Chapter 23
23
A flat tire?
Seriously?
As Bren approached the Kia she’d parked in the driveway of her house, a sleeping bag tucked under one arm and a box of kitchenware balanced in the other, she gave the tire a disgusted scan.
Changing a flat hadn’t been on her agenda for this Monday morning.
Could she have picked up a nail during her drive to Sunrise Reef yesterday? There had been a roofing company trailer parked in front of a house along the road.
A moot point now. Whatever the source of the flat, the damage was done.
Huffing out a breath, she continued to the car and lowered the sleeping bag onto the gravel driveway. Set the box down beside it.
May as well get the job done. The flat wasn’t going to change itself.
Resigning herself to the disagreeable chore, she leaned into the trunk to dig out the jack, lug wrench, and spare tire. Paused to pull out her phone when it began to ring.
Her pulse quickened as she skimmed the screen.
Noah.
She put the phone to her ear. “Good morning.”
“Good morning to you too. Did I catch you at a bad time? You sound winded.”
“More like aggravated.” Not a lie, though that wasn’t the main reason her lungs were misbehaving. “I’m about to change a flat tire.”
“What happened?”
“No idea. One minute it was fine, ten minutes later it was flat.”
“Where are you?”
“At my house. I came over to get a few things for Emma to use at her new apartment until she can afford to buy furniture.”
“Do you have emergency road service on your insurance?”
If only.
“No. My Kia’s been reliable, and I know how to change a tire.”
“Why don’t you let me do it for you? I’ve been trying to track you down anyway.”
“Why? Did you talk to your boss about extending your vacation?” Maybe there was positive news on that front at least.
“Yeah. It was a no-go.”
Her spirits plummeted. “When do you have to leave?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
This was not shaping up to be a good day.
She propped a hip against the fender and wrapped her free arm around her middle, watching two gulls circle overhead. “That’s disappointing.” To put it mildly.
“Tell me about it. I’m not a happy camper. We need to talk.”
She blinked to clear the sudden mist from her vision. “I don’t know, Noah. I’ve been thinking about our situation. Geography is a huge issue, since neither of us is inclined to relocate if things get serious.”
“I’m not ready to give up on us yet.”
“Do you see a solution to our dilemma?” Because she didn’t, and pursuing a lost cause would only lead to heartache. That was the dismal conclusion she’d come to yesterday after her visit to Sunrise Reef and a long, solitary walk on the beach.
The two gulls swooped down and landed nearby, cuddling close as they watched her.
Sheesh. Even birds found partners. Why did it have to be so complicated for humans?
“Not yet. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t one.” A beat ticked by. “I’ll tell you what. Give me your address. I’ll come over, change the tire, and lend a hand with the stuff you’re moving. That will give us a chance to talk in person.”
In light of his imminent departure, she should refuse. Hanging around him would just make her yearn for an outcome that appeared to be out of reach. In the interest of protecting her heart, it would be safer to—
“Please, Bren.”
At his husky entreaty, she closed her eyes. Tightened her grip on the phone as she tried to shore up her resolve. Failed.
Caving was dumb, and she’d no doubt regret it later, but from a practical standpoint, an extra pair of hands would be welcome with the flat tire.
You’re rationalizing, Bren.
She ignored the chiding voice in her head and rattled off her address.
“I’ll be there in less than ten minutes.” Noah ended the call. Fast. As if he was afraid she’d change her mind.
A valid fear.
Because for a woman who’d once sworn off men, this high-octane thing with Noah was beyond surreal.
Yes, he seemed to be a good guy. And yes, under other circumstances he could tempt her to tiptoe into romance. Bev had nailed it. Not everyone was meant to go through life solo—including a certain barista, as she’d been forced to acknowledge over the past couple of weeks.
Unfortunately, the man who’d managed to breach the defenses around her heart was a short-timer in town.
Sighing, she pushed off from her car and trudged back to the house to gather up another load for Emma.
She had to play this smart. Limit her time with Noah today. Keep reminding herself that he was leaving tomorrow, perhaps forever. There would be no more touching—and definitely no more kissing.
Eight minutes later, when he pulled into the driveway and emerged from behind the wheel, she had her emotions in hand.
Until he walked over and those killer blue eyes softened and warmed, turning her insides to mush. “You look beautiful today.”
She tugged down the hem of her I ? Hope Harbor sweatshirt. “Thanks. And thank you for offering to change the tire.” She motioned toward the flat and retreated a few steps before she did something stupid, like launch herself into his arms. “I, uh, set out the tools and the spare.”
After studying her for a moment, he nodded. “I’ll get on it.”
“I’ll be inside, gathering up more items.” Without waiting for him to respond, she fled to the house.
But once safely inside, she peeked through the window.
True to his word, he’d dived into the chore—and he was handling it much faster than she would have. In a matter of minutes, he had the car jacked up and the flat off and was rolling the spare into position.
Tempted as she was to watch him complete the job, she did have more bits and pieces to collect.
As she rummaged through the closet in her bedroom ten minutes later, a knock echoed through the house.
