Page 9 of Fall Love

He draws the shirt in front of him and pops his arms free.

Plus ten.

My sister and I started rating men a few years ago. Pluses go for things like backward baseball caps and low-slung jeans. And pulling off a shirt over the head by the back collar.

Negatives are khakis and three-quarter zips. At least for me.

And in front of me stands a dichotomy. A truly mismatched puzzle of white tee and dress pants, reminding me of the intriguing man wearing a rather authentic racing getup last winter.

A man I was unexplainably drawn to during that New Year’s Eve party.

“Do you know anything about a car other than to press the ignition button and accelerate?”

“Cute. But I grew up working on my granddad’s boats. I think I can handle an oil change in a Toyota.”

Question is, could I handle him? Especially when he spins on his hard-soled, leather-clad shoes and heads into the garage. I’m left speechless when he bends over the exposed engine, giving me a decent view of his fine backside. He picks up a wrench I left on the edge of the frame. He looks like he was born with a tool in his hand. Confident. Cocky. And so stinkin’ cute.

In the reflection of the window, I catch the outline of myself. Grease on my cheek, which I hastily rub. Sweat around my hairline, the soft, short waves held back by bobby pins. And the KN95 mask on my head.

“Sweet pumpkin spice.” I tug the thing from my head and swipe down the hair suddenly sticking up.

Tate notices me staring at him and smiles. The curve of his mouth is slow but steady. The softness of them a ghost on my lips.

I wonder if he missed me.

I shake the thought, knowing exactly what he thinks of me.

A business opportunity.

One wearing a mask on my head like a freakin’ sad unicorn.

CHAPTER 4

[Tate]

Only a few minutes pass before Neve returns to the garage, pulling up another metal stool and staring into the heart of the vehicle. She doesn’t say anything while I work to check the current oil level, then slip a pan underneath the SUV and drain the old oil. I don’t know how she’d get underneath this thing. In her condition, I also think it’s dangerous to slide underneath a vehicle of any type.

Holy hell, what was she thinking?

I’m so caught up in seeing her again and her being pregnant, I can’t flip through my mental notes about this place.

Clearly, Neve works here. Lumi works for the local postal service but does the finances for the shop. Is there anyone else employed here? What about the other sisters?

I’m coming up blank, too distracted by her supervision of my progress.

“My granddad owned boats. And every summer when I came to Lovewell Landing to visit my cousins, he’d teach us everything from how the engine works to how to sail.”

She huffs. “Well, that certainly explains a few things.”

“Like what?” I ask, checking other fluid levels.

“Like how I’ve never seen you before. Or around town since . . .” our one and only meeting. “You’re a summer boy,” she adds.

“A what?”

“A boy who visits for the entire summer. Not quite a tourist. Not exactly a local.”

I chuckle. “I think I’m more than a boy, pumpkin.” I arch one brow, suddenly wanting her to remember New Year’s Eve.