Sapphire Falls: Going My Way? (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read online

  The right thing – the fair thing – to do was to go back out to the garage and help out where he could so that everyone could get out on time and do what they had to do in order for the festival to get set up. It started in three days and Dylan always made sure they worked shorter hours during that week and that meant working a little bit longer the week before to get ahead of the game. But he just didn’t have it in him tonight.

  To kill time, he turned on his computer and took care of paying bills and some invoicing he’d been putting off. He made notes on the inventory and what he was going to need to place orders on soon. Then, out of sheer desperation, he turned to Solitaire to pass the time.

  Dylan had no idea how long he’d been playing when he heard a soft knock at the door. When he looked up, Chloe was peeking her head into the room. “You busy?” she asked.

  He stood and stretched. “No. Just doing some paperwork.”

  “Everyone’s gone,” she said, sounding a little nervous, hesitant. “They’ve been gone for a while and I didn’t want to disturb you, but…”

  “It’s okay,” he interrupted. “I lost track of time. Sorry. I’m sure you’re ready to get out of here too.” It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her that her car was done, but that could open the door for her to leave sooner.

  So he kept it to himself.

  But her thoughts were on the same thing. “How’s my car coming along? Almost done?”

  “Almost,” he lied. “Tomorrow I’ll finish the work on the radiator and then take it for a test drive to make sure everything’s running smoothly and the temperature stays in the normal range.”

  She nodded. “Oh. Okay.”

  Dylan noticed her looking over her shoulder at the car – almost longingly. And that look was enough to almost make him admit he lied about it being finished.

  Almost.

  Rather than focus on that, he took Chloe by the hand and led her over to the car and then gently lifted her and placed her on the hood. “You know, the first time I saw you, you were leaning over the hood and I thought…damn. I almost thought you were a mirage.”

  His words took that serious look off of her face and had her grinning. “Seriously?”

  He shook his head. “Now I’ll admit the car grabbed my attention too…”

  “Naturally.”

  “Naturally,” he agreed, “but once I saw you, I couldn’t see anything else.”

  She sighed and reached up and put her hand on his chest. “Dylan…”

  He took her hand in his and kissed her palm. “Would it be wrong if I admitted to having a fantasy or two about you and this car?”

  A quick laugh was her immediate response. “I hope I’m the main star of them!” she teased.

  “Definitely.” This was something he was coming to love about her – their bantering. The teasing. The way she made everything seem lighter. “Let’s just say it involves you in the same position I found you in.”

  Chloe’s eyes went wide as his words registered. She looked around the garage before returning her gaze to him. “Hmm…it would seem as if we are alone here.”

  Dylan swallowed hard and nodded. Was she seriously saying what he thought she was saying?

  “And no one can see into the garage…”

  Another nod.

  Taking her hand back, Chloe let it travel over his chest before making its way up to curve around his shoulder and bicep. “And the doors are all locked up…”

  She was killing him. Afraid to say anything to break the spell or ruin the moment, Dylan simply let her take the lead.

  “If memory serves,” she began in a sultry tone, “the hood was down like this.” Sliding off the hood, she turned around and placed her hands on the car. “And I was bent over it.” Looking over her shoulder, she got into the position. “Do I have that right?”

  In her current position, her denim-clad bottom was pressed snugly against the raging hard-on he’d had all afternoon.

  “Dylan?”

  He nodded.

  She grinned. “I don’t know…somehow I think…maybe this won’t work.”

  Wait…what? He was just about to say it was okay – that they didn’t have to do this. That it was just a silly fantasy - albeit a hot and sexy one – when Chloe straightened and whipped her t-shirt up and over her head.

  Dylan’s heart kicked hard in his chest.

  “What do you think?” she said, her voice going a little husky. “Will this work?”

  Although he had a feeling he was coming off as being a complete moron, all he could do was nod again.

