by Tanya Agler
“Hmm. Georgianna Trouble Bennett. Sounds better than the mouthful that is Georgianna Victoria Bennett.” She held up the leash and strode toward the repair shop entrance. “Enough chitchat. I have a hot date tonight.”
Mike cleared his throat, and she turned. He stood there, his arms folded, his chin higher in the air. “Hot date?”
Did she detect a note of jealousy in his tone? Her smile on the inside broadened to match the width of Mike’s shoulders. He was jealous. “Yep.”
“Scott from the bike store?” He wrinkled his forehead, and his lips formed a straight line. “Garrett McGee, the assistant principal at the middle school?”
“Groot, the Guardians of the Galaxy and my mother. She’ll love Groot.”
“You always did like superhero movies. Save a night for me.”
Her insides gave a little dance. He remembered her favorite type of movie, and she’d detected a note of jealousy.
Friday nights in Hollydale might prove more interesting than she’d ever thought possible.
* * *
“I’D SAY WE’RE looking at a good month of steady work. If I get really busy on a project...”
Mike smiled and touched Georgie’s arm, soft and muscular at the same time. She never failed to amaze him. Too bad his teenage self hadn’t gotten that message.
Note to teenage self: you were so incredibly stupid.
“It’s okay. I know you have customers who need their cars sooner rather than later.”
“Business has picked up at last.”
“I’ll help as much as possible, as well.”
A month of working with Georgie on a regular basis? He’d take it.
“Actually, I paused because of Max.”
“Yeah, I’ve been in touch with Max. Hope the biopsy comes back benign.” She startled, and he shrugged. “Police officers have to keep secrets.”
Tension creased Georgie’s forehead. Cursing inside, he blasted himself for bringing up the sensitive subject.
A flash of pain crossed her expressive face. “Actually, it came back malignant. His surgery is set for a week from now. The doctor’s hopeful he might not even have to undergo chemo. It depends on what they find. Rosie is pushing him to stay longer.” She snapped off her gloves and glanced over his shoulder. “Hey, Rachel, are you okay?”
“I really need to use the bathroom.” His daughter’s urgency made Mike turn.
Rachel had that look on her face, the one where she’d waited five minutes too long to speak up.
“There’s one right inside the reception area.” Georgie approached Rachel and held out her hand. “Do you want me to show you?”
“No, I can find it.”
“Do you need help because of the bandages?”
“I’m good.” Her high-pitched voice gave away too much, and Rachel scurried out of there faster than a mouse smelling cheese.
The door closed behind her before Mike sighed and walked back to the Thunderbird. “You’re seeing me at my worst as a father. Burns, pet escapes, bathroom emergencies.”
He looked away; he didn’t want to see the disappointment in her eyes. Heck, he was disappointed in himself. Shuddering, he remembered all too well the cold, hard looks from his twin sisters after he’d conducted himself in a manner most unbecoming a Harrison by ditching Georgie. He hadn’t missed the pitying looks from half the town after Caitlyn left him with a baby daughter. Those were bad enough. He didn’t want to wake up at four in the morning with the memory of Georgie’s green emeralds seared into his brain.
He jumped when fingers landed on his shoulder. “I see a little girl who loves her father. Rachel is intelligent and independent. Most fathers would be proud of those qualities rather than beating themselves up.”
Turning, he didn’t see judgment and harshness anywhere in the fine features of her face.
“Thank you.”
Georgie shrugged and stepped away. Already he missed her touch.
Picking up the nearby clipboard, she scanned the paper before unclipping it and handing it over. “Any questions about the process?”
“Can I do any of this work myself? Save a few pennies?” He doubted it but figured he’d ask anyway.
“Actually, yes.” Coming over, she pointed to a couple of the steps. “Way back when, we did some of this in your grandfather’s driveway. It should be like riding a bike. It’ll all come back when the time is right.”
