Page 22 of Capture The Moment

Both men laughed as Rick led them over to his cubicle. Space was tight, and as Harper slid into the chair beside Finn, their legs brushed. The innocent touch gave her a jolt, but Finn didn’t look the least bit affected.

As Rick reviewed the various vehicles that offered all-wheel drive, Harper was acutely aware of Finn’s strong, muscular thigh resting against hers and the corded arm he’d casually draped over the back of her chair. A stranger might think they were a couple given the way they sat and the way they interacted with each other. There was a familiarity between them that was impossible to miss, but up until recently, she hadn’t given it much thought. Once again, she cursed herself for buying that book, although she was halfway through it, and she hated the thought of not finishing it.

“So, which vehicle would you like to test drive?” Rick asked.

Harper and Finn answered the question simultaneously but with two different responses, and Rick chuckled.

Scowling at Finn, she said, “I don’t want to drive a big vehicle, remember? I need something that I can easily park and maneuver in and out of tight places.”

“Why not test drive them both? You might discover that bigger really is better,” Finn said with a suggestive grin.

Rick cleared his throat noisily as if to remind them that he was there.

In the meantime, Harper was staring at Finn with a mixture of amusement and disbelief. “Did you really just say that?”

“What I meant is that the bigger one will offer you more protection. Not my fault if your mind is in the gutter.”

Is he flirting with me? No, he can’t be. It’s just my imagination.

Suddenly, Rick stood up and said, “I’ll get you the keys to both. Be right back.”

After he’d left, she turned on him. “What was that?” she hissed.

“What was what?”

“You know what.”

“Enlighten me.”

“Bigger is better? My mind is in the gutter?”

“I’m just playing with you, Harper. Just trying to lighten things up.”

“Well, don’t. At least, not here in front of everyone.”

Glancing around the showroom, Finn raised his eyebrows. “There’s hardly anyone here. Anyway, what’s wrong with a little teasing?”

Nothing, if you weren’t Blake’s best friend! Luckily, Rick came back and saved her from having to answer.

“Which one do you want to drive first?” he asked, looking between the two of them.

Once again, they gave opposite answers. Sensing that Rick was becoming impatient, Harper conceded.

“Fine, I’ll drive the big one first.”

“That’s my girl,” Finn said with a self-satisfied smile.

Rick took them out to the parking lot and handed Harper the keys to a larger-sized SUV. He briefly went over some of the key features, and then they were off. She wanted to hate it just to spite Finn, but as she sat back in the comfortable, heated seat and drove smoothly down the two-lane road, she found herself enjoying the ride. Being of petite stature, she liked sitting up higher and being able to see well out of the wide windows. Plus, that model included a sunroof, and she thought about how nice it would feel to have it propped open in the summer, allowing the breeze to blow in.

“You like it, don’t you?” Finn asked, shooting her a knowing look.

“I didn’t say that.”

“But you do. I can tell.”

“You don’t know everything about me.” And there went the attitude again. She’d have to get a handle on it, or Finn would ask what was wrong, and she couldn’t keep blaming everything on Blake’s death. This was all on her and her crazy, mixed-up feelings.

“Maybe not, but you’re pretty easy to read, Harper. And I can tell that in spite of yourself, you like this car.”