Oh man. If she started to cry, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from pulling her into his arms. Nothing broke Mitch faster than seeing a woman cry. He stopped and turned to face her. “I’m sorry,” he said gently. “That must be hard for you.”
She folded her arms, hugging them against herself as she continued to stare at the truck. “Thanks.” She shook her head. “It’s not fair—but life isn’t about fair, is it?” She met his eyes. “Lucas knows all about that.”
Mitch smiled sadly. “Yeah. He does.”
Lando gave a small yip from the cab of the truck, breaking through the moment and forcing their attention to him.
Leah smiled, chasing the away the sad expression she’d worn like the sun chased away a patch of storm clouds. “I think someone is ready to come out.”
Mitch nodded and opened the passenger side door, allowing Lando to hop out. The dog licked his hand and then immediately greeted Leah. “No jumping,” Mitch reminded him. Lando acknowledged the command, obediently remaining on the ground as he sniffed Leah’s hand, but his tail wagged furiously.
Leah grinned and crouched down, rubbing him behind the ears. “You’re a good boy, aren’t you?” she said, laughing when the dog licked her cheek.
“Lando, no!” Mitch reprimanded, pulling him back by the collar. He knew not everyone liked being licked by a dog—though he had to admit, he was tempted to let Lando try it again, just in case it earned another one of Leah’s heartwarming laughs.
“He’s fine,” she said as she stood, still smiling. “And I like his name. You really are a Star Wars fan, aren’t you?”
Mitch lifted his hands. “Lucas named him, so I can’t take credit. But yeah—as you may have guessed by the costumes, we’re kind of dorks about it.”
Her smile deepened and she turned her attention back to Lando. “I can tell he’s well trained.”
“He’s smart, so he learns fast.” He glanced at her. “Do you have a dog?”
Her smile slipped. “I used to. But when my mom was diagnosed, it was just one more thing to take care of. Especially when I’m gone so much. How do you manage it with the travel?”
“Lucas takes care of him for me while I’m gone. He’s crazy about this mutt.” He patted the top of Lando’s head, and then looked up to see Leah watching him. His heart skipped several beats at the admiration warming her eyes.
“I think I’m learning more clues about the mysterious Mitch.” She tilted her head to the side, studying him. “You’ve got a good heart.”
“Nah.” He flushed and cleared his throat, eager to change the subject. “So where is this lawn mower? Let’s take a look and see if we can’t get it running.”
She studied him a moment longer before gesturing toward the back yard. “It’s in the shed. Follow me and I’ll show you.”
Mitch followed Leah, smiling when Lando stuck right to her side. The way she interacted with his dog melted him. Each moment he spent with her fanned the ember of longing in his chest. She glanced over her shoulder, her full lips forming a faint smile before she turned her attention back to Lando.
The air escaped Mitch’s lungs as the ember ignited into a full-blown spark, burning with an ache to be near her, to confess his feelings and discover if she felt the same. He ran a hand along the back of his neck. Get a hold of yourself, man. This was Heartbreak Hunter, the girl with the reputation for crushing hearts. And besides that, there was Dan to consider. He still didn’t know how their date had ended. Maybe Leah had feelings for his friend. He needed a good dousing of reality before he got burned.
“Here you go, boy,” she said, unlatching the gate to the back and opening it wide for Lando. He darted into the yard, clearly ready to be let loose. Leah laughed and turned to Mitch, a light shining in her eyes he hadn’t seen there before. “I think he likes it.” Her overall strap slid down her shoulder and she pulled it back up again.
Mitch gave an internal groan as a new flare of desire threatened to consume him. “Yeah. I think he does,” he managed.
“The shed’s right over here.” She clasped her hands and waited for him to join her.
Mitch straightened, steeling against the emotions smoldering inside. Leah Hunter was dangerous—and he knew better than to play with fire.
Chapter Thirteen
“I’m sorry about the mess,” Leah said, taking in the disorganized shed with new eyes, now that Mitch was here. She’d meant to organize it better—one of the many “to dos” on her list that often took the back burner so she could care for her mom.