This close, her lemony smell tickled his nose. He’d never craved a cool, tall glass of lemonade more. Her short shiny brown hair caught his attention, and he longed to reach out and touch those silky strands so close and yet so far away.
Just tell her. With all that had happened to Rachel and since, he never had told her his intentions regarding the Thunderbird.
Without warning, those bright green emeralds sparkled. “I’m glad you’re keeping Miss Brittany. Your grandfather would be so proud.”
He moved closer. Opening his mouth, he wanted to find the right words to set her straight. Instead, the light of the shop reflected off her, cascading her in a golden glow, her beauty striking him. Taking her in his arms, he pulled her toward him and lowered his head. Before he knew any better, his lips were tasting hers, tangier than even lemon meringue pie. He hesitated. At that second Georgie closed the gap between them and deepened the kiss. Here she was, after all these years, in his arms.
Nothing had ever felt so right.
Mike pressed his hand to the small of her back, the cotton of her T-shirt smooth and soft as the world spun around on its axis. Her slight moan let him know she was enjoying this as much as he was.
Bells started ringing.
Her hands pressed against his chest as her lips pulled away. “That’s my mother on the phone.”
Those were the only words that could pry him away from her in this moment. As Georgie answered, Rachel came skipping in, relief plastered all over her darling face. Mike blinked. What had he been thinking? Kissing Georgie when his daughter, who’d never seen him kissing a woman, could have walked in and started asking questions.
Georgie stepped away, her head nodding, no words coming from her side of the conversation, the light in her eyes fading with each passing second.
“Hi, Daddy.” Rachel rushed in and tugged at his T-shirt. “Are you finished yet? I want to go home. My arm hurts.”
One look at Rachel’s exhausted face left him little choice. “We have to say goodbye to Miss Georgie first.”
Georgie’s lips, so soft and supple a mere whisper of seconds before, formed into a straight line. “I’m not avoiding you, Mom. We just finished. And no, picking up popcorn on the way home isn’t a good idea. You’re recovering from your second stent implantation.”
He pointed to the exit. “Do you want us to go?” Mouthing the words, he backed up and reached for Rachel’s good hand.
Georgie held up an index finger. “Mom, the sooner I say goodbye, the sooner I’ll be home, okay? Goodbye.”
She let out a deep huff and ended the call before giving him and Rachel a genuine smile.
He spoke up before she mentioned the kiss. “We have to go. It’s time for Rachel’s nightly doses of medicine.”
That smile stayed on, but a tinge of sadness entered her eyes. Was he the cause? He hoped not. Her eyes should dance with happiness, not show such seriousness in their depths.
“Talk tomorrow?”
Mike took a deep breath. What had they just done? At the stakeout she’d been blunt about keeping their relationship on a business level. What was more, she had promised her mother she’d do so. Georgie breaking a promise was like him not fulfilling his sworn duty as a police officer. He couldn’t go back on an oath. Not anymore.
He should have told her the truth about the Thunderbird. Instead, he’d thought of himself and missed the perfect opportunity for getting his rea
sons out into the open.
She’d asked him to keep this professional between them, and he’d failed her again. For her sake he needed to back away.
“You’re right. We should keep this on a purely business level.”
Hurt flickered in her expression. He had no choice. If she broke a promise for him? That would go against her ideals. Okay for a kiss, but not for a lifetime.
“Same time, then?”
Her gaze met his, and a look of understanding passed over her. His heart plummeted.
He squinted and searched for something else in her eyes. Something that said they weren’t finished yet.
Grasping Rachel’s hand, he broke away. No sense in reading too much into a kiss and a look.
That kiss represented everything he wanted out of life, though.
Everything he couldn’t have.
CHAPTER TWELVE
GEORGIE HAD WARNED Mike that the Thunderbird restoration would get much worse before it got better. Two weeks to the day after they’d agreed to have her start the repairs, her prophecy was true.
