Page 74 of One Small Spark
“I don’t think it would be the same one-on-one. My triggers have more to do with crowds and being the center of attention among strangers.”
I was prepared to be uneasy during book group, but the ladies quickly revealed themselves to be over-eager grandmas and dispelled my nerves. A room full of a hundred Sunshine residents there to decide whether the town can afford to spend money on my trail plans won’t give off nearly the same harmlessvibes.
Wren dips her head, scrunching her eyebrows together to stare me down. “You underestimate how intimidating I can be.”
“I don’t underestimate anything about you.”
Her mouth takes on an unimpressed slant. Not sure why she wouldn’t believe it. She’s a capable and impressive woman, no matter how much she likes to deflect attention from it.
“Is that why you stopped working at your family’s lodge?” she asks. “Because of the crowds?”
“That’s part of it. I was more comfortable when it was smaller, but I never really fit in there as an employee. We all knew Charlie’s plans to turn it luxury weren’t for me. My grandpa encouraged me to open my own shop.”
“The grandpa from the picture?”
I nod, gliding my thumb over the smooth skin on her hand. “He wanted me to follow my passion.”
More to the point, he never wanted me to feel trapped into following his. He was adamant I find what I love and stick with it—and I don’t think he just meant work.
“And that’s bikes?”
I exhale a soft laugh. “You sound so shocked.”
She straightens, smoothing out her expression. She has no idea how much I love it when she doesn’t hide what she’s feeling—even confusion about why I like my job.
“I’m not trying to. I really want to know.”
“My passion was doing my own thing, and bikes were a means to that end. I enjoy bikes, both riding and repairing them. Like you said: I like to get my hands dirty.”
“Let’s pretend I didn’t say that.”
“Impossible.” I’ll never forget it, or the fire that danced in her eyes when she stood right there in front of my bookshelves.
“Working with customers in your shop doesn’t bother you?” she asks, redirecting.
“We don’t usually have more than a few people in the shopat a time. It’s low stress. And it doesn’t hurt that I’m an expert in the field.”
She tilts her head, scrutinizing my face. “You know, I never noticed how humble you are.”
A chuckle rumbles through me. “If it helps, I never felt that way at the lodge. I was always off balance and out of place. But with Get in Gear, I don’t question myself. And there’s pride in helping other people enjoy something I love, whether that’s a single ride along the river or starting a lifetime with the sport.”
“Which brings us back to your presentation.”
She’s good. But I already knew that.
“You’re adorably tenacious.”
“I’ve been told. I’ll help you, though. I’ll be your practice audience. You can give your speech, and I’ll boo and throw tomatoes at your head.”
“I wasn’t planning on an angry mob.”
“See? You need me.”
“I never thought I didn’t.”
Wren’s gaze drifts over my face to my mouth. Seconds tick by. “Maybe you should read another chapter.”
She sounds so breathy, I don’t want to go back to the book. But I’m not above doing anything she asks.
