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“Evie—”

She ended the call before her sister could say anything else. Taking a deep breath, she turned to find Jo watching her. Evelyn’s stomach dropped. Jo didn’t say anything at first, only studying her with sharp, knowing eyes. For a moment, no one spoke. “So,” Jo finally said, voice casual. “Too much, too fast, huh?”

Evelyn’s face went hot. Jo had heard.Of course she did, she thought and opened her mouth, then closed it again, floundering for something, anything, to say. Jo lifted an eyebrow, waiting. Evelyn wanted to disappear.

Standing in front of the car, Jo watched Evelyn squirm under her gaze. She heard every word Evelyn said on that phone call.Too much, too fast, she thought.Shocker.Jo wasn’t sure why those words stung the way they did, but they lodged themselves somewhere deep, somewhere she didn’t particularly like to examine. Evelyn looked ready to bolt again, her grip tight around the phone in her hand. Jo saw the tension in her shoulders, the way she was bracing for something, probably a teasing remark. But for once, Jo didn’t feel like teasing. Instead, she reached for the small silver metal tin on the counter and popped the lid. Without a word, she held it out to Evelyn. The woman blinked. “What’s this?” she asked, and Jo shrugged.

“Chocolate chip cookie,” she replied. “Figured you could use some comfort food.”

Evelyn hesitated, then took a cookie carefully from the small pile, as if she wasn’t sure what to do with it. “Is this homemade?” she asked, returning her gaze. “Wait. Did you make this?”

“Yep,” Jo said. “Fresh out of the oven last night.” She gave Evelyn a half smile. “I had some unexpected time on my hands and couldn’t sleep.”

Blushing a little, but not taking the bait, the woman took a small bite. Her eyes widened slightly, and Jo felt a ridiculous surge of pride at the obvious approval on her face. “This is delicious,” she said. “I can’t believe you bake.

“Oh, sweetheart. There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

Evelyn’s blush deepened, but she took a bigger bite. “Wow,” Evelyn murmured, chewing. “It’s really good.”

Putting the lid back on the tin, Jo nodded. “I know,” she said as Evelyn ate the cookie. While she did, Jo took the moment to study her. The woman looked tired. Not only in a physical way, but in the way people looked when they were carrying too much in their head. Jo recognized it because she had seen it in the mirror a few times herself. She let out a breath and decided to throw something out there. “I’m heading to a classic car show over at the coast tomorrow.” She kept her voice light. “You should come.”

“What?” Evelyn asked after a beat, clearly caught off guard.

“Car show,” Jo said with a shrug. “It’s at Lincoln City. Good food, good people. Lots of beautiful automobiles.”

Evelyn shook her head slowly. “I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t really know anything about cars.”

“I’ll teach you,” Jo replied. The moment stretched between them. For a second, Jo thought Evelyn might actually say yes.

But then she shifted, looking unsure again. “I’ll think about it,” Evelyn said, her voice quiet.

Hiding her disappointment, Jo nodded. “Fair enough.” She turned back to the car, focusing on tightening the last bolt, giving Evelyn an out if she wanted to take it. When another minute passed, Jo sighed.I guess I’ll take that as a no,she thought, putting down the hood, ready to kick herself for even asking.At least I’m about done, and we can get back out of each other’s lives again.Without a word, she started the car andwas satisfied when the engine purred. The car was ready to go. Climbing out, Jo handed Evelyn her keys.

“Thanks,” Evelyn said, her voice softer now.

Jo nodded. “Drive safe.”

She watched as Evelyn slid into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and pulled out of the garage bay. Jo stood there for a long moment, hands in her pockets, feeling something she wasn’t used to. Disappointment. She wasn’t sure what she had expected. Evelyn had made it clear she wasn’t ready for a relationship, and Jo wasn’t the type to chase. She never had been.But damn,she thought.This one feels different. With a sigh, she turned toward the workbench, grabbing a wrench to polish only to have something to do. And then she heard it. The sound of tires crunching on gravel. Jo turned in time to see Evelyn’s car returning to the end of the garage bay. Evelyn rolled down the window, looking slightly flushed. “I’ll go,” she said, her voice rushed, like she was afraid she would lose her nerve.

Jo blinked as she walked to the car window, closer to make sure she understood. “To the car show?” she asked, leaning down to look Evelyn in the eyes. Evelyn nodded. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Evelyn said. Then, before Jo could say anything else, the woman stretched out the window and pressed a quick, soft kiss on Jo’s lips. It was barely a brush, but it sent a shockwave straight through Jo’s system. By the time she processed what had happened, Evelyn was already pulling away. “Call me.” Just like that, Evelyn drove off again, leaving Jo standing there, completely and utterly stunned.

Touching her lips, Jo let out a slow, disbelieving chuckle. “Well, damn,” she murmured to herself, already looking forward to tomorrow.

Eight

Standing by her window, Evelyn held the edge of the curtain as she peeked outside. She had been standing there for the past ten minutes, pretending she wasn’t watching for Jo’s car. But the truth was, her heart had been racing ever since she woke up, knowing today wasn’t just another Sunday. Today, she was going on a date with Jo.A date, Evelyn thought as a flutter started in her stomach.Well, maybe not officially. Jo did call it a car show.Evelyn knew better. It was a date, whether Jo had used the word or not.

She exhaled, smoothing the fabric of her dress for the hundredth time. She had agonized over what to wear, torn between looking cute and looking like someone who knew anything about cars, which she did not. In the end, she had chosen a simple but flattering outfit of a fitted navy-blue dress that tucked in at the waist, paired with white sneakers. Casual, but still put together. She had debated on a jacket but ultimately left it behind.If it gets cold, maybe Jo will offer me her leather jacket again,she thought.The idea sent a thrill through her as she remembered the last time she wore it, and she shook her head at herself.Get it together. After what happened last time, Idoubt Jo will be doing anything but being polite.She glanced at the clock. Jo would be there any minute.

Her mind drifted to their phone call the night before, the moment she replayed repeatedly since it happened. Evelyn had been curled up on her couch, her phone resting on her stomach, hoping that Jo really would reach out. She had already surprised herself by agreeing to the car show, not to mention the impromptu kiss. Neither ensured Jo would follow through and call.I can’t believe I was that bold, she had thought, biting her lip.What if I overdid it?That felt entirely possible. Evelyn feared that women coming on strong might be something of a turn-off to Jo. Before she could overthink it any longer, her phone buzzed. Jo was calling, and Evelyn’s stomach flipped. She took a deep breath and answered. “Hey,” she said, trying to sound casual.

“Hi there,” Jo’s voice was warm but seemed a tiny bit uncertain too. “Did you actually mean it? You’re really willing to come with me tomorrow?”

Happy to hear Jo’s voice, Evelyn smiled. “I meant it,” she answered. “Absolutely.”

There was a pause, and then Jo let out a breath. “I’m glad,” she said, relief in her tone.