“It looks exactly as it should.” Mitch’s eyes caught hers for a moment as he offered a reassuring smile.
Leah’s face warmed. She’d been completely ruffled ever since he’d shown up, which wasn’t like her. Of her friends, she was the one known to keep a cool head no matter the circumstance, but when it came to Mitch Harrison, she was a complete disaster. She still couldn’t believe he’d seen her in her work overalls, with hardly a stitch of makeup on. If only she’d taken a little more time getting ready this morning.
“So this is the mower?” He moved to the faded red lawn mower surrounded by the tools Leah had used earlier.
“That’s the beast,” she said, shaking her head. “I tried tinkering with it based on some YouTube tutorials, but I still don’t know why it won’t start.”
“Let’s take a look.” He knelt on the dusty floor to tilt the mower onto its side and look underneath.
“Do you want me to get a towel to put down so you don’t get your jeans dirty?” His jeans were too nice to kneel on the greasy, dusty floor. It would be a shame to ruin them—especially when they fit him so well.
He gave her a crooked smile. “I’m not worried.”
She bit her lip. The way he looked at her made her a little breathless. “Okay. But then I’ll owe you a new pair of jeans.”
“I promise it’s fine. These jeans have seen plenty of work.” He bent to examine the lawn mower. “I think I’m getting some clues about the mysterious Leah Hunter.”
She scoffed and leaned her hip to one side. “I’m not mysterious.”
He raised a brow. “Oh, you’re not?”
“No.” She folded her arms, enjoying the banter a little too much. “What’s mysterious about me?”
He reached for a screwdriver and tightened a screw.
Leah felt the air building in her lungs, impatient for his answer. She was about to ask again, when he caught her off-guard with his own question.
“How was your date with Dan last night?”
She paused, allowing the air to escape slowly before she answered. “It was fun.”
“Fun?” His eyes flicked to hers, searching for more.
She pressed her lips together, suddenly desperate for another topic. The last thing she wanted to talk about was her date with Dan. “Yes, it was fun. Didn’t you like the movie?” she turned the question back to him.
A teasing look lit his blue eyes as he pointed the screwdriver at her. “So that’s all you’re going to give me? You had fun?”
She lifted her chin. “What else do you want to know?” Her heart pounded against her ribcage as he studied her, his eyes holding unasked questions. The air grew thick and charged around them. Leah held her breath, wanting him to ask. He dropped his gaze back to the lawn mower.
“I told you you were mysterious,” he muttered.
She let out the breath she’d been holding, ignoring the disappointment that sank through her like a stone as she looked toward the house. She should go check on her mom. That would help to clear her head—and remind her why she needed to keep Mitch as a friend, and only a friend. “I should probably check on my mom to make sure she’s settled,” she said, nervously twisting her overall strap. “Do you mind?”
“Nope, I’m good to keep working on this.” He looked up and gave her nod. “Take your time.”
“It will only take a minute.” She darted out of the shed, anxious for space. Lando ran up to her, and she patted him on the head before
climbing the back steps into the house. Her mom was on the living room couch, flipping through a magazine. She seemed content, so Leah didn’t disturb her. She grabbed some lemonade from the fridge and poured a glass for Mitch before heading back outside.
Just before she opened the back door, she took a glance in the mirror and gasped. How long had that grease smudge been there? She grabbed a nearby tissue and quickly wiped off her face, burning with embarrassment. Great, as if she’d needed any more help in looking ridiculous! Once the smear was gone, she swiped on some lip gloss, annoyed with herself for caring. The whole point of coming into the house was to remind her why she needed to keep emotional distance from someone like Mitch—but all she could think about was getting back out there to talk to him.
She rolled her eyes at her eagerness and grabbed the lemonade, walking back to the shed. Mitch had his head bent over the lawn mower, tweaking something on top of it. His broad shoulders stretched nicely under his T-shirt, and his toned biceps flexed with the motion of twisting the wrench. Leah’s mind went blank.
“Is that for me?” Mitch asked, smiling as he straightened to his full height.
