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“My readers like personal updates too.” That was putting it mildly.

He studied me a moment more then went back to searching under the bumper. “If you say so.”

“That a yes?”

He grunted.

“I’m taking that as a yes.”

I walked around snapping a few photos of my car with its nose pointing down into the ditch. Of Will, on his knees in the frosty mud. Of both him and the car when he stood up and pulled at the cable.

Then I tucked my phone away, already thinking about what kind of post I could tie into this latest debacle. Something about warm drinks for bad luck.

* * *

Only ten minuteslater both our cars were in my driveway. I hadn’t been too badly stuck; my little front-wheel drive hatchback didn’t exactly have much power. I got out of mine after parking it. We met out in the driveway. The snow was still coming down, still melting when it hit the ground, not quite cold enough to stick. I was freezing, and I pulled my coat tight around me.

I’d behaved badly. I opened my mouth to speak, but Will got there first.

“Do you want a ride?”

“A ride?”

“To your date.”

I was so surprised, I laughed. “My date? Even if I had been going on a date, I don’t think it would look great having you drop me off for it.” Then I cringed.

But he didn’t even seem to notice that I’d basically called him hot. Thank god.

“I’m used to drop offs, especially ones where I need to park a block away so as not to embarrass anyone.”

I tried not to laugh again. For some reason, I didn’t want Will knowing I found him so entertaining. Or maybe I didn’t want to find him so entertaining.

“It was a date with my sister, actually, and she stood me up.”

Will’s expression softened and he seemed to relax. Or had I imagined that? Then his brow furrowed. “So where were you going?”

The embarrassment came back, heating up my cheeks. “I was going to go anyway. By myself to Roaster’s grand opening. It’s not every day I have a babysitter.”

“Haverford’s new place.”

“Haverford?”

“Charles Haverford. A local developer. He just bought the building that’s in. He also owns half of downtown Barkley Falls.”

I nodded. An awkward pause stretched between us where I felt like a complete nerd for admitting I’d been going on a date by myself.

Had been, past tense.

“Well as nice as this is, I’d better go and get Remy for you.”

“You could still go,” he said.

I laughed, then ended it abruptly when I saw he was serious. “My car isn’t exactly functional.”

“I’ll take you.”

I froze. “What?”