Bad Moon Risingflows from the speakers, and Duke keeps time with the drum beat as he shifts gears. We ride with the radio for company for a while until we are cruising through back roads with nothing around. Duke is settled comfortably in his seat, arm resting on the open window, lightly holding the wheel, the other resting on the shifter. There’s something so incredibly sexy about a man and a manual transmission.
The song on the radio changes toFat Bottomed Girls,which reignites the finger drumming and a cute half-smile shows on Duke’s face.
He looks over at me like he just remembered I’m there and sees me staring back. He gives me a long, lazy once-over.
“You know, when I invited you to come along, I didn’t realize I was bringing a bubblegum ball,” he says, lifting his eyebrow.
Smiling, showing as many teeth as I can manage, I tell him, “I’m just a girl, Grumpy.”
I can see his shoulders shaking with a restrained laugh, his mouth tight like he’s trying not to enjoy himself and it makes me crack up.
“Mmhmm. Bored in my small town yet?” he asks me inquisitively.
“A little. I’ll have my car back on Monday. Thanks for calling Mick, by the way.” I’m genuinely grateful and hope hecan hear it in my voice. “He was really great, and Kayla took care of me with the tires and an oil change.”
“Good. I’ve known Kayla since she was a kid. Her wife works as a part-time bartender at the bar.”
“Sadie? She mentioned her.”
“That’s her.” We lapse back into quiet, the wind and the radio noisy enough for both of us.
We spend the remaining drive enjoying the fields and animals we pass. I point out every single one I see in a chorus of ‘cows,’ ‘sheep,’ ‘ooh a donkey,’ ‘horsies!’ and anything else I see, much to Duke’s chagrin. He tells me random facts, things like “that’s the wildlife preserve, they have wolves” and “this is where I wrecked my first car, an old Chevy Nova.”
For a man who doesn’t say much, he makes the time together easy, safe.
I consider, not for the first time, not only the obvious differences between the two men I have discovered this last week, but I think I may have a crush on them both. I’m unsure what to do with this information.
Chapter 9
Have You Ever Seen the Rain
Duke
I think I have sunshine in my passenger seat.
Glancing over at her for what feels like the thousandth time in the last hour, I’m struck speechless by how relaxed and beautiful she is. I picked on her pink sweatshirt and socks but it’s so completely her, I can’t imagine her any other way.
Her excited exclamations at any sort of farm animals makes me chuckle. I’ve been looking at these smelly beasts my entire life, but something about seeing them through her eyes makes them seem charming and interesting.
Pulling up to the warehouse, I lean over a little. “You can wait in the truck or come with me. We have to pick up some supplies for the bar.” Before I even finish what I’m saying, she’s jumped out of the truck and slammed the door. “Okay, with it is.”
Climbing out myself, I meet her at the front. Walking toward the warehouse, Smith comes out to meet me. I noticeCaroline trailing me a few steps and look over my shoulder at her curiously. She’s cautious but I don’t think that’s why she’s trailing me. It’s almost like it was an automatic response.
Reaching back, I grab her hand and pull her up to stand next to me. I release hers and reach out to shake Smith’s.
“Duke, good to see you, man. I got your order ready to go.” He looks between us with open curiosity.
“Thanks, Smith. This is Caroline. We had some other stops to make so I brought her along.” I see her side eye me, but I don’t look at her.
“Nice to meet you, Caroline.” He shakes her hand, lingering a little in her space. I close the gap between her and I, possessively. I have no idea why I felt the need to do it. Smith is a good man, but I can’t help myself. “Come on, I’ll get your stuff.”
We follow him into the warehouse, my hand wrapped around Caroline’s to keep her next to me. I don’t know why she’s trying to walk behind me, but I would rather be in her wake than the other way around. She deserves to lead me. She smiles shyly at me, her smaller hand feeling right in my palm. Smith pushes a cart full of boxes my way before handing me a clipboard.
“Just sign off and it’s all yours.”
I scribble my name at the bottom, hand the clipboard back, and push the cart out.
Seeing her fall back, I stop walking once we’re outside and alone. “Caroline, why are you walking behind me?”