She tilted her camera and snapped more pictures of the dash harness. The sheer number of wires demanded careful preparation for this step of the disassembly process. Not that there was much left of the car to take apart. Arriving for work before dawn every day for the past fourteen mornings had resulted in a skeleton rather than a recognizable automobile. Days were now filled with returning customers, and late evenings helped hurry the process along, too. Working this late on a Friday was par for the course.
Someday, though, Mike would have a good laugh about this stage of the process during a long Sunday drive with Rachel.
Would Georgie be welcome to accompany them?
Ever since he okayed the repairs and kissed her, Mike had clammed up as silent as if she’d read him Miranda rights. Was that kiss really two weeks ago? Whenever Mike dropped by after work to help, he found some excuse not to be alone with Georgie. The excuse was mostly Rachel. Not that she minded the delightful girl. Georgie smiled at the interest Rachel had displayed in the engine block. Her great-grandfather would have loved that.
But every time Rachel headed for the bathroom, and Georgie had Mike alone for two minutes, he busied himself with some fine detail. A guilty shadow always passed over his face and then a mask hid it.
Concentrate, Georgie. The car wouldn’t regenerate under its own power. Before she reached for the first wire, the door to the reception area opened.
“Isn’t your first car care class tonight?” Heidi crossed over to the farthest of the three bays, the one occupied by the Thunderbird.
Cursing, Georgie yanked her hand back from the dash harness. How could she forget? In the little spare time that she’d had, she’d distributed flyers, posted the event on social media and told everyone she met.
“Thanks for reminding me.” She checked her watch. Ten minutes to go. “Are you sure you can’t stay? I’d love a familiar face in the crowd.”
Heidi shook her head, her dress flowing around her. “We’re visiting Max in Florida this weekend.”
“Give him a hug for me. Maybe the sunshine the meteorologist keeps promising is there. Bring it back with you, okay? Max, too, if he lets you.” Georgie followed Heidi to the waiting area and stared out the window, gray clouds hanging overhead. Every passing day grew a bit nippier. She’d be trading her jacket for her coat soon enough. With the colder temps, some people might bring their cars by for a winter preparation check. Georgie wouldn’t mind that.
“I talked to Rosie. She’s happy he’s staying put for the time being. The trip is our anniversary present to ourselves.”
“Happy anniversary.” Georgie made a mental note to pick up a cake tomorrow for a celebration before they left.
“Those folding chairs are still in my car. Can you help me bring them in?”
“Sure.” Following Heidi outside, Georgie shivered and reached for two metal chairs. Hurrying back, she set them up near the couch area, along with the cookies and appetizers specially purchased for tonight.
“Do you need anything else?” Heidi hovered near the front door. “Travis is already home. He was hoping for one more night of grilled burgers before he put the cover on the gas grill. Think I’ll broil them instead.”
“Can you spare two minutes while I remove my coveralls?” She plucked at the dingy navy top, splattered with oil splotches, before sneaking another peek at her watch. “Welcome everyone and tell them I’ll be right back.”
Running into the bathroom, Georgie shucked off her coveralls in no time flat. With a quick glance in the mirror, she finger-combed her hair, a bit damp and frizzy after a day’s work. She took a deep breath, ready to answer any questions about car repair from the people waiting out there. Fingers crossed she had enough cookies for everyone.
Back in the waiting room, she stopped short. Heidi was thumbing through an ancient magazine she must have read twenty times already. No one else was here. Where was everyone? This was Hollydale, so traffic wasn’t an excuse. Panic scratched at her throat. Friday night was a bad idea for this type of activity after all.
Heidi laid the magazine down and stood, sympathy in her gray eyes. She came over and patted Georgie’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, honey. People will show up. They might be running late because they’re buying Halloween candy.” She scrunched up her cheeks and shrugged, her bright smile no doubt designed to lift Georgie’s spirits.
With well over two weeks remaining until Halloween, Georgie didn’t quite believe her, but she hugged Heidi anyway. “Thanks. You run on home and enjoy a hamburger for me.”
