He tightened his arms around her waist."And I love you.I love you.I love you more."
They broke apart guiltily when Harvey called from the office door."How would you feel if I took myself off early, Jakey?I can stay if you need me for anything, but it is Friday afternoon and all."
Jake took Savannah's hand and led her over to him."Of course you can go if you have something else you want to do or somewhere else you want to be, but don't feel like you have to."
Savannah nodded."If you're going to leave, I want you to give me a list of things that you want to do instead.Otherwise, I’ll feel like I made you uncomfortable."
Harvey scowled at her."Now, that's silly talk, and I don't want to hear no more of it.You've never once in your life made me uncomfortable, so why in tarnation would you say such a thing?"
Jake admired Savannah all the more when she let go of his hand and stepped forward to touch Harvey's arm."I think you know why, but just in case you don't, I'll spell it out.I feel guilty that I was kissing Jake, and two seconds later you said you're going home.I know you don't usually go home early, so it's not too much of a stretch to think that maybe me being here..."
"You can stop right there, young lady."Harvey tried to look stern, but he wasn't pulling it off."You're not making me uncomfortable—you're making me happy.But if you need me to give you a reason why I'm slinking off home early on a Friday afternoon, I'll give you one.It made my old heart happy seeing the two of you the way you are together.And if you want to know the truth, you reminded me of what it was like when my June was still here.We used to fool around like the two of you were just doing, and I loved every minute of it, and I know she did too.And even though there were people we loved, we didn't want them around for every second."He nodded at them."So the reason I want to go home is to give the two of you a little bit of time by yourselves.And there's another reason too."He glanced out front at the sound of a vehicle approaching."But I'll tell you about that another time if you remind me.Looks like you've got a customer, so unless either of you have any complaints, I'll head on home.Have yourselves a good weekend."
Savannah stepped forward and wrapped him in a quick hug.Jake's throat tightened when she murmured, "I love you, Harvey.I didn't mean to upset you."
Harvey chuckled."You did no such thing.I told you; you made my old heart happy.You always do."
He smiled at Jake, and Jake leaned in and gave him a quick hug as well.And he couldn't help it—he'd never said it out loud before, but he too murmured, "Love you, Harvey."
The old guy's lips moved a few times, but no words came out as he nodded and stepped back.He sniffed, then pointed toward the office and said, "Looks like your customer's here.I'll see myself out the back way."
They watched him go, and he turned back when he reached the side door.He gave them a watery smile and grumbled, "All right, all right, I'll say it too, I love you both.Now have a good weekend.I'm out of here.Good luck with your customer."
The door closed behind him.Jake had to swallow a couple of times as he smiled at Savannah, who had tears in her eyes.
"Isn't he awesome?"he asked.
"He is.I love him to pieces, but he's right—you should go see who's out there."She smiled."And what kind of job they have for you."
It was only when he reached the office that it struck Jake as odd that Harvey would leave just when a customer arrived.He was usually eager to be the first to talk to them and to upsell them on anything and everything he could think of.
He was surprised to see Ben, who owned the resort in Summer Lake, standing in the office looking around.
"Hi, Ben.What can I do for you?"
Jake didn't know him well, but from the few times he'd chatted with him, he really liked the guy.Everyone in town spoke highly of him.
Ben smiled as he came to shake hands.
"That's what I'm here to talk about."
Jake raised his eyebrows.It seemed like a strange thing to say.He glanced out through the window at Ben's truck.It was a new GMC Sierra, the kind that cost as much as many people around here made in a year.He would have had Ben down as the kind to take his truck to a dealership for regular services rather than come out here to see him, but he pulled himself together."Do you want to take a seat?"
"Actually, would you mind if I come in the shop and take a look around?"
It wasn't the kind of request Jake was used to, but he didn't mind.If anything, he was glad to show the place off to someone who was interested.
"Sure.Come on through."
It only dawned on him as they stepped through the door that there might be liability issues with inviting a customer into the workplace.He really needed to look into that kind of stuff.
When he hesitated, Ben smiled as if he was reading his mind."Don't worry.I'll be careful, and I won't touch anything.And I promise, if I trip myself up, I won't sue you.How about that?"
Jake let out a nervous chuckle."Thanks.I do have liability insurance, I promise.I just didn't know if it would cover me if I invited you in here."
"The same thought hit me," said Ben, "so I wanted to be clear.Oh, hey, Savannah."
Savannah came to join them and greeted Ben with a little wave."Hey.It's good to see you.I won't give you a hug—I'm filthy."
