That got a snort out of her before she could help it. “Fair enough.”
They stared at one another for a full minute.
There was something about this man that spoke to her. And when he tipped his head back and laughed, warm and inviting, the sound pulled a smile from her before she could think too hard about it.
The connection she felt with this man was on a different level. She hadn’t felt anything like it since she’d met Skye. While they’d both aged out of the foster system, Skye was the only one River kept in contact with. She was living in Colorado Springs, which was just one more reason the job here at Taylor Farm was perfect.
Welp. This was unexpected.
Shoving her hands into her overall pockets, she started toward him with a grin. “So… are you dating one of the women who lives here?”
His brows lifted. “And risk a shotgun to the chest? That would be a hard pass.”
River frowned. “Then you are...?”
He held out a large hand. “Emerson. Emerson McKenzie.”
Fighting a smile, she slipped her hand into his. “Well, Emerson, Emerson McKenzie, I’m River.”
His mouth twitched. “Oh, I know who you are.”
She blinked. “Did we already meet?”
He shook his head and let go of her hand. “Nope. You’re the only woman around here without red hair. That kind of narrows it down. Besides, I’ve lived here the better part of a decade. A new face stands out.”
River relaxed a little. “Okay...”
He tipped his hat back slightly. “You’re the new mechanic. That’s a pretty big deal around here.”
Her gaze flicked over him. “So I’ve gathered.”
Emerson smiled, easy and unforced. “Mrs. Taylor would’ve gotten a kick out of it.”
River stilled. “Mrs. Taylor?”
His expression softened. “George’s wife. She was a saint. She took me in years ago. God rest her soul.” He said it simply, without show, but there was something deep and sorrowful in the words.
River nodded. Okay, so that was Rose’s mother. How sad. She wondered how long ago it had happened, but it wasn’t any of her business.
“So, a mechanic, huh? How did you manage to get into that line of work?”
Emerson didn’t miss a beat. He just dove in without caring.
She studied him for a moment before answering. “I grew up in the foster system. One of the families I stayed with owned a shop. They taught me everything I knew…” She shrugged a shoulder. “And well, the knowledge became a necessity when I aged out of the system.”
Something in his face changed. Not pity. Not exactly. More like recognition.
He stepped a little closer. Normally, that would’ve had her putting space between them without thinking. But something about Emerson felt oddly safe.
“I knew it,” he said quietly.
What a strange reaction. Especially when he’d been so jovial.
River narrowed her eyes. “Knew what?”
“Like calls to like,” Emerson said.
“What?”