Shoring up her fortitude, she tucked a pillow under her arm and returned to the living room. Opened the front door.
“All finished.” Noah lifted his grease-stained hands. “May I clean up?”
She moved aside and waved him in. “Bathroom’s the first door on the left, down the hall.”
“Give me three minutes.”
As he strode that direction, she carried the pillow and the small stack of towels she’d collected earlier out to the car. Noah had put the sleeping bag and box of kitchen items in the trunk, so she tucked the pillow and towels in beside them and returned to the house.
When she entered, he was in the living room, fists propped on hips, giving her small rental house a once-over.
She gave the space a survey too.
Truth be told, the house wasn’t all that great on its best days, and with portions of the walls, floor, and ceiling removed, today it could almost qualify as a disaster zone.
“For the record, it doesn’t usually look this bad.” She shut the door behind her. “But as I’ve learned, replacing wiring is a messy job. Fortunately, that part of the job is done. The owner tells me the drywall and flooring people will be in this week to start those repairs. If there aren’t any glitches, the painter will be finished by the end of next week and I can move back in.”
“How long have you lived here?” Faint grooves dented his brow as he homed in on the chipped Formica and dated appliances visible through the doorway to the kitchen.
“Two years. But I should be able to swing a down payment on a house of my own by next spring. That’s been on my wish list for a while.” For whatever reason, it was important that he realize she had higher aspirations than this, even if he wouldn’t be around to see her move on and up.
He pivoted back to her. “You know, Dad might be willing to let you continue to rent—”
“I’m fine here, Noah.” She tipped her chin up a hair. “I’ll never forget your dad’s kindness to me, but I don’t as a rule take charity.”
“Giving a friend a break is different than offering charity.”
“Be that as it may, I have a lease here. I’m locked in for another eight months.” Time to change the subject. “Thanks again for your help with the flat.”
After a moment, he took her cue and changed the subject. “Happy to lend a hand. Do you have anything else to haul out to the car?”
“Not much. That card table and folding chairs.” She waved a hand toward them. “I’m also going to take a couple of lamps. And maybe an upholstered chair.” She walked over to the one she had in mind.
He gave it a dubious inspection. “I doubt that will fit in your car.”
“I think I can wedge it in my trunk if I make two trips.” It wasn’t super light, but she ought to be able to drag it out to her car and lever it in.
“Why don’t I put it in my car and follow you over instead?”
She hesitated.
That would be easier—and once they got to the apartment, she wouldn’t have to worry about being alone with him. Her former cottage-mate would be there.
“If you’re sure you don’t mind, that would help. Emma signed the rental agreement this morning, and she’ll be there. We should be in and out fast.”
“No rush on my end. I don’t have anything else on my schedule.”
“No work today?”
His mouth twisted. “I’m not in a working mood after the conversation with my boss this morning. Besides, I’m supposed to be on vacation.”
“In that case, I’ll take you up on your offer. Let me help you with the chair.”
He crossed to it. Tested the weight. Bent down and picked it up, muscles bunching below the sleeves of his T-shirt. “I’ve got it. But you could open the door for me.”
After complying, she picked up the card table and one of the folding chairs and followed him out.
Within five minutes, they’d finished loading both cars. And ten minutes after that, he was following her into the low-key Sea Breeze apartment complex she’d called home during her first year in Hope Harbor. The efficiency she’d rented had been tiny, but it had been adequate while she decided if she wanted to stay.
Emma’s apartment was larger, but not by much. The so-called second bedroom was more like an oversized closet, based on the photos Emma had shown her, but the unit met her needs. She could truthfully claim on her guardianship petition that Justin would have a room of his own.
Bren pulled in beside Emma’s Sentra, which was no longer packed to the gills with all her worldly possessions, as it had been since she’d arrived. Noah parked beside her.
Once she slid from behind the wheel, she spoke to him over the roof. “I’ll let her know we’re here.”
“I’ll get the chair.” He circled around to his trunk.
Bren ascended the two steps to the tiny porch of the unit and rang the bell.
When the door swung open, Emma greeted her with a sunny smile. “Thanks again for offering to loan me a few things from your house until I can furnish my place.”
“No problem. I’m not using them at the moment anyway.” Footsteps sounded behind her, and she angled sideways. “Noah helped me haul everything over.” No sense mentioning the flat tire.
Emma’s lips flattened as she surveyed the upholstered chair he was carrying. “I thought you said you were bringing basic kitchen utensils and a sleeping bag. I can’t take your furniture too. Especially after the loan you gave me for the security deposit.”
She could feel Noah’s gaze on her. “You’ll be paying that back soon. As for the items I brought over, they’re also on loan. I expect you to return them at some point.”
Furrows creased her forehead. “I don’t know, Bren. I’m not used to taking charity.”
“Helping friends out—or giving them a break—is different than offering charity.”
As Noah repeated the sentiment he’d expressed at her house, Bren glanced over at him.