  Her grin broadened. “Well…I suppose it could. But wouldn’t it be better if I did this?” And then she shimmied out of her jeans, kicking her shoes aside. Standing in front of him in nothing but two scraps of white lace, she winked and turned to bend back over the hood of the car.

  Dylan looked down at his hands. They were dirty from the engine work he’d done earlier. And yet the thought of placing his hands on her silky skin – the pristine white lace – took his arousal up another notch.

  Chloe looked over her shoulder and saw him looking at his hands. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “I kind of like them like that.”

  It was like waving the red flag in front of the bull.

  “Be sure,” he said lowly, almost in a growl.

  Her response was to wink before adding, “Bring it.”

  Whipping his own shirt over his head, Dylan reached down and spun Chloe around to face him before capturing her lips in a savage kiss. For hours he’d been waiting to taste her again and it had felt like days. She met him kiss for kiss and it turned into a damn-near frenzy. He lifted her and placed her back on top of the hood before doing his best to lay her down on it.

  His hands guided her back as he continued to kiss her. When her legs wrapped around him, he began to wonder if he was so far gone that he was about to embarrass himself. He broke their kiss and quickly straightened. With his eyes locked on hers, he warned her, “I’m already close.”

  “Me too,” she panted. “Hurry.”

  In his fantasy they took it slow, but there was no way that was going to happen right now. And it didn’t seem like either of them really cared. So rather than continuing to obsess about it, Dylan decided to do what he’d been waiting all afternoon for.

  He loved her.

  ****

  Friday.

  Chloe sat behind the counter in the front of Dylan’s shop and sighed. The festival was starting on Sunday and her car was about to be pulled up for her to take for a test drive. Dylan was going to do it but she asked if he would mind if she did it herself. That Mustang was her baby and she missed it.

  Sad but true.

  And after last night’s escapades on the hood of the car, it was even more endearing to her.

  When they had gone home, she and Dylan had talked about the festival and all of the activities, but it had seemed…stilted. Off. It was almost as if he was holding back. And when she’d questioned him on it, he had shrugged and said he didn’t want her to feel pressured to stay for it.

  That would have been the perfect opening for her to say she wanted to stay – but old insecurities kept her from opening her mouth. A small niggle of doubt creeped in and had her wondering if Dylan was actually wanting her to stay or kind of hoping she’d leave. The incredible sex they had said one thing, but his words and actions said another.

  Totally confusing.

  While Chloe chalked up her own inability to communicate well to her recent breakup. It was hard to trust again so soon, and previous experience taught her that men were consummate liars. Only…only she had a hard time believing that where Dylan was concerned. But it was hard to change her way of thinking quite so easily.

  The clatter of keys on the countertop snapped her out of her reverie. Dylan was standing there smiling at her. “Daydreaming on the job?”

  She chuckled. “You caught me.”

  He leaned in close and whispered for her ears only, “Hopefully y
ou were thinking about me and what we did in the shower this morning.”

  Chloe felt the blush start at the tip of her toes and travel up to the roots of her hair. This morning had been totally hot – but so had every encounter they’d had with each other in the last couple of days. He was becoming addictive to her and she pulled back and gave him a sheepish grin. “Maybe. Or maybe I was thinking about my car and speeding her around town with the windows down.”

  A hearty laugh was Dylan’s initial response. “You might want to take it easy on her for her first trip out and baby her a little bit. Be gentle.”

  She wanted to remind him that they weren’t particularly gentle with her last night when they were climbing all over her, but decided to let that go for now. Picking up the keys, she came out from behind the counter, giddy to get behind the wheel.

  Dylan studied her for a moment before he looked away, sticking his hands in his pockets. “So…um…,” he began, “everything has been done that we talked about so she’s in good shape to take you on to Oregon. I don’t think you’ll have any problems for a while. You’re good to go.”

  That last sentence made her a little sick to her stomach. “Oh…good,” she said, nodding. “I’m just gonna…you know…drive her around a bit. I’ll be back in a little while.” And without another word, Chloe walked outside and climbed into her beloved car.

