Chapter 5
CLIO
The next morning when I returned to the garage after dropping JT at kindergarten, I found Sam’s giant red truck parked in front.
Nope. My heart did not skip a beat.
Definitely not.
I forbade it to do anything of the kind. There would be no flirting. No flutters. No ogling bare torsos.
Well, he’d have his shirt on this time, hopefully.
Why did I find that vaguely disappointing?
Because I needed to get laid. That was why.
I’d signed up on the dating apps last night after I put JT to sleep in hopes of resolving this sudden need, but they hadn’t shown me one guy from Cooper Valley.
Maybe in a small town, no one used apps because they already knew who was and wasn’t single.
They didn’t need to read their personal details because they knew all of them.
I parked in the fenced yard in the back and went straight into the garage through the rear door. Ernie didn’t need my help with Sam in the office, and I didn’t want to encourage Sam in his pursuit of me. Or flirting.
I grabbed a rag and brushed imaginary dust from the interior of Mrs. Marsh’s VW. It was ready to go. I’d given her a call before the shop closed to tell her she could pick it up any time today.
It had taken me a few weeks to earn Ernie’s trust–at first he’d checked my work and insisted on handling all the customer conversations.
But as soon as he realized I could run circles around him on any car and could also be trusted to treat the customers professionally, he seemed ecstatic to let me handle things.
The poor guy hadn’t ever had a good manager before.
I didn’t look through the window to the office, but a tingling prickled all over, telling me I was being watched.
Don’t look. Don’t look.
I backed out of the Beetle and shut the door.
“Good morning.”
Fuck. I jumped and spun around, shocked to find Sam right behind me, holding a paper coffee cup with a lid. He had a grin on his face and a Stetson on his head. His blond hair curled out from beneath it.
“Damn, you’re stealthy,” I muttered. I hadn’t even heard him come out of the office.
“Coffee?” He held the cup out to me.
I sent it a dubious look.
“It’s a cappuccino,” he added. “I wasn’t sure how you like your coffee, so I guessed.”
Cappuccino. It had been a long time since I’d treated myself to a barista-made coffee. I’d made a decent salary when I worked on the IndyCar crew, but now, I barely made ends meet. Every time we moved, it cost me the little savings I’d managed to put away. Starting over was expensive.
But taking it would open the door to Sam’s attention.
Then again, if I didn’t take it, wouldn’t it just go to waste? I smelled the dark roast, and my mouth watered. My tired body perked up from that alone.
I reached for the coffee. “Thanks.”
Our fingers brushed on the handoff, and his blue green eyes took on a hungry look. For a moment, he refused to let go of the cup.
“Don’t think if you spill this on me, my shirt’s coming off,” I warned then closed my eyes.
Shit! Why did I say that? Why, oh why, did I say that? I was supposed to shut him down, not flirt!
A feral smile curved Sam’s lips. “The thought hadn’t occurred to me, but now I’m into it.” He flicked his brows then glanced down. “Really into it.”
Ugh, why was he so cute when he was being ridiculous? Why did I find it a turn on? Most guys, I’d want to throat punch them.
With Sam, my nipples instantly became hard. Hopefully, my padded bra hid that.
“Not happening.” I claimed the coffee and turned away, so he wouldn’t see that my face was heating.
“Kidding.” His voice was softer, less chiding as he leaned in close.
“It was just a joke. But in all seriousness, Clio, I’d love to take you out for coffee.
And not a to-go cup at your work. We could do dinner.
Or a hike. You and JT together, if you want.
Whatever works for you. I’d like to see you. ”
Wow. He sounded sincere, which was odd.
I turned back and took my time to meet his eyes. “Listen. You seem like a great guy. And I appreciate your help with JT yesterday. But you’re too young for me.”
Sam flashed that cocky grin. “You sure? Maybe what you need is a young buck.” He gave me another appreciative up and down sweep of his gaze, lingering on my belted waist and the open zipper at my breasts.
I had on the same gray coveralls from the day before with a black tank top beneath.
Even though very little skin showed, I felt like he was taking in every inch of me.
Naked. “I mean, you probably have needs that could use someone” –he glanced around and lowered his voice– “who could give you his full attention.”
Oh damn. I wasn’t turned on. I wasn’t turned on. I wasn’t turned on.
It took everything in me to not react to his words.
“Not ones that you can handle,” I countered. I had needs all right, but I didn’t want them taken care of by him.
“Lots of needs then.” He didn't seem offended. Instead, his eyebrows rose, and a wide grin spread across his face. “Challenge accepted.”
What? “Wait–”
Mrs. Marsh pulled into the parking lot and interrupted me from saying more.
