Chapter 39

My question hung in the air. In Joel's eyes, I saw slow anger, simmering just beneath the surface.

Instantly, I was filled with remorse. Of course, he was angry. Here, he'd just spent two hours mowing my lawn, and already, I was hitting him up for something else, even if it was only advice.

But did he realize that? I mean, he understood that I wasn't expecting him to fix my car, too?

Oh, God. What if he didn't? Regretting that I'd even mentioned it, I gave him an apologetic smile. "You know what? Sorry. Forget I asked."

"Why?"

"Because I shouldn't have."

"You shouldn't have what? Asked about the car?"

"Right. Definitely." I hesitated. "But just so you know, that wasn't a hint for more 'free labor' or anything. I was just curious what you thought, because you looked at it the other night."

I forced some cheer into my voice. "But you know what? It'll all work out. So, never mind."

He gave me an odd look. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

He waited, as if expecting a better answer than that.

When the silence grew too heavy, I finally admitted, "Alright, I can tell that you're mad, not that I blame you. I mean, no one likes a mooch, right?"

"A mooch?"

"You know. A freeloader. A user. Whatever." Feeling guiltier than ever, I turned away and gazed out over the lawn. "Already, you've done me a huge favor, and I don't want you to think I'm not grateful."

"It wasn't a favor," he said. "It was a deal. Remember?"

I was still looking at the lawn. "I know that's what you said. But it doesn't feel like a deal."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm getting the better end of it."

"That's your opinion, not mine."

Again, I turned to look at him. In spite of his words, the anger was still there. I could see it in his eyes, just as I could see the muscles of his neck, corded into tight knots.

When I made no response, Joel gave a slow shake of his head. "You think I'm pissed about the car?"

"Aren't you?"

"Yeah. But not at you." He studied my face. "You really don't get it?"

"Get what?"

Ignoring my question, Joel asked, "How have you been getting to work?"

"I've been riding my bike. Didn't you know?"

"No," he said. "I didn't."

"Really? Even though you've been stuck carting me around?"

"I wasn't stuck," he said. "I like carting you around. You think I'm out here picking you up because I thought your car wasn't working?"

"Well, yeah," I said. "Otherwise, like tonight, I would've just driven out to meet you."

"That's what you think."

I stared up at him. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I like picking you up. And I like taking you home."

"Why?"

"Other than spending time with you?"

"Well, yeah."

Joel shrugged. "It gives me the chance to check things out, make sure everything's okay."

At first, I didn't get it. But then I recalled the very first time he'd brought me home. We'd arrived just in time to catch my uncle galloping off with that horse. "Is this about my relatives?"

"In part."

"I guess I should've mentioned, they won't be back for at least a month."

"Yeah? How do you know?"

"It's their pattern," I explained. "Whenever I catch them, they wait a few weeks before coming back. And one time, they didn't come back for two whole years."

"Because they lost interest?"

I winced. "No. Because they were living in Italy."

"Why Italy?"

"Who knows? But the timing was perfect. I was away at college, and with them out of the country, I didn't have to worry about them swiping my stuff while I was gone. So, in a way, I've been pretty lucky."

"You call that lucky?"

"Well, you know, glass half-full, right?"

Joel gave me a look that was decidedly glass-half-empty. "That's one way to look at it. About your car, where is it now?"

"I don't know. Derek didn't tell me."

His jaw tightened. "Right."

I hesitated. "So, what do you think? About the engine, I mean."

"I think the guy's full of it."

I felt a surge of hope. "You think so?"

"I know so."

I blew out a long breath. "Well, that's good. I'll call him Monday and get it worked out."

Joel didn't look thrilled. "Why not now?"

"It's a Friday night," I said. "No one will be working on it this weekend anyway." I tried to laugh. "And plus, I think I've had enough of Derek for one day."

"You want me to handle it?"

I studied his face. Was that a sincere offer? Even if it was, I knew better than to accept it. Still, I had to smile. "I'm pretty sure you've had enough of Derek, too. Besides, this will give him a couple days to cool down."

I glanced at Joel's bare chest. "Speaking of cooling down. Do you want a shower or something?"

"I don't want one, but I probably need one." He glanced toward the house. "Got a shower I can borrow?"

I had to laugh. "Actually, I've got like ten. You can take your pick." I paused. "But did you bring a change of clothes?"

"I always have a change of clothes."

"Really? Why?"

"Because things happen."

I couldn't help but wonder, what kind of things? But part of me knew. A guy like Joel? He was probably pounced on wherever he went. No doubt, he'd enjoyed the showers and bedrooms of countless girls across the state.

As we circled the side of the house to retrieve his things, I recalled Derek's snide suggestion, that I'd be paying Joel with, to put it crudely, pussy.

I gave Joel a sideways glance. True, I was ungodly attracted to him, and he'd done me a huge favor. But getting naked for lawn care wasn't exactly my style.

Joel did realize this, didn't he?

I gave myself a mental slap to the face. Of course he did. And I'd been stupid to even wonder.

In fact, thanks to April, he knew more than I wanted him to. So I pushed that thought out of my mind, and focused on the positive. Soon, Joel and I would both be getting the answers we wanted. And then, we could simply sit back and enjoy a nice relaxing evening.

Except, it didn't work out that way.

Not at all.