  It didn’t take long to notice the difference. The damn thing practically purred. Hell, she couldn’t even remember a time when it had sounded this good. Cursing under her breath, she pulled out of the parking lot and out onto the main road.

  Driving past the town square and down some of the local roads, Chloe was careful not to go too fast. She understood what Dylan meant about being gentle. With every mile she drove, Chloe kept looking for a problem – a gauge to run hot or a light to come on – but they didn’t. With the car in perfect running order, there wasn’t a reason for her to stay. Well, other than her really wanting to. But she felt weird admitting that to Dylan. Hell, she had trouble admitting it to herself!

  With a weary sigh, she pulled over to the side of the road, put the car in park and turned it off.

  Drastic times called for drastic measures.

  Seven

  Dylan glanced at Chloe as they drove back to the shop. She didn’t look upset. If anything she looked…tranquil.

  “You sure you’re all right?” he asked.

  Turning to him, she smiled and nodded. “Absolutely.” Then she reached for his hand and squeezed it. “Good thing this happened now rather than while I was on the interstate in the middle of nowhere again, right?”

  Frowning, he nodded. Fifteen minutes ago, Chloe had called him and told him the car was running hot and making a clanking noise. It made no sense. He had gone over everything with the car. Twice! There was no reason for it to run hot or to make any kind of strange noise. And as much as he hated to think he’d messed something up, he was also as thankful as she was that she was still in the Sapphire Falls town limits when it happened.

  “I…I really don’t know what to say, Chloe,” he said. “For the life of me, I can’t imagine what could have gone wrong. And it’s the weekend so…”

  “Dylan,” she interrupted. “It’s all right. I don’t expect any special treatment. And with the festival starting…” She sighed. And it wasn’t with disappointment.

  “I promise to look at it as soon as I can.”

  She smiled sweetly at him again. “I know. Take your time.”

  Take his time? Was it possible she wasn’t as anxious to get to Oregon as he’d originally thought? It wasn’t completely implausible – after all, with the new turn in their relationship, maybe she was a little interested in seeing where it all went?

  “I’ve got a line of cars needing to get done before our shortened hours start. Every year during the festival, I have the guys only come in…”

  “I know,” she replied, still smiling. “Like I said, I’m not expecting you to go out of your way. Take care of your customers, Dylan. I’m fine. Unless…” Her smile faded slightly. “I mean, I’m sure you’re a little anxious to have some time to yourself without me hovering all over the place. I promise to try to find a way to…”

  She never got to finish. They had just pulled back in to the shop’s parking lot when Dylan his the breaks hard and threw it in to park. He turned toward her, his heart hammering in his chest and more than a little irritated. “What’s going on here?” he demanded.

  Her eyes were wide as she looked at him. “I…I don’t know what you mean?”

  Taking a calming breath, he let it out slowly. “Chloe, I’m not anxious to have time to myself. I’m enjoying spending time with you. If I gave you the impression that I wasn’t, then I’m sorry! I’m not looking to push you out the door. Honestly, I thought you were anxious to leave!”

  Her features relaxed and that soft smile was back. Shaking her head, she replied, “I’m not in as big of a rush as I thought I’d be.” And then she blushed and Dylan couldn’t help but reach up and caress her cheek. “I hope that’s okay.”

  “Baby, that’s fine. Really. I was thinking…”

  They were interrupted by Will knocking on the window. “You need help unhooking this?”

  There was definitely more Dylan wanted to say, but for now it would have to wait.

  ****

  “So explain all of this to me one more time,” Chloe said as she and Dylan walked toward the town center where all the activity was.

  “Haven’t you ever been to a carnival before?” he teased.

  She laughed softly. “A few. But this just seems…different. Better.” She shrugged. “I don’t know. Everyone’s been talking about it all excitedly.”

