"I figured it must be busy, and it's not a problem.I mean, come on—my job interfered with our first date a hell of a lot more than delaying us by ten minutes."
She grinned at that."I know, but that was fun.Your job doesn't feel like work."
He opened the passenger door for her, and while she fastened her seatbelt, he came around and got in.Once he was behind the wheel, he shot her a curious look."I never thought about it before, but do you even like your job?"
She stared back at him for a few moments before letting out a short laugh."You know what?I can't say that I've ever thought about it before, either.It's not really a question that matters, is it?I'm grateful to have it.Taryn's a good boss.Everyone who works there is nice.It's a good working atmosphere.But enjoy it?"She stared out through the windshield as she thought about it."Not really."
When she turned back to face him, she couldn't read his expression."What's that look for?"she asked."I'm not complaining.Like I said, it's a good job, and I'm grateful to have it."
He started the truck and pulled out of the parking lot before he spoke."But you think working at the garage is fun?"
"Of course I do.It's not like work, is it?I mean, sure, you have to do the paperwork and the running the business side of it, but just getting to work on cars all day?That would be awesome."
He glanced over at her again."It would, wouldn't it?"
She laughed."What do you mean 'it would'?You already get to do it."
"Yeah, but I was thinking about you."He reached over and she took hold of his hand."You don't want to take the assistant manager job, do you?"
She let out a breath."No, I really don't.But the money will be better, and I don't want to let Taryn down.And..."She sighed."And the downside is it’ll mean working pretty much every evening – I can guarantee that."
He blew out a sigh."Yeah, and I don't want to talk you out of it if that's what you want to do."
"But...?"she asked.
He squeezed her hand."Honestly, I don't know.But I keep thinking, and..."
She waited, wondering what exactly it was he was thinking.But he shot her a rueful smile and said, "But here we are," before turning off the road onto a driveway that led down toward the water's edge."We can talk about it later.Are you hungry?Everyone's here, but they wanted to wait for you to arrive before we ate."
"Oh, no, you didn't need to do that.I'm sorry to make everyone wait this late."
Jake chuckled."It's not a problem, and you don't need to feel bad about it.In fact, please don't.Jo will feel bad if you do.She just wanted to make sure you felt included."
Savannah's hand came up to cover her heart."That's so nice of her.She sounds like such a sweet lady.You think the world of her, don't you?"
Jake nodded happily."I do.And I'm hoping that you will, too."
~ ~ ~
Jake smiled when his dad’s hand came down on his shoulder.They were standing at the edge of the deck, watching Jo show Savannah the bluebird boxes his dad had nailed to the trees around the yard.
“I’m glad Savannah could come this afternoon.Jo’s taken a real shine to her.”
“Yeah.”Jake nodded but didn’t take his eyes off the two women.
His dad gave his shoulder a shake.“Seems to me that you’ve taken more than a shine to her.”
He finally turned to face his dad and straightened his shoulders a little, feeling somehow that this was a momentous occasion.
His dad cocked an eyebrow.“What’s that look for?You’ve had it bad for her ever since the first time you met her.You’re not about to tell me that you’re changing your mind, are you?”
“Far from it.”Jake might have looked serious as he prepared himself to tell his dad, but he knew he was grinning like an idiot and couldn’t stop as he said, “I’m not changing my mind about her, Dad.And I doubt I ever will – I’m in love with her.”
He was relieved when his dad grinned back at him, but he had to push on and add, “I’ve asked her to move in with me.”
His heart hammered in his chest as he waited for his dad to speak.It wouldn’t change anything if he didn’t like the idea, but it was important to Jake that he should.After a few moments, he said, “I know it’s kind of fast.But…”
“It is,” his dad agreed.“But I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.When you know, you know, right?”
