Bonds Of The Heart (5 page)

              “Hey, mom.”

              Her mother’s eyes rounded at the sight of Erika as she walked into the kitchen. “You’re soaked right through!” She helped Erika place the bags on the table.

              “I’m ok. Evie asked how you were.”

              “Oh, that woman. Always is worrying about me.”

              Erika smiled. “That’s because you worry about everyone else before yourself.”

              “People need to know that there are others in this world that have the ability to care and support them.”

              Erika couldn’t help but think her mom was talking about her dad rather than herself. Her father had always been the first to volunteer when needed in the community. He supported various town events like the Fourth of July parade, the end of summer fair, and the Christmas pageant. He also supported the cause of fighting for freedom from the moment he was old enough to enlist.

              “So you’re making your signature lemon meringue pie. Who did you say it was for? Mrs. Hamilton?”

              “Yes, she and her family had lived here for so long. Real nice family. One of her son’s bought Blackie’s when he was old enough. Fred, the previous owner, was retiring. It was ideal timing really.”

             
Speaking of Blackie’s.
“Ben said your car would be ready tomorrow when he called. I’ll pick it up for you as long as the rain holds out.” Erika glanced out the window to see the rain lighten to just a mist. She didn’t dare tell her mom she had to take her own Jeep to get looked at. She’d do that another day. “It’s supposed to be warm tomorrow. It will be a nice walk.”

              “Good, then you can take the pie over to Maureen Hamilton and her family.”

              “Me?”

              “Yes. I have to run to Quantico to sign some papers. Always something to sign.” She brushed her hand in the air dismissing it.

              “When will this all be over?”

              “Soon dear. I’m sure, soon. You get upstairs and change out of those wet clothes before you get sick. Go.” Erika hesitated, and Brianne shooed her out of the kitchen.

              “Not soon enough.” Deciding on a quick hot shower, Erika changed out of her muddy jeans and wet clothes. Refreshed, she put on sweats and her dad’s t-shirt. Once back in the kitchen, she helped her mom put away the groceries.

Six

***

Gibbons. Blake thought for a moment. The name seemed really familiar. He was certain he had heard it or seen it somewhere before, not just on the invoice in front of him. Blake frowned as he glanced over the invoice at the beat up old Ford in the bay of the garage and the name scribbled on it. It would eat at him until he was able to put the pieces together. For now he’d get back to work fixing the belts on the car, and try to get his mind off that woman with the Jeep. He didn’t need that distraction anyway.

              The brothers had been a team. Blake ran the business end from his office in D.C. and Jared got hands-on dirty with the cars, but it was all Jared’s dream. Jared knew from the beginning that he had wanted something of his own that he could be proud of. So when Jared turned 30 and had enough money saved up from handy man jobs and late night bartending sleepless nights, he bought Blackie’s from the retiring owner. Jared had wanted to leave a legacy. Blake smiled and knew Jared had done just that.

              Jared had kept the name of the old auto shop—Black Horse Auto & Body—because he had admired the name. They had joked over enough empty beer cans how the name Black Horse was either strong or stupid. Now it seemed appropriate. His brother had ridden his own horse out into the black of war.

              “Excuse me?” A woman’s soft voice came from behind him.

              “Be with you in a minute.”

              Erika strolled back into the open air outside the bay doors. The sun was brilliant and with the fresh rain from the day before, it made the grass glisten. She smiled and took in a deep breath of scents—fresh morning dew, sweet, crisp, and clean. Flowers burst in color across the street adding a light touch of jasmine to the air. Birds sang in the trees overhead. She remembered days like this all too well. Turning, she saw Blake approach and her smile faded.

              He wore an old t-shirt stained with grease from the cars and trucks he worked on. His jeans, she noted, were the same as the day before.
Did he not believe in washing his clothes?
He rubbed his hands on an old red rag and seemed to be making no progress in removing the stains. He still hadn’t shaved, which didn't annoy her, but the fact that she found it attractive did.

              “You’re Jeep having problems again?” He glanced over her head briefly, looking for the black Jeep but didn’t see it, before returning his gaze to hers. It was the same woman who had broken down in front of the cemetery and who he ran into—literally—at the little general store in town. The same woman he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about.

              She still had that cool air about her and, in the heat of the early morning, Blake welcomed it. She wore slim jeans that had little zippers at her thin ankles. The soft color of ice in her silk blouse matched the cool blue of her eyes. Her hair was pulled back in a braid that fell just below her shoulders. He wondered what it would feel like to run his fingers through it and let it fall around her shoulders. Though her hair was dark, there were glints of burgundy highlighted by the sun. Why he found that attractive, he didn’t know. Nor did he want to find out. Just like he didn’t want to see those ice blue eyes of hers when he closed his own at night.

              “No,” she said flatly at his lingering stare. “I came to pick up my mom’s car.”

              “What’s the name?” He turned back to the garage and picked up the clipboard.

              “Gibbons. Brianne Gibbons.”

              Gibbons, he thought again with a frown. That was the name he couldn’t place earlier. He glanced up at her again before returning his eyes to the invoices. He pulled her invoice free after searching through the pile. “Gonna to be ready tomorrow. You’re a day early.”

              “Ben said it would be ready today.”

              “I’m sure he did. That was probably before his daughter came down with some bug. I’m working on the belts now.” He gestured to the car in question to his left, hood open, wiry rubber belts lying on the engine.

              “Great,” Erika muttered. At least it was a nice enough day that she could walk back to the house.

