Chapter 8 #2
He stopped at a stop sign and faced her, his grin making her want to melt into the bench seat. “You’re cute when you’re annoyed.”
Oh yeah. Just call her a puddle, because she was definitely liquefying after that compliment.
But wait—he avoided her question!
“Jake, are you going to let me help or what?”
He accelerated through the intersection. “We’ll see.”
She harrumphed. “Such a nonanswer,” she muttered.
He snickered and drove up a hill. When he came down the other side, a small dark sedan was parked by the side of the road
with the trunk opened. An older man squatted beside the rear driver-side tire and seemed to be struggling to loosen the lug
nuts.
“Is that Mr. Tompkins?” Emily asked.
“I think so.” Jake slowed the truck and parked behind the sedan before flipping on his hazard lights and climbing out. “Sir, do you need help?” he called.
Emily hopped out of the passenger seat and met him at the back of the sedan.
The older man stood and swiped his hand over his balding head. “Why, Jake Hughes. Good to see you, son.” He nodded at Emily
and then held up the tire iron. “I can’t get these old lug nuts to budge. I’d sure appreciate it if you gave it a try.”
“Happy to.” Jake took the tire iron, and squatting down, he slipped it onto the first lug nut and spun it as if it had never
been tightened. As he loosened the remaining lug nuts, Emily folded her arms over her middle while enjoying the view of the
taut muscles in his shoulders and arms flexing.
Jake was so fit, so kind, and so . . . amazing.
She swallowed a sigh.
Get it together, Emily!
“I tell ya,” Mr. Tompkins began, “I’m not as young as I used to be. Forty years ago, I could’ve removed those just as fast
as you did.”
Jake stood up and adjusted his ball cap. “It’s no problem.” He pointed to the back of the car. “I’m assuming the jack is in
the trunk?”
“Sure is.”
Jake scooted around the car and returned with the scissor jack and spare tire.
“It’s good to see you, Emily,” Mr. Tompkins said. “Last I heard you’d sold your folks’ place and moved out to Charlotte. Are
you back for good?”
She shook her head. “I’m here helping Jake with some plans for the orchard.”
“I’m hoping to convince her to stay.” Jake gave her a wink while he removed the flat tire. Then he slipped on the spare and began replacing the lug nuts.
Mr. Tompkins shoved his hands in the pockets of his khaki shorts and began jingling a pocketful of change. “It’s a good idea
to get some help with your orchard. It looks like your competitor is going to give you a run for your money.”
“What makes you say that?” Jake’s posture and expression went rigid while he tightened everything into place.
“I’ve heard some things.” The portly older man shifted his weight on his feet, and the change in his pocket jingled.
“What kinds of things?” Jake lowered the car and shielded his eyes from the sun.
“Well, I’m not the type of person to tell tales, but . . .” Jingle jingle jingle. “My wife has her schoolmates over for tea every Friday, and last week those ol’ biddies were just gossiping away.”
Emily took a step toward him. “Go ahead and tell us, Mr. Tompkins. We won’t share it with anyone.” She shrugged. “And if we
do, we won’t say where we heard it. Right, Jake?”
Jake’s lips flattened as he nodded.
Mr. Tompkins cleared his throat. “Folks are saying that the new place is going to put the Hughes Family Orchard out of business
since it’s been . . . ahem, going downhill.” He held his hands up. “Those aren’t my words. I’d never say that about your family’s place. I remember
picking apples there when I was a child. Your orchard is a fixture here.”
Jake’s face pinched as he loaded the flat tire into the trunk and shut the lid.
Uh-oh.
“We have some plans that will knock your socks off, and we’ll show everyone that Hughes Family Orchard is still the best around.” Emily rested her hand on Jake’s forearm and smiled at him. “Right, Jake?”
“Yeah.”
He nodded, but she could feel his worry in his tense muscles.
Mr. Tompkins shook Jake’s hand. “Well, thank you for stopping to help me. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem,” Jake said. “You’re all set. If you take the tire to Burns Auto Repair, they can fix it for you.”
Emily waved to Mr. Tompkins and then climbed into Jake’s Dodge pickup.
Jake took his spot in the driver’s seat. A frown clouded his handsome face while he turned the key, and the truck chattered
to life.
Emily rested her hand on his thick bicep. “Hey. Look at me.”
He met her gaze.
“Everything is going to be fine.”
His forehead puckered. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because I believe in you, and I believe in the orchard. And you should too.”
His expression warmed slightly.
“And mark my words . . .” She gave him her best mischievous smile. “We’re going to have a blast kicking Apple Haven’s butt.”
He snorted, and when a smile turned up his lips, her heart tripped over itself.
“There’s that smile I love.” The words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop them, and when heat infused her cheeks,
she tried to look casual.
“Thanks,” he said before steering the truck onto the road. “We’d better get back to the barn.”