Page 40 of Finding You

Her mind raced. Was it bad news? Was he ill and not coming to work today? Wordlessly, she nodded.

Opening his eyes, Devin looked at her with amusement. “He told me to sleep in today since he figured I didn’t get a whole lot of sleep last night. He’s got everything under control at the shop and said you should probably come in late too. With me.”

MacKenzie’s eyes went wide and she felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment. “Oh my God…”

He laughed. “After the show we gave everyone in the parking lot, you didn’t think people were going to notice or say anything?”

“Honestly, I wasn’t even thinking about it at the time! I didn’t care what everyone was thinking then! And I certainly didn’t consider what they’d all be talking about today!” She buried her face against his shoulder and wanted to die of embarrassment.

“MacKenzie,” he began softly, “people have been grilling you about us all week. It will be no different today.”

“Yes, it will,” she mumbled against him.

“Why?” he asked, doing his best to maneuver so she’d have to look at him.

When she finally looked at him, she knew her cheeks were still red. “Because now theyknowthere’s something going on. There’s no more speculation. I’m…I’m not used to making such a public spectacle of myself or being the talk of the town. And yet…ever since I arrived in Sweetbriar Ridge, it seems like that’s all I’ve been.” She sighed and lay back beside him, her head on his shoulder.

“Believe it or not, they’re not doing it to make you feel uncomfortable. We’re just all pretty close-knit around here. I guess I don’t even think about it because it’s all I’ve ever known.” He paused. “I’m sorry if it upset you. I’ll take care of it.”

Now she felt bad. “No, no, no…and besides, it’s not like it’s going to be forever. I’ll be leaving soon, and I’m sure with the rest of the reunion weekend and then the festival and everything, they’ll find something new to talk about.”

Was it her imagination, or did Devin seem to tense up beside her?

Swallowing hard, she forced herself to speak. “Don’t you think?”

He made a non-committal sound and then they were both silent. MacKenzie wasn’t sure what she should do–go back to sleep? Get up and make coffee?

The decision was taken from her hands when Devin hugged her and maneuvered them so she was on top of him.

“Devin? What…?”

He silenced her with a kiss.

And it was noon before they made it to the shop.

For the first time in years, Devin didn’t want to be at work. He couldn’t focus on what he was doing and he couldn’t care less about engine issues.

He wanted to be back in bed with MacKenzie.

The woman had turned his entire world upside down and he couldn’t find the strength to care. Except…she was still leaving. Not that he thought one night of incredible sex was going to change that, but…okay. He kind of did. When she had mentioned that she was leaving soon, Devin’s heart had stopped. It wasn’t rational, but there it was.

They hardly knew each other.

She had plans for her life and so did he.

It just sucked that those plans involved two completely different locations.

With a sigh, he finished tightening the bolt on the Mustang’s radiator, the last bolt. The last…everything. Her car was fixed. It was as if the universe had conspired against him because all the parts came in sooner than expected. And because of his work ethic, he’d given the damn car 100% of his time and energy, just like he’d promised. As much as he’d wanted to delay the work so he’d have more time with MacKenzie, he wasn’t that guy. It just wasn’t in him to be dishonest. And after hearing her say–again–that she was leaving, he knew fixing the car quickly was the right thing to do.

And it was fixed to his standards–and not just to make it to Oregon or wherever it was MacKenzie was heading. He’d done the extra work and absorbed the cost himself–not that she needed to know that. This was who he was, a man who helped people. Besides, Devin had a feeling she’d be pretty pissed off if she found out he’d done all the work they had originally talked about without talking to her about it first.

He looked toward the office and smiled. He could see her through the sliding glass window that divided the spaces. She was talking to someone at the desk–he couldn’t see who–and she was laughing. God, she had a great laugh! And a beautiful smile. And…

“Man, you have it bad.”

Devin turned and looked at Will, who was grinning like a loon beside him. “Excuse me?”

“You,” Will said simply. “You have it bad for her. I didn’t really expect you to come in today at all.”

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