Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 19583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
"Then bring me, Jelly Bean."
The side of her mouth lifts, and it makes my pulse pump wildly. I will do anything for that smile. "I can't believe you still remember that name. No one else calls me that."
"No one else is supposed to call you that because I gave that name to ya. Now, don't ignore me. I'll come over as your boyfriend. I'd love to see how the Brogans are doing after all these years. Although your dad and I never saw eye to eye, I'd actually like to thank him. Between you and him, I would have never ended up coming back to Heffen's Bluff."
Something clouds over her features. "Um, shit. I'm sorry, Collin. Dad passed away around eight years ago."
The overwhelming feeling to hug her washes over me, and I can't stop myself from pulling Danielle into my arms again. It feels natural to do this, like my first instinct is to comfort her. "You don't be sorry. I'm sorry. You have my condolences. He was a great man, even though it took some growing up for me to see he was only trying to help me. You too."
"Me?"
"Yeah, you. All of the 'You're so much better than this' talk got me thinking about my love for cars." My arms drop to hold her by the waist, and I do what I can to keep her close. Having her here and not touching her is torture.
She giggles. "Well, you kept stealing them."
"That's how I thought I was supposed to learn how to drive. You know? Joy riding, but your dad set me straight. He actually kept me out of a ton of trouble. I really am sorry he passed. I wish I didn't let work take over my life, or else I would have found my way back to y'all sooner."
"It's all right." She smiles the smile that never fails to stop my heart. "I'm happy for your success, and I'm sure Dad would have loved to pick your brain about how you got so far, but it's just Mom and us. You remember my younger siblings, right? Josh and Evelyn?"
I flash her a smile and step back, shoving my hands in my pockets to make sure I keep them to myself, even if my entire body screams at me to stay closer. "I remember enough. They treated me like I had the plague, but you were different. You were nice to me when no one else really was. No one else besides your dad, of course. Back then, kindness was rare to me. It wasn’t often people treated me like … well, like I’m human and not some delinquent out to steal their cans of beans."
She smiles. "Dad never wanted to see any child under his care struggle. Besides, you had that whole bad boy look pat down, but I knew there was some goodness in you. Dad, too."
That affects me more than I let on. She’s always believed in me, even during those days when I didn’t believe in myself. "So let me do this for ya. I'll come to dinner and be your boyfriend. It gives me a chance to show your mom that I made something of myself. She'll get to see that what your dad wanted has actually happened. I'm not struggling. I'm doing way better than the 17-year-old kid you all met ten years ago."
Danielle locks eyes with me, the gears turning in her pretty head. I can't believe that of all the calls I get into the shop, this one is to rescue the girl of my dreams. It's been too long, but I never stopped thinking about her. She's all I've ever wanted, and I can't seem to shake that feeling no matter how much time passes. Now that I've got her here in front of me, this is my chance to make her mine. Sure, it’s fake dating, but I’ll take whatever I can.
That’s one foot in the door, at least.
"You know my mother has a hard time seeing potential in people. I have to admit that it would be nice to see the look on her face when I show up with you—my boyfriend who runs his own business." She tilts her head to the side and lifts a brow. "What about my car?"
I chuckle, happiness blooming in my chest—something I haven’t felt in a long, long time. "Talking to you is like a ping pong game. You got enough oil to get you to your mom's place. But I still want to get it in the shop and take a look at everything else. I'll top off your fluids, check your brakes, and make sure the lack of oil ain't damaged your engine. Now, about this boyfriend situation. How long have we been dating?"
She laughs and shrugs. "I don't know, six weeks? I don't want to say much longer than that because I had lunch with Josh, and if I didn't bring you up then, he's not going to believe it now. He already thinks I made you up."