Page 7 of Fall Favor
He gives me a searching look but takes the tub. He walks to the passenger side of the wrecker and tucks the box on the floor before circling back to the driver’s side and climbing into the cab.
“Thank you.” I puff out a relieved breath. “Oh, if it isn’t too much trouble, can you let him know I’ll call him tomorrow to see how he’s feeling, too?”
Aaron nods and slams the door. As the truck fires up, I step back and watch as he drives away.
“That was a sweet thing to do,” Manny says as I march over to the camper.
“Larry’s a sweet guy. Do you still want to come in while I grab the manual? Once I change the fuses, I’ll have to call around and find the closest RV dealer and a house or something I can rent for the next few weeks.”
“Why do you need an RV dealer? Whoa! What’s all this?” His eyes widen as he surveys my sewing machine and the piles of fabric and colorful scraps lying on every flat surface in the living area and dining table.
I explain my business, The Vagabond Quilter, and the reason why I’m in Wintervale to begin with.
To my amazement, he’s really interested in what I do and what I’ve created so far. I leave him to sort through a box of finished twin-sized quilts and pillowcases I’ve made for my favorite charity,No Kid Sleeps On The Floor In Our Town, while I grab the owner’s manual. With his help, swapping out the fuses only takes a few minutes. While we’re doing that, I explain the problem with the propane tanks.
Sock-footed, Manny relaxes in one of the loveseat’s recliners, quietly listening. At the same time, I muss over my choices, sorting and storing away my sewing machine and the tons of fabric lying around.
The man really is a unicorn; I didn’t even have to ask him to remove his boots like I used to have to do with my ex. Every.Fudging. Time. I glance at him, releasing a girly sigh. Yup, a fudging unicorn, indeed. His eyes are closed, his ridiculously long lashes dark against his light brown skin, and then there are those lips.Wow.
I’m not sure how long I stand here watching him sleep, but when his eyes suddenly open, a jolt of lightning shoots straight through my heart and into my core.
Oh, lordy, I’m in trouble.
“Leah,” he calls softly as I look everywhere but at him. “I have an idea, and before you shoot it down, I really want you to consider it, okay?”
“Ah, yup, sure-sure, okey-dokey-smokey.”
Okey-dokey-smokey?Why, oh, why can’t I be more urbane? A little more refined? Not such a complete idiot? The little grin tugging at his beautiful mouth makes me squirm.Is it getting warm in here?
“No, Mama, it isn’t warm in here at all, but you know what is? My house. My house is positively toasty. I have three extra empty bedrooms. I also have a partially finished walkout basement. There’s plenty of space for you to set up your Vagabond Quilting stuff, and there’s room in my garage for the camper until you find a dealership that can fix it. I’d love for you to accept my hospitality. What do you say?”
What? Is he seriously inviting me into his home? I mean, why? Other than Larry, no one has cared about my well-being in a really long time. Why would he do that? I stare at the pile of batiks in front of me and blink away the tears misting my eyes.
The closing of the footstool and Manny rising to his feet is startling in the hushed stillness. It’s almost as if we’re the only two beings left in the world. I hold up my hand to stop him as he steps into my personal space. I won’t be able to respond with any rationale if he touches me.
“Why? Why would you offer that?” I whisper anxiously.
It’s not like he’s asking me to sleep with him, for goodness’ sake, but still, I’m tempted beyond belief. To accept his offer, not sleep with him. Well, maybe I’m tempted to do that, too. Gah!Focus, Leah!My good sense should be screaming at me to run. I mean, it’s insanity to even consider moving in after only knowing him for a few days, right? But my heart… oh, my soft, tender heart, she yearns to say yes, to belong and be accepted even if it’s only for a little while.
“Maybe I see your kindness to Larry and want to offer you the same thing?” His voice is as quiet as mine, but his is infused with conviction, where mine is wary. “Maybe I like your sense of humor. It’s adorable how you ramble, talking to yourself, even when I’m standing right in front of you. Maybe I want to chase away your loneliness because I have a feeling mine will disappear along with it. Mostly, I think it’s because I feel this… I don’t know… connection with you I’ve been searching for my entire life. I think you feel it, too, don’t you?”
“That’s… insane. We hardly know one another…”
“Aaron knew his wife, Brielle, was theoneafter a single night together, but he let her walk away the first time. He didn’t make the same mistake twice. I’m ninety percent sure you’re myone,too. I want to be able to spend time together and give this attraction between us a chance to flourish. Stay, Leah. Give us a chance.”
“There are things you don’t know about me.”
“Of course there are. There are things I need to share with you, too. Things we’ll learn over time. This is the beginning of ‘us,’ Leah. All you have to do is say yes. Please say yes.”
This is crazy. It’s quick and totally impulsive. After years of regimentally isolating myself by knowing exactly where I’m going and how long I’m willing to stay, I’m considering jumping into something that could be as detrimental as free-falling without a parachute for my mental well-being. Yet, I can scarcely ignore how much I yearn to stay. I guess I could stay with him until my contract with the UM-Extension program ends.
Taking a leap of faith, I give him the answer we both want. “Yes.”
“That’s my girl.”
Chapter 7
Late October
