Chapter Eight
Cooper walked around the garage gathering empty soda cans, water bottles, and random paper bags, and tossed them into the garbage can. The majority of the mess was from Cash, he figured. His brother could be such a slob. Cooper eyed the broom hanging on the wall in the corner and briefly considered giving the garage a quick sweep. He wasn’t used to many people coming into his space, especially not attractive women. He decided against the last-minute sweep, however. He would just be getting more messy when he worked on Becca’s car and she likely knew what a mechanic’s garage looked like anyway. And it wasn’t like he was trying to impress her.
Cooper had already been up for several hours that morning. He’d made his brothers a massive stack of pancakes and bacon and left them warming in the oven back at home. He had meant to sleep in, since Sundays were technically his day off. But he couldn’t. His mind was racing and wouldn’t let him relax. The two cups of coffee he’d already downed didn’t help things either. He even went for a jog around the lake, which he hadn’t done in months.
Cash and Cade were out late the night before so he didn’t expect to see them until late morning or early afternoon if they decided to stop by the shop at all. But he doubted they would. They spent enough time at work the other six days a week. Cooper would have the garage all to himself while he worked on Becca’s car. He mentally ran through what music he had on his iPhone, trying to decide what he’d listen to first.
Cooper heard an engine approaching and slid open the garage door.
Becca waved as she pulled her little Volkswagen beetle into the garage and turned off the engine.
Cooper watched her step out of the car and then turn back around and reach across the driver’s seat for something.
“Hey, there,” he said.
Becca straightened up and smiled at him. “Hi.” She thrust both of her hands toward him. “Here, these are for you.”
Cooper turned the items over in his hands and examined them. “A carton of prunes and a bag of butterscotch candies?” He tried to figure out why she’d handed him these things but couldn’t. Cooper looked at Becca and she was biting her lip and her eyes were watering.
“I don’t get it,” he finally said.
Becca erupted into laughter and wiped at her eyes. “It’s just a joke. Because you said I was an old lady? Get it?”
Cooper smiled back at her. “Ha ha, very funny. I’m keeping the butterscotches though.” He handed her back the prunes and tossed the candies on a nearby desk.
Becca had her long dark hair pulled back into a high pony tail that morning and she was wearing very little, if any, makeup. She looked fresh-faced and much sweeter than the morning when they had their accident. Of course, that had been a stressful situation and Becca seemed overall lighter since then. He also noted that she felt comfortable enough to tease him now.
“Of course. But this is what I really wanted to give you.” She reached back into the passenger seat of her car and shuffled around.
Cooper noticed she looked comfortable and cute in a pair of cut-off jean shorts and a faded UCLA t-shirt. He briefly wondered if she had gone to school there.
When she pulled out of the car, she turned and held out a cheery yellow plate piled high with bakery. “I made them myself. Slutty brownies.”
Cooper blinked at her. “I’m sorry, what did you say?” He felt his palms start to sweat and rubbed them on his jean-covered thighs.
Becca grinned. “I made you slutty brownies.” She pointed at the brownie at the very top of the pile. “It’s a layer of cookie dough, topped with Oreos, topped with brownie.”
“Why are they called ‘slutty’ though?”
Becca shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe because they’re easy to make? And everyone loves them?”
“Huh.” Cooper felt saliva start to gather in his mouth. The brownies looked insanely delicious and he couldn’t wait to try one. He was also touched that she took the time and effort to bake for him. “They look so good. I have to eat one now.”
Becca peeled away the cellophane wrap she’d covered the brownies with and held the pate toward Cooper.
They smelled even better than they looked. He reached toward the plate and took the biggest one. He took a bite and closed his eyes. “Oh, man,” he said after he’d swallowed the first bite. “This is amazing.”
“Thank you,” Becca said, looking pleased.
“You have to have one too,” Cooper said.
“Well, if you insist,” Becca replied. “I have such a sweet tooth.” Becca picked up a brownie for herself and the two happily ate in silence.