“You sure, darlin’?” Heidi smiled. “I can stay for a while.”
“Please go.” Georgie wanted a few minutes of peace, her skin already itching for the new adventure around the bend.
Heidi waved goodbye with another flash of a smile. Georgie sank onto the ancient couch, faded to a dark tan from the sun. Maybe she should have targeted high school students learning how to drive instead.
Five more minutes passed, and Georgie’s stomach roiled. She might as well stop by Mike’s house and show him the newest batch of pictures before taking Beau on a long run. The thought of seeing Mike brightened her surly mood. Georgie rose from the couch, and the door opened, sending the cowbell jangling. In walked Lucie Decker, a harried expression on her face.
“Don’t tell me I’m that late.” She reached into her purse and pulled out her phone. “Ten minutes isn’t bad for me. My babysitter’s math-tutoring session lasted longer than she expected. I thought about bringing the twins, but...”
Georgie glanced at the three dozen cookies on the table. “Since I daresay there will be leftover cookies, please take as many as you want home with you. The twins deserve them for helping you with my mother. The car care program is officially DOA.”
“But I’ve been looking forward to this.” Lucie hugged her, and Georgie stiffened from the unexpected greeting. “I need this class.”
“Why?”
Lucie’s eyebrows veered downward, and she bit her lip. She dropped onto the couch. Georgie settled on one of the aluminum chairs. “You’re so self-reliant and all. You won’t understand.”
“Try me.”
Lucie gave a tentative smile, one that didn’t light up her eyes. “My parents bought me an AAA membership in high school. Then after I married, my husband took care of the cars.” She glanced up, her shoulders stiff as a spark plug. “I suppose you heard how my marriage turned out.”
Georgie kept her gaze steady. She wasn’t one to judge a failed relationship. “Heidi might have mentioned it.”
“I don’t know how to change a tire or how to connect bumper cables.”
“You mean jumper cables.”
Lucie popped off the couch, anger lurking in those hazel eyes. She strode toward the exit. “I didn’t come here for you to m
ake fun of me.”
Georgie jumped up, rushed over and blocked the door. “I was correcting you, not making fun of you. There’s a difference. If you’re serious about this, you have to learn the proper terminology.”
“I see the looks people give me. It’s okay if you don’t want to teach me.”
“Hey, this is one of life’s basic necessities. I came up with the idea, didn’t I?” Even if Lucie was her only student, Georgie would consider this a success. It was her imprint on Max’s Auto Repair. This place still bore his name. She lived in her mother’s home. Even her dog wasn’t hers. Mr. Reedy was supposed to leave the convalescence center in a mere two weeks.
“I hope some of your toughness rubs off on me.”
“I’ve always been my own person.” Letting others in, though? It wasn’t as bad as she’d thought.
Mike flashed into her mind. In his living room with Ginger at his side. In the shop, his sandalwood smell mixing with coffee. At the urgent care with Rachel hugging him close. Warmth filled her chest.
Lucie’s laugh brought her back. Lucie entwined her arm through Georgie’s. “That you have. I envied that in high school.”
“Don’t be too envious, Lucie.” Georgie led Lucie back to the couch. “Before we get down to business, we have an important matter to take care of.”
“Isn’t the class free?” Lucie’s eyes widened. “I have to pay the babysitter. I can’t afford—”
“Oatmeal raisin or chocolate chip.” Georgie measured her deadpan delivery so Lucie wouldn’t take off again. Those twins, while precocious, were important to Lucie. Keeping that family safe was Georgie’s new pressing goal. Until Lucie graduated from this class, Georgie wouldn’t let her off the hook. “Which type do you prefer? Since you and I are the only ones here...”
The front door cracked open, and the cowbell jangled. “Sorry I’m late. The student I was tutoring couldn’t get the difference between an acute angle and an obtuse one. I swear, how she made it out of middle school, I don’t know.”
