by Lucinda Race
“I could teach you. We could go to the driving range and hit a bucket of balls.”
She was dying to ask him who the woman was but choked back the question. “I don’t own clubs.”
“That’s an easy fix. You’re about the same height as my sister. I’m sure she’d lend you a set.”
“Does she have more than one?” This really was an odd conversation.
“As of today, she does. I helped her pick out a new set this afternoon. So, what do you say?”
Anna sat on a wicker chair. She was his sister. Her shoulders slumped as she shook her head. “Sure, I’ll give it a try.” Should she tell Colin she was a bit of a klutz or let it be a surprise?
“I look at golf as more about being outside, away from phones.” He gave a low chuckle. “And you haven’t seen me play yet. There’s a reason why I’m not on the PGA tour.”
“What about shoes? I don’t want to embarrass you by showing up in the wrong gear.” To say nothing of the fact that wearing the wrong clothes and shoes would put a spotlight on her.
He laughed softly, which caused her heart to soften. “We’ll start with the driving range at Crescent Lake Golf Club, and your sneakers will be just fine. If you like it, then you could buy a pair of spikeless golf shoes. But before you invest too much, we should play nine holes.”
That was two different dates. She perked up in her chair. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Let’s agree to say it’s a date.” Again, his chuckle was low and very masculine. “So are you in for the night?”
Her heart skipped in her chest. Was he going to suggest they meet up? She’d love to see him but made a snap decision to slow things down. “Yeah. I’ve got a busy day tomorrow and since I spent more time at the hospital last week than in my lab, I have some catching up to do.”
“Completely understand. Any chance you’d want to meet for a drink after work one night this week?”
“That would be great.” Should she ask when he wanted to hit the driving range? No. She would wait for him to broach the subject again.
“What are you doing this weekend?”
“Liza and I are going for a bike ride on Saturday. We’re on this whole get-out-and-do-things kick. I’m not sure if you remember she’s the sister with two boys?”
“I do. She’s very nice.”
Anna laughed. “With her kids, heck, she’s a saint. I love my nephews dearly but they can try anyone’s patience and as a single mother, she never gets a break. Mom said she’ll keep the boys and we can disappear for a while.” Once again, she babbled on.
“Would you like company?”
Shoot. She hadn’t been extending an invitation, and alone time with her sister was important to both of them.
“I hope you understand, but it’s a sister kind of thing.”
“Of course I do. But if your plans change, let me know. We could try out the range, hit a bucket of balls, and maybe have lunch too.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” She smiled and hugged herself. He definitely wanted to see her again. “Maybe you’re available on Sunday for the driving range?”
“I’m free and can pen you in.”
“Huh?” What did he just say?
“You know. Pen’s permanent.”
She could hear the smile in his voice. “Ah-ha. You’re cute, Mr. Grant, and yes, pen me in. I’m going to warn you though. If it’s raining, I’m not going to stand around and hit a bunch of balls.”
“There is an indoor range near Rochester. So,” he said casually, “we could go there.”
“Sounds like fun. Rain or shine, we’ll do something golf-related.”
“Perfect. We can talk more about it later this week. What day did you say you were free?”
“I didn’t, but how about Wednesday? It’ll give me two days to get caught up.”
“Want to go to Sawyers again?”
“How about I make the plans this time? I’ll text you the details by midday Tuesday.”
“You’re going to keep me in suspense?” He dragged out the words.
“That’s the plan.” A moment of silence lingered and became somewhat awkward. “I’ll let you go then,” she said.
“I’m already looking forward to Wednesday. But before you go, I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed yesterday.”
“I had fun too.” It was a good thing he couldn’t see her, as she knew her face was a deep shade of pink. Not from embarrassment but pleasure because he liked her and they had plans to see each other. They said their goodbyes and Anna wandered through the house.
She could hear his soft, husky laugh over and over in her head. His voice was smooth, which caused her pulse to quicken. Liza would be thrilled to know that all was well on the man front. She texted her sister. Mystery solved. It was his sister. Ttyl
It didn’t matter that Liza didn’t respond. Anna sat up in her chair. She needed a plan for Wednesday, but first a quick check of the weather. Maybe they could go on Jack’s boat. Did Colin even like boats? Better play it safe. A picnic in the park? Nah. Too cliché. She needed to give this more thought and come up with something fun that would show him the date was important to her too.
And that’s when it hit her. There was a car show downtown Wednesday night, where gearheads put their hot rods on display. That would be fun, and there was a companion fundraiser earmarked for the teen project in town. Besides, Anna had a special fondness for smoking-hot cars, all thanks to Leo. She and her younger brother had spent a couple of summers working on his hot rod and although she had no desire to be covered with grease, she loved the feel of a powerful car in her control.
Hey, if Colin couldn’t deal with her love of fast cars, she’d rather know now before they went any further in this relationship. But who wouldn’t love walking around, seeing all the cars on display and the owners ready to share every last detail about the restoration? Usually there were photo albums of the process.