When they had finished, Becca handed him the plate and Cooper set it on a desk in the corner of the garage. “I’m going to have to hide these from my brothers,” he told her.
“I can always make you more,” she said. “I love to bake.”
Cooper smiled. That was really sweet of her. No one ever baked for him. Even when he was married to Mandy, he did all the cooking. Mandy hated to cook. Cooper hadn’t minded though. He found his own passion for cooking when he took over the majority of their family’s meal preparations after his mom had passed away. He wasn’t a bad baker himself, although he’d never heard of slutty brownies before. Those things were amazing.
“Thanks a lot. I’ll certainly enjoy them.” Cooper looked around and just noticed Becca hadn’t asked anyone to come with her and give her a ride. “So, uh, did you need me to drop you somewhere while I work on your car?”
“Oh, gosh, no. I’m so thankful you’re helping me I’m not going to put you even further out. Don’t worry about me. I’m just going to sit in a corner and entertain myself. I brought a book with me and some crochet. And no, I’m not making another old lady joke. I legit like to crochet. But only scarves. You may be getting one of those eventually, too, so be forewarned.” Becca reached into the backseat of her car and pulled out a bag. She walked over to his desk and sat down.
“Well, okay then,” Cooper said. He hadn’t been expecting her to sit there while he worked. Fixing her car could take hours. And he’d never had anyone, other than his brothers of course, hang around while he was working.
He moved toward the back of the car and hesitated. “You mind if I listen to music?” he asked.
“Not at all.”
Cooper started his playlist and dragged his tools over to Becca’s car.
“Sam Hunt?” she asked. “I love country.”
Cooper smiled and set to work.
Time ticked by and soon enough Cooper had the new, well, new-to-Becca, bumper on the car and was touching up the paint. It was a bit awkward working with someone else in the garage with him and he was constantly aware of his movements and made sure not to sing along with the music. But Becca hadn’t seem bothered by him or the clanking noises he was making. He finished his work and begun cleaning up the mess. He felt Becca’s presence behind him and turned around.
“Wow, it looks great! You would never even know I’d been in an accident.”
“Thanks.” He smiled. It did look pretty good, he had to admit. He was fairly confident he’d be able to pull it off but until he’d finished he wasn’t sure.
“What do I owe you for the new bumper?”
“Nothing,” Cooper replied.
Becca’s eyebrows shot up. “This is a new bumper, I’m totally paying you. I’m not sticking you with the cost of the bumper, that’s for sure. You were already so nice offering to do the work.”
“Seriously,” Cooper said. “It was nothing. I went over to the junkyard a town over and found a bumper for the same make and model car as yours. I’m friends with the owner and he let me just take it.”
Becca looked completely dumbstruck. “I can’t believe it,” she started, “I mean, wow, how did you even know to do that?”
Cooper shrugged. “I’ve always done that for me and my brothers’ cars. Saves money.”
“I thought I was out a few hundred at least. I can’t believe you did this for me.”
Cooper felt a warm glow cross his face. “It’s no big deal. I’m glad I could help.”
Becca threw her arms around Cooper’s waist and squeezed. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she said into his chest. When she pulled back she still had her hands on Cooper’s forearms.
He glanced at them and then back at Becca’s face.
“You have to let me make it up to you,” she insisted. “Let me make you dinner. I’ll make you the best dinner you’ve ever had. What are your thoughts on seafood? Steak?”
“Um,” he stammered, “I’m good with either.”
“Great, I’m going to blow your mind with a multi-course feast. But we’ll have to do it at your place. Is that okay? Unless you want to fight my dad for the television remote. Is Wednesday good? I have that night off at Starlight.”
Cooper tried to force his brain to keep up with the speed of Becca’s words. “Uh, yeah, sure. Wednesday is good. But you really don’t have to.”
“I want to,” Becca stated firmly. She looked up at him, her eyes bright and happy.
Cooper nodded. “Okay then. Wednesday at my place.”