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“I should warn you, though,” Evelyn said. “I really do know nothing about cars.”

Jo chuckled. “That’s okay. I have enough knowledge for both of us.”

“Good to know,” Evelyn said with a laugh, relaxing slightly.

Another pause. This time, it was a more comfortable one. “I’ll pick you up at ten tomorrow,” Jo said. “Look for a silver classic beauty.”

Evelyn frowned. “A classic beauty?”

Jo’s sexy smile was evident in her voice. “You’ll know it when you see it.”

For a beat, Evelyn hesitated, then took a small leap. “Jo?”

“Yeah?”

“Well…” she started, about to lose her nerve. She closed her eyes.I’m excited to see you, she had wanted to say.I haven’t stopped thinking about you since the shop. You make me feel things I don’t know how to deal with.Instead, she had settled on “Drive safe.”

Now, standing by the window, Evelyn took a steadying breath, shaking off the nerves curling inside her. A low, rumbling engine suddenly filled the street outside her apartment, and her pulse jumped. She turned to look around the curtain again, in time to see a sleek, silver car with chrome accents pull up to the curb across the street. She didn’t know cars, but this one looked like something out of an old movie. It was the kind of car that commanded attention, the kind that looked like it had stories to tell. Even from the third floor, she could see Jo behind the wheel, one arm resting casually on the doorframe, her sunglasses perched on her nose. There was an easy confidence in the way Jo carried herself, the way she belonged in that car.

Evelyn’s breath caught.Oh, I am in so much trouble, she thought. She turned away from the window, pressing a hand to her chest.Okay. I can do this. Snatching up her small crossbody bag, she took one last look in the mirror, smoothing her hair. Then, before she could talk herself out of it, she grabbed her keys and headed for the door. As she stepped out of her apartment, the nerves didn’t fade, but neither did the excitement.

Drumming her fingers against the steering wheel, Jo stole a glance at Evelyn in the passenger seat. The woman looked good in Jo’s car.Maybe too good, Jo thought.She looks gorgeous sitting there.In her navy-blue dress, her blonde hair tumblingover her shoulders, Evelyn somehow looked both relaxed and slightly nervous, like she was still getting used to the idea of it all. Jo liked that. She liked that Evelyn had stepped outside of her comfort zone to come with her. So far, the drive from Portland to Lincoln City had been smooth, the winding roads lined with towering pines and stretches of rolling hills. The sky was overcast, but the April rain had held off so far. Jo hoped it would stay that way. A car show in the rain wasn’t ideal, especially when she wanted Evelyn’s first experience to be perfect.

As Jo shifted gears smoothly, the low rumble of the engine filled the quiet between them. “This is a nice drive,” Evelyn said, looking out the window. “Peaceful.”

“Yeah, it is,” Jo said with an easy smile. “One of my favorite routes.”

Evelyn glanced at her. “And this car…” She ran a hand along the edge of the seat, her fingers trailing over the leather. “It’s amazing. I don’t know what it is, but even I can tell it’s special.”

Grinning, Jo sat up a little straighter. “She’s a 1967 Pontiac GTO. A real classic.”

Raising her eyebrows, Evelyn shook her head. “Okay,” she said. “And what does that mean for someone who knows absolutely nothing about cars?”

Jo chuckled, keeping her eyes on the road. “It means she’s got history,” she replied. “The GTO was one of the first real muscle cars—American-made, built for power and style. This one? I rebuilt her myself. She was my first real project.”

Turning to her, interest sparked in Evelyn’s eyes. “You rebuilt it?” she asked. “Like from scratch?”

“Pretty much,” Jo said, pride creeping into her voice. “She was a mess when I got her. Rusted frame, engine barely holding together, and the interior was trashed. Took me over a year to get her back to this.” She patted the dashboard affectionately. “Had to track down some of the original parts, which wasn’teasy. And don’t even get me started on the wiring. Absolute nightmare.”

Evelyn’s eyes widened. “You did all of that yourself?”

Jo grinned, enjoying the way Evelyn looked both impressed and a little in awe. “Yeah. It was a challenge, but worth it. Nothing like bringing something back to life with your own hands.”

There was silence for a beat. “That’s actually really incredible,” Evelyn finally murmured, and Jo felt warmth spread through her chest. She was used to people being impressed by the car but hearing it from Evelyn felt different. Not sure what to say, Jo was a little relieved as she took the final stretch of road toward Lincoln City. The scent of saltwater drifted in through the open window, mixing with the crisp, pine-filled air. A few minutes later, Jo turned into the large parking lot at the convention center where the car show was being held.

Vehicles of every shape and size packed the lot. There were sleek vintage roadsters, bright muscle cars with their hoods popped open, and even a few tricked-out hot rods with gleaming chrome finishes. People milled about, admiring the cars, chatting with owners, and taking pictures. Evelyn’s mouth parted slightly as she took it all in. “Wow,” she breathed.

Jo parked the GTO and shut off the engine, watching Evelyn’s reaction. “Surprised?”

Nodding her head, Evelyn’s eyes were wide. “I guess I didn’t expect all of this,” she said, gesturing to the rows of cars, and the vibrant energy of the show. “It’s kind of amazing.”

“Told you,” Jo said with a grin. “Cars have a way of drawing people in.”

“I feel like I’ve stepped into another world.”

Laughing, Jo opened her door. “Well, let me be your guide.”

After they climbed out, Jo led Evelyn through the lot, pointing out a few of the standouts. “That’s a ‘69 Camaro SS, oneof the best muscle cars ever made,” she said, nodding toward a deep-blue beauty. “And that over there? A ‘57 Chevy Bel Air. Absolute icon.”