              “I’ll drive you back.” It wasn’t a question. He had said it so casually. Almost reading her thoughts. Erika had to blink twice to register the statement.

              “No. I can walk. Thanks anyway.” Erika turned to leave but found her wrist caught in his hand. Her pulse skipped at the touch though she tried to ignore it.

              Blake felt the skip and couldn’t stop his own pulse from increasing. He didn’t know why he reached out, didn’t know why he had to drive her home, but she wouldn’t leave unless it was in his tow truck. “I’m sure the walk here was nice and all, but in shoes like that,” he pointed with his chin to her heeled sandals, “you’re feet are bound to ache by the time you get home.”

              She didn’t want to admit to him that her feet were already aching from the walk here. But she wasn’t about to have him drive her home. “I’m fine. I don’t need a ride.”

              “I’m sure that’s true.”

              He led her by the wrist, which he hadn’t released, to the tow truck. He opened the door with his free hand and tried to help her into the seat. When she refused to get in, tried to protest, he simply placed his hands on her waist and boosted her up, closing the door after she was in place. She had a tiny waist, Blake thought as he rounded the truck.

              She should have been offended by the barbaric treatment. She shouldn’t have enjoyed the feel of his hands on her waist. The warring emotions had Erika biting her tongue until Blake slid into the driver’s seat.

              “How dare you!” She huffed, turning to him in her seat. “I said I didn’t need a ride. Then you haul me into this truck like I’m some cavewoman of yours?” She narrowed her eyes and flailed her hands in the air before crossing them across her chest.

              The half-cocked smile surprised them both. “If you were mine,” he said quietly, “you would never be treated like a cavewoman.” He turned the key in the ignition at her stunned expression. “You gonna give me directions or are we going for a scenic drive?”

              “I’m just a few blocks off Freeman’s Road.” She huffed after regaining her control from his deep—yes, sexy too—low voice and his declaration.

              Blake was more tense than he had been the first two times they had met. Since Ben was out, he had a number of cars to see to before the day ended, and this little detour meant he’d be working late. He’d have to phone home when he got back and hope he wasn’t needed right away. Turning his head to his passenger, he saw she had had finally relaxed enough to unfold her arms and glare out her window. She probably didn’t have any worries or stresses like he had. She probably had it easy, from the looks of her.

              They sat in silence as Blake pulled out of the shop’s lot and headed across town. She eyed him coolly. He was relaxed, one arm casually hanging out his window. His eyes focused on the road. He probably hadn’t a care in the world, she thought with resentment. She’d bet that he probably always got what he wanted and never had to make sacrifices for anything.

              “Blake,” he said, breaking her of her thoughts.

              She turned to look at him without an answer.

              “That’s my name. Since we seem to have a habit of running into each other, I thought you should at least know my name.”

              “I know your name. Small town.” She smirked and cocked a brow.

              “I won’t ask how you know my name, but isn’t it proper manners to give me your name in return, Ms. Gibbons?”

              She didn’t like the formality of her name or the way it rolled off his tongue. She was only Ms. Gibbons at work. With a sigh, she gave him her name. “It’s Erika. Erika Gibbons.”

              “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

              She didn’t fight the laugh. “I’m certainly not a ma’am.”

              No she wasn’t, he thought, but she had a snooty air about her. He hadn’t seen her around Emberton before, yet he knew the car he worked on had been in the shop a few times for various repairs and that Ben had worked on it. Her laugh cut through him in a way he hadn’t anticipated. It softened something inside him. “No, I suppose you aren’t.”

              She narrowed her eyes at the mischievous tone in his voice as he slowed into her driveway. Before she could retort, he had gotten out of the truck and was already opening her door for her. He extended his hand to help her down.
Now he thinks he’s a gentleman?
She jumped from the truck, refusing his offered hand, in her heeled sandals and felt the sting rise up her legs from her feet. She bit back the unwelcome sensation and plastered a smile to her face.

              “Thank you for the ride,” she said heading toward the house.

              Her mother was on the porch waiting. Brianne frowned at the cool exchange between her daughter and Blake as she walked toward them.

              Blake nodded, closed the door and headed back to his side of the truck.

              “Car’s not ready yet?” Brianne asked.

              “Sorry mom. Turns out it will be one more day.”

              “I see.”

              “I’ll take you to Quantico.”

              At the word, and the sad tone of Erika’s voice, Blake’s head snapped back toward the house and the two ladies. Neither of the two women noticed.

              “No, no. I’ll call them and reschedule. Thank you for driving Erika back. Tell your mother I asked about her.” They both turned to him then.

              “No problem, I will ma’am. I’ll have your car ready first thing in the morning. And you should bring your Jeep in too.” He turned to Erika before opening his door.

              Erika didn’t answer him for she was furious that he revealed to her mother there was a problem with her Jeep.

              “Why don’t you stay for a minute, Blake? I made some sweet tea.”

              “I appreciate it, Mrs. Gibbons, but Ben’s out and I have to pick up the extra work. I’ll take a rain check on the tea.” He boosted himself up into his seat and, with a wave, left.

              As soon as he was back at the garage, Blake went back to work. He finished Mrs. Gibbons’ car quickly, anticipating Erika’s return tomorrow. He battled a resistant muffler and engine block while he thought of Erika’s hair between his fingers. He dumped oil in the barrels out back as he thought about the curve of Erika’s lips and how they would feel against his.

              Just how the hell had this woman crept into his head like she did? Damn it, he couldn’t get himself to stop thinking about her. What was it about her? He took the pack of cigarettes from his pocket, shuffled one out and into his mouth, lit it.