“Can I drive?”

“No.” Jo grinned, feeling happy to be out of her house.

She expertly shifted gears as they left the outskirts of town. The muscle car’s tires glided over the pavement, cutting through the water on the road like a knife through butter. Most of the snow had melted, leaving traces of water as if it had never been there.

She turned her eyes from the road long enough to see Rider rolling his window down and putting his hand out. His enthusiasm had the memory returning of how he’d looked the night of the auction.

The loneliness that had been weighing down on her shoulders since her father’s death was gradually lessening, replaced by Rider’s companionship. His friendly and no-nonsense approach toward her sickness had her feeling as comfortable with him as she would with a nurse. The only snag—well, two, actually—was her suspicious nature telling her that Rider wanted more from her than friendship, and her own growing physical attraction to him. He had even offered to blow-dry her hair when she had been too weak to do it herself. She had promptly taken the dryer from him after a few minutes, unable to bear his gentle touch as he had run his callused hands through her hair.

She had finally talked him into going out for a ride, despite his concern that she would have a setback, by tempting him with the promise of a ride in her car.

Jo breathed the fresh air in, not concerned about the chilly air. Rider, however, turned the heat on high.

She was unused to the care he was always exhibiting toward her. It was what heightened her fear there was more going on between them than friendship. She was scared silly that it might already be too late to prevent her burgeoning feelings for him from deepening.

It was a frightening thought, one that had her going even faster, as if she could outrun the feelings she was secretly beginning to feel for him.

He only left the window down for a few seconds before he was rolling it up again.

“Leave it down!”

“We can when the weather gets warmer.”

Jo stuck her tongue out at him, then hastily put it back in her mouth when his eyes narrowed at her in warning.

Embarrassed, she kept her attention focused on the two-lane road, speeding around another curve.

“You’re lucky Knox hasn’t pulled you over for having your windows tinted so dark.”

Jo gave a joyous laugh. “He has to catch me first.”

When they reached Jamestown, they picked Sonic to eat at. Pulling into an empty parking space, they placed their order. Jo grinned proudly as the customer in the next space gave her a thumbs-up as he pulled out.

“People will be doing the same to me when you finish my car,” Rider boasted. “Mine is going to make yours look like a Volkswagen.”

“Do I hear a hint of jealousy in your voice?” she teased.

“Maybe.”

His pout was adorable, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. Instead, she tugged the mirror down to smooth her tousled hair. Taking it out of the ponytail, she quickly pulled it back neater.

“Why don’t you just leave it down?”

“It gets in my face.”

She was reaching for her wallet as the waitress approached on skates, when Rider shot his hand out before she could get her cash.

“I’ll be right back, sweetie.”

Jo knew the woman with the tight black leggings wasn’t referring to her. Giving Rider his burger and fries, she opened hers after stealing a fry from him.

She was about to steal another one when the waitress came back. Instead of coming to her window, though, she went to Rider’s side, giving him the receipt and his card back.

“Cool car,” she gushed, bending over until her face was level with Rider’s. “It’s nice of you to let her drive it.”

“It’s mine,” Jo smarted off, forcing herself to take another bite instead of ripping the woman’s head off the way she wanted to.

“It is. I’ve been trying to get her to let me drive it.” Rider gave her an amused look, moving his fries to his other hand and out of her reach. “Can you bring me another order of fries?” He held the card out again.

“Sure thing, sugar. Don’t worry about it; it’s on the house.” She gave him a wink, not taking his card as she went back inside the restaurant.

“I wonder how the manager would like her giving food away.”

“Stop wondering. Daryl knows Missy likes her customers happy.”

“You know her?”

“I come to Jamestown a couple days a week,” he said, tossing his empty hamburger wrapper into the bag at his feet.

“What days? Wednesdays and Saturdays?”

“You keeping track?”

“Do you take a rest on Sundays?”

Rider shook his head, laughing. “I never rest. There’s enough time for that after I die.”

Jo winced at the old saying. “Now who sounds like Mag?”

“Bite your tongue. That old—”

“Don’t you dare say what you’re about to say. I’m not sick anymore, and I’ll leave you to hitchhike back home.”

Rider raised his hands up in surrender as the waitress came back with his fries.

“I brought you another burger. I knew one wouldn’t be enough to put a dent in your stomach.”

“Thanks, Missy. I appreciate it. You coming to the clubhouse this weekend?”

“I wouldn’t miss it. You going to be there? I missed you last week.”

