“I can believe that.” He glanced at her as he turned on the road that would take them to the park. “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“I have an older brother, but we don’t see each other much. Braden lives out in California.”
“Do you miss him?”
“Sometimes. E-mail helps though. We keep in touch as much as we can. He’s in real estate so he’s always busy.”
“A real estate agent and a doctor. Your parents must be proud.”
“They are. Neither of them went to college so it was important to them that we get our degree. When I graduated my dad cried. I think he was happier than me.”
“I can well imagine. I didn’t go to college either.”
“How’d you learn computers so well?”
“Figured it out on my own. I guess I sort of have a knack for it.”
A few minutes of silence, and then, “I love your car. The pony interior is my favorite.”
He gave into the need to glance over at her. She stroked the soft leather with a fingertip. Hell, Jake wanted that little finger on the head of his dick. She wiggled, as if attempting to get more comfortable. The little movement caused her pretty breasts to jiggle a little and he wanted to howl. She’d taken off the jacket when they’d started on the road and Jake had been only too pleased.
To keep from acting the fool by drooling, Jake focused on the road again. “I wouldn’t have thought you were old enough to know about pony interior.” He winked at her, then murmured, “You a car buff, little girl?”
She smiled, and the small change made her appear younger, and so damn sexy. “Not a car buff. I just love Mustangs. Braden was always buying them and fixing them up. I spent a lot of time helping him. Or rather, pestering him.”
“I can’t imagine you with grease on your face.”
She groaned. “Try head to toe.”
He grinned. “The ’65 is a beauty.” Jake rubbed his hands over the steering wheel in a show of respect. “Even when I was in high school I knew I’d own one someday. I bought it after my wife died.”
“Your wife?”
Damn, he hadn’t meant to bring up Sarah. “I was married right out of high school. She died a few years ago, breast cancer. Mustangs were her favorite, but we couldn’t afford one. After she died, I don’t know, I wanted to honor her
, I suppose.”
“I’m sorry, it must have been difficult for you.”
Difficult didn’t even begin to cover it, but Jake wasn’t about to open that particular box. Not tonight. “It was hard, but you cope.”
“One day at a time?”
“Exactly.”
“Well, you take very good care of your car. A candy-apple red ’65 in such mint condition isn’t something you see everyday. It must have cost a pretty penny.”
“And worth every one of those pretty pennies too.” And then he thought to add, “But there will come a day when I’ll part with her. I love her, but time marches on.”
“Does it?” She asked as she turned in her seat and watched him with such scrutiny he almost fidgeted like a schoolboy.
He knew they weren’t talking about the car anymore. They were talking about Sarah. “A car doesn’t keep a man warm at night, Roni. I guess I always knew that once I met the right woman I’d sell her.”
“Hmm, no, a car can’t keep you warm. But don’t you think it’s possible to have both the woman and the car?”
She sounded far too serious and that’s not what he wanted tonight. He wanted her to relax and enjoy the evening. “Maybe for some it’s possible, but not for me. I’m a very focused man. When I have my heart set on something, or someone, I like to give one hundred percent.”
“Yes, one hundred percent is good.”