  He chuckled with her. “Well yeah. It’s a lot of fun and it’s steeped in tradition so it doesn’t matter that it happens every year because we all look forward to it. And it’s even more fun when we get to introduce it to someone new.”

  Chloe hugged his arm close as they walked, barely able to hide her own excitement. There was so much to see and so many people walking around that she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do first. The Ferris wheel was huge and it had always been a favorite. There were all kinds of carnival games where you could win silly prizes. She spotted a petting zoo, a dunk tank and a haunted house too. They’d only been there for five minutes and she was already on sensory overload!

  “Where would you like to start?” he asked.

  “Um…I’m not sure. Maybe the Ferris wheel?” It seemed like a fairly straight forward and simple suggestion, but Dylan hesitated.

  “How about we play some games first? I bet I could win you one of those giant teddy bears.”

  And he looked so sweet and sincere that she couldn’t say no. So off they went to start playing. Dylan threw softballs, tossed coins, filled balloons with water…you name it, he did it and by the time they were done, she had a small menagerie of stuffed animals. So much so that they had to go back to his truck and drop them off.

  “How about lunch?” he asked as they made their way back to the square.

  And as much as that Ferris wheel kept catching her eye, she decided to let Dylan play tour guide and she’d just follow his lead.

  For the next several hours they strolled around and talked to people and ate all kinds of delicious foods but had yet to ride any rides.

  “Hey, Dylan! Hey, Chloe!” Looking up, Chloe saw Hailey and Ty walking toward them. It was obvious to Chloe that they were incredibly in love by the way they looked at each other and for a moment, she felt a pang of envy. She loved the way Dylan looked at her, but was that love or just lust?

  Then she chided herself. Love. They’d known each other for a week; of course that couldn’t be it. The man was attracted to her and that was it.

  And somehow that thought was a little bit depressing.

  “How are you enjoying the festival?” Hailey asked anxiously.

  “Don’t mind her,” Ty quickly said. “These thing
s are a little bit of an obsession for her so she’s always looking for everyone’s enthusiasm to match her own.”

  Both Chloe and Dylan chuckled. “I’m having a great time,” Chloe said, grinning. “Just the buildup from hearing about it all week was enough to have me looking forward to it.”

  “And now that you’re here?” Hailey asked.

  “Seriously, I’m loving it. We’ve tried some amazing food and Dylan won me something from just about every booth!”

  Hailey and Ty grinned at Dylan. “Aren’t you the sweetest?” Hailey gushed. “Have you taken Chloe on the Ferris wheel yet?”

  “Hailey…” Ty admonished.

  “What?” she asked innocently.

  “Come on. Let’s see if I can beat Dylan and win you something from all the booths,” Ty said as he took Hailey’s hand and led her away. “See you both later.”

  Once they were out of earshot, Chloe looked at Dylan expectantly. “Okay, I’ve got to ask. What’s the deal with the Ferris wheel? I feel like you’re avoiding it like the plague and then Hailey’s question seemed weird. So what’s up?”

  At first Dylan just shrugged but Chloe kept at him. He sighed loudly. “Here’s the thing – it’s sort of…tradition, I guess. Guys start with a kiss on the Ferris wheel, heat things up in the haunted house, and then go for it on the hill.”

  “The hill?”

  “Uh…yeah. Klein Hill.” He pointed to a spot behind them off in the distance.

  She looked back at him and did her best to hide her amusement. “And you didn’t want to take me on the Ferris wheel because…?”

  He rolled his eyes. “I know it sounds stupid but…everyone’s already watching us and I knew how you felt about that so I didn’t want to add fuel to the fire and make you uncomfortable.”

  “Hailey was right.”

  Dylan looked at her quizzically.

  “You are the sweetest.” Standing on tip-toes, she kissed him softly on the lips. Then, grabbing his hand, she tugged him in the direction of the Ferris wheel. With a quick look at him, she shrugged. “Let’s give them something to talk about!”