Page 15 of Fixing Hearts

Nine

J o shifted gears, the low purr of the GTO’s engine filling the quiet space between them as they wound their way up the coastal road toward Road’s End.

The drive was smooth, the kind Jo usually found relaxing, but as the day moved slowly toward evening, there was a tension in her that had nothing to do with the road.

She cut a glance at Evelyn, who cradled her coffee cup between her hands, her gaze flicking between the ocean and Jo.

The sky had opened up a little, showing a touch of blue for a fleeting moment.

Nothing but a tease, but it was enough to highlight Evelyn’s blonde hair and fair skin, making her look even more beautiful than Jo already thought she was.

Plus, there was the undeniable chemistry between them that kept making Jo’s heart beat a little faster.

If she was honest, all of it had her a little on edge.

In a good way, but even that surprised her.

It’s almost like I’m nervous, she thought.

Like I’ve never taken a drive with a pretty woman before.

That was the problem. Jo Fuller didn’t get nervous.

She didn’t hesitate. She didn’t overthink things.

But riding there, with Evelyn so close, Jo felt like she was standing on the edge of something she didn’t quite understand.

One thing she did understand though, was that every part of her wanted to kiss Evelyn again.

The thought had lingered in the back of her mind all day.

Actually it had been ever since Evelyn had surprised her by accepting the invitation to the car show.

Don’t forget the surprise kiss, Jo thought.

That tiny, fleeting brush of lips had been enough to rattle Jo in a way she wasn’t used to.

As they rode along toward the wayside, with the two of them alone, the air thick with unspoken possibilities, Jo knew she could make a move.

She could simply pull the car over into a secluded spot at the parking lot, cut the engine, and turn to Evelyn with her signature smile that usually made women melt.

She could lean in, let her fingers trail over Evelyn’s knee, and give her an infamous line, “Do you want me to kiss you?” Jo swallowed hard, gripping the wheel tighter.

But the thing was, Jo couldn’t decide what she would do if Evelyn said no.

Hell, I’m not even sure what I will do if she says yes.

The road curved, and Jo spotted the parking lot up ahead.

It was emptier than usual, with only a handful of cars scattered near the front.

The sky was quickly growing heavy with clouds again, blocking out any blue and dimming the sunlight.

The smell of salt and distant rain was thick in the air.

It wasn’t storming yet, but Jo had a feeling it might be before the day was over.

She pulled into a space near the edge of the lot, where the view of the ocean stretched wide and uninterrupted.

Cutting the engine, she exhaled slowly, trying to steady herself.

Evelyn shifted beside her. “It’s beautiful here,” she murmured, looking at the water.

Jo turned her head enough to watch her. Evelyn’s face was soft, her lips slightly parted, her hands lightly holding her coffee cup on her lap.

She looked kissable. So damn kissable. Jo wet her lips.

Now’s the time , she thought. Say something.

Do something . She felt the weight of Evelyn’s attention shifting toward her, the air between them tightening.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still.

Jo sensed the question in Evelyn’s posture, the slight tilt of her head, the way her breath hitched just enough to be noticeable.

She knows , Jo realized. She knows I want to kiss her .

And she’s waiting for me to do it. Jo licked her lips.

She could do it. She could lean in, close the space between them, and finally…

Nope , she thought. Not yet . Jo cleared her throat. “You want to go for a walk?”

Evelyn blinked, clearly caught off guard. A flicker of something crossed her face. Disappointment? Jo wondered. Amusement? She wasn’t sure. But then Evelyn offered a small smile and nodded. “Yeah,” she said. “I’d like that.”

Jo nearly groaned. What am I doing? she asked herself.

Why can’t I just kiss her? It’s not like we haven’t already.

Yet, as she stepped out of the car and walked around to meet Evelyn, watching as she wrapped her arms around herself against the cool breeze, Jo knew it was for the best. Because this thing between them was worth taking slow. Even if it killed her.

Evelyn pulled her arms tighter against her body.

A gust of wind kicked up, carrying the scent of salt and something else.

Something crisp and electric, like the promise of rain.

She inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself.

That was almost something , she thought.

She wasn’t imagining it. Jo was going to kiss me.

