Jake liked Ben all the more when he leaned in and hugged Savannah anyway."You're barely dirty.It's good to see you back in here."
Savannah's smile lit up her face as she nodded."It's good tobeback in here."
"It's been a long time," said Ben.
"Yeah.Too long."She smiled at Jake."Art was a good friend of Ben's grandpa, Joe."
"That's right," said Ben."Joe used to bring me over here sometimes.I think he hoped that I might learn to fix things, but my brain just doesn't work that way."He smiled at Savannah."I was totally out of my element in here and totally outclassed by this little blonde girl who could only have been...what were you, Savvie, about twelve or thirteen at the time?And there you were teaching me."
Jake loved the way Savannah smiled."You were fine," she said."You did a good job.You just needed a little bit of help with the things you weren't familiar with."
"You always were too kind," said Ben.He turned to Jake."Now that I know Savannah's working here with you, I feel better about asking you this."
Jake gave him a puzzled look, not understanding what exactly he was asking about.
"There was a time when Art used to have the contract—the maintenance contract—for all the vehicles at the resort.After he closed up, I brought in a couple of guys to work on staff, but it never really worked out.A few different guys came and went, but nobody stuck, and it never really panned out."
Savannah took a step closer to them, and Jake held his breath.
Ben smiled."What I came out here to ask you is if you want the contract.I was thinking it might be something you'd need to build up to."He shot Savannah a quick smile."But now that I know you have the best mechanic I've ever met working here, I reckon you could probably handle it all between the two of you.You might need a third person, I suppose.I heard you're getting busier with regular customers.The resort jobs aren't usually urgent—they can mostly wait a day or two, but if you’re already busy with regular work..."
Jake grinned."We'll figure it out."
Ben laughed."I had a feeling you might say that."He turned to Savannah."How would you feel about working on the golf carts and minibuses and everything else that we have over there?"He frowned."Are either of you familiar with riding mowers?"
Savannah laughed."I am.Art used to let me help out with them when he had the contract for your grandpa."She grinned."What about the boats?Will you want us to work on those?"
Ben shrugged."That'd be up to you guys."He cocked an eyebrow at Jake."I heard you were an avionics technician.Do you have any experience with marine engines?"
“No, but we’ll figure it out if you want to give us the chance.”
Ben laughed.“How about we get things set up first.We can adjust as we go.Do you want to come by the resort on Monday?”He checked his watch.“I’m meeting my wife, Charlie, and some friends at the café soon.I need to run, but I wanted to catch you before the weekend.Harvey said this might be a good time.”
Jake couldn’t help it; he tried not to laugh, but a chuckle escaped.Savannah shook her head, and Ben grinned at them.
“Yeah, I’m sure you’re not surprised that he came to talk to me about it, but for what it’s worth I was planning to anyway.”He nodded at Jake.“I’ve heard good things about you.”He turned to Savannah.“No one told me you were working here, though.I’d have come sooner if I’d known.”
Savannah smiled and nodded and made the right noises while they said goodbye to Ben, but a heavy weight settled in Jake’s chest – she didn’t really work here.And as much as he’d love her to – not for the sake of the contract with the resort, just to have her around every day – she was currently trying out the assistant manager job at the restaurant with Taryn.
They both stood out front and waved as Ben pulled away.Once his truck was out of sight, she turned to him with a huge smile on her face.“Isn’t it awesome?!”
“Yeah.”
Her smile faded.“You don’t look thrilled.”
“Because I wish … I wish you wanted to work here for real.”
“Oh.”Her expression was almost comical.“Shoot!”She looked down at herself.“How stupid am I?I got so caught up in it.I thought I really did work here.I was so excited to work on the golf carts and to …” She shook her head sadly.“But I’m sure Ben will still give you the contract.He was glad to see me for old times’ sake but …”
Jake wrapped his arm around her shoulders.“I’m sure he will.But it’s not about the contract; it’s about you being here.Yes, I’d love to get to spend all our days working together, but even more important than that?I’d love to see you happy spending your days doing what you love.”
He kissed her forehead.“Looking sexy as hell in your coveralls, teaching me all the things I don’t know.I’d love for us to go home together at the end of the day and …” He shrugged.“But that’s me being selfish.You’re moving up in the world.”
“No!”She said it so forcefully that he worried for a second.
“I’m not moving up in the world – not by working at the restaurant, not by becoming an assistant manager.I can see it now – Josh and Tiff both tried to tell me.If I keep working there, Jake, all I’m doing is moving farther away from the life I want to live.”
He dared a small smile.“Yeah?”
