"You can work from here if you want," he says, and I can see the tension in his shoulders. Like he's offering something big and isn't sure how I'll respond. "Stay as long as you want. Or don't. Whatever you need."
But it doesn't feel too fast. It feels exactly right.
"Okay," I say. "I'll stay. We'll figure out the logistics later."
His shoulders relax, just a fraction. "Okay."
We eat bacon and eggs at his small table, our knees touching underneath, Ridge watching hopefully for dropped scraps. And I think about how much has changed in just a week.
A week ago, I was alone in a new town, trying to fix a sink, unsure of everything.
Now I'm here, with a man who makes me feel more seen than anyone has in years, planning to split my time between my house and his cabin like it's the most natural thing in the world.
Life is strange.
But sometimes, strange is exactly what you need.
Two days later
I'm standing in the parking lot of Casey's Automotive, watching Eli talk to the mechanic about whatever's wrong with his truck.
I didn't want to come. I told him I could stay at the cabin with Ridge, but he'd insisted. Said he didn't want to leave me alone out there, which was sweet and overprotective in equal measure.
So here I am, trying not to look too obviously in love with the way he's standing there in his work jeans and flannel, arms crossed, nodding along to whatever the mechanic is saying.
The mechanic himself is interesting. Older than I expected, maybe near 40, with dark hair pulled back in a bun and grease stains on his hands. He's got an easy smile and keeps cracking jokes that make even Eli's mouth twitch.
"So, you're the new girl everyone's been talking about," the mechanic says, turning his attention to me.
I blink. "Everyone's talking about me?"
"Small town. Someone new moves in, especially someone who manages to crack the hermit's shell—" He nods toward Eli. "—it's news."
"I didn't crack anything," I say. "I just brought lasagna."
"Terrible lasagna," Eli adds.
"It wasn't that bad."
"It was pretty bad."
The mechanic laughs. "I'm Casey, by the way. Casey Brennan."
"Jade Elliot." I shake his offered hand, noting the firm grip and the oil under his nails. "You run this place?"
"Own it, run it, live and breathe it." He wipes his hands on a rag. "Moved up from Boston. Needed a change."
"I get that. I just moved here from the city myself."
"Yeah? What brought you to Blackwater Falls?"
"Honestly? I pointed at a map and picked the first place that sounded nice."
Casey grins. "That's as good a reason as any. How are you liking it?"
I glance at Eli, who's watching me with those storm-gray eyes. "I'm liking it a lot, actually."
"Good. We can always use more people who appreciate what we've got here." Casey turns back to Eli. "Anyway, like I was saying, it's the alternator. I can have it fixed by tomorrow afternoon."