“Well, here’s my business card,” Jason says, putting his hand in his coat pocket and coming out with a few cards. He hands one to Kelsey, who is bouncing on her feet in excitement. “Just show it to security, and they’ll let you right in or, at the very least, call me.”
“Oh my God, thank you!” she practically squeals.
His gaze settles on my face. “Now, let’s see to that spare.”
***
Jason
If I hadto peg the type of woman I like, tall and willowy would describe most of my hookups, yet I can’t stop staring at the full-figured, curvy blonde with the porcelain skin and full lips who creates candy, of all things.
“Let’s move the baskets back to the apartment,” Faith says, breaking the spell that wove between us as we stared at one another, both clearly struck by something bigger than ourselves.
“I’ll take some.” Kelsey walks between us and starts to work.
Together, they unload the candy, which Faith and her assistant bring back upstairs to what I assume is her apartment, while I do something I haven’t done since college.
It’s a miracle I know how to change a tire.
For sure, my father, Robert Dare, didn’t teach me, as he was rarely around. Maybe he taught my half-brothers from a woman nobody knew about how to handle the things a man should know. Shaking off that painful memory, I call my cousin Gabe and let him know I’ll be late before throwing my jacket into the back of my car, rolling up my sleeves, loosening my tie, and getting down to my task.
While I work, Kelsey calls an Uber to take her home, and one shows up quickly. Apparently, Faith, having taken one of mybusiness cards, has decided I’m a legitimate businessman and safe to be alone with.
It doesn’t take long to get the tire off the van, and on examination, I realize it was deliberately slashed, and that bothers me.
“How’s it going?” Faith asks me.
“No problems, unless you count the fact that someone deliberately cut your tire.” I glance over my shoulder.
Faith is frozen in place, her eyes wide, her concerned expression clearly telling me she is upset.
“It’s probably some of the kids in the neighborhood,” she finally says, visibly forcing herself to relax. “They congregate around here late at night, and I haven’t looked at the van since the day before yesterday.”
I’m not sure whether or not I believe her, and I tuck her reaction away to dissect another time.
She wraps her arms around herself, appearing uncertain for the first time since I met her. And a fierce feeling of protectiveness rushes over me, one I’ve previously experienced only for people I care about, yet I don’t know this woman at all.
“So what are you doing with all the candy?” I ask as I worked on the tire, eager to take that stricken look off her face, change the subject, shake off the weird emotions she provokes in me, and maybe get to know her at the same time.
“I own a store called Sweet Treats,” she says. “I want to build my business, so I made baskets of my signature item, and I was going to go around to the local businesses and ask if they’d put the candy and my business card by the register.”
“What makes your candy stand out?” I ask.
“Other than how good it is?” she asks cheekily. “It’s handcrafted and made with love. If I grow enough, I’ll have to bring in outside-made candy to fill the cases, but that’s for another time. Meanwhile, I know I’m a small shop, and it’ll behard to get my name out there, but if I can dominate the area around my store based on the one thing I offer that’s different than anyone else, then maybe word of mouth will work in my favor.”
I listen to her words and my hand stills on the last lug nut. Everything she says makes sense.
Her wordsdominating the area and standing outjumped out at me. “That’s it!” I say, excitement filling me because her words hit on the one thing missing from Club TEN29. Something unique to us, and suddenly I know just what I need to discuss with Gabe.
“What’s it?” she asks.
“You’ve come up with a brilliant idea, Faith Lancaster. And it just might help me with my business, so thank you.” I turn the wrench one last time and rise to my feet, my legs stiff from crouching in one position for so long.
“Happy to help.” She shrugs, obviously confused, but that is okay because I’m not. I finally have direction.
I look down at my hands, now completely covered in dirt and grease.
Faith glances at my blackened skin. “Oh! Come upstairs and wash up. It’s the least I can do for you after you saved me.”
