Page 6 of Fall Favor
Chapter 6
Leah
“Holy cats!”
I jerk my finger away. His luscious, plump lips make a smoochie sound as the pressure releases and those soul-stealing, panty-melting sensory organs smack together. I hide both hands behind my back for good measure.
Holy cats, Leah?A man has his lips on you for the first time in forever, and the sexiest thing you can come up with is holy cats?
Manny and the guy who showed up in the wrecker sputter and then begin braying like jackasses. That’s when I realize I’ve once again voiced what I was thinking out loud. Shaking my head, I slap my trembling hands against the heat flooding my cheeks.
I search for something… anything to help me ignore the two of them laughing at me. Dammit, I can’t stop the weirdness that comes out of my mouth—especially when I’m stressed. Spying the tub of containers I’d set on the picnic table, I pull in a cleansing breath, letting my shoulders drop from around my ears, and concentrate on not making a mess as I ladle the chicken and dumplings into serving-size containers. I can’t help but worry over how I’m going to move to someplace safer that isn’t over an hour away.
“Leah?”
I startle as the weight of Manny’s palm settles against my spine. Wearing a sweatshirt, I can only imagine the heat his touch would create on bare skin and almost moan as the sensory image ping-pongs through my brain.
“Are you okay?”
I nod, not wanting to risk sounding like an idiot again.
“Come meet my boss and best friend, and then I have a surprise for you.”
“Oh, lordy.” I’m not sure I can handle any more surprises today.
Manny chuckles and turns me around. “This is my best friend, Aaron. He’s a native son of Wintervale and half-owner of the garage. He’s lived here his whole life. Aaron, meet Leah, our prettiest customer.”
I blush at the compliment.
The man waiting a few feet away is taller and broader than Manny. With his full beard and buffalo plaid, he looks like a lumberjack. His avid regard is unnerving.
I bite my lip and stick out my hand. “Hi, uh, thanks for agreeing to drop off my truck.” There, that sounds normal.
“Hey. It’s no problem. You paid me, right?”
Oh yeah. Okay. Now what do I make small talk about? The weather? The garage? I wince. Not the garage. That’s not a part of my world anymore. Anything I say will just lead to questions, and then, if not outright hostility, disdain. No, thank you. Been there, done that, don’t need the shirt to prove it.
“Speaking of paid,” Manny jumps in. “Look what I have!”
Grateful he’s filling the silence; I stare at the small package he’s holding in his palm.
“Oh, thank you. Well, this solves one problem, I guess.” I pluck them out of his hand. “I’ll, uh, have to grab the owner’s manual from inside. Um, would either of you like to come in?”
“Not me, my wife is probably wondering where I am. You got this, Manny?”
“Yep, I’ll see you Monday.”
“Um, Aaron?” I call as he reaches the wrecker. When he turns, I blurt out my question. “Do you know Larry, the cab driver?”
He tips his head, his serious gaze boring into me, making me feel silly, but I forge ahead.
“Do you know where he lives?”
At his nod, I rush back to the picnic table and quickly place two bowls of soup and two desserts into the empty tub. I then hurry across the campsite to him.
“Can you deliver this to him? I’ll gladly give you money for your time and fuel, just let me grab my wallet out of—”
“That’s not necessary. His place is on my way home.”
