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“Maybe I had the right cheerleader with the right instructions.” I can’t help myself and give her a flirtatious wink.

“I was cackling half the time,” she says, sitting down.

“I think I’d eat another dozen to hear you laugh like that again.”

She looks surprised. “Really?”

“It’d be worth it,” I say, closing her door before I really let my mouth run.

My lips tingle from the sauce but all I want to do is kiss her until I can’t see straight. Taking a deep breath as I walk in front of the cab, I try to pull it together a little more.

“Well done, Tommy,” Mark calls out from his truck.

I wave to him and say, “I’m sure things will be back to normal next year.”

“I don’t know, we might have a true competition on our hands.”

“We’ll see. Drive safe.”

“You, too.” He gives me a wave and drives out of the parking lot, towards Barnett Farms.

I get into the driver's seat.

“Everything okay?” Sam asks, nodding towards Mark's taillights.

“Of course, I think he was happy to have someone who could keep up with him for once.”

“You definitely did.”

I pull out of our spot, already knowing the drive will go too fast.

“Did you have fun tonight?” I ask.

“I did.” I can hear that she’s smiling.

“Good. That meeting is truly the worst one we have each year but going to Maybel’s helps.”

“Oh, I didn’t mind the meeting,” she says.

I look over at her to call her bluff, but she’s blushing. Biting back the sarcastic retort, I change course. “I’m sure Sharon would be happy to hear that.”

“She was very thorough and I feel like I have an idea of what should happen if we get a request like that. I think I would have panicked or told someone that it wasn’t possible to shut off the sprinkler system otherwise. Sometimes, I freeze up if I don’t know what to do next.”

“Which is why you love instructions?” I ask.

“It sounds silly, but even in social situations it helps to know what I should or shouldn’t do or say. I know it’s odd.” She waves it off.

“But that’s also just one of the reasons you’re perfect for the job,” I tell her, risking a glance to find her staring at me.

Pulling into a spot in front of her building, I put the truck in park and turn towards her.

“Before you say something to contradict me, let my words sink in. You really are the perfect person for this position and you prove it daily simply by being yourself. Hank doesn’t beat around the bush or give unnecessary compliments and he regularly sings your praises.”

Her eyes search mine in the dim light from the dashboard. I hold her gaze and wonder what’s going on in that head of hers.

“Truth or dare?” I ask her.

Her nose scrunches as she considers the repercussions.