“I like it.” I moved over to her and tried to see things through her eyes. “That should be the first project. The inviting customer space.”
Baker grinned at me. “You could also talk to Mrs. Quinn to see if one of the girls at Paths has customer service experience. She could be your eventual office manager, part-time, but also be the first face customers see.” How did she keep surprising me with her intelligence? Cleverness. “Although . . . shouldn’t we get the equipment you need to fix cars first?”
“I suppose that would be the place to start.” I rubbed my chin as if considering.
“Holt?”
“Yeah, Easy?”
Her eyes were wary when she looked at me. “Isn’t this going to be expensive?”
“Yeah. But if we go in stages, it’s doable. We’ll do the garage and where the customers will see. The back office can wait. The apartment isn’t pressing at the moment. And the other space”—I met her gaze— “is up to you.”
She didn’t say anything for a long time, simply taking in the garage.
Had I made a mistake showing her my dream? Including her?
“I—I don’t have the money to set up an operation here. It takes every spare cent just to get the materials I need.” She looked uncertain.
Admiration filled me. She didn’t give herself enough credit for what she’d accomplished.
“I’m not asking for any money from you,” I said. “I’m sorry if I gave you that impression.”
“I can’t let you pay for this.” Her protest was almost feral. “I don’t want another handout.”
I recoiled. “It’s not a handout.” I wasn’t entirely sure why I wanted to help her reach her dreams, whatever they may be, but I did. Even if it meant sacrificing something I needed for my own business.
She released a long breath. “I don’t let myself think about this beyond making lip gloss in the living room.”
Why? The question was on the tip of my tongue. It was the perfect time to find out more about the inner workings of the woman who intrigued me.
“And for now, that will remain the same. You have your job at the magazine, and the makeup is your side project. Down the road, you might want to make that your main focus. Why don’t we keep options open?”
“That makes sense.” She paused as if digesting my words. “One of the women from Paths, she’s an apprentice to an interior designer,” she said before I had a chance to open my mouth. “Oh, and Leesa’s working with an architect. Do we need an architect?”
Her newfound enthusiasm was an abrupt change, but I’d take it. Maybe it meant she’d warm up to the idea of the building being ours.
I shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
“Maybe they’ll help us. I’ll go by there on the way home.”
Her enthusiasm was contagious, but that wasn’t what filled me with that strange feeling which only happened around Baker. “That would be great. If they would help us.”
She blushed, but lifted her chin. “There’s a lot of potential here.”
I wasn’t so sure we were just talking about the garage. “I think so too.”
Chapter Ten
Baker
“Are you going to tell them?”
I slipped my hand into the crook of Holt’s arm after he locked the door to his new garage.
He tensed, his expression wary when he glanced at me. “Normally, my family would be the first to know.” He stopped walking and turned to face me. “Is this crazy? Do you think it’ll work?”
“Only one way to find out.”
He searched my eyes, and my heart beat in triple time. I clutched his arm and confidence filled him.
“It’s going to be hard for a while. Especially without my steady salary. But this lady came into Ed’s the other day. A garage down the road tried to screw her and I just—I want somewhere people can come and be confident they’re getting what they pay for.” He covered my hand with his. “When I saw the building, it felt like my chance to do that.”
I barely knew Holt, but his heart—he was a decent man. It would be nice to be part of something worthwhile, even if I didn’t deserve to be.
We strolled along the sidewalk in no hurry. I took in the neighborhood, noticing Holt’s building was in the worst shape. An eyesore, if I was completely honest. But the place had good bones.
I wanted the space upstairs with a vengeance. And I was still reeling from the fact he had me in mind when he bought it. We were nothing more than roommates, yet it seemed as if we were headed toward something bigger. A something neither of us had expected. I wasn’t sure either of us were truly ready for it.
Once again, it seemed that choices about my life were being made for me. I’d vowed to never let it happen again. This was different than it had been with Kyle. Holt wasn’t trying to manipulate me into doing something I didn’t want.
I flicked my eyes to an elderly man and woman on the opposite side of the street. Their position mirrored ours. How long have they been together? What have they survived? What would it take to make it that long?
Trust.
A whole lot of trust. Which was the one thing Holt and I would never have. Not when I couldn’t tell him the truth about who I was. When I couldn’t trust his motives, not because he wasn’t genuine, but because I’d always have a little kernel of suspicion in the back of my mind, especially when it came to men.
I’d meant what I told him. Men manipulated. I was evidence of it. I’d never had a driver’s license, for God’s sake, because Kyle wouldn’t let me. If I couldn’t get over what was ingrained in my head—which I wouldn’t—then we weren’t going anywhere.
“We had pizza last night. I didn’t think we’d be going to Dino’s.”
I lifted a shoulder and lowered it. “I could eat pizza every day.”
He grinned. “Me too.”
“Is Marlow going to be here?”
Holt held open the door to Dino’s, and I stepped inside.
“Never know with my sister.”
He took my hand and led me toward the same table we’d sat at when I’d come with Trish. Everyone was here, except Mrs. Quinn. The surprise guest was Patrick, who was seated next to Marlow. Her wine glass was already nearly empty.
“Did you know Patrick was coming?”
“Nope.”
“Think he invited himself?”
“If he thought it would rub Marlow the wrong way, definitely.”
“I’ll take my whiskey hand delivered,” Patrick said to Andrew. Holt’s brother looked over his shoulder and made a face. “Roommates to lovebirds in less than six months.”
“I’ll have it to you by the weekend.”
Apparently they’d made a bet on what would happen between Holt and me. Would any of us ever grow up?
“Why are you here?” Holt asked before first kissing Ella and then Trish on top of the head.
“Considering Andrew and Trish are practically married and this is the Dixon family Sunday dinner, I’d say that explains itself.” Patrick pointed at Ella. “You know she can’t talk, right?”