this morning. And in the truck after the drive to the shelter. He was fine as long as they were strictly polite. But when she got too close, up went the walls. Not that she was interested in knocking them down …
“Glen is into woodworking and his wife does tole painting. I carry some of their things in the store—finished and unfinished.”
“Oh.”
He took a drink of his coffee.
“Well? What do you say? Will you drive it? We’d have to go up early Saturday morning to pick it up, because I have to be back for hair and makeup with Abby. But … I was thinking you could pick us up at the house and drive us to the church. And then after pictures, back to the house for the reception. Glen said we can return the car on Sunday.”
“You’re sure he’s okay with me at the wheel? I wouldn’t let just anyone drive my car—especially one that valuable.” He gave her an assessing look. “Are you sure you trust me with it?” He didn’t need to explain why. It was a dig at her for her accusation when he’d shown up at her shop that first morning.
She ignored the insinuation. “I gave him my guarantee that you’d treat it with kid gloves. It’s just … I mean, Abby’s car is okay, and so is Tom’s truck. I asked them about renting a limo but Abby said it’s not her style—too big and flashy. So what about smaller and a little bit flashy? Who can say no to a ’stang? I just think…”
She paused and stared into her cup, feeling suddenly shy.
“You think what?” When she didn’t answer, he leaned forward a little. “Jess?”
His voice was softer now. She really had a hard time when he spoke to her that way. He hadn’t in so long … his voice often held that undertone of agitation and impatience. But not right now. Right now he was more like the Rick she remembered from years past. A little dark, a little dangerous, but gentle. Trustworthy. Helpful. Oh, Lord.
She looked into his eyes. “I just think it should be a really special day for them. They’ve both been through so much. Maybe they don’t want a stretch limo but this would be a fun ride to the church in style.”
“And you don’t want to drive it?”
She shook her head. “I’ve never driven a stick, and I don’t think Abby’s wedding is the time to learn. We’d probably never make it to the church. So as best man, the duty falls into your capable, manly hands.”
He was watching her with an amused expression on his face. “In case you haven’t noticed…” He lifted his arm, revealing his prosthetic.
Jess was shocked. “Oh, God. I’m so sorry. I’d never even thought … I mean you do so much, and I never considered you might have a challenge with…” Jess broke off, flushed. “ Can you drive it?”
He shrugged. “Probably. My truck’s an automatic. I haven’t tried a stick since I got this thing.”
“Oh.” She took her first sip of coffee and felt her eyes go wide with surprise. Damn, Rick Sullivan made a good cup. Nice and full without being too strong.
“Look, most of the time I drive with both hands on the wheel. Once I’m in gear, I’m good to go. I can always try it. My dexterity’s limited with that hand, but I can probably manage steering. It shouldn’t be too bad, since I’m shifting with my dominant hand.”
Rick took another drink of coffee, his forehead creased in concentration. Jess stared, fascinated at the wrinkles around his eyes. For the first time, she really looked at him, not as the broken, alcohol-dependent man she’d come to see and resent since he returned from the military, but at the man who painted beautiful pictures in secret and was willing to help a friend. And while looking at him, Jess realized just how different the two sides of him were. One would be very easy to fall for. But the other Rick was too high maintenance for her. She wasn’t equipped to deal with someone else’s baggage in addition to her own. Suddenly, she felt guilty for being so hostile toward him
“Glen is into woodworking and his wife does tole painting. I carry some of their things in the store—finished and unfinished.”
“Oh.”
He took a drink of his coffee.
“Well? What do you say? Will you drive it? We’d have to go up early Saturday morning to pick it up, because I have to be back for hair and makeup with Abby. But … I was thinking you could pick us up at the house and drive us to the church. And then after pictures, back to the house for the reception. Glen said we can return the car on Sunday.”
“You’re sure he’s okay with me at the wheel? I wouldn’t let just anyone drive my car—especially one that valuable.” He gave her an assessing look. “Are you sure you trust me with it?” He didn’t need to explain why. It was a dig at her for her accusation when he’d shown up at her shop that first morning.
She ignored the insinuation. “I gave him my guarantee that you’d treat it with kid gloves. It’s just … I mean, Abby’s car is okay, and so is Tom’s truck. I asked them about renting a limo but Abby said it’s not her style—too big and flashy. So what about smaller and a little bit flashy? Who can say no to a ’stang? I just think…”
She paused and stared into her cup, feeling suddenly shy.
“You think what?” When she didn’t answer, he leaned forward a little. “Jess?”
His voice was softer now. She really had a hard time when he spoke to her that way. He hadn’t in so long … his voice often held that undertone of agitation and impatience. But not right now. Right now he was more like the Rick she remembered from years past. A little dark, a little dangerous, but gentle. Trustworthy. Helpful. Oh, Lord.
She looked into his eyes. “I just think it should be a really special day for them. They’ve both been through so much. Maybe they don’t want a stretch limo but this would be a fun ride to the church in style.”
“And you don’t want to drive it?”
She shook her head. “I’ve never driven a stick, and I don’t think Abby’s wedding is the time to learn. We’d probably never make it to the church. So as best man, the duty falls into your capable, manly hands.”
He was watching her with an amused expression on his face. “In case you haven’t noticed…” He lifted his arm, revealing his prosthetic.
Jess was shocked. “Oh, God. I’m so sorry. I’d never even thought … I mean you do so much, and I never considered you might have a challenge with…” Jess broke off, flushed. “ Can you drive it?”
He shrugged. “Probably. My truck’s an automatic. I haven’t tried a stick since I got this thing.”
“Oh.” She took her first sip of coffee and felt her eyes go wide with surprise. Damn, Rick Sullivan made a good cup. Nice and full without being too strong.
“Look, most of the time I drive with both hands on the wheel. Once I’m in gear, I’m good to go. I can always try it. My dexterity’s limited with that hand, but I can probably manage steering. It shouldn’t be too bad, since I’m shifting with my dominant hand.”
Rick took another drink of coffee, his forehead creased in concentration. Jess stared, fascinated at the wrinkles around his eyes. For the first time, she really looked at him, not as the broken, alcohol-dependent man she’d come to see and resent since he returned from the military, but at the man who painted beautiful pictures in secret and was willing to help a friend. And while looking at him, Jess realized just how different the two sides of him were. One would be very easy to fall for. But the other Rick was too high maintenance for her. She wasn’t equipped to deal with someone else’s baggage in addition to her own. Suddenly, she felt guilty for being so hostile toward him
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