He’d give me a long stare, then a short wave, with no indication on his handsome yet stoic expression of what he was thinking. And why it even mattered continued to baffle me. We’d barely spoken a few sentences to each other. It wasn’t like we’d met socially with the hopes of dating.
But oh, it was difficult erasing the memory of his muscular build and how I felt plastered against it. Or how I thought I saw interest flaring in his dreamy eyes. Better to focus on what is important right now. Like getting ready for tonight.
I’d worked hard building up my inventory before Simon and I left Nashville. My Etsy shop had been profitable enough to supplement the bills of living in a large city when I’d been married. But I needed it to pay for everything now. The excitement and fear of adding in-person sales of my jewelrydesigns had been building since I booked tonight’s pop-up event at The Reading Nook.
The bookstore and coffee shop had been one of my first outings after we arrived, because books. The venue was perfect. Sophie Kim, the store’s owner, was a dynamo and super friendly. In the short time I’d been there working out details with her, she greeted everyone by name and filled coffee orders, knowing everyone’s favorites.
She made me feel welcome immediately, and I’d made my first friend in Pine Valley. Which had been one of my worries. Beginning new friendships was so hard in our thirties. Feeling hopeful for the future of my business, I picked out my outfit for the night, which included a new knit sweater in deep burgundy. I’d had to use some of my savings to purchase winter clothes for Simon and me, something we never really needed in Tennessee.
Becca and Simon had left for Colorado Springs early this morning, and her last comment before she left was, “Let me spoil him, Jaci. I’ve rarely been able to since you had him. We’ll be fine. I command thousands of men and women. I think I can handle one eight-year-old boy.”
The alarm finally sounded, and it was time to finish packing my car with my newly purchased displays and the jewelry pouches with my pretty gold embossed logo. Double-checking everything for the last time, I buckled my seatbelt and started the engine.
Nothing but a weird clicking sound followed. No. Just.N.O.I’d had the sedan serviced before we left Nashville. Looking at the dashboard, the red line for the gas level was sitting at half a tank. What was the problem? Panic sweat hit me.
If Becca had been here, I could have transferred everything to her car. I could call a rideshare, but I didn’t even know if there was enough demand for it in a town the size of Pine Valley.
Dang it, I’d planned this down to the minute, and I needed to leave now if I was going to set everything up in time, and dammit…don’t start crying now, Jaci Lynn Cain.
But instead of crying, I took out my frustration on my steering wheel, pounding my open palms on it over and over until the stinging stopped me. Okay, deep breath, you've got this. I tried the start button again. Maybe it was a fluke thing. That happened, right?
Nope. Not a fluke. Okay, rideshare it was. I pushed open my door, needing to get out and pace off my agitation, and smacked into something solid. Rafe stood less than six inches away, his arms outstretched and wrapped around the doorjamb. He stepped to the side, leaned his six foot plus frame down to eye level and, with a grim expression, asked, “You okay?”
I couldn’t help it; I lost it. Tonight was supposed to be the beginning of my success in Pine Valley. “Oh, sure. This is always how I start my car.” I held up my hands, palms facing him, to show off the red marks, and just like that all the mad left me.
His features had softened from what I’d secretly termed RGF— resting grump face — to understanding and concern. The effect was remarkable. And something I’d revisit later. Because my knight in shining armor had just arrived, even if he didn’t realize it yet.
“You wouldn’t happen to be busy right now, would you? My car is dead, and I really need to get me and my product to The Reading Nook. I have an event I can’t miss.” When he didn’t answer right away, I added, “I’ll pay you gas money.”
Rafe’s lips thinned out, and he looked like he was going to say no. I felt my heart drop and then he said, “You don’t need to pay for gas. I can drive you. I’ve got some time before my…thing starts.”
Thing,hm? Was that the new term for dates these days? Guess I needed to catch up on a few things myself since it’d beenforever since I had had a date. “Okay, great. Maybe you could pull your truck next to my car; it’ll make it easier to transfer the packages and table.”
“How much stuff have you got packed in there?” His eyes had gone wide as he looked in my trunk and helped me move boxes.
“Pretty much my entire inventory. I have high hopes I’ll sell out.” With the last of it tucked into his back seat, I opened the passenger door and stepped up into the cab of the truck. “Wow, that backseat is huge. I can’t believe everything fit. Thanks.”
He remained silent. Just got inside, started the engine, and drove us downtown to Pine Valley. I nearly jumped when he asked, “What are you selling?”
His accent more pronounced this time, I needed to ask him about what part of England he’d come from. It also sent little shivers up and down my spine. I needed to get him talking so I could hear more of it. “I make and sell jewelry. Until today, I’ve only sold it on my Etsy shop. But I need to make it pay all my bills now that it’s just me providing for Simon.”
“What about his dad? Don’t you get alimony or child support?”
“Yeah, that would be nice. But he’s fighting it right now, and the courts are back-logged. It was all I could do to get the paperwork signed and filed so I could move Simon here with me, even though my ex didn’t want him. Not enough room since he’s already remarried and has a baby on the way.”
“Sorry to hear that. A father should take care of all his kids.” Rafe’s tone made it clear what he thought of my ex.
“Yeah, well, he had me fooled. But we're better off without him. And Simon is thriving. And now thanks to you and your dog, he either wants to become a veterinarian or join the Air Force and become a K-9 handler.” I watched out of the corner of my eye as his eyebrows rose at the news.
“Oh, there it is. I still can’t get used to how quickly I can get to where I’m going in this town. No traffic.” I grinned as he pulled into a spot right in front of the bookstore.
Rafe paused after cutting the engine. He looked at me for so long I squirmed in my seat and fidgeted with my purse's shoulder strap. “What? Do I have something on my face?”
His piercing eyes had gone near black, and the man I first met the other day was back, the one who’d rocked an enormous erection. He no longer looked grumpy or inconvenienced. He looked turned on.
Goosebumps popped out all over my arms and chest, and then all points south joined in. All the moisture in my mouth dried up. But I couldn’t break his gaze if my life depended on it.
Wanting this man may be a natural, biological reaction, but doing something about it could become complicated. I’d confirmed he wasn’t married. I caved and asked Simon. He didn’t have any kids either. All signs pointed to a man in his early forties who was just fine with being single for life. So that left a fling or something not even that long. A onetime hookup then.