“I’ll be there. I’ll see you then. Thanks for the burger.”

Any enjoyment she’d felt on the drive was gone. She focused on eating the rest of her burger as Rider rolled the window up and started eating it.

“You could have told me you wanted another burger when I asked what you wanted.”

“I was trying to watch what I ate. I haven’t been working out lately. I was barely able to button my jeans this morning.”

Not thinking, her eyes went to his crotch. Then she jerked them away when she caught him staring.

She had been embarrassed many times in her life, but being caught staring at his crotch had to be the worst.

“You want some of these fries?”

“No, thanks.”

Starting the engine, she pulled out, heading back to Treepoint. She was kicking herself for ever suggesting driving to Jamestown in the first place. She didn’t want to know that Rider was going to The Last Riders’ Friday night party. He had spent last Friday watching a movie with her, as he had the last two weeks.

It dawned on her that she was better and there was no longer any need for him to stay with her.

The thought wasn’t as welcome as she would have thought. She was going to be alone in her house, listening to every sound and movement it made.

With that thought, she didn’t drive as fast on the way home as she did going, every mile bringing the time they had spent alone to a close.

“You happy with the deal Shade offered?” Rider broke the silence.

Shade had come to her house that morning with the legal papers that would get her out of debt if she accepted the offer she and Rider had discussed when she was sick. It was more than she had expected, and she still didn’t quite believe she would be starting over without the insurmountable financial worries that had dogged her footsteps for the last few years.

“What’s not to be happy about? I’m debt free, and I can start work on Monday. He even told Knox already that he needs to find another towing service.”

“You don’t seem happy.”

“I guess I’m scared of the unknown. I don’t deal with change easily. That’s why I came back to Treepoint.”

“I was scared when I went into the military. I was scared shitless the first time I went on a mission. I was scared the first time I was married.”

Jo nearly jerked the steering wheel. “You’ve been married?”

“Twice. Once to my high school sweetheart. The second time to a woman I met overseas.”

“You’ve been divorced twice?” She hadn’t expected him to have been married once, much less twice.

“Divorced once. My second wife died.”

Jo glanced over to see him staring ahead at the road. “I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you have any children?”

“No, I haven’t been blessed with any so far.”

“You want children?” She sounded as incredulous as she was.

“Is that so surprising?”

“I’m sorry. I … You just seem pretty happy as a bachelor.”

“I am happy. I won’t stay where I’m not. That’s why I joined the military when I turned eighteen.”

“I didn’t mean to be nosy.”

“You’re not. I was the one who started the conversation. You’re a strong woman, Jo. Probably one of the strongest women I’ve ever known. You’ve been able to face Curt, Justin, and Tanner, despite what they did to you. Starting a new job will be a piece of cake for you.”

“You think so?”

“I know so. I have every faith in you.”

“I didn’t take you for a religious man,” Jo teased, the enjoyment of being with him returning. “I never see you in church on Sundays.”

“The only religion I believe in is football.”

She scoffed. “I don’t believe you.”

“Believe it.” He gave her a crooked grin as she crossed the county line into Treepoint. She hated to see the turnoff to her home.

Winding through the old cars toward the garage, she pressed a button on her visor to raise the door. Driving inside when she had enough room, she parked it in the back of the garage, then looked around the almost empty space. In four days, it would be filled with The Last Riders’ motorcycles and cars.

She was about to get out of the car when Rider reached up, took the garage door opener, and put it in his pocket.

“What are you doing?”

“I wanted to have it handy for Shade when he comes in the morning to put the security camera up.”

Frowning, she got out of the car and walked outside with him, waiting for him to close the door with the opener. “I could have given it to him myself.”

“Shade wants to get an early start. There’s no need to wake you up. You haven’t been getting out of bed until ten. Enjoy what free time you have left. I’m anxious to get my car finished, almost as much as Cash wants his motorcycle restored.”

She nodded at his explanation as they walked to the house. She wanted to argue, but she wouldn’t if that meant he was going to stay another night. She couldn’t explain to herself why she wanted him alone one more night, too afraid to look inside herself to find the answer.

Rider hung his jacket up on the peg on the wall before sitting on the couch, propping his feet on the coffee table, and nabbing the television remote before she could.

“What are we going to watch tonight?”

Jo sat down on the other side of the couch. “Zombie Apocalypse is on Netflix.”

“No, let’s watch something else.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t care as long as it’s not dead people wandering around, looking for something to eat.”

