Chapter Six #2
“Oh, Jake, no!” She hated that he thought she might want to get away from him. “I’m glad we’re doing this. I… if I was peeking at you, it was because I was thinking how awesome you are.”
He sat up straighter at that, and she loved the way his eyes sparkled. “You honestly feel that way? I mean, I know there were sparks between us in the beginning, but now that we’re finally getting to go out together, I feel like I’m messing it up.”
“You’re so not messing up. Why would you think that?”
He looked more serious as he said, “Maybe I’m just nervous.
Maybe I’m making every little detail too important, but I feel like you’re wrestling with yourself half the time—as if you’re trying to decide about something you want to tell me.
And the only thing I can come up with is that you might want to tell me this isn’t going to work for you.
” He shrugged. “And now I feel like I might have pushed you in that direction even if you weren’t thinking that way. ”
“I wasn’t, honestly. And I’m not. I promise.”
He smiled, and when he rested his hand on the table, it took her a moment to realize he was reaching for hers.
Tingles raced up her arm when the warmth of his palm met hers.
He met her gaze and held it. “I promise, I’m not normally needy. I guess this is just… important to me.”
She gave his hand a squeeze. “It wouldn’t be fair of me to say nothing. You’re not being needy or paranoid or… anything other than insightful. Tuned in with me, maybe? See, you are picking up on something—but it’s not that I’m thinking of running out on you.”
“What then?”
She blew out a sigh. “I hate not being honest, but sometimes telling the truth is hard.” She hated the way the warmth went out of his eyes.
“I haven’t lied to you,” she told him quickly. “And I won’t. What I mean is that I have to be honest and tell you that I was thinking we should only see each other a few times and then end it.”
She could see a little muscle ticking in his temple as he asked, “Mind if I ask why?”
“Not because of you—because of me. And before I go on, I should say that I’ve decided I don’t want that. I want to keep seeing you. I hope it’ll last a while, but…”
She couldn’t read his expression as he waited for her to continue.
“It’s nothing…” She blew out a long sigh.
“Okay, so the reason I left town was because one of my mom’s old…
friends showed up right around the same time you did.
He started to give me some trouble over money he claims my mom still owes him.
He…” She shuddered, and Jake tightened his grip on her hand.
“Go on.”
She met his gaze. “He was kind of threatening. And I didn’t have the kind of money he wanted.
I don’t think my mom really owed him anything—although she might have.
But it’s been years and… anyway, he was making my life miserable, and just by coincidence, when I talked to Amy—she lives in the city now—she told me about the job down there.
So I went. He found me down there, though, too.
That’s why I came back. If he’s going to threaten me no matter where I am, then I’d rather be here. ”
Jake’s eyebrows were drawn together, and that little muscle at his temple ticked steadily.
“What can I do?”
She blew out a sigh. “That’s the thing. I don’t want you to have to do anything.
I don’t want to become a burden. I can handle it myself—I know how.
I’ve always handled everything. But it might get rough for a while when he figures out that I’m back here.
I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. And you don’t need that kind of hassle. You—”
She stopped and took a deep breath when he squeezed her hand again.
“Mind if I have a say?”
She shook her head, knowing what he was about to say—and she was right.
“Savannah, of course I want to help you. If it’s going to get rough, that’s a reason I want to be in it with you—not a reason I’d want to stay away. Even if it’s only as your friend.”
His grip on her hand tightened for a second before he looked down at their joined fingers and eased off. When he looked back up, he held her gaze. “And I want to be more than your friend. There’s no way I’d leave you to face this asshole by yourself.”
“I know, and thank you—really. But you don’t need to.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean this is my mess. You came here to start a fun new life for yourself after you got out of the military. You have the garage and a bunch of new friends. You don’t need someone like me—someone with problems – hanging around your neck.”
She was surprised when he smiled. “You just put your finger on exactly why you’re wrong.
See, I am starting a new life here. I have the garage, and I’m making new friends and having fun, and you know what?
You’re the biggest part of all of it. Think about it, Savannah—I need a mechanic to help me out.
Not only who do I want, but who’s the best fit? You.
“When it comes to friends—yeah, I’ve made a few, sure. Josh and I are housemates, and we’re close. But you’re my other closest friend here.” He winked, and warmth filled her chest when he added, “And you’re way better-looking.
“And as for fun, are you trying to tell me we don’t have fun together?”
Butterflies took flight in her stomach when his voice dropped and he added, “And that you don’t think we can have a whole lot more?”
She shook her head slowly.
“All I’m saying is please let me help you if this asshole comes back around. I don’t see it as a burden. If you want to know the truth, you’ll be doing me a favor.”
She let out a short laugh. “How do you figure that?”
“I’m serious. I joined the military for a reason—it’s my nature to serve and to protect. I don’t get much chance to do that in my new life here.” He gave her a small smile. “So, if you look at it that way, you really will be doing me a favor.”
She had to smile. “It might not be an issue. He might leave me alone.”
“Let’s hope he does. But if he doesn’t…”
“We’ll see.”
Jake shook his head. “I’d love to just agree and let it go at that, but I need us to be clear, Savannah. I want us to start seeing each other for real. But I need you to give me your word that if this Rick gives you any trouble—if you even hear from him—that you’ll… you’ll…”
She held her breath, waiting to hear what he’d say, and let it out slowly when he added,
“That you’ll tell me. I’ll respect however you decide to handle it, but please don’t face it all on your own. And don’t hide things from me—that won’t work.”
“Okay.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Okay?”
She gave him a small smile. “I was about to tell you that’s what I’d decided. I don’t want to hide things from you, but I need you to respect however I choose to handle it.”
He smiled back at her. “Great minds think alike, huh?”
“Something like that. Should we order?”
He held her gaze for a moment. “We should. Thanks for trusting me.”
It was only when he said it that she realized it was true. She gave his hand a squeeze. “Thanks for being someone I can trust.”