“I guess the timing was right,” I tell him, running my hand along the top edge of the truck’s tailgate.
He looks over the vehicle. “She’s old, but she runs well.”
“Does it have power steering?”
Ralph gives me a look that’s part surprise, part embarrassment on my behalf for not automatically being able to tell just by looking. Like cooking, I lack a general knowledge of vehicles.
“Uh, yeah, it does.” He nods as he speaks, doing a good job of covering up his surprise.
“Would you mind if I did a quick test drive?” I crane my neck and look around the parking lot of the grocery store where we agreed to meet. “Just around the block?”
Ralph pulls his keys from his pockets and works a single silver key with a black rubber cover from the key ring. “Here ya go,” he says, dropping it in my open palm.
The test drive is quick, and everything seems to be in order. The truck runs well, and it doesn’t require an exorbitant amount of my energy to turn the wheel. I don’t need a smooth ride with top-of-the-line speakers, in-dash navigation, and a rear back-up camera. I just need something I don’t have to ask Louisa to borrow and can get me where I want to go. And, if she says yes, can get Addison out on a date with me.
“It seems good,” I tell Ralph as I slow to a stop and hop out. “I need to run over to the bank and bring you the cash.”
“Take your time,” he says, opening the passenger door and lowering the glovebox. “I’m just going to make sure this is cleared out. My buddy’s on his way to help out.”
I rub my chin and try not to look confused. Help out how?
Ralph must notice me flailing internally, because he explains. “You have two vehicles to drive back to that B&B you’re staying at, right? You can drive the Jeep, I’ll drive your new truck, and my buddy will follow. That way you don’t have to have someone bring you back here to get the second car.”
“Right.” I nod slowly. What is my problem? Where has my brain gone?Perhaps my focus has been trained on a certain blonde baker…
I set off across the parking lot to the bank on the corner. When I get back, there’s another man standing at the back of the truck talking to Ralph.
Ralph spots me and waves. “Brady, this is my friend Paul.” He gestures to his friend as he turns around.
I smile at the man I met in this same parking lot a few days ago. “Paul, how’s your dad?”
Ralph looks between us. “You two know each other?”
Paul nods. “This Good Samaritan helped out my dad when he was having one of his senior moments.”
I hand Ralph the envelope with the money. “Happy to help.”
“You staying here in town, Brady?” Paul asks.
“I’m out at the Sweet Escape B&B.”
Recognition lights up in Paul’s eyes. “Is that why Addison West was with you the other day?”
My chest tightens. What does this guy want with Addison? I check his left hand.Married.“She and I were running errands for her grandma.”
“Is she single? I have about four different friends who would love to know she’s back in town.”
I gulp down the urge to lie. “She’s single,” I say, the truth slipping between gritted teeth.
Paul cracks a smile and pats my shoulder. “Get in line, buddy. Addison West has had the guys in town tied in knots since she started showing up here every summer.”
His non-threatening demeanor doesn’t do much to relax me. I’ve been in fierce competition recently and I’m not dying to enter into another one.
Before I can say anything, he keeps going. “You must be staying for a while if you’re buying this hunk of metal.”
I think back to earlier today, and the feel of Addison in my arms. “I don’t have a game plan. All I know is that I need to have the freedom to come and go when I want, and I don’t want to ask Addison’s grandma if I can borrow her car.”
Both the guys laugh, then Ralph asks where I’m from.
