Me: My truck has died outside work. It’s complicated. Can we reschedule dinner?
“Oh, come on, Josh,” I said, following the man around the pool table. I’d already spent a good hour following him around his auto shop. The man might be stubborn, but I was far and away worse. “You can fix it. Just one more time. For me.”
“It’s a dangerous rust heap and you know it,” he growled. “I promised your parents last time they were in town that I wouldn’t resuscitate it the next time it crapped itself and I meant it.”
I threw my hands in the air. “They’re lost somewhere in Canada in their Airstream. Grizzly bears have probably eaten them by now. How would they even know?”
The middle-aged man bent over the pool table, lined up his shot, and took it. “Yes,” he hissed. “I am on fire tonight.”
“Nice shot,” said Harry, holding the other pool stick.
“What if I promise to stop teasing you about your mullet?” I asked.
Josh didn’t even glance up. “I don’t care what you think of my hair.”
“Well, what if I promise to let your team win at trivia next week?”
At this, he paused and picked at something stuck in his teeth with his tongue. “You’d never be able to get Cézanne and Maria to agree.”
I stomped a foot in frustration, because I was mature like that. And because he was right. Trivia was sacrosanct.
“You ready to go?” asked Claude, untying his apron. He’d been in the bar when I arrived, helping their cook just for fun. I have no idea why he’d ever even attempted retirement. Keeping busy was obviously his happy place. “They don’t need me, after all. Not many people will be out with that storm settling in. A shame. I made some nice Angus burgers stuffed with blue cheese. But they’ll keep for tomorrow.”
I tried to look enthused.
Claude shook his head. “Don’t tell me eating mold isn’t your thing. You don’t know what you’re missing out on.”
“It’s not that I don’t appreciate everything penicillin has done for us. I just don’t want it in my cheese,” I said. “Thanks again for giving me a lift home.”
He patted me on the arm.
The front door opened on a gust of cold wind and rain. And there stood Garrett, soaked to the bone in sneakers, jeans, and a black hoodie. Because it was coming down that damn hard outside. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared. The fact is, dripping wet looked good on the man. Like he’d just stepped off the set of a photo shoot or a music video or something. And because he was a total stranger.
“Hey,” he said, running a hand through his wet hair. He had great hair. So thick and silky. It had this wave in it that just made my fingers itch to touch. There was every chance I was a dreadful choice of not-dating friend for this man. His innate hotness hit me in the heart and groin each and every time.
“Hi there.” I moved closer and lowered my voice. “What are you doing here?”
“Didn’t want you stuck without a ride home in this weather.”
My eyebrows were as high as the sky. “How’d you know where to find me?”
“Talked to the lady that owns the store. She was just closing up for the day.”
“Ah.”
“I’m driving her home,” said Claude. Because of course everyone was still listening and watching.
I smiled. “It’s okay. Thank you, Claude. I’ll be fine with my friend here.”
Claude just crossed his arms and stood there watching us. Same as Josh and Harry. And Emma behind the bar. Awesome. We had quite the audience gathered.
“You were worried about me,” I said to the rock star with no small amount of amazement.
“I texted, but you didn’t answer.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“What’s wrong with your car?” he asked.
“It’s a heap of shit and she needs to get rid of it,” said Josh, leaning on his pool stick.
“You take that back!” My mouth fell open. “Bella drove the same one in Twilight, only in red. That truck is iconic.”
Garrett’s brows went up.
“She bought it for five hundred dollars when she was seventeen and it was overdue for the junkyard then.” Josh stuck out his chin. Stubborn ass of a man. “She just won’t admit it.”
“Four hundred,” I corrected. “And it’s a classic.”
“How much would it cost to fix?” asked Garrett.
“It’s not about money,” said Josh. “The damn thing isn’t safe. I don’t want her getting stuck somewhere in bad weather. When was the last time it started on the first try for you?”
I frowned. “It just takes a little warming up. I bet you don’t start on the first try anymore, either.”
Claude’s eyes opened painfully wide. “Ouch.”
“Be reasonable, Ani.” Josh sighed. “I know you love the stupid thing, but it’s covered in rust and falling apart. I’d need to rebuild it from the bottom up, replace half of the engine and God knows what else. It would take time I don’t have and cost you a damn fortune.”