I study his face, trying to predict his reaction to the booklet. “Well, I wanted to get you something else because you got my car started. I can’t really pay you for the repairs right now, which I will absolutely do in the future, but I made something for you.” Pulling out the booklet, I hand it to him. “I know it’s kind of dumb, but I wasn’t sure what else would be a good enough thank you in the meantime.”
Burton’s expression gives nothing away at first until he turns to the first coupon.
He looks up at me and turns the booklet around, showing the running buddy one. “This one right here is worth fixing your car. I need all the motivation Ican get. Every day you were gone I wished you were home so you could train me.”
I smile, wishing my insides would just act normal about his compliment. Instead, my heart is ready to beat through my chest.
Burton flips through several more and nods, grinning. “These are all great.”
He barely glances at the cash before he lands on the last one. “Go to the farm.” He looks up at me and says, “Is this your family farm?”
I nod, my cheeks heating with embarrassment. “Yeah, I’m not sure why I put that in there actually. I couldn’t think of anything else to put on the last one.”
“Thank you, Laney,” he says, lifting the booklet in a gesture toward me. Then in a second, he takes a step forward and pulls me in for a hug.
He smells of garlic and cheese, but I don’t mind. He’s several inches taller than I am since I’m not wearing my heels, and I can’t complain about his arms around me. They make me feel safe. Not like my life is more dangerous than a deer’s head, but it’s like a security I haven’t felt in a while.
He pulls back, and I focus way too much on his lips. His very kissable lips.
“Sorry,” he says, taking a step back even more, “I smell like Italian food, and I have way too much gunk on my uniform. Do I have to have a physical copy ofthe coupons to redeem them? Or can I do it through a text?”
The corner of his lips hitches up just the slightest bit, and I’m focused on it for way too long.
I laugh and say, “Either way works. I’ll let you get on with your night. Thanks again, Burton.”
I open the door and dash out, trying not to sprint away like a crazy person. Once I’m inside the house, I unpack boxes so I don’t have time to think about what just happened.
I’d given three men their drinks and candy bars without the slightest rise in heart rate. With Burton, it was practically galloping away like it was racing in the Kentucky Derby.
This is bad. I think I’m falling for my athlete neighbor.
CHAPTER 11
BURTON
After I’ve washed off the Italian smell and thrown a load of laundry into the washer, I settle into my bed and hold the coupon book out in front of me.
Laney looked so embarrassed when she gave it to me, and I wasn’t sure why. No one has ever done something like this for me, and it’s an opportunity to spend more time with her. How could I not like it?
My phone rings, and I pick up even though I don’t recognize the number. Maybe I’m a little too distracted as I picture us walking around a farm. “Hello, this is Burton.”
“Hi, Courtney Burton? This is Sherrie Randall fromthe Clean it Up Project. You applied to help us on a few projects around the Salt Lake area?”
I freeze, trying to reconcile all that she’s telling me with reality. I never signed up for anything, at least not in the past few days.
“How do your applications work? Are they on paper, or electronic?” I ask. “I just can’t remember doing it.”
“Everything is electronic these days, sir,” she says.
I tap my finger on my lips and try to think of something. “Which email was used?”
There’s a pause and then she says, “Um, courtquackamoo?—”
“Got it.”
Connie.
“I think my sister put in the application.”
