“When I was seventeen, he helped me buy a used Chevy Astro with a standard transmission. We made a date to practice on that big hill near the apple orchards. But…” She swallowed and looked out at the bakery like it was the most interesting building on the street. “But he had a heart attack. So…we never made it. But I have great memories, and it’s still on my bucket list.”

Without thinking, he touched her arm, which was smooth and warm. She startled a little and looked over at him. In that brief moment he saw the same pain reflected back that he knew far too well himself.

His mom had never lived to see him leave for college. Or graduate high school. Or watch Gia grow up. They’d passed so many milestones without her.

Suddenly he found himself clearing his throat. “I’m sorry.” Then he busied himself with grabbing a pair of sunglasses from the visor and putting them on. “So,” he continued, “my appointment with Indira is at one.”

He kept talking before she could shut him down. “Tessa, I’ve been thinking a lot about this.” He hadn’t slept, going over and over it in his mind. “I know my dad would loosen up and give me some freedom with my ideas if I was married. And so would your mom. We could make this work. And once we got our businesses headed down the right tracks, we’d both be free, no strings attached. I don’t see a downside. This really is win-win.”

She turned and looked him in the eye. Her gaze was clear, resolute, and determined. “I get all that.” She paused before continuing. “But for right now, can you show me how this thing rides?”

“Sure. As long as we have a deal.”

“Only for one reason,” she said with a broad smile. A nice smile. One that made him, for some reason, smile right back despite himself.

“And that would be?”

She smoothed her hand over the creamy leather seat. “I’m in love with your car.”

He laughed and threw the car in reverse. In love with his car, but she still hated his guts. He guessed he’d take that compromise. For now.

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

A few minutes later, Tessa found herself standing in front of a large, vinyl-sided ranch with Leo and Indira Mehta, owner of Blossom Glen Realty and a regular customer at the bakery.

How Tessa went from surrendering to Leo’s plan to standing here in someone’s driveway, about twenty minutes from downtown, was practically beyond comprehension. It was like she couldn’t even recognize her life anymore. And that was super scary but also sort of…exciting.

She couldn’t let that same weird, addictive energy that flew fast between Leo and her when they sparred make her forget the seriousness of this proposition.