She didn’t want to be out here anymore than he did. In fact, she wanted to be out here far less than he did. At least he would be getting paid for this. Stella was going to get charged an arm and a leg to haul her car to some shop where she’d get charged her other arm and leg to fix whatever was wrong with it. If anyone had the right to be upset, it was her, not him.
The man turned towards her, but instead of his neutral expression from earlier, his eyebrows were lifted in surprise. When he did finally look away, his brow was furrowed.
Fine. They didn’t need to talk or be friendly. He was here to do a job, and Stella was happy to let him do it. She wasn’t in the mood to talk, anyway. She was starving and sweaty, and with every passing second, she was becoming more and more positive this spontaneous trip was a huge mistake.
“I get grouchy when I don’t eat.”
Stella snapped her attention to the man securing her car to his hitch. “Excuse me?”
“‘Hangry’ is what Drew’s sisters call it,” he said. “I was working on a car in the shop and didn’t have my phone with me. When I finished, I was headed out to grab dinner, but I had a message from Drew. It was about you. Since it had already been an hour since he called, I skipped dinner and came here straight away. I’m hungry and grouchy. And sorry.”
It was the most he’d spoken since he got out of the truck, and Stella was struck dumb.
An apology? That was the last thing she expected from a man like him.
That wasn’t fair, exactly, since she didn’t know this man from Adam. She didn’t know his name at all. It could actually be Adam for all she knew. Still, that hadn’t stopped Stella from assuming she knew what to expect from him the moment he climbed out of his truck and glared at her. Now, he’d surprised her, and she was too tired and hungry to hide it.
“I’ve stunned you into silence.” He chuckled and stood up, wiping his hands on the backs of his jeans. “I must have made a pretty bad impression if a simple apology leaves you speechless.”
“I’m afraid I didn’t make the best impression, either. I didn’t even ask your name or thank you for coming.”
“Sam.” He pointed to the side of the truck and the animated character that looked nothing like him. “It’s my shop.”
“Oh. Duh.” She blushed in embarrassment at not making the obvious connection. “Thanks for coming to save me, Sam.”
Finally, he smiled. It was small and close-lipped, but dimples punctuated each side of the humble curve, and laugh lines appeared around his eyes and mouth. Stella’s heart squeezed.
Sam’s smile was confident, but not in the same way as Drew’s. Rather, Sam’s smile was comfortable. He wasn’t trying to impress anyone or prove anything. He was just perfectly at ease.
Sam opened the passenger side door for her before walking around to the driver’s side. Stella didn’t know if it was because he noticed her dress and was offering her privacy or not, but either way, she was grateful for no prying eyes as she hauled herself indelicately into the high bench seat of the tow truck.
He checked the rear-view mirror several times as they pulled away, ensuring her car didn’t roll backward down the road. His truck smelled like oil and leather and dirt, but there was something spicy and unique there, too. It was genuine man smell—not the sour smell of a teenager’s socks or the sweaty smell of a little boy’s head after playing outside all afternoon.
“I saw your face when I pulled up.”
Stella startled at his voice. “What do you mean?”
“You looked shocked,” he said, rubbing a hand along his gray-speckled stubble. He chuckled. “Scared, even. I’m sure you regret not accepting the ride from the dashing young gentleman. I can’t blame you for that, though.”
“And you shouldn’t because it isn’t true.” Stella folded her hands in her lap and sat tall. “Drew Baldwin was a charming young man, but I’m not much interested in young men.”
Was this flirting? Stella couldn’t tell, but she hoped so. Or maybe she didn’t.
It had been so long since she’d done this. Years. Maybe a decade.
She’d dated here and there over the years, but never anything serious. Jace needed stability, not a revolving door of men. She didn’t want to bring men over to the house to meet Jace, but she also didn’t have the money to pay for a babysitter every time she wanted to go out to dinner. So, she mostly just didn’t go out.
After a while, it became normal. The thought of going out again, trying to remember what it was like to flirt and make small talk and get to know someone, felt scarier than being alone. She knew how to be alone. Stella could plan for being alone. She couldn’t plan for a man she didn’t know yet.
Sam’s hands clenched the wheel and he nodded. “Noted.”
When Stella admitted she’d never heard of Willow Beach before, Sam launched into a speech worthy of a tourism commercial. It was easy to see he loved his town and the people in it. He told her about the small shops along Main Street—cafés, bakeries, saloons, and restaurants—and the owners of each. He spoke about them as friends, not just neighbors or acquaintances.
“My shop is at the end of the street, away from the more touristy spots,” he said. “I still see a lot of tourists, though. Cars break down even on vacation. Though, I suppose you know that as well as anyone.”
“Willow Beach sees a lot of tourists?”
Sam nodded. “I’m surprised you haven’t heard of it since you live in Maine. It’s not a nationwide destination spot or anything, but if you’re
