sorry.I shouldn’t be so damn nosy – but I’m hoping that the dreamy look on your face might mean that things are going well for you and Jake.”
There was no way Savannah could have hidden her smile even if she wanted to – and she didn’t.
Taryn chuckled.“That’s all I need to know.And I’m happy for you, is all I’ll say.What are you doing hanging around here, though – aren’t you done for the day?”
