She admired the fresh landscaping while she tried to decide. Grayson had left a few minutes ago—she’d been waiting for him to go before taking her lunch break. She’d been avoiding him ever since he’d caught her staring yesterday—for the second time.
A grinding sound caught her attention as she met up with the sidewalk. Her gaze followed the noise just down the street to where Gray’s old GMC sat in a diagonal parking slot. He was trying, unsuccessfully, to start the vehicle. A moment later he got out and lifted the hood. He wore a Braves ball cap and a resolute frown.
And no wonder. After working in the insufferable heat all morning, he probably wanted nothing more than a nice cold shower.
Shelby’s heart quickened as she considered what to do. She’d had possession of her family’s second vehicle ever since Caleb went away to college. It was parked just down from Gray’s truck.
There was that slice of Dutch apple, served à la mode, waiting for her, but it wasn’t the thought of the pie that had her stomach clenching. It was the idea of offering Gray Briggs a ride home.
As she approached he was tinkering with something under the hood. A trickle of sweat dripped down the back of his neck and disappeared under the collar of his white tee. His neck was shaved smooth and summer bronze. Three freckles dotted the landscape.
She wet her suddenly dry lips. “Car trouble?”
He nearly bumped his head on the underside of the hood and spared her a scowl. “Sneaky much?”
“You should be nicer to the person who could offer you a ride home.”
“And why would you do that?”
She considered. “Because I’m on break, you’re obviously stuck, and I’m nice that way.”
“I can probably fix it.”
She stared for a good ten seconds as he continued to tinker. Finally, she hitched her purse higher on her shoulder. “Suit yourself.” She continued down the sidewalk. Why did she feel let down? Why did the pie suddenly seem like a sad backup option? She’d just wanted to do a good deed, that was all.
“Hey, wait a minute.”
Shelby turned, shaded her face with a hand as she regarded him.
“You’d really give me a ride?”
She rolled her eyes. “Why wouldn’t I?”
He stared at her for a long second, seeming to consider. “Thanks.”
He dropped the hood and followed her to the old Civic. The one time her boyfriend had ridden with her, she’d been so embarrassed. He drove a shiny new BMW his parents had gifted him for his sixteenth birthday. The old Civic was in pretty rough shape. The interior had definitely seen better days, and the mats were long gone, exposing the worn, stained carpet.
But she had no such qualms with Gray riding along, given that he drove that old beater and, until recently, had lived in a run-down trailer park in the worst part of town.
She started the car and lowered the windows to let out the hot, stuffy air. Her hands shook as she put the gear in Reverse and backed out. Gray made the space feel small and cramped. His muscular leg wasright there. His earthy smell filled the interior and she drew in a long breath full.
“Romance, huh?” He held her copy ofMy One and Only.
She snatched away the Kristan Higgins novel, going warm all over. “One of the many genres I read. Anyway, there’s nothing wrong with romance.”
“Didn’t say there was.”
“Your tone said plenty. Romances are hopeful and inspiring and feature strong protagonists who fight for what they want. They examine deep-rooted issues and promote healthy relationships and, laugh all you want, but love happens to be an emotion common to the human experience, and exploring it is a worthwhile endeavor. You’d know that if you ever bothered to read one.”
He glanced her way, the corner of his mouth tilting with amusement.
“What?”
“Nothing. I just wondered when I’d finally see that spark of yours, that’s all.”
Shelby frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know. It just seems like you’re Little Miss Sunshine around school, and ever since I started working for your grandma you’ve been slinking around—”
