Page 102 of Hometown Girl

She waved him off. “It’s not a big deal.”

Drew pulled into the lot across from Beatty Park, where the carnival was now in full swing. He parked alongside her Audi.

“It’s a big deal to me.” He put the truck in park.

When he looked at her, her breath caught in her throat. “It shouldn’t be. I think I’m just tired. I’m not usually oversensitive.” She gripped the door handle. “Thanks for taking me out there and driving me back.” She didn’t want to leave. When had this happened?

Hadn’t she told herself she’d never do this again?

“You have plans for lunch?” Drew folded his hands on top of the steering wheel.

She begged herself to play it cool. “I don’t, actually.”

He stared out the front window. “We could cook out?”

She watched him, smitten with the twitching in his jaw. “We could do that.” She kept her tone nonchalant, but inside, her stomach bounced like a kid on a trampoline.

Drew looked at her. “Race you there?” His eyes glimmered like a child’s.

She studied him. “Are you challenging me?” Did he know how competitive she was?

“Scared?”

“Not a chance, buddy.” She opened the door and got out. “Wait till I get in.”

He grinned. “What, do you think I’m a cheater?”

She shut the door, threw her purse in the passenger seat and started her engine, hoping, probably a little too much, that Drew Barlow was not, in fact, a cheater.

And devising a solid plan to leave him in the dust.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Beth sat on the steps, trying to calm her competitive self down after the adrenaline rush of racing Drew back to the farm. If she could look like she’d been waiting a while by the time he finally arrived, all the better.

When his truck appeared on the gravel road, she steadied her breathing, certain it would be her last chance to do so until she left the farm that night.

“What kind of crazy driver are you?” He flashed one of his rare, genuine smiles. A part of her felt honored he’d saved it for her.

Unlike Beth, who was serious by nature, Drew had a playfulness about him. She saw it sometimes in their back-and-forth banter, but he always seemed to catch himself and shut it down. Like he didn’t think it was right to show her (or anyone else) that side of himself.

But then, didn’t she do the same, always insisting on being professional and proper? Hadn’t that earned her the Ice Queen nickname? She drove people away.

“My dad used to drag race.” Beth attempted to keep her tone light. “You challenged the wrong girl.”

“I guess so.” He stopped when he reached her, hands on his hips, and took a moment to size her up. “You knew a shortcut, didn’t you?”

Beth couldn’t keep the grin from spreading across her face. “Who knew being a hometown girl would have its advantages?”

He shook his head. “I want a rematch.” He stepped closer, as if challenging her to a duel.

She steeled her chin, stubborn as she was. “Anytime.”

His eyes searched hers, then found her lips, sending a rush of nerves through her entire body. She hadn’t dated anyone since Michael. Told herself she preferred it that way, but the truth was, she was scared. She couldn’t go through that kind of heartbreak again.

Then there was the fact that nobody had asked her out.

Molly said it was because she was too intimidating, but Beth had begun to wonder. Was she really so unlovable?

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