Part 3 (2/2)
”Get a room!” I yell.
They laugh, then come over to help us out of the powder.
”That'll teach you,” I say and toss my wet hair over my shoulder.
Cara mimics me and follows, stomping to the front door. As we step inside, I can hear the guys laughing. Cara shuts the door and we dissolve into giggles, high-five each other, and strip out of our boots and sopping-wet scarves.
Suddenly the door opens and Zack pokes his head in.
”Jilly, I'm taking you car-shopping today. I'll come get you at noon, after I wrap some things up.”
”I have to work today.”
”You can work here,” Cara offers with a grin. ”You brought your computer.”
I look back and forth between them and then sigh in defeat.
”Fine.”
Zack winks and shuts the door as Josh fires the beast back up.
”I'll get the coffee brewing,” Cara offers. ”We won't be going back to sleep now.”
”You don't have to go with me,” I insist as Zack and I drive back into town. ”You've done enough. Josh called the guy to come fix the furnace and will meet him at my place in about an hour. I can take my old car to the dealer and trade it in.”
”I don't mind,” he replies without glancing at me.
”If you're worried that I'll be taken advantage of because I'm a single woman buying a car-”
”That's only part of it,” he interrupts and parks his truck on the street in front of my house. The snowplow blocked my car in again this morning. ”You're not driving that again.” He points to my little Honda and I bristle.
”It's perfectly safe.”
”Not during a Montana winter, it isn't. I'll drive you in it and we'll trade it in.”
”You're very bossy,” I accuse him.
”Your point?” He c.o.c.ks a brow and stares at me, and I can't help but laugh and shake my head.
”Fine. Thanks. I have to shovel the driveway first. The car will never get through that mess.”
”Just take your stuff inside, Jill. I'll shovel.”
”You've been shoveling since very early this morning.”
”It won't kill me.”
He pushes out of the truck and I watch him walk around the hood to open my door for me.
The man moves effortlessly. The feel of his muscles and smooth skin under my hands will be forever branded on my brain.
I know what he looks like under those clothes, and it's enough to make my heart skip several beats.
”Coming?” he asks.
Yes, please.
I just nod and hop out of the tall truck. He follows me inside with my bags, then leaves with my shovel to get to work on the driveway, but I refuse to be left out. I find another shovel and dig in, helping him. He scowls at me, but I shake my head.
”My driveway, my responsibility, Zack.”
”You're the most stubborn woman I've ever met.”
I smile widely and we continue to shovel in silence, working until it's all clear and my car will have a fighting chance of making it out of the driveway.
”Okay, let's go.”
I pa.s.s him the keys when he holds his hand out, unwilling to fight the issue, and settle into the pa.s.senger seat as he maneuvers us out of my drive and onto the street.
”Jesus, you drove this yesterday?”
”I drive this every day.”
He swears under his breath and carefully drives the fifteen miles or so to the next town over.
”What kind of car do you want?” he asks.
”I think a Ford.”
”Okay.” He nods and pulls into a Ford dealer, just off the highway.
Zack and I wander among the Ford SUVs until a salesman wanders out to ask us what we're looking for.
”She needs something with all-wheel drive,” Zack begins before I can even open my mouth. ”I'd rather she drive a V-8, but I know she's going to want something that gets better gas mileage than that, so a V-6 is fine.”
The salesman nods and points to an Explorer.
”Wait,” I interrupt. ”I do want those things, but I also want heated seats and a moonroof.”
Zack frowns down at me.
”And satellite radio,” I add.
”Seriously?”
”Absolutely, I have to have my tunes.”
<script>