She glanced over her shoulder.
“I was stuck helping with the Little Broncos class,” he explained with a bashful grin. “So I haven’t heard yet.”
“Bye, Memphis!” a little girl belted as she waved from her father’s arms, her red hair peeking from her decorative cowgirl hat.
Memphis shot her a friendly wave. “See you tomorrow, Callie!” He set his eyes back on Ty, who was inwardly swooning over the fact that he so easily recalled the little girl’s name.
She bit her lip, slightly distracted by the exchange. What had he asked her?
“The job?” he reminded as he stepped closer. He was just a few feet away from her now. He reached up and rested a hand on the banister by her side.
“Oh, yes, the job. Idid. I’m so thrilled.”
A wide smile broke over his face. “Nice! Welcome to the Homestead Inn.”
“Thank you.”
He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. “I’ll grab my truck.”
A small giggle slipped from Ty’s lips. “K, thanks.” Her heart was doing things it hadn’t done since high school. Like fluttering in double measure when a cute boy flirted with her in the hallway.
“Thankyou…” His cheeks flushed with color. “…for letting me help you,” he said, bumping into the railing behind him. And then he was off, hurrying toward the back lot.
Ty’s smile grew as she spun on one foot and hurried along the porch. She glided a hand along the smooth banister, a sigh escaping her lips as she pondered the interaction with Memphis. He was really sweet. She wanted to leave it at that; it wasn’t often she found herself attracted to someone in such an obvious way, but that’s just what this was—attraction. Her interaction with him had sparked feelings she hadn’t felt in a very long time.
Right on cue, Memphis came into view, hunched behind the wheel of his truck while scanning the small parking area. It was designed for temporary parking, as most guests would move to the back lot upon checking in. As it was, a minivan had pulled up along one side, lending her visions of a happy family, ready to enjoy a long-awaited vacation.
Threads of longing weaved through deep corners of her heart. She’d always been daunted by thoughts of dating—sifting through the good, bad, and the awful to find a man with good intent—but Ty had begun to truly long for that whole vacation-in-a-minivan package. A man who would love and care for Lucas the way that she did. A man who’d partner with her in raising him. And perhaps, if she dared dream, a man who wouldn’t be deterred by the long-term challenges of dating a single mom.
The idea was almost foreign to her after all this time of being alone. But as Memphis pulled the truck alongside her sedan, Ty couldn’t deny the fresh sense of hope that sprouted in her chest. Perhaps she, like the autumn nature surrounding her, was turning over a new leaf.
Memphis gripped the steering wheel and forced his eyes on the road ahead.
“I really am sorry about this,” Ty said from the passenger side of the truck.
“No, no,” Memphis blurted. “Please.I’mthe one who’s sorry.” Embarrassment pushed through him as he reflected on his failed attempt to help her. “I’m sure most men know how to use jumper cables, but I’ve…” He died off there, not wanting to tell the single mother who sat beside him that he and his siblings had lived a seriously pampered life.
“It was too far gone,” Ty said. “The battery, I mean. I think we hooked everything up correctly.”
“And byweyou meanyou.”Memphis’s face flushed with heat.
“It’s fine,” Ty said. “Not everyone knows how to do that. I only know because I’ve had to do it a dozen times for either myself or one of my friends.”
He shot a glance in her direction, a reluctant grin at his lips. The truth was, he’d never driven the same car long enough for the battery to go bad, and neither had his also-wealthy friends. Plus, each of the new cars he drove had alerts that kept him from leaving the lights on and accidentally draining the battery.
“I’m familiar with theterm—my car needs a jump start. I’ve seen it done on TV or in parking lots.”
“That counts for something,” Ty said cheerily.
Memphis was having a hard time keeping his eyes on the road and off Ty. Not in an ogling sort of way. It had more to do with curiosity and fascination. She had such an easy, forgiving nature that his embarrassment was melting away.
“I’ve done a fair share ofracingcars,” he told her. “I’ve just never had to repair them.”
“You’ve raced before?” Ty spun in the seat to face him, adjusting her seatbelt a bit.
Memphis shrugged, but he couldn’t help but smile at the excitement in her voice. “Yeah. It’s been a hobby of mine for years.”
“That’s so cool. Lucas is really into sports cars right now.”
