“You comfortable?”
“Yes,” I managed to say, praying he passed off my racing heart as nervousness.
He gave my hips a light squeeze of encouragement. “Okay, go slow to the end of the street. You can put your feet up and pretend I’m not here.”
Yeah, like that’s going to happen. I nodded and gave the scooter some gas. When nothing bad happened, I picked up the speed a little, and we reached the end of the street without incident. I turned the scooter carefully and started back toward my building.
“See? Nothing to it,” Roland said. “You want to keep going down as far as the marina?”
“Okay.” I was having fun now that I was comfortable with the Vespa. It really was easy to operate once you got the hang of it. I couldn’t wait to call Nikolas and tell him how much I loved his gift.
I turned at the marina and headed back home. When I pulled in beside the Mustang and shut the scooter off, Roland waited for me to put down the stand before he climbed off.
“Well, what do you think?” he asked.
I got off the scooter, removing my helmet. “I love it.”
“I knew you would. They’re a lot of fun.”
I smoothed down my hair. “Your timing was perfect. Thanks so much for teaching me to drive it.”
“Anytime.”
“Were you coming here or just driving by?”
“I was coming to see you.” He went to the passenger side of the car and opened the door. Reaching in, he picked up a covered casserole dish and turned to me.
“My mother made it for you. She would have come herself, but she’s been busy with all the visitors and the gathering.”
“Your mother made me a casserole?” I asked, touched. “She didn’t have to do that.”
“She loves to cook, and I think she misses making food for Sara and Nate.” He held the dish out to me. “I hope you like shepherd’s pie.”
I took the casserole, which was still warm. “I haven’t had that in a long time. I’m sure I’ll love it.”
“Oh, and the best part.” He went back to the car and returned with a wrapped pie plate. “My grandmother’s been baking nonstop since she got here. Not that you’ll hear any complaints from me. When she heard I was bringing you a casserole, she sent along one of her apple pies.” He grinned. “It’s your lucky day. Grandma’s pies are the best.”
The kindness from these people whom I hadn’t even met made tears prick my eyes.
“That’s so sweet of her. Apple is my favorite.”
“Mine, too.” He gave me a lopsided smile. “She always puts away a few for me.”
“A few?” I couldn’t help but notice there wasn’t an ounce of fat on him. He didn’t look like someone who ate a lot of desserts.
His smile grew. “We have big appetites, and we burn off calories fast.”
I looked down at the large casserole in my hands. Without stopping to think about it, I said, “I can’t possibly eat all this food. Would you like to stay for dinner?”
Roland looked as surprised by my invitation as I was. But as soon as I said the words, I realized I really did want him to stay. And it wasn’t because I was lonely or I was feeling grateful to him for teaching me to ride the Vespa. I liked talking to him.
He shook his head regretfully. “I wish I could, but I’m meeting my cousin Paul. We’re starting that Chevelle job I told you about.”
“I understand.” I lifted the heavy dish, hiding my disappointment. “Why don’t you take some with you? I’d hate to see any of this food go to waste.”
His blue eyes sparkled. “I never could turn down a good meal.”
I turned to the stairs. “Great. Give me a minute, and I’ll put some in containers for you.”
He followed me up to the apartment and held both dishes while I unlocked the door. Setting them down on the kitchen table, he said, “While you’re cutting out some food, I can mount that cargo box on the scooter if you’d like.”
“That’d be great. I’m not sure what tools I have here, though.”
“No problem. I have some in my trunk,” he said as he left the kitchen. “Should only take a few minutes.”
I walked outside, five minutes later, carrying two containers of casserole and apple pie, and I found Roland finishing up with the scooter. The storage compartment would be great for groceries and other small items. And the scooter was perfect for going to work and getting around town, at least until the winter.
Roland straightened and looked at me. “What do you think?”
“I love it. Thanks for all your help today.”
He eyed the containers in my hands. “If that top one is full of apple pie, that’s thanks enough.”
I laughed and handed the food to him. “You earned it.”
“If you’re going to use food as a payment, you can consider me your personal handyman.” He put the containers on the passenger seat. “And if you tell me you can bake, I might have to marry you.”
I choked out a laugh. “Sorry. I can barely cook yet. The stove is not my friend.”
He wore a smile when he turned back to me. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure that out, too. Now, where do you want to put the Vespa?”
“I don’t have a garage.” I frowned at the scooter. “You don’t think it’s safe here?”
“We get a lot of tourists in town in the summer. A couple of strong guys could easily put that in the back of a truck.” He thought for a moment then walked around to the back of the building. “You can keep it in the storage area when you’re not using it.”
“It won’t fit through the door.”
“But it will.” He pointed at the heavy steel door. “It’s actually a double door they used for deliveries back when this was a store. You just have to unbolt the top and bottom of the second one, and it’ll open.”
“How did I miss that? I’ll be right back.” I ran up to the apartment and used the stairs to get down to the first floor. It took me a minute to wriggle open the bolts that had become stuck from disuse. When I opened the two doors, Roland was waiting with the Vespa. He easily rolled it inside and turned it so it was facing the door.
“There you go.” He removed the keys and handed them to me. “I better get going. Paul’s waiting for me.”
I walked him to his car. “Thanks again. And thank your mother and grandmother for me, too.”
“I will. Enjoy your new scooter.” He got behind the wheel and rolled down the window. “Hey, I meant to tell you that I might have to go to Portland on Saturday to pick up a part for the Chevelle. You want to tag along, maybe check out those stores you wanted to go to?”
“You don’t mind hanging out in art stores?” I teased him, happy he’d asked. I did need new supplies, and it would be nice to do something different for a change.
“Sara dragged me to every art store and bookstore in Portland. I think I can manage a few for you.”
“Okay, sounds like fun.”
“Great.” He started the car and put it in reverse. “I’ll call you.”
“See you on Saturday,” I called, ignoring the little voice in my head that said it sounded like we were making a date.
It’s not a date, and we’re just friends. I’d be just as happy if it was Scott or Brenda who had asked me. It had nothing to do with Roland Greene. Nothing at all.
* * *
“Hey, you ready for our trip to the big city?”
I laughed as I sank into the passenger seat of the Mustang. “I guess Portland is big compared to New Hastings.”
Roland grinned. “True. And the farther I can get from the Knolls right now, the better.”
“Aren’t you guys having a big family gathering? I’d think you’d want to be there for that.”
He huffed softly as he pulled out onto the street. “We have three quarters of the pack here now, and you can’t turn around without bumping into an un—a wolf. I love my family, but it’s just too much. You know?”