Even with the musty smell of the shed, she caught the heady scent of his cologne. “Yes. In case you’re thirsty.” She offered the glass to him, her heart hitching as his fingers brushed against hers to accept it.
“Thanks.” His eyes kept hold of hers as he took a few swallows.
She looked away, remembering her resolve to keep her head. “You didn’t tell me I had grease smeared on my face,” she accused.
“I thought you knew.”
She turned and stared at him in disbelief. “You think I go around wearing grease on my face?”
He gave her a slow smile. “It’s a good look on you.”
Her stomach flipped. This was getting out of hand. She fixed her attention on the lawn mower. “Thanks so much for looking at this. It’s okay if you can’t figure out the problem. It’s probably a lost cause.” Her chest tightened at the thought of the unexpected expense if she had to replace it. Her mom had paid off the house with her nursing money a few years before she was diagnosed, but the medical bills weren’t cheap.
“It’s fixed,” Mitch said simply.
Leah gaped. “What?”
“There was an issue with the carburetor, but it’s fixed now.” He bent over and yanked the pull cord. The lawn mower instantly roared to life. He let it run for a few seconds before shutting it off again.
Relief poured through Leah, and without thinking, she threw her arms around him. Mitch stiffened, his rock-solid chest tensing as he gave her an awkward pat on the back.
She pulled away, her face hot with embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I’m just so grateful.”
His eyes swirled with emotions she couldn’t read. “I’m happy to help.” His voice was slightly husky. He held her gaze a few more moments before turning to the mower. “But don’t be too grateful yet. I’d better give it a test run to make sure it’s really fixed.”
She shook her head, still flustered. “No way. You’ve done enough already. I’ll mow. I’m sure it’s great.”
He faced her fully and crossed his arms. She tried not to think about the impressive muscles beneath his shirt that she’d felt up close. She usually saw him in his pilot uniform. It was a shame that the uniform hid all of those beautiful muscles.
“I’m going to have to insist,” he said. When she began to protest, he held up a hand. “Trust me, there’s no sense arguing. You wouldn’t deny me the pleasure of testing out my work, would you?”
She opened her mouth, and then closed it again, giving him a playful glare. “It seems more clues are being unraveled: Mitch Harrison is good at fixing things—and he’s stubborn.”
Mitch laughed, and the sound caused warmth in Leah’s chest.
“True on both counts, I guess. My dad is a mechanic, and I spent Saturdays tinkering on stuff in the garage.”
“Let me guess? Lawn mowers?”
He moved his head side to side. “Yeah. And cars, snowmobiles, dirt bikes—”
“Airplanes,” she supplied.
“And that.” He shrugged.
“No wonder you’re such a handy man.” She nodded. “More and more clues all the time.”
“I guess so.” He straightened his shoulders and gave her a cajoling smile. “But this hardly seems fair—you’re getting to know all sorts of things about me, while you continue to keep your secrets.”
Her pulse accelerated. He was not allowed to look at her like that. It made her want to step closer, and she’d already made a fool of herself trying that a few moments ago. She twisted her hands. “I told you, I’m not mysterious,” she maintained.
“Then why won’t you talk about Dan?” His eyes held a challenge.
She met his gaze, raising her chin. “And you won’t tell me why you care. Did he ask you to talk to me?”
Mitch shifted his weight and looked at the ground. “No.” He glanced up at her again. “Isn’t it natural for a friend to want to know how his buddy fares?”
She swallowed. This conversation was turning dangerous. Every nerve in her body revolted against what she was about to say, but it had to be done. “He asked me out again . . . so I guess we’ll see.” She studied a spot on the floor, avoiding his gaze. The mood in the shed cooled, as obvious as a cloud passing over the sun. She dared a glance at Mitch. He wore an expression that was almost a smile.
“That’s awesome. Dan’s a great guy.” He scratched his eyebrow before turning back to the mower. “I’ll test this out and then take off so you can get on with your day.”
