She shrugged.“And you have all the equipment you need now, and I’ll be happy to take you up on the offer to use it.”
“And I meant what I said, you know.It’s been a bit quieter since I said it, but business really is picking up, and I think I’ll need your help for a few jobs over the next couple of weeks.”
“Oh, I hope so.I’ve been looking forward to it.”
“And in the meantime, we can get the Camaro in there whenever you want to.”
“How about tomorrow?”she asked.
“We could.If you really want to, but you’re already working a split shift and…” He wondered if she’d forgotten.“Do you still want to come over to Dad and Jo’s in between?”
“Yes, I’d love to.I wasn’t thinking then, I was thinking maybe before I go into work in the morning.”
He gave her hand a squeeze.“We can, but I’d rather take our time tomorrow morning.I can make you pancakes,” he said with a smile.
Her eyes widened, and he knew she understood.He was hoping that tonight was going to be a special one for them.He didn’t want them to have to rush out the door in the morning.
She nodded slowly.
“But now that you’ve mentioned that your brakes need work, how about we get it in the shop on Monday?”
“Okay, let’s do that.But only to stop you worrying.I promise they’re fine.”
~ ~ ~
Savannah watched the houses go by as Jake drove through his neighborhood.They were small, modest, mostly very neat and well-kept.She’d always liked it over here when she used to come to visit her friends as a kid.Hidden Valley, where she’d grown up, was nice, too.But since school was here in Summer Lake and most of her friends lived here, she used to feel like an outsider.
He looked over at her before he pulled into his driveway.“I know this place isn’t fancy or anything, but I like it here.”
“I do, too.”
“You do?I was wondering what you make of the place.You were staring at the houses like maybe you don’t like it here.And your apartment’s in such a great spot out by the river like that.”
“No!If I had a strange look on my face, it was because this neighborhood has always felt to me like it’s where the cool kids live — and I was never one of them.”
He pursed his lips.“I want to tell you that you have it all wrong — because you do.But I don’t want to dismiss the way you feel.I’m curious why, though?”
She shrugged.“Just that this is where the cool kids — like Abbie and Elle — lived when we were at school.”She smiled, wanting to lift the mood.“And now it’s where you and Josh live.”She’d already told him enough for him to know that she was far from one of the cool kids.
He shook his head at her and got out of the truck.
Once they were inside the house, he slid his arm around her waist and backed her against the door.“You, Savvie, are the coolest of all the kids…” He held his finger up when she started to protest.“You are inmymind, and only I get to decide what’s true in my own mind, so you can’t tell me that I’m wrong.”
He leaned his weight against her and claimed her mouth in a deep, slow kiss that left her clinging to him just to keep herself upright.
When they finally came up for air, the way he smiled made her breath catch.And her heart felt as though it melted in her chest when he said, “I should probably give you fair warning that if I get my way, wherever you live will be where I live in the future.So, you should probably start thinking about where you want to be.If you think this neighborhood’s cool, we can stay here.If you want to move to the other side of the lake or … anywhere, then that’s where I want to be.
Chapter Eighteen
While Jake fixed them a drink in the kitchen, Savannah sat on the sofa, staring out the patio doors at the small, neat backyard.Her mind was still reeling from what he’d said.She was having difficulty processing it.
She should start thinking about where she wanted to be?That if she liked it here in his neighborhood, they could stay here?We?He’d actually saidwe.Because wherever she wanted to be was where he wanted to be.Wherever she lived would be where he lived?
That tingly ball of excitement was spinning in her chest.She wrapped her arms around herself and held on tight.It kind of felt too good to be true.But the thing was… she knew it was true.She just had to catch up and believe it.That was the hard part.But, boy, did she want to.
She startled when he came back in, and her heart sank when she saw the worried look on his face.He sat down beside her on the sofa and rested his hand on her shoulder.“Hey.I probably shouldn’t have said that, should I?”
A heavy ball of disappointment settled in her stomach, and she nodded slowly.
