Jake wiped his hands on his overalls and went to take the mug from him.“Thanks.I need this.I’d love to sit down with you, but I can’t this morning.”
Harvey chuckled.“I wouldn’t worry about getting all your work done before Savannah gets here.She’ll want to help.”
Jake had to smile.“I know, but I don’t want her working too hard.This is supposed to be her one day off to rest.”
Harvey waved a hand at him.“There’ll be time enough to rest when you’re old farts like me.You’re both young, strong, and healthy.You should make the most of it.”
Jake pressed his lips together.The way Harvey said it made him think about making the most of their young, strong, healthy bodies for something other than work.
Harvey cocked an eyebrow at him but didn’t comment.“What have you got going on today, anyway?”
Jake jerked his chin toward the Explorer.“I have to get the radiator finished on this, then I’m hoping Troy will come by soon.”
Harvey frowned.“What does he need?”
“He’s dropping off Cara’s Civic, remember?The relay finally came in.”
“Right,” said Harvey.“So I can give him a ride home again.”
“You don’t need to do that,” said Jake.“I can do it.”
Harvey met his gaze.“You do a good job of acting like you won’t let me help in the shop because I’m not qualified, but if you won’t even let me drive customers around, I’m going to start thinking that you really do see me as a useless old fart.”
Jake gave him a stern look.“Don’t talk crap.”
Harvey chuckled.“There it is.That’s what I wanted to see.Most of the time you pretend that you’re so laid back, but there’s a backbone of steel under the Mr.Nice Guy façade, isn’t there?”
Jake shrugged.“It’s not a façade.I like to think Iama nice guy.”
Harvey rolled his eyes.“You know what I mean.You’ll go with the flow, go out of your way for anyone, but you’re no pushover.You’ll stand up for people — like you just stood up for me, even though I’m the only one talking shit about me.”
Jake chuckled.“Yeah.I won’t hear a word against you, even if you’re the one saying it.”
“That’s what I mean,” said Harvey.“And that’s why you’re such a good match for Savannah.She doesn’t need some young bull who’ll puff his chest up at every little thing.She needs gentle in the everyday.But when it comes down to it, she needs a man who’ll have her back and stand up for her.In case you don’t know, I’ll say it — I reckon you’re that man.”
Jake couldn’t keep the smile off his face.“I want to be,” was all he said.
He was just finishing up the radiator when Troy pulled up outside.Jake went out to greet him and gave him a sympathetic smile when Troy unfolded himself out of the driver’s seat.Troy smiled back and shuddered as he straightened up.
“I feel like a sardine in there.”
Jake laughed.“I know that feeling.”
Troy looked him up and down.“Yeah, you’re not as tall as your dad, but you’re not exactly short, are you?”
That made Jake laugh.“I’m used to being the tall guy at six-two, but it’s a bit different with my dad and Uncle Dom around — and some of the other guys.”He gave Troy a puzzled look.“Do you know my dad, then?”
“Not that well.He and Jo had me over to their place one day last week to give them a quote for building a dock.”
Jake grinned.“I wondered when he was going to get around to that.”
“Well, it won’t be until the spring now,” said Troy, “but by the sound of it, it’ll be just as soon as I can manage it.”His smile faded.“If he accepts my quote, that is.They said they were having a couple of other companies in.”
“There are companies around here that build docks?”Jake asked.
“Not really,” said Troy.“The only real company was mine when I still lived on this side of the hill.But everything changed when—”
He dropped his gaze, and Jake waited.When Troy looked back up, he shrugged.“It’s been a long time.I do more decking and general carpentry stuff these days.It makes more sense, living over there and not right here on the lake.But yeah, the specialized dock companies these days are all a bit further afield.To tell you the truth, I’m hoping that the travel and logistics involved for them will bump their prices up beyond what’s reasonable.I shouldn’t tell you that, since it’s your dad’s job we’re talking about, but if he does choose to go with me, I’ll take care of him.I don’t mean…”
