Page 63 of Suits and Spark Plugs

I laughed. His eyes took in my expression before growing warm. They seemed to pull me in, and before I was quite aware of what I was doing, I had crossed the distance between us, raised onto my toes, and wrapped my arms around his neck. His arms came around me with no hesitation, his warm hands resting on my back as he leaned forward a little so that it felt like he’d pulled me into a safe place and wrapped himself all around me.

I closed my eyes and pressed my cheek against him. “Why did you do it?” I asked.

“Unlike your mom and sister, I can keep a secret.”

“It’s a good quality,” I whispered. “Thank you, Connor. I’ll try to say fewer mean things about you to everyone.” His shoulders shook under my hold, and I felt ridiculously happy that he found me amusing.

His arms tightened further, holding me close when we should have let go. His heartbeat against mine had a steadying rhythm. His breathing was slow and relaxed. He smelled of laundry detergent and the fast orange hand soap that mechanics use. My mind dazedly thoughtI need this, which was my cue that being held by him any longer would be a mistake, so I counted to three and released him. He was slow to let go.

I took a step back when I was flat on my feet and said, “See you around, Mary Poppins.” I gave him a strange little wave before spinning around and hurrying out of the store.

I’d understood something during those moments, and it hadn’t been a good realization. Turns out that for all my resolve, doubt, and cynicism, when it came down to it, I was just as bad as all the other ladies who were always chasing him. Worse even—because I had always known better. Yes, there was something fantastically potent about being held in Connor Hunt’s arms, and I for one wasn’t sticking around for more.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

April had officially arrived, and with it our little mountain town began to show its first efforts at digging out of winter. Down in Springfield the snow was melting and daffodils and crocuses were beginning to pop their colorful heads out of the frozen earth, but Oak Hills had a few more weeks before that would start happening.

Still, the weather had warmed enough that I’d packed away my winter coat and was enjoying running a few errands on foot before walking to the diner for my lunch shift. A light sweater and a colorful scarf around my neck kept me warm enough as I made my way downtown.

The last few days had been so relaxed and drama-free that I’d been waiting for something bad to happen. Mom had gone straight in and quit her night job with only two days’ notice, so she was now home in the evenings and I had enjoyed the freedom of the home front being under control. She’d thrown herself into getting the house running again, and although I knew it was her way of working through her grief, I was grateful to have her back on the team.

My shoes scraped the curb as I stepped down from the sidewalk to cross from my neighborhood onto Main Street. A smile danced on my lips as I thought about something funny Sadie had said at dinner the night before. Something about finding out the hard way that she could do a handstand. The smile was still on my face when I arrived at the post office with bills to mail.

Some movement caught my eye from a few doors down and I turned to look, one hand on the door handle. Connor’s profile was facing me, his auburn hair waving in the slight breeze. He was dressed casually in jeans and a long sleeve T-shirt, talking to a man whose back was to me. The other man was larger, rougher in dress, his stance threatening. Connor was holding his hands up in a peace-making gesture, palms out. However, I could tell by the way he was standing with his legs apart and shoulders tense that he was prepared for some sort of action.

It was interesting how now that I thought of Connor as a sort of friend, I seemed to see him around a lot more. It made me wonder how many people I saw regularly but didn’t notice.

For a moment I pondered walking over to see what was going on, but it seemed like the kind of thing I didn’t need to be involved in. Plus, when did Connor’s conversations suddenly become something I was interested in? I was being crazy.

I entered the post office and mailed the bills. When I left I was somewhat surprised to see Connor and the man still in a heated debate of some sort. They had shifted a bit, and this time Connor noticed me. His face, which had been borderline angry, relaxed a bit and he tipped his head to me. The gesture made the other man look, and I recognized him as Levi Madsen. Ugh. Levi was trouble and always had been.

I gave Connor a small wave before crossing the street and going into the market, where I headed straight for the health and beauty section. I needed some deodorant and lotion. The fluorescent lighting flickered sadly, reminding me of how much I had been enjoying the sunlight outside. I didn’t particularly love winter and always rejoiced when the weather warmed. I’d been feeling cooped up and desperate to be outside.

Deodorant and lotion purchased, I made my way back out of the store. My traitorous eyes looked back across the street to see Connor still chatting with Levi. I wondered if they were going to come to blows. The Connor I knew now seemed pretty even tempered, but I remembered his younger years when a few fights had needed to be broken up. Connor was big and strong, but Levi had straight up girth and a few inches on him. It would be an eye-catching contest, if I cared to stay and watch, which I did not. I needed to get to work, so when traffic cleared I hurried to cross the street.

Connor saw me again and waved, calling out, “Liv, I heard you were looking for me.”

I almost laughed. What a sneak, using me as a reason to end a conversation. Levi turned to see who he was waving at. I didn’t know if he was annoyed with the interruption, or with Connor, or just generally out of sorts, but I did know that he didn’t appreciate being set aside.

I smiled winningly at them both, but didn’t walk any closer. Connor’s eyes narrowed on my face. I saw him shake his head very slightly, as though begging me not to hurry off. I wasn’t planning to desert him, but I definitely couldn’t resist watching him squirm a little. “Oh, hi, Connor. It looks like you’re busy with Levi there,” I called out, shrugging lightly. “No biggie. It can wait if you need to finish up what you’re doing.”

His smile turned as sweet as mine had been. “I feel bad that you’ve been waiting so long to catch me. I think Levi and I are done here.”

I couldn’t tell what Levi’s reply was, but his grunt wasn’t pleasant. This was kind of fun, a definite bright spot in my day.

“I’m on my way to work at the diner. Walk with me?” I asked in a carrying voice.

Connor said something else to Levi and then jogged to where I was standing a couple of yards away. “You’re diabolical.” His hand lightly brushed my lower back as he leaned close and spoke out of the side of his mouth. I staunchly ignored the shiver it caused. His tone was light, but it sounded forced and I could see something in his eyes that usually wasn’t there. Levi had gotten under his skin.

I decided to keep things cheery. “Rule one is that we don’t get involved in each other’s personal lives. It looked like Levi had some personal things to say to you.”

“I cleaned your house. Rule one doesn’t exist anymore.”

He was probably right about that. “Fine,” I huffed. “You can pretend to talk to me while I walk to work, but then we’re even.”

“Iamtalking to you while you walk to work, so I think he’ll fall for it,” he responded, and I was strangely relieved to hear the amusement return in his voice.

“How’s your showerhead?”

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