A man in his forties got out of the passenger side. Mrs. Marsh rolled down her window and waved at me. “Thank you, honey. My son is going to drive the VW home for me.” She beamed at me then called out louder, so she was sure I wouldn’t miss. “He’s a dentist.”
Uh…okay. Proud mother. That was cute. So was the dentist.
“You’ll have to excuse me,” I told Sam then turned, giving him my back.
“I’ve got pricing on that new PTO shaft, Sam,” Ernie called from the office. “Stop flirting with my mechanic. She’s not gonna fall for a player like you. A single mom needs someone serious.”
He looked pointedly at the dentist walking over to me.
I held up a hand and a flush crept up my neck. I was thankful that Ernie was watching out for me, but I didn’t need his help, especially when it was so embarrassing. “Okay. My dating life is not up for public discussion.”
With my cheeks still hot from embarrassment–yes, embarrassment, not arousal or anything like that–I turned to give the dentist my full attention. “Hi! You’re here to pick up the VW?”
He gave me a friendly smile. He was decent looking. He didn’t drip pure sex like Sam, and he had a bit of a dad bod, but he still had all his hair, and the greying at his temples made him more attractive. In khakis and a white button-up, he definitely wasn’t a cowboy.
He held out his hand. “David Marsh, dentist, as you’ve already been informed.” He gave an embarrassed chuckle.
I wiped my hand on my coveralls and clasped his. “Clio. Single mom.”
David laughed and burst out with, “Single dad!”
Yep. Got it. Mrs. Marsh and Ernie were totally setting us up.
I chuckled, but it felt awkward. “Okay. That’s, um, great. Single dad of a new driver, I understand.”
“Yes!” The poor guy seemed nervous. “I’m sure you freaked out when your child got their license.”
I laughed. “He’s five, so I’ve got a little time for that panic.”
“Five. Such a cute age,” he replied.
His smile was easy going. He wasn’t trying with me, like someone else I knew in the building.
I turned to the VW and avoided looking in Sam’s direction. I knew he was still standing there, watching. Arms crossed.
“Well, your daughter is going to love this baby,” I said. “It is a sweet ride.”
David didn’t look at the car. He was staring at me. “Uh, yeah!” He seemed to rouse himself and gave the Beetle a glance. “Annie’s been begging her grandma to get it running again for years.”
I opened the driver door for him. “It’s paid for already, and the keys are inside.”
He didn’t move.
Oh boy. This was as awkward as my first prom-posal.
Here it came.
“I know you might think my mother is making me do this, but you seem nice, Clio. I like your smile, and I’d like to hear more about you and your…”
“Son,” I added.
He grinned. “Would you like to go out sometime? Without the audience?”
I flicked a gaze at Ernie and Sam. Sam frowned, and Ernie had a big grin, shamelessly giving me a thumbs up. Then he pushed Sam on the shoulder and guided him into the office.
Okay. This was what I wanted. A date with a single guy in Cooper Valley.
Yaaaay.
It was a weak yay, but whatever. David seemed nice. Courteous. At the worst, we could talk about our kids for an hour or two.
Why was I worrying that Sam might have overheard? He couldn’t. The door to the office was shut. I was just used to JT’s supernatural hearing abilities.
I nodded. “Sure. Yes. That would be nice.”
His eyes widened, as if he didn’t expect me to agree. “Yeah? Great. Orlando’s is a great restaurant. How about tomorrow night? Do you need a babysitter? My daughter babysits.”
Yeah, and that wouldn’t be awkward if I needed to bail on the date early. Not at all.
“No, I have someone. Okay. Tomorrow is good.”
I didn’t mean to, but I accidentally glanced toward the office window.
Oh shit. Sam was staring right through the glass at us like he’d heard every word. But when he saw me looking, he just grinned and waved.
Grinned and waved.
So he was just a flirt.
Great. Whew. Okay.
Not that I should worry about his feelings, anyway.
I already told him no when he asked me out.
He was the one who’d shown up twice, brought me a coffee–which I still held–and wanted more.
I might be desperate for man-made orgasms, but I didn’t have to say yes to every guy who’d be talented at giving me them.
I wasn’t going to date Sam–ever.
In fact, it would probably be good if he heard me making a date with a guy my age.
Or a bit older.
Quite a bit older.
Whatever–it was just a date. I had a date with a dentist. Someone who looked like a nice guy, not a cocky, gorgeous flirt who reminded me way too much of Ted.
So yay me.
Yaaaaay me.
I plastered a smile on my face and gave David my number. Well, I had to start somewhere, and maybe I’d get a free teeth cleaning.