whatever it was they all had. Even Asher, who’d been gone for so long, seemed to have reconnected with the family in ways I couldn’t.
But her eyes also told me she wasn’t going to guilt me over it.
“I love you,” I said quietly and kissed her on the head.
“I love you too, Wolf,” she said, patting me on the arm.
I turned to go, but she touched my arm again.
“If something changes, and your friend is here next week, she’s welcome.”
I gave her a short nod. “Okay. Thanks.”
Gram smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Goodnight, Wolf. Drive safe.”
“I will.”
Taking the leftovers Gram had packed, I went out to my bike. Fiona wouldn’t be here next week. I was sure of that. She’d probably need some help getting the transmission back in her car, but that wouldn’t take long. And then she’d be on her way to Iowa, or wherever the hell she was going. And that would be it.
Which was how it should be.
15
Fiona
“Myra, I’m positively delighted with your color. The mountain air is obviously good for you.” I tipped the watering can and gave her just enough to moisten the soil. “Blanche, you’re also looking very sprightly.”
My plants were currently living on a small table near the front window in Evan’s living room. A temporary situation, of course, but they were thriving.
“This place has much better juju. Not a single crappy so-called best friend in sight. Just a big grumpy man, but we don’t mind him, do we?”
Evan was out in the shop. Although it was only my second day here, I’d already figured out Evan’s favorite pastimes: working, growling at things that annoyed him, and talking to his dog.
The last one was awfully cute.
If he had any other hobbies, it was hard to tell. His house was spartan, like he hadn’t bothered to get himself anything beyond the basics. Total bachelor pad. Not just a bachelor pad—a solitary, reclusive one. He didn’t strike me as a man who had guy friends over for beers. And there wasn’t even the barest hint of a woman’s touch anywhere. If he’d ever shared this space with a girl, he’d purged every sign of her.
Although I had a feeling he’d always lived here alone.
My clutch replacement was taking longer than I’d hoped. I knew my way around a car, but I wasn’t an expert. And despite the fact that I had an actual expert working just feet away from me, I didn’t want to bother him. I was doing my best to stay out of his way.
And not stare at him too much.
That wasn’t easy.
Everything Evan did was effortlessly sexy. The way he held his tools in those huge hands. The way he moved, his muscles rippling and flexing against his clothes. He’d casually adjusted himself when he thought I wasn’t looking and the rush of tingles down my spine had made me shiver.
Even that perpetual brow furrow was hot. He always looked mad, but it was impossible not to picture him making that face for a very different reason—preferably accompanied by grunts and growls.
I didn’t want to be attracted to him—it would only complicate things—but resisting his appeal was like trying to hold back the tide. Impossible.
Not that he was ever going to know about all the dirty fantasies I’d had about him while I watched him work. No way.
Those were my little secrets to keep.
And why not indulge in a little daydream here and there? It had been over a year since my ex and I had broken up, and I hadn’t been on even a casual date since. Obviously now wasn’t the time to jump back into dating. I needed to get to Iowa and get settled first. But enjoying the view while I was here? Didn’t seem to be any harm in it.
I put my watering can back in the kitchen. It was one of the few things, other than my bag of clothes, that I’d brought in from my car. The rest was still in the trunk or stuffed in the back seat.
I’d slept another night on Evan’s couch. When I’d mentioned finding a place to stay, he’d shot me a look that seemed to say, do we really need to have this conversation? I was grateful not to have to spend money on a motel room, so I was happy to take him up on it. And if all went well, I wouldn’t be here much longer.