it.
He shrugs. “Maybe this will be a bigger lesson for her. She’ll see she can trust someone, a woman she doesn’t know, who will eventually disappear, and it doesn’t mean it was a bad experience.”
Disappear? Does he think I’ll vanish? I turn back toward the windshield, processing.
“I see.” My voice falls quiet, and I squint at the heavy rain beating against the window. “I guess . . . I mean, of course. I’d love to help. Let me just work around Nana, okay?”
He nods like a bobble-head. “Totally understand. How is that going?”
I shrug, not really prepared to share what’s happening with my grandmother.
We pull into the drive, and he sets the truck in park. I begin to gather the bags so I can make a mad dash inside and out of the rain.
“Here, let me help you.”
I want to brush him off, to tell him it’s not necessary, but I remember I have something for him.
“If you don’t mind, that would be great. And I found a few things in the garage I wanted to show you.”
To my surprise, he shuts off the ignition, grabs all four bags, and slides out his side of the truck. We race to Nana’s front porch and I burst into laughter at being soaked all over again. He stares at me as if I’m looney and then reaches for the screen door. I’m surprised once more by his gentlemanly actions, but don’t mention it.
He follows my lead, greeting Nana briefly as we pass her on the couch.
“Jess found me drowning in the rain. I’m just going to put away these groceries and then take him to the garage.”
“Okay, dear. Have fun.” The comment is off, but I dismiss it.
Quickly, I set the milk and eggs in the fridge and the dry goods in the cupboard. Then I motion for Jess to follow me. We exit through the back porch, and I call out, “Ready?” before I break into a run and head for the garage. There’s no point to even try to dodge the raindrops. My hair is plastered to my head and the sweatshirt sags on me, making me look as if I’m wearing a very short dress. The top of Jess’s tee is soaked, and the bottom of his jeans are as well. His hair remains in place, minus the strands falling forward near his cheek.
“You’re soaked,” he says, having no idea the effect of his words in his rugged voice has on me. He also has no idea how wet I am in a place he can’t see. My heart races, but so does the pulse between my thighs. I like this man when I shouldn’t. I’m attracted to him when I shouldn’t be. He’s everything I shouldn’t, yet I so want to should . . .
“So, what did you want to show me?”
I spin toward the boxes of wires and such I’ve collected. “I have no idea if any of this will help Nana’s radio or be of use for any other job, but I found these out here. You can have them. If you want.”
With his eyes focused on me, he blinks, startled by my offer. It’s not really a big deal. It’s just boxes of junk, but he’s staring at me as if I’ve offered him a golden ticket or a free pass to something.
“That’s . . . yeah, thanks. I’ll take them.” His hand swipes over his hair and then curls around the ponytail at his neck, holding it a moment as he eyes the boxes. “So, I’ve been meaning to ask. You and Gabe Carpenter seemed cozy at the Tavern.”
“We go way back because of his parents being Nana’s neighbor.”
“You sure about that?” An eyebrow arches and the move surprises me. He’s teasing once again, and his lips fight a smile.
“Would you be jealous?” I tease back. Are we standing closer? I think we’re closer. His chest heaves, and he reaches for a piece of hair stuck to the side of my face. He brushes it back behind my ear, pausing only a second before releasing it, but not before his eyes scan my forehead, drag down my nose, and pause on my lips.
“Nah. I’d never be jealous of him.” Bitterness edges his tone. He dislikes Gabe.
“Why? What’s he done to you?”
“He stole my wife.”
My eyes pop wider. “He what?”
“Gabe helped Debbie leave me.”
“Shit. I had no idea.” I take a breath. “But no, I’m not involved with him.” I don’t know why I explain