Page 28

“Push it in. Pull it up. Then pull it over,” she recited over the noise of the engine. “Easy as pie.”

He smiled at her, and she thought she might melt into a puddle right there on the pavement.

“Now it’s your turn.”

“All right, then.”

He helped her back into the driver’s seat, showed her how to turn off the engine, and had her repeat all the steps by herself. When it was time to crank it, he crouched down and beckoned for her to join him and do the honors.

As she bent over, she momentarily lost her balance. He reached out his strong arm to catch her.

Mercy, but it felt good to be held by him! There was that warm, tingly feeling in unmentionable places again.

He’s just worried for my safety, she told herself, turning her head ever so slowly toward him. At last, she glanced up at his face. There was that intense look again, drawing her closer… Closer…

Their foreheads touched. She could hardly breathe. An inch more, and their lips would touch.

This couldn’t be happening. She was practically engaged to Doug, and Jack had no interest in her, at least not romantically. That was abundantly clear when he came home from the war and started stepping out with Myrtle. She wasn’t going to delude herself again. But then what was happening here?

He cleared his throat and abruptly pulled away.

Thank God. She absolutely could not kiss Jack. Her cheeks heated as she tried to puzzle out why he looked like she’d caught him stealing candy from the five-and-dime.

“You all right now?” he asked gruffly, looking down at the ground.

“Fine, thanks,” she said, in a voice that was far too breathy. Good Lord. She had to pull herself together.

“Then crank the engine.” He stood and backed away, staring at the crank as if it had caused him personal offense.

She tried to catch his eye, but he refused to look at her. Whatever had just happened, he wasn’t happy about it. And he certainly didn’t look like he was going to answer any of the many questions circling in her mind.

Was it all in her imagination? She’d carried a torch for him for so long. He was so close, and he smelled so good. Maybe she’d dreamed the whole thing up, even though it had just happened. He had no reason to kiss her, and she had so many reasons not to kiss him. This was all a terrible misunderstanding. And she was going to marry Doug. That was the end of it.

Not knowing what else to do, she took hold of the crank and yanked. The engine roared to life. It should have been a triumphant moment. She started a car by herself for the first time. But all she wanted was for him to look at her and reassure he was the old Jack—her friend and nothing more. If she could have undone the last few minutes, she would have.

“I’m sorry,” she blurted as she stood up. As if an apology would help. She didn’t even know why she was apologizing. Nothing had happened. Not really.

“For what?” His eyes flicked to hers and then away again.

“For just now.”

“For starting the car?”

“No, for…” The words died in her mouth.

“Let’s get this lesson over with, shall we?”

He walked stiffly over to her and helped her into the driver’s seat. Then he stalked around the car and got into the passenger seat, slamming the door shut.

“Here’s how you shift gears,” he said, pointing and instructing, but keeping as much physical distance between them as possible.

Following his direction, she put her foot on the accelerator and steered them into the street. It should have been exhilarating. She should have been proud of herself for taking this first step in learning to drive, but instead, she felt nothing but fear and regret.

Please don’t let this be the end of our friendship.

She concentrated on the road in front of her with all her might to keep back the tears that were prickling the corners of her eyes.

They drove around the block twice, and then he talked her through parking in front of his house.