If he was hoping to convince her to stay on at his dad’s cottage, he was going to be disappointed. Grateful as she was for his father’s largesse, she didn’t need ongoing help like Emma did. Plus, she had a lease.
But his argument worked with the younger woman.
“I suppose that’s true. And I’ll return everything—and pay back the deposit—soon.”
“I know you will.” Bren smiled at her. “Let’s grab the rest of the stuff, then we’ll get out of your hair so you can settle in.”
It didn’t take the three of them long to unload her car, yet despite everything she’d brought, the tiny apartment felt bare. Not that it seemed to matter to Emma. From the glow on her face, anyone would think she’d moved into the Taj Mahal.
“I’m going to take pictures right away and send them to Justin.” She touched the shade on one of the lamps. “Prove that I’m one step closer to my petition.”
“I bet he’ll be thrilled.” Bren walked over and pulled her into a hug. “You know I’m just a phone call away if you need anything.”
“Yes, I do—and I can’t begin to tell you what that means to me. I don’t think I’d have made it without your help after the car disaster.”
“Yes, you would. You’re a survivor. But I’m glad our paths crossed. As Reverend Baker once told me, coincidence is a small miracle in which God chooses to remain anonymous.”
“I like that thought.” Emma gave her a squeeze, then spoke to Noah. “Thank you for helping this morning. And I’m sorry for any concern I caused you when I first arrived. I do understand why you were reluctant to have a stranger stay on your dad’s property. I was nervous about the arrangement myself ... and more than a little suspicious. Bren’s offer seemed too good to be true. It’s not often you meet someone with such a kind and generous heart.”
“I know.” The warmth in Noah’s voice was impossible to miss.
As Emma looked between the two of them, curiosity sparking in her irises, Bren edged toward the door. “We should be on our way. Let me know how it goes at Sweet Dreams.”
“I will.”
Noah followed her out to the parking area, and she stopped beside her car. Pulled out her keys and squeezed them tight. She had to be strong about this, and firm. “Thanks again for your help with the tire and the hauling.”
“You’re welcome.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “It was kind of you to loan Emma the money for the deposit.”
“No more worries that I’m putting myself at risk?”
“Not anymore. I trust your judgment and your instincts.”
Nice to know—but it didn’t solve their impasse.
She moistened her lips. “I should be going.”
A hint of desperation flared in his eyes. “Can we at least spend the afternoon together?”
“I have plans for the day. But I’ll see you tonight at the 5K meeting.”
“A meeting doesn’t lend itself to personal conversation. Can you change your plans?”
“No. I participate in a foster grandparent program through Helping Hands, and the woman I visit is celebrating her ninetieth birthday today. Her brother and his family are in town, and they’re having a party for her this afternoon. I’m invited.” She checked her watch. “I have to go back to the cottage and get ready.”
He expelled a breath. Shoved his fingers through his hair. “When are we going to talk?”
“I don’t think there’s much to say.”
“I disagree. I mean, I know there are issues to deal with if we want to explore a relationship. And I know that will be difficult to do long distance. But walking away from this feels wrong.”
“It feels wrong to me too, but I can’t see how to make this work.” She swallowed past the lump in her throat and said what had to be said. “I think we should give ourselves some space, Noah. Return to our lives the way they were before we met and revisit this again in a few weeks. We may have a different perspective on everything that’s happened once we’re back in our usual routines.”
He didn’t look like he felt any more convinced about that than she did, but what other choice did they have?
“Can I tell you the truth? At this moment I’m ready to chuck the corporate world and leave St. Louis behind.”
Bren quashed the sudden urge to encourage that inclination. A life-changing decision shouldn’t be made under pressure or without careful deliberation. Otherwise, Noah could later come to resent it—and the person who influenced him to make it.
Not a recipe for happily ever after.
“That’s your heart talking. What’s your brain telling you?”
“I don’t know. If it’s speaking to me, I can’t hear it. Nothing is registering except you.”
“Which is why distance may be smart while we sort through this. Neither of us thinks too clearly when we’re together.”
“You’re doing a better job of it than I am.” He kneaded the bridge of his nose. “This is out of pattern for me. As a rule, I’m able to put emotion aside and be logical no matter the circumstances.”
“And I’m the opposite. It’s taken me years to get a handle on my emotions. To be honest, I still struggle with that challenge on occasion. Like now. But one of us has to be sensible about this. We aren’t going to be able to work out the problem in the next twenty-four hours.”
“I guess not.” His shoulders slumped. “Will you let me drive you to the meeting tonight?”
She hesitated—but taking two cars would be silly. “As long as we come straight home.”
A muscle in his cheek ticced. “In other words, no stops for ice cream. Got it. Six forty-five, in front of the house?”
“That works.”
“Okay. I’ll see you later.” He returned to his car, slid behind the wheel, and started the engine.
Less than half a minute later, he was disappearing into the distance.
Fighting back tears, Bren pried her fingers loose from her keys. Flexed her knuckles to restore circulation.
But the impressions they’d made on her skin would take a while to fade.
As would the impression Noah had made on her heart during his brief but eventful visit to the town she called home.