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“Dry spells happen to us all, Sarah. Well, not me, of course.” I grin, and Sarah looks down at her plate. She doesn’t even offer one of her snappy comebacks. I haven’t been with anyone, either. It wasn’t planned because I considered it. Every time an opportunity presented itself, I wasn’t interested. After a few efforts, I gave up because I wanted her. “We could have some reunion fun for old-time’s sake.”
Her brow arches, and I smile again. “Like the last time?” she asks.
“Even better.”
“Wow, I can’t imagine topping the best five minutes of my life.” She smirks and then licks the last bite of dessert off her fork.
I’m not even offended. “Prickly princess is back. Give me a second chance?”
She silently counts with her fingers. “I gave you four of them. After that, it’s not worth my time.”
“I missed you.”
“No, you didn’t. You missed getting in bed with your worst enemy’s little sister.” She crosses her arms, waiting for me to deny it. “You missed your petty revenge.”
She’s wrong, or at least she’s not entirely correct. Still, I won’t defend myself from such an absurd statement. Sarah is not a weapon in some sports rivalry; besides, I never asked her for team secrets or used her. I was honest from the very beginning.
I lean back, taking in her features for the first time in months. Her hair is dark, almost coal black, with eyes to match. If you catch them in the right light, gold flecks appear. Sarah’s lashes are so thick I once thought she had permanent makeup on. It turned out to be a family trait.
Once, I said she had the body of Marilyn Monroe. I intended it as a compliment because Marilyn was the sexiest woman who ever lived, yet Sarah only scoffed. It’s still true, and Sarah is stunning tonight, as she always is, even wearing old jeans and a sweatshirt. Several wispy strands of hair are visible in the cabin light. I want to keep staring.
“Give me another chance, and I’ll give you the best ten minutes of your life,” I say. She’ll refuse the challenge, but damn if it isn’t worth trying. “I’m staying the night; we might as well enjoy ourselves.”
“You aren’t staying the night, Jake. This isn’t a joke. Look at me.” She points out her eyes and lips. There’s no smile, only frustration. “We will not happen. You said that exact statement the first night, remember? It was a good time; there was no commitment and nothing special. Those were your words, remember?”
I said them because they were the magic words to finagle a date out of her. They weren’t supposed to return and bite my ass several months later. “Is that a refusal? Third chance, Sarah. I’ll tell you what. Fifteen minutes, and I don’t say that to just any girl. Last offer.”
Sarah quietly gets up from the table, and I follow, taking the two plates from her hands.
“Sit down and go read your book, will you? I’ll wash up,” I say. Sarah doesn’t respond, picking up the book with the shirtless guy on the cover. Except she keeps staring at me instead of reading. “I’m done making passes.” For now. “I’m not leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere. Tomorrow, we’ll take care of your car, and once that’s fixed, I’ll be on my way. I can manage one night on that.” I indicate the loveseat and return to washing our dishes.
Sarah finally picks up her book to read. That miniature couch is too small for my body, but at least my mom’s new quilt will keep me warm. Plus, there’s a travel bag in my truck, so I’ll have clean clothes and a toothbrush in the morning.
After cleaning the dishes, I turn on the gas fireplace and pick up one of her books. I briefly thumb through it before setting it back down.
Instead of reading, I stick my legs out and watch the gas flames flicker while Sarah sits beside me. We’re a little cramped, but neither of us complains.
“Thank you for helping me tonight,” she says after a little while.
“You’re welcome, Princess.”
I’ll always come when you need me.
Sarah thinks we were a fling, over and done with. If that were true and we were so easily forgotten, why did she respond so strongly to my presence tonight?
Every race is a second chance and a new opportunity to win.
I can be patient.
3-Sarah
“That’s the last one.” Maddie dumps the last cookie sheet onto a cooling rack. “We have a new mechanic starting tomorrow. Boone wants to keep him around for more than three months this time, so I’m doing my part.”
Boone should try not to scare them off. That will do more than a batch of baked cookies.
“One chocolate chip cookie for me.” I grab two of them, take a bite, and moan. “These are delicious.”
“Will you get a small plate? I want to set a few aside for Boone,” Maddie says. She’s short and is sensitive about their size differences. Boone solved it by always picking her up for kisses. It’s adorable and sickening at the same time. “He’ll want a snack after coming in from the garage.”