Should she ask him or let it be a surprise? She picked up her phone and hesitated. Part of her really wanted to just let it happen. Talking to herself, she jotted off a text. I’ll pick you up at five on Wednesday. Just let me know your address. She hit send. If nothing else, she was having a good time.
Her phone beeped and she glanced at it with a smile. “Hmm, that’s interesting. He didn’t even ask where we’re going.”
Colin read Anna’s text. His curiosity was piqued. She didn’t give him any details, but she was picking him up. He checked the time. His sister would still be awake. He dialed.
“Colin, I didn’t expect to hear from you tonight. What’s up?”
“Remember today I told you about the woman I had coffee with yesterday?”
With a laugh, she said, “You mean the coffee date that turned into dinner and dessert? Yes.”
“We’re going out on Wednesday and she’s picking me up but didn’t say where we’re going.”
“How fun.”
“It’s cool that Anna is making plans for us. It’s only our second date, so she must be interested, right?”
“You need to stop with your old-fashioned ideas. We live in the twenty-first century. A girl is perfectly capable of planning and picking up her date.”
“It’s just that I thought she was quiet and shy and this side of her is quite the opposite.”
“Does it bother you, the potential shift in her personality? After all, you’ve only talked to her when her dad was in the hospital and for one date. It’s not like you know who she really is below the surface.”
“I hear what you’re saying.”
“Do you want advice from your sister or did you just call to talk?”
He sat down on the arm of the chair. “I’m listening.”
“Go out and have fun. If she wants to take you skydiving, maybe you could decline when you get to the airstrip, or not. Enjoy yourself. After all the years you’ve spent going to school, and then screwing around with Daphne and her three-thousand-mile long-distance relationship that was a
sham, it’s good to see you’ve taken a real interest in a woman.”
He could hear the controlled laughter in her voice, but it didn’t piss him off. “You know how that turned out, and that makes me sound like a loser.”
“No. You’re a guy who’s been out of circulation for a long time. Now let go of your preconceived notions and have fun. Ya never know what might happen along the way. Heck, you might even fall in love.”
“Stop pushing, sis. I know you’d love for me to find a great girl.”
“You deserve to have someone special in your life and if Anna’s not the girl, you can still have fun.”
He would count himself lucky if he’d find someone to fill the space he had reserved in his heart for love. “Night, Marie.” He set the phone on the table. She was right and he knew better than most that life was short.
11
Anna put the top down on her car, tied her hair back with a scarf, and cruised down the road. She was excited to be going to the car show with Colin. His address was plugged into the GPS and she knew of the area but had never been in his development. She slowed as she clicked off house numbers on his street. These weren’t merely houses; she’d describe them as luxury homes. Maybe he came from money.
His house sat at the end of a cul-de-sac. She couldn’t help but notice it was set back and thick woods bordered the backyard.
“Very nice,” she murmured to herself as she parked in the driveway.
Before she turned off the car, the front door opened and Colin came down the wide stone steps. He smiled as he approached.
“Hey.” He gave a low appreciative whistle. “Sweet ride, a Benz.”
She cocked her head and smiled. “My indulgence.”
“I would have taken you for an SUV kind of lady.”
“Up until a few months ago, you would have been correct. But this year, I promised myself I’d stop waiting for my life to start”—she tapped the dashboard—“and this little baby was a kick start for new adventures.”
Colin eased into the low-slung passenger seat and clicked his seat belt. He gave her a wide smile. “Where are we off to?”
She flashed a grin at him. “You’ll see.”
She eased out of the drive and drove slowly down the wide street. “Have you lived here long?”
“About two years. I bought the last house in the development, and it was a good deal, as a family backed out at the last minute. I guess it was too basic for them. I’ve been making upgrades and making it my own and if I decide to flip, it has gone up in value, considerably.”
“So, you like to do house projects?”
“I do.” He nodded. “Where do you live?”
“I have a place south of town.”
“You’re out in the country then?”
“I bought an old farmhouse a couple of years ago and have been renovating it ever since. There’s not much left to do.” She tucked a wave of hair under her scarf as it teased her nose. “It’s peaceful.”
“It sounds nice.”
“My family thinks I’m nuts to be out there by myself, but after working with the family, I need some space.”
“Do you have animals?”
“Not yet. I’d like to get a couple of dogs. They’d be good companions and with the contractors just about wrapped up, the timing will work.”
“I had a black lab, Charlie, and he was my shadow. I lost him a couple of months ago. He used to greet me after a shift at the hospital and I miss him.”
“I’m sorry about your fur-baby. They leave a huge hole in our hearts.” Anna downshifted and slowed the car as they approached Main Street. There were signs for parking and she pulled into the first lot and took a space in the last row. She was hopeful no one would park next to her, but who knew for sure.
“The car show? This will be a first for me.”
“I thought it’d be fun to get out and walk around. I’ve wanted to go the last couple of years but haven’t made the time.”
Colin beamed. “I’ve either been in school or working and missed it. Rumor has it the cars will knock your socks off.”
Anna gave a low chuckle. “You have no idea.”
He took her hand and their fingers intertwined as they strolled through the parking area. “Is this okay?”
