Before she knew what was happening, Gabe was jogging around to the passenger side and hopping in. Too late, Olivia spotted the lip balm, mascara, and vanilla-scented vegan perfume—a bottle gifted to her by Aunt Becky—on her center console from when she’d freshened up after leaving the shelter. Oh well, she determined, not everyone was able to step out of surgery looking like they were auditioning for a role on Grey’s Anatomy. It was those hazel-green eyes, that dimple, and that smile. They melted her into a puddle every time she had a moment to really take him in.

“It works best when you start the ignition,” Gabe said, chuckling.

Get a grip, Olivia!

She cleared her throat and started the car, then reversed so she could pull back onto the street. “I know to start with my front tire next to the SUV’s back one.”

“I’ve heard that, but want to try something else?”

“Uh, you just saw how I parked. I’m open to suggestions.”

“Pull up even with the Highlander, then start backing up straight, no turning your steering wheel. Glance behind you, and when you can see the Corolla’s bumper in the small side window of your back-passenger door, start turning.”

Olivia did as he suggested, then took his advice again when he said to look out her driver’s-side mirror for the next step, then began to straighten the wheel as she backed up.

“You’ve got this,” Gabe said. “All you have to do now is watch for the moment when your passenger-side mirror blocks the Highlander’s bumper, then steer to the left, and you’re in.”

Somehow everything he said made sense, and Olivia parked as smoothly as a knife slicing through warm butter. “Wow,” she said after pulling forward to get centered between the cars again. “Can you be in my car every time I need to parallel park?”

“Something tells me you won’t need me next time, but yeah, I’d be good with that.”

Olivia turned off her ignition as his words sank in. Not just the words, his tone. There was heat in it, and it lit a flame inside her, racing down her belly and pooling between her legs. He was so damn sexy.

“You know, there’s a benefit to getting in your car that I didn’t think about.”

Was he was reading her thoughts? She suspected she knew what he was going to say but asked anyway. “What’s that?”

“Getting a chance to kiss you before Samson butts in.”

She nodded slowly. “He’s a doll, but I’d be okay with that.”