Page 96 of Suits and Spark Plugs

He pressed his warm lips against my temple. I could feel puffs of breath pushing at my curls. “I was trying to make a point.” He breathed on a chuckle. “But I’ve forgotten what it was.”

I smiled even though he wouldn’t see it and wrapped my arms around his waist. I tucked my head in under his chin and listened to his heartbeat. “I think your point was that you’re hopelessly attracted to me,” I said.

“Yes, well, point proven then, eh?” His arms wrapped me tightly against him. “There’s nothing scientific about what’s happening here.” He whispered it so softly I barely heard the words.

But I did hear them. And they were words that I both craved and feared. The Connor who I had watched from a distance for a long time was only a shadow of the real Connor I had gotten to know. Fourteen-year-old me was cheering with pom-poms. Twenty-four-year-old me knew there were certain things—and people—the heart would never get over.

CHAPTER TWENTY-five

The next Monday was the official start of finals week. I had warned Connor during our nature day Saturday that we probably wouldn’t see each other until it was all over. He was disappointed, but understanding, which was one heck of a guilt-inducing combination, especially considering I felt the same way. In a shockingly short amount of time, I’d become more attached to him than I was comfortable with.

The week became a steady flow of study, eat, work, study, sleep. The tests started on Wednesday, and I had two that day and two on Thursday. The past couple of months had been hectic, but I felt like I’d given it my best. Still, I clamped down on anything social and put my nose to the grindstone.

Mom and Sadie surprised me by becoming my biggest cheerleaders. They had meals ready for me, and even the occasional shoulder rub or chocolate bar made an appearance. I almost bawled each time one of them reached out to me. This was family, and I had missed it so much.

In the interest of honesty, I did talk to Connor every night before I conked out. Our conversations were brief, maybe fifteen minutes at the most, but they became a highlight of the day for me.

Monday night we talked about nothing important, just laughing about a customer at the diner who was eerily similar to a customer he’d had the week before. Tuesday night we talked about pets we’d had and agreed that pets belonged in childhood, as neither of us were interested in caring for an animal now. I wanted freedom to travel and see things. He just worked too many hours. Wednesday night he called to see how my finals that day had gone. They’d been intense, and I’d shocked myself by breaking down in tears, telling him I was sure I’d failed. When he’d said he was coming over I’d firmly told him not to. I needed to go to bed, and if he was there I’d want to stay snuggled up on the couch all night long. Instead I’d asked him to tell me the three most embarrassing moments of his life, which had resulted in me laughing so hard that Mom had come in to see what was going on. Thursday night was a repeat of Wednesday’s tears and my worries, which meant it was my turn to tell him my three most embarrassing moments.

Friday finally came and I was dead on my feet at work. Exhausted after my shift, I drove over to Mainstreet Mechanic, intent on seeing the one person I wanted to see the most. The week of nothing but short conversations had somehow forged a deeper connection to him. It was like without other distractions, all we had was our words and our voices, and somehow it felt more open and honest.

Driving straight there without calling first was a gamble, seeing as it was already seven thirty and he might have headed home, but the light was on in the office and my heart tripped at the sight of it. The front door was locked, so I shot him a text telling him to come let me in. His smiling face appearing at the glass door made my knees weak.

“Hey, you.” He held the door for me to walk through, turned and locked it, and then turned back to me. He opened his arms and I walked right in, nearly shivering with delight as I leaned against him. “I’m glad you dropped by. I’m working on a few things in the office, but I’m almost done. Come take a load off. You look tired.” His warm hand on the small of my back soothed some of the aches that had gathered there.

We walked into the office and he went behind his desk, sitting in the big chair. I glanced at the other chairs, hard and cold, and then back to where he was sitting. In a moment of exhausted boldness I walked around the desk and climbed into his lap. I could feel his startled reaction in the way his body tensed for a moment before his arms came around me. I swung my legs so that they were hanging over one of the arm rests and leaned my head onto his shoulder, tucking my own shoulder under his arm, and sighed.

“That’s better,” I said as my eyes closed. “I think I’ll just live here from now on.”

“I can think of worse places.”

“Feel free to finish what you were working on. I’m just going to sit here and dream about the beach and a masseuse named Eduardo.”

He scooted closer to the desk until I could feel the edge of it against my hip. I didn’t mind. The desk took over the job of holding me in place as he released me and started typing on the computer. I didn’t mind that either. This might be the happiest I’d felt all week, and as long as he let me stay here, I was fine.

“Liv?” His breath tickled my cheek and I realized I must have dozed. When I opened my eyes the computer screen was off and he’d pushed back away from the desk. His arms were deliciously warm around me.

“Mmm?”

“Does this mean you’re free tonight?”

“Yes. I’m hoping you’ll let me make you dinner at my place. Sadie is out with friends, but my mom will be there if that’s okay.”

“Youare offering to makemedinner?”

“Mm-hmm.” I snuggled in deeper, pressing my nose against his neck, my eyes closing again.

“After the week you’ve had? I’d feel like a jerk. Besides, I’m already cooking for my dad at my place. It’s our monthly guy night. It would be great to have you come.”

“What do you cook for guy night?”

“Meat.”

“I eat meat,” I replied and he chuckled. “But you work long hours and are tired too. I can make dinner.”

“I’d have to take a rain check unless you’re coming to my place. My dad is probably headed there now.”

At the thought of missing another night with him, I caved, promising myself I’d return the kindness soon. “I’m in. If you’re sure I won’t get in the way.”

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