Page 23 of Fake It Till You Make It

“Listen to me.” Eli pronounced each word with emphasis. “She had no idea what she was agreeing to when she said she would talk with you later. This is Service. She doesn’t speak our language.”

“How do you know that?” Noah winked, leaning back in chair. “You don’t.”

Eli blew out a frustrated breath. “I worked with the woman. She’s nice. A little hyperactive, but in a sweet, busy bee kind of way. Trust me, she’s not the dine-and-dash type.”

“Hey, you’re the one who said city women are the best kind of corruption a man can experience. I’m willing to take one for the team.”

“Keep talking,” Eli warned. “I’m gonna take you to the mat.”

“If you’re going to bark every time a man shows interest in your new employee, you might want to invest in a muzzle. I heard talk all day about our bachelor auction and your new lady. News has traveled to both sides of the mountain, past Whynot last I checked.”

“You mean Lois Kline drove that beater of hers to the food market, spewing blue-haired gossip to every cashier within hearing distance with a smartphone.” No wonder Prudence had approached him with an indecent proposal.

Noah wiped foam from his lip with the back of his hand. “Probably has reached Landing Falls by now. Overheard Austin say he might stop by the clinic to give Amarie a good old-fashioned Service welcome.”

“You tell Mayor Austin don’t bother. The last thing I need is women and local politicians clogging up my waiting room.”

“Gracie Lou said Mrs. Kline told her Amarie had you on the computer?”

“Did not.”

“You gotta keep her, Eli. She’s a natural with people. Plus, she has a head for business. Does she have any idea how tight we Service folks can squeeze a penny?”

“She has no idea. Just asks for what she wants. People respond to her.” Eli did, too, his anatomy in particular, even though he kept his distance. “Can’t slow her down, either. Changing this. Rearranging that.”

“Amarie can handle herself with your frisky clientele. Why not let Mom have her fun with the bachelor auction?”

“That’s different.” Noah had experience with puppy love back in high school. He had no concept of a male ego blown to bits by heartache. Where women were concerned, old insecurities nipped at Eli’s confidence. Noah had never risked his heart, so how could he understand what it felt like when someone he trusted crushed every hope and dream?

“How is that not the same?” Noah quizzed. “Either way, they’re paying for service. This way you two might get dinner and a couple of kisses. With a wagonload of luck, maybe some long night conversations with a few ladies.”

“How many times do I have to tell you to shut up?” Eli barked. “Everything is not about getting in a woman’s underpants!”

“Don’t have to get into hers when she can get into mine, big brother. You need to get out more.”

“Look, Amarie’s a good worker, and,” he paused before spitting out the next part, “she has a fella. Name’s Prince, probably British. He drove her here.”

Noah burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” Eli scowled and Tobias waited for the punch line.

“There’s a purple BMW on the side of the road leading into town.”

The muscles along Eli’s back went rigid. “So, her and the boyfriend are going to be here in town?”

“No, Inspector Not-A-Clue. The car has District of Columbia plates.”

“Already know she’s from the city.”

“Yeah, but what you don’t know is the car’s custom plates bear the namePRINCE.”

“So, the woman’s car quit on her, and she didn’t think to mention that? That’s plum fool crazy.”

“You ain’t never lied,” Tobias said. “Why not ask for help?”

Probably the same reason Eli refused to admit he appreciated her allowing him to rest last night. Pride. Eli grabbed his phone, texting Kanaan. “I’ll take care of her car.”

His cousin, the town sheriff, had spent his life in Service, keeping the town’s auto repair shop up and running after his folks moved into a south Florida retirement village. His aunt had never been much for the West Virginia winters and Uncle Josiah couldn’t refuse her anything. Eli had been the same with Cara, only he didn’t get a lifetime of forevers. Less than a year of marriage… He abandoned his train of thought. It was water under the bridge, nasty water that left a foul taste he couldn’t rid from his system.