Page 37 of Mustang Summer

She hit the highway and she and Brock remained quiet.For all the driving she’d done today, she wasn’t dreading the drive back to Moore.Not with her passenger.Besides, her trip back to Waite Park would be even longer and she wouldn’t get home until late.Maybe the cringe-worthy motel she’d stayed at before had an opening.

She shuddered and Brock actually noticed, but didn’t comment.

“I’m just wondering if the Moore-tel has an opening.”She’d packed an overnight bag just in case, but she’d forgotten her flip-flops.A necessity when showering in a stall that water fowl may—most certainly—had been cleaned in.

“Probably, but you can stay at my place.”

She turned her wide-eyed gaze on him.He wasn’t throwing off a suggestive vibe, he just meant she could stay with him.

He lifted a muscled shoulder.“Saves money and my parents’ old bedroom is what I use as a guest room.They’re the only guests I ever have over.”

He had her at “saves money.”This extra trip had trashed her savings.She’d already contracted three more design jobs, but for pennies since she was still trying to break into the market.

“You sure you don’t mind?”

“I wouldn’t have offered if I did.”

She laughed, but didn’t miss his subtle wince.Didn’t he know she wasn’t laughingathim?

“To you it’s obvious,” she explained, “but many people offer things just to be nice, or to suit their own purposes.I laughed because I like that you don’t do that.”He didn’t reply.“You’re not rude, either.Instead of being rude, you just wouldn’t ask, right?”

He nodded.

“It’s refreshing.I like it.”She more than liked it.Brock Walker was becoming more irresistible the more she was around him.

The tension eased in his features.“I’m glad you like it.”

They chatted on and off the rest of the trip.She’d asked what he thought should be done with the Shelby and they traded notes.From the method used to paint to how he was going to pull the engine and give it a good cleaning.

It was fun.And even better, he talked with her the way her dad used to.Like an equal.Bill didn’t disrespect her, just constantly tried to sway her passion about cars, direct it elsewhere.

It’s not a good living for a girl.

The first time Bill had said that, the betrayal tasted like acid.It was their thing and he’d cut her off.She’d had to sneak into their garage at night after he’d fallen asleep on the recliner.When he was out running errands, she’d purposely stay back so she could lurk among his stock and see what they were doing.The habit had kept her current in the field of mechanics even if her skills were rusty.

She pulled into Brock’s yard.The beautiful sunset greeted them with a panoramic of oranges and reds across the sky.

“What year was the house built?”She asked more to distract herself from the reality that she was spending the night with a man she barely knew.

“In the eighties.My grandparents plotted out all the areas where my dad and uncles were going to live and they all planted the shelter belts and came up with house plans.My dad moved in when he was only twenty.”

She whistled low as she parked in front of his place.“A whole house to yourself before you can legally drink.”

Brock nodded as he gathered his cooler.“He went off for college, but never finished.Said it was a waste of money when he knew what he was going to do for the rest of his life.My mom decided to stay and marry him.”

“She’s from Moore?”

“Born and raised, but never really liked it here.I think she liked all the trips to Fargo for my…”

Josie waited for him to finish but he got out instead.She grabbed her backpack and scrambled out after him.

He strode toward the house like it was a foregone conclusion that she’d follow.And well, he was right, but it was so…aloof.

He stopped at the entrance and held the door for her.What an oddity.Manners had been instilled in him, but he could come off as rude.

She stepped through and thanked him.

“You’re welcome.I’ll show you the room after I drop my stuff in the kitchen.”He disappeared up the stairs of the split level and she toed off her sandals and decided not to wait for him.

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