Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 60481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Sam flashed that cocky grin. “You sure? Maybe what you need is a young buck.” He gave me another appreciative up and down sweep of his gaze, lingering on my belted waist and the open zipper at my breasts. I had on the same gray coveralls from the day before with a black tank top beneath. Even though very little skin showed, I felt like he was taking in every inch of me. Naked. “I mean, you probably have needs that could use someone” –he glanced around and lowered his voice– “who could give you his full attention.”
Oh damn. I wasn’t turned on. I wasn’t turned on. I wasn’t turned on.
It took everything in me to not react to his words.
“Not ones that you can handle,” I countered. I had needs all right, but I didn’t want them taken care of by him.
“Lots of needs then.” He didn't seem offended. Instead, his eyebrows rose, and a wide grin spread across his face. “Challenge accepted.”
What? “Wait–”
Mrs. Marsh pulled into the parking lot and interrupted me from saying more.
A man in his forties got out of the passenger side. Mrs. Marsh rolled down her window and waved at me. “Thank you, honey. My son is going to drive the VW home for me.” She beamed at me then called out louder, so she was sure I wouldn’t miss. “He’s a dentist.”
Uh…okay. Proud mother. That was cute. So was the dentist.
“You’ll have to excuse me,” I told Sam then turned, giving him my back.
“I’ve got pricing on that new PTO shaft, Sam,” Ernie called from the office. “Stop flirting with my mechanic. She’s not gonna fall for a player like you. A single mom needs someone serious.”
He looked pointedly at the dentist walking over to me.
I held up a hand and a flush crept up my neck. I was thankful that Ernie was watching out for me, but I didn’t need his help, especially when it was so embarrassing. “Okay. My dating life is not up for public discussion.”
With my cheeks still hot from embarrassment–yes, embarrassment, not arousal or anything like that–I turned to give the dentist my full attention. “Hi! You’re here to pick up the VW?”
He gave me a friendly smile. He was decent looking. He didn’t drip pure sex like Sam, and he had a bit of a dad bod, but he still had all his hair, and the greying at his temples made him more attractive. In khakis and a white button-up, he definitely wasn’t a cowboy.
He held out his hand. “David Marsh, dentist, as you’ve already been informed.” He gave an embarrassed chuckle.
I wiped my hand on my coveralls and clasped his. “Clio. Single mom.”
David laughed and burst out with, “Single dad!”
Yep. Got it. Mrs. Marsh and Ernie were totally setting us up.
I chuckled, but it felt awkward. “Okay. That’s, um, great. Single dad of a new driver, I understand.”
“Yes!” The poor guy seemed nervous. “I’m sure you freaked out when your child got their license.”
I laughed. “He’s five, so I’ve got a little time for that panic.”
“Five. Such a cute age,” he replied.
His smile was easy going. He wasn’t trying with me, like someone else I knew in the building.
I turned to the VW and avoided looking in Sam’s direction. I knew he was still standing there, watching. Arms crossed.
“Well, your daughter is going to love this baby,” I said. “It is a sweet ride.”
David didn’t look at the car. He was staring at me. “Uh, yeah!” He seemed to rouse himself and gave the Beetle a glance. “Annie’s been begging her grandma to get it running again for years.”
I opened the driver door for him. “It’s paid for already, and the keys are inside.”
He didn’t move.
Oh boy. This was as awkward as my first prom-posal.
Here it came.
“I know you might think my mother is making me do this, but you seem nice, Clio. I like your smile, and I’d like to hear more about you and your…”
“Son,” I added.
He grinned. “Would you like to go out sometime? Without the audience?”
I flicked a gaze at Ernie and Sam. Sam frowned, and Ernie had a big grin, shamelessly giving me a thumbs up. Then he pushed Sam on the shoulder and guided him into the office.
Okay. This was what I wanted. A date with a single guy in Cooper Valley.
Yaaaay.
It was a weak yay, but whatever. David seemed nice. Courteous. At the worst, we could talk about our kids for an hour or two.
Why was I worrying that Sam might have overheard? He couldn’t. The door to the office was shut. I was just used to JT’s supernatural hearing abilities.
I nodded. “Sure. Yes. That would be nice.”
His eyes widened, as if he didn’t expect me to agree. “Yeah? Great. Orlando’s is a great restaurant. How about tomorrow night? Do you need a babysitter? My daughter babysits.”