Evelyn had felt it, seen it in the way Jo’s body had gone still, in the way the air between them had thickened with unspoken possibility.

And then…nothing. Nothing but an offer to go for a walk.

Evelyn wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed. Maybe both.

Standing beside her, Jo’s hands were shoved into her pockets, her posture easy but her eyes unreadable. “You good?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Nodding, Evelyn forced a small smile. “Yeah,” she said. “Just it’s colder than I expected.”

Jo’s gaze flicked over her, clearly assessing the situation.

Evelyn knew she had made a mistake by not bringing a sweater at least. The wind was sharper here, cutting through the fabric of her dress, sending a shiver down her spine.

“Here,” Jo said, shrugging out of her leather jacket.

Evelyn opened her mouth to protest, but Jo was already holding it out to her.

“Take it.” Jo’s voice was soft, considerate. “I don’t want you freezing.”

Hesitating only for a moment, Evelyn reached for it.

The leather was warm from Jo’s body, carrying her scent.

Somehow, Evelyn found it rich and familiar, like cedarwood and the smallest hint of motor oil.

She pulled it on, and it was exactly like she remembered.

The sleeves were too long, the shoulders too wide, and the weight of it settled around her in a way that made her feel safe.

Jo watched her for a beat, her eyes darkening slightly.

Evelyn swallowed. For a second, it felt like the moment was back.

The one they had barely missed in the car.

The wind whipped around them, Jo standing close, waiting like she was debating something.

Evelyn’s breath held, and she half closed her eyes, ready for the kiss.

Suddenly, Jo took a step back. “Come on,” she said, jerking her head toward the sand. “Let’s walk.”

Exhaling slowly, Evelyn nodded. “All right,” she said, hearing the mix of confusion and relief in her voice. “Let’s walk.”

They made their way down the short path to the beach, their footsteps muffled by the soft sand.

The tide was low, leaving behind a stretch of damp, darkened earth littered with bits of driftwood and scattered shells.

The waves rolled in steadily, white foam curling at the edges before retreating again.

Evelyn let herself relax into the rhythm of it, the steady push and pull of the ocean.

Jo walked beside her, hands in her pockets, her gaze scanning the shoreline.

“You ever go looking for shells as a kid?” she asked after a moment, and Evelyn smiled a little.

“Yeah,” she admitted. “Jasmine and I used to come to the coast with our mom. We would spend hours digging in the sand, looking for the perfect ones.”

“Bet you found some good ones.”

“Mostly broken pieces,” Evelyn said with a small laugh. “But I didn’t care. I liked the idea that they had a history. That they had been whole once, and then the ocean had shaped them into something different.”

Glancing at her, there was something unreadable flickering in Jo’s expression, but she didn’t respond, and they walked together for a while, their feet sinking slightly with each step.

Evelyn found herself scanning the ground, old habits resurfacing.

She slowed when something caught her eye.

It was a small, smooth piece of green sea glass half-buried in the sand.

She bent, brushing the grains away before picking it up.

The surface was cloudy, the edges soft and rounded.

Jo watched her curiously. “What did you find?”

Holding it up, Evelyn let the dim light catch on the hazy surface. “Sea glass,” she said. “It used to be a piece of a bottle, probably. But after years in the ocean, the sharp edges wear down, and it turns into this.”

Tilting her head, Jo studied it. “You’re saying that the ocean takes something broken and makes it beautiful?”

Evelyn’s fingers curled around the glass.

She hadn’t thought of it that way before.

“Yeah,” she murmured. “I guess it does.” As they stood there, Jo didn’t say anything, but she looked at Evelyn’s treasure like she saw something more than simply a piece of glass in her hand.

It made warmth spread through Evelyn’s chest. Then, without warning, a drop of water landed on her cheek.

Evelyn blinked, glancing up. Another drop. Then another.

Checking the sky, Jo groaned. “Ah, hell,” she said. “This is not good.” Within seconds, the drizzle turned into something heavier, fat raindrops splattering against the sand, the wind picking up as the storm rolled in faster than expected.

As the rain came down harder, Evelyn gasped as the cold hit her skin. “We should go back to the car.”