Page 66 of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

“You warming up to these guys?” I asked.

She shrugged. “They’re tolerable. As long as they don’t tease me as much as they do you.”

“Not possible,” I said, grinning. “Did you hear them?”

She gave me a dry look. “Yeah. I heard them.”

“Sorry.”

She shrugged, pouring the hot water into the coffeemaker. “No need to apologize. I’ve dealt with worse.”

I wondered what kind of shit she’d been through.

“The guys are just messing around but let me know if they ever cross a line.”

“I know. They seem like good guys. Maybe a little rowdy.”

I chuckled. “That’s putting it mildly.”

“How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Stiff.”

“I bet. I would suggest you take it easy but I’m guessing that’s not going to happen.”

“I’ll be fine,” I said.

“I just wanted to say I’m glad you stayed,” she said softly, not quite meeting my eyes. “And not just because your bike broke down.”

“Thank you for letting me stay.”

She smiled but checked her watch, a flicker of guilt crossing her face. “I can’t stay. I have to get to the café for a meeting. I’ll be home around four. Maybe you’ll still be here.”

“Maybe,” I said.

“If not, I’ll see you in the morning.”

I nodded but neither of us moved. I found myself walking her to the front door like a boyfriend seeing his girl off to work. The thought made my chest tighten. I hadn’t wanted a girlfriend since Leah, but now with Merritt, the urge was there.

“See you later,” she said softly, her hand lingering on the doorknob.

“Yeah,” I said, my voice lower than I intended. “Kick ass today.”

For a second, it felt like we might kiss goodbye but neither of us moved. She smiled one last time before heading out, leaving the faint scent of her perfume lingering in the air.

I watched her drive off, the familiar ache of longing settling in my chest. Shaking it off, I turned back to the job. She wasn’t mine. Sex did not make a relationship. Whatever was happening between the two of us was too new to define. I didn’t want to try and define it. That would make it real and would certainly bring on questions I didn’t want to think about.

“Let’s call it a day,” I said to the guys after several hours had passed. “I’m burnt.”

“Cause you were up all night,” Luke said.

“Give me a ride home, Wes,” I said, ignoring Luke.

We packed up our things and left. I texted Riggs and asked him to bring his trailer by to pick up my bike.

“Thanks, Wes,” I said as I very slowly climbed out of the truck.

I felt every scratch, scrape, and bruise after the long day. I went straight to the shower, washing away the dried blood and road grime. The water stung like hell, but it felt good to be clean again.