She smiled. “Yeah.” She liked how their hands fit together.
They crossed the police barricade to Main Street, which was lined with every make and model of hot rod imaginable, along with late model muscle cars and sports cars. Anna’s smile grew broader with each passing step.
Colin gave her a sidelong look. “You’re really excited.”
She tugged him down the right side of the street. “Come on. Leo should be down here with his latest project car.” Her steps slowed when she noticed the lineup of vintage Camaros.
“This one here.” She pointed to a sleek black convertible. “It’s an SS and has a three-fifty engine, four-speed manual transmission. A blast to drive.” She gave him a lopsided grin. “I have a weakness for the ’69.”
They continued to examine each car and she relayed the best features of each one. At last, she saw her brother.
Speaking softly, she said, “That’s a very rare Buick Grand National; only one hundred and twelve were made. Leo found it in a barn in Ohio and he’s taken over a year to restore it.” She could hear the pride in her voice.
“Is there anything you don’t know about cars?”
“They are a weakness, but Leo is the genius when it comes to any classic car.” She gave him a searching look. “Am I boring you?”
“Not at all. I’m impressed. I would never have guessed you were passionate about cars.”
They drew closer to Leo’s car. He walked toward them.
“Hey, guys. When did you get here?” He kissed his sister’s cheek and shook Colin’s hand.
Anna ran her fingertips over the hood. “A little while ago. This is the first row we’ve been down.”
Leo stepped to his car. “Colin, wanna check out my baby?”
“Sure. Anna was just telling me you found it in an old barn.”
Leo beamed. “I did. It was under some old oilskin tarp and I wasn’t sure what I’d find when I’d tear the engine down.” He gave a one-shouldered shrug and ran his hand over the fender. “The mice had made a few nests in the seats and engine compartment, so I took it down to the frame and rebuilt it. All with matching numbers.”
Colin looked at Anna and then Leo. “Sorry, new to the classic car scene. What do you mean by matching numbers?”
Anna explained, “They’re factory parts. Not aftermarket. The car is more valuable if you rebuild it with factory parts. Sometimes you can get parts from people you know or at a swap meet.” He looked at her with an appreciation—or maybe he thought she was nuts and she was misreading the look.
Leo straightened and smiled at a pretty girl who was passing by. He said hello but she kept on walking. His gaze followed her until she stepped into the emergency medical tent and out of his view. Without looking at Anna, he asked, “Any idea who that cute blonde was?”
“No, but if you want to find out, we’ll hang by the car and you could go to the medical tent and ask for a Band-Aid.” Anna grinned at Colin.
“Go for it,” Colin said. “We’ll hang out and take the credit for the car. And since Anna is well versed in cars, we can pull it off.”
Leo gave a short snort. “This from the guy who just learned about matching numbers.” He turned back to the crowd. “I’m good.”
Anna wanted to encourage Leo, but if she said any more, he’d consider her to be pushy and take a huge step back. As the youngest brother, he was the least confident when it came to the opposite sex.
“Are you guys going to hang around long?” Leo smiled. “Maybe we could catch a drink when the show shuts down.”
Anna turned to Colin. “I’m not sure, but maybe we can catch up with you some other time.” If she were being honest, she wanted to keep some personal distance betwe
en Colin and her family for a little longer.
“Sure. Sounds like fun.” Colin took her hand. “Besides, I’m on call as of midnight tonight, so no drinking for me.”
“You should have said something. We didn’t need to come out tonight.”
He gave her a warm smile and applied gentle pressure to her hand in his. “I’ve got plenty of time.”
She flashed a grin in Leo’s direction. “We’re going to take off, but see you at some point.”
“Yeah. Are you going to dinner at Mom and Dad’s on Friday?”
“Wouldn’t miss it. Dad has something up his sleeve. The last time he pulled us together like this, Don and Kate moved back and took over the winery.”
“Since there are no apparent major changes, it really shouldn’t be anything other than just getting together.” He gave Colin a quizzical look. “Are you coming?”
He got a deer in the headlights look. Anna stepped in to rescue him.
“I don’t think I should subject Colin to a family dinner just yet. Even if everything is normal when we all gather, it’s beyond chaotic. With kids and adults.” She grinned. “Under the best of circumstances, it’s something a person has to ease into.” She wanted to laugh when the look of fear still lingered on his face, but she didn’t.
After saying goodbye to Leo, they strolled away, hands linked.
He swung her hand with his. “You seem to be in your element while I’m a little uninformed.”
“We all have our hobbies.” She gave a short laugh. “When we hit the driving range, I’m going to be the one on the other side of the knowledge base and skill.”
“Speaking of golf, are we doing nine holes?”
“I thought we had planned the driving range first, then if all goes well, we’ll hit the links.”
“You’re right. I’ll book a range time.”
“Great. Just tell me when and I can meet you there if you’d like.”
He held her arm tight against his side. “I’ll pick you up.” He looked up and down the street. “If you could choose any car here, what would you drive home in?”
“Hmm.” Her gaze roamed Main Street. “We need to go down South Street and Oak before I can decide.”
