Page 18 of The Matchmaker Club

4

The Deal

After a long shower, I flipped my mom’s #9 mixtape to side B and slid on my headphones. Clipping her old Walkman to my belt, I headed downstairs for my morning coffee and breakfast. Today was gardening day, but I had to take care of Blush first. Lucas had forgotten all about it last night. So had I. Maybe Lainey could get Bill to use one of his tractors to pull her back home.

There were two fresh-baked loaves of banana bread cooling on the counter. That only meant one thing. I slipped off one of the earpieces and called out, “Grandma, which one is safe to eat?”

“The one in the silver pan. Don’t touch the gold one unless you want a wake and bake.”

I shook my head and laughed, cutting out a slice of ordinary bread.

By the time I poured my coffee, my grandmother had come up behind me, took off my headphones, and hung them around my neck. “You should probably offer a cup to Lucas.”

I shut off the Walkman. “He’s here?”

She leaned against the counter. “Yup, came to pick up your car keys earlier and now he’s fixing up old Blush.”

“Himself?”

She sipped her coffee through a grin. “Mmm-hmm.”

I went into the parlor where Lainey was sitting on the couch, looking out the window.

“Is he messing her up?”

“No. I think he knows what he’s doing. Looks like he’s replacing the starter.”

“Does he know you are perfectly capable of doing that?”

She looked at me and smiled. “Independence is important, but you should always be wise in knowing when to accept the help that is given.”

“Huh?”

“Go out there and thank him.”

I knew I should, but I was hesitant to deal with his brooding stare before having my first cup of coffee.

Lainey opened the door. “Go.”

I walked down the porch steps and across the driveway. A soft breeze filled the air with the smell of gardenias from the garden. Blush sat parked next to the black Mercedes. They looked odd together. Complete opposites.

Lucas was in jeans and a black T-shirt, and the view of him bent under the hood wasn’t bad at all.

“Good morning,” I said.

“Good morning,” he said while tightening something with a wrench.

“Would you like some coffee?”

“Almost done here but would love a cup after I finish up.”

I leaned against the hood of his car and watched as he got into the driver’s seat to turn the ignition. Blush started right up and sounded happier than usual. Lucas shut her down and I helped him clean up.

“Thanks for helping with Blush.”

He tossed his toolbox in his trunk. “Blush?”

“You don’t name your cars?”