“Are you scared?” she said in a sing-song voice.

“No, you are.”

“Me?” She looked at him in astonishment. “I love zombie movies.”

“They give you nightmares. Let’s watch Smokey and the Bandit.”

“How do you know they give me nightmares?”

Rider dropped his legs to the floor. “I’m getting a beer. You want some juice?”

“Yes, you can get me some after you answer my question.”

“You cry out when you sleep.”

He went to the kitchen, coming back with a glass of juice and his beer.

“So, is Smokey good for you?”

“It’s fine,” she said, distracted by trying to think back to any memories of nightmares. “I really have nightmares?”

“Every night, except for the nights we didn’t watch horror films.”

“I love horror films.”

“I love onions, but they mess with me.”

“Really, that’s why you don’t like onions?”

“Yes. I hate the taste they leave in my mouth,” he said, starting the movie.

“What else do you love to hate?” Jo folded her legs on the couch, sitting cross-legged.

Rider laid the remote on the arm of the couch where she couldn’t reach it. “I love to eat on dishes, but I hate to wash them,” he joked.

“I love working on cars, but I hate waxing them.” Jo got into the game she had started.

“I love buying new boots, but I hate breaking them in.”

“Ouch.” Jo laughed. “I love popcorn, but I hate the kernels.”

“I hate electricians.”

“You’re supposed to say what you love about them in comparison.”

“I don’t love anything about them.” Rider propped his feet back on her coffee table.

“That reminds me. When Shade and I itemized the bills The Last Riders are paying off, the electrician’s bill wasn’t there.”

“I must have forgotten.”

“Don’t worry about it. I called his company and added it to the list Shade has.”

“How did you know the name of the company?”

Jo shook her head in exasperation. “It was printed on the back of his coveralls.”

“Oh. Good thinking.”

“I thought so.” She beamed proudly at him, pleased she had outsmarted him. Not much got past him. “I also had him add in the groceries you had Train bring to the house.”

“How did—”

“I got Train’s number from Shade. And I also had him figure out how many hours he worked when I was sick.”

“What did he say?”

“He told me the amount of the groceries, but then hung me up on me when I asked him about the hours, so I guesstimated them.”

“I bet you did.”

“Are you being sarcastic?”

“What gave you that clue?” Rider turned the volume up on the movie. “Sometimes people want to help without anything in return.”

“And sometimes people don’t like to take handouts.”

“It wasn’t a handout. How long is it going to take you to pay back the loan with everything added in?”

“A few years.”

“More than a few. Will you at least be able to retire before you’re ninety?”

“Yes, The Last Riders offered me a very generous sum for the lease and to work for them.”

“Cool. You want to start work early and get me another beer?”

Jo threw a small pillow at him. “I hope you’re joking.”

“I am. Can I watch my movie now? I love watching movies, but I hate when people talk during them.”

“Jerk.”

They were twenty minutes into the movie when Jo decided she wanted something to nibble on. Going to the fridge, she grabbed two sodas and a bag of popcorn out of the cabinet. Setting one down for Rider, she opened hers, then sat down cross-legged again, opening the popcorn.

“I hate when people get something good to eat, and don’t offer to share.”

She tilted the bag so he could take a handful. “You don’t know when to stop, do you?”

When he didn’t answer, she looked over, catching him watching her.

“I know when to stop when I want to.”

“Your jokes are as bad as Jackie Gleason’s.” Jo turned the popcorn’s opening back to her. “I have to buy some more of this popcorn.” It was a mixture of cheddar cheese and caramel. The two flavors together were one she had never tried before.

“It’s my favorite. I like sweet and salty.”

About to take a drink of her soda, Jo looked over the top of the can to see him staring at her again. “What?”

Rider gave her a mysterious smile. “Nothing. You in the mood for a pizza? I can order us one.”

Jo groaned out loud. “I love pizza, but I hate my fat ass after I eat it.”

Rider reached out, taking the popcorn bag away from her. “I love fat—”

Jo squealed, bending over on her knees to press a hand to his lips. “Don’t you dare …”

With that mischievous look, Rider stared back at her from over her hand, his shoulders shaking with laughter. Then he reached up, pulling her hand away.

“I was going to say, I love fat … crusted pizza.”

“Really?” She stared at him skeptically.

“What did you think I was going to say?”

“Never mind. I’m sorry I misjudged you.”

“S’all right. Can I have the popcorn back? By the way, your ass looks fine to me.”