Leah’s heart stung. Those weren’t the words she wanted to hear from him. Why had she said anything about Dan? Why was she determined to sabotage her own happiness? She hugged her arms against her chest and looked at the house again, remembering why. It wasn’t just herself she was protecting. If Mitch knew the truth, he would thank her for not giving in to her desires. She cleared her throat and looked at him. “Okay . . . if you’re sure I can’t talk you out of it?”
He nodded, lifting his hands “I’m hopelessly stubborn, remember?”
“At least you acknowledge it.” She smirked, trying to salvage the mood and return to the friendly banter of before, but the look in Mitch’s eyes had changed. He was guarded. Distant.
“Just one of my many weaknesses, I assure you,” he said, yanking on the pull cord and starting the mower. “This shouldn’t take long,” he called over his shoulder before heading out to the grass.
“Thank you,” Leah called back, but the mower drowned out her words. That was exactly how she felt—voiceless. Even though Mitch was still here, there was an emptiness left in his wake.
Leah clutched her arms tighter against her chest. How would their conversation have played out if she’d confessed that she didn’t have any feelings for Dan beyond friendship? If she’d admitted that she’d only agreed to another date because Dan was safe. And she needed safe. Would the teasing glimmer have remained in Mitch’s eyes? That intensity in his expression that made her heart hammer and warmed the space between them—what would have happened if she’d allowed herself to pursue it?
She turned away, staring at the cluttered shelves and old boxes that reflected the disarray swirling inside her. It was no use entertaining thoughts of Mitch any further. There was a wall between them now—one Leah wouldn’t tear down. Not even if her own heart was trapped behind it.
Chapter Fourteen
Mitch had never been so reluctant to go to work. He arrived to the crew lounge early on Tuesday morning, hoping to check in and head to the airplane without running into Leah. He already planned to put in a bid for a new route as soon as possible. After leaving her house the other day, he’d tried to convince himself that this was a good thing. Leah was dating Dan. She was interested in him, so Mitch could finally put her behind him and move on.
It was easy to tell his brain that this was all for the best, but his heart wasn’t so ea
sily fooled. He kept replaying the conversation they’d had before she’d told him about Dan—before he’d pressed her to tell him. The way they’d flirted and the looks she’d given him, not to mention the shockwave to his senses when she’d hugged him. And like an idiot, he’d stiffened like a board, overwhelmed by the contact. Just when he’d recovered and was about to draw her closer, she’d pulled away. He’d botched the whole afternoon. But even though it was painful, he’d done the right thing asking about Dan. Now he could stop obsessing and let her go.
Laughter sounded from across the lounge. Mitch looked up from his report and his heart lurched. Leah stood talking to a group of flight attendants near the water cooler. It was as if the universe was mocking his attempts to purge her from his thoughts. She had her back turned to him, looking flawless in her fitted navy flight attendant dress and the heels that accentuated her toned calf muscles. She laughed again at something one of her companions said, and Mitch’s heart turned over. That laugh messed with him. Everything about Leah messed with him. He needed air.
He gathered his papers, but just as he was about to leave, she glanced over her shoulder. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw him and she gave a shy smile.
Mitch offered a tentative smile in return, his mouth going dry.
“Are you in there, man?” Sam asked, waving a hand in front of his face.
Mitch blinked and turned to him. “What was that for?” He glanced Leah’s direction, but she’d turned back to her conversation.
Sam rolled his eyes. “I asked you how the weather looked. Twice.” He shook his head and nodded toward Leah. “I thought you were moving past this.”
Mitch straightened his shoulders. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He tugged at the sleeves of his jacket. “And the weather report is fine,” he added, glaring at his friend. “What about your weekend? Did you pop the question yet?”
Sam shook his head. “Uh-uh, don’t even try to change the subject. We’re not talking about me right now.”
“So that’s a ‘no.’” Mitch folded his arms, unwilling to let go of this perfect change of subject. If Sam knew he’d hung out with Leah over the weekend, he would never hear the end of it. And considering they would be stuck together in a cockpit for hours on end, that was a grim prospect. Especially since he was trying to forget Leah. “You know, if you make Tracy wait too long, she might change her mind about wanting to be asked.”
When Sparks Fly (Pine Ridge Romance Book 2) Page 7
