Perfect Song (Mason Creek Book 2) by Lauren Runow (christmas read aloud .txt) 📕

and we began hanging out, but I moved right after graduation, so I only really hung out with her that year. We’ve kept in touch though.”

“Were you the bad influence on her then?”

I chuckle to myself as I drop my chin to my chest in embarrassment. “We told you way more than we should have last night.”

“Not possible.”

I look up as he lifts the tire from the car and carries it over to the machine that removes the rim from the tire, making his arms bulge in an enticing way.

“You forget, I’m raising a teenager in this town. My son hates it. He can’t get away with shit because he knows it will get back to me.”

“What’s your son’s name?”

“Matthew.” He pauses, reaching in his jeans.

He comes toward me, holding out his phone and showing me a picture of the two of them. They have the same eyes, lips, and hair color.

“Wow, mini me, huh?”

He glances at the screen before putting it back in his pocket. “Yeah, has been since the day he was born. He’s all my son, for sure.” He pauses and then says with a smile, “You know what? How about you help me change this tire? Women should know in case there aren’t any nice guys to save the day.”

“Do you think all girls need saving?” I raise my eyebrows.

He laughs and raises his arm, calling me over, “You know what I mean. Let me be your teacher today.”

I stand and walk the few steps toward him. “Singer one day, teacher the next. You’re like the jack of all trades.”

I hear him whisper something under his breath, but when I turn to face him, he’s quick to move to grab the part needed to start the job.

“Take this.” He hands me a tool that’s tied to a long hose, which is attached to the wall. “This will screw the lug nuts off with one press of this button.” He presses it, and a loud sound radiates around us. “Come stand here.” He points to the space directly in front of him.

I do so, instantly feeling his warmth on my back. His woodsy scent makes me close my eyes and take a deeper inhale.

“Now, put that gun right here.” He points to where I should start.

I place the machinery on the lug nut. When I press the button, the entire thing vibrates in my hand, and I almost drop it with a surprised yelp.

His chuckle tickles my ear as he raises his hand to place it over mine. “You have to squeeze it hard so it unscrews the nut, not your arm.”

The way his rough hand engulfs mine sends chills down my spine. I’ve never been affected by a man being so close to me, and I have no clue as to why he’s making my body react this way.

I try again, and thankfully, this time, it unscrews without issue. Then, he guides me to move to the other ones.

Once all are undone, he steps in. “Let me remove it, so it doesn’t get any road grime on your clothes.”

I step back and smile when I get to see his arms bulge as he lifts the tire off the car and carries it over to where the wheel will be removed from the rim. “This isn’t something you’d ever do on the side of a road since you’d just be putting your flat on, but you can come watch. It’s pretty cool how it removes it with ease.”

I step toward him, and when I get near, he places his arm around my shoulders and pulls me closer to him, pointing down low.

“You see, it’s all done with this contraption right here.”

I’d like to say I’m watching what he wants me to see, but honestly, as he keeps his arm around my shoulders, my mind is a jumbled mess of emotions that I’m not sure how I feel about. The last thing I should be thinking about is any man, yet this man is doing things that I wish my body weren’t reacting so strongly to.

After it releases the tire completely, he switches the old tire for a new one, and we watch again as the machine puts the rim on the tire instead of taking it off.

He grabs it once it’s complete and carries it back to my mom’s car, holding it in front of him, making his back look so broad and yummy.

With the tire back on the correct slots, he shows me how to screw the lug nuts back in and how to make sure they’re extra tight. I hand him back the screw gun, and he takes it with a smile that makes my lips tug to the side in return.

He steps back and lowers the car to the ground. “All done.”

He hops in the car and drives it in reverse, off the lift and to a place where it’s safe for me. We meet at the driver’s door.

“Thank you so much. What do I owe you?”

“Don’t worry about it. When your mom called, she put it on her account, so you’re ready to go. Since you did all the work though, I’ll just charge you for the new tire.”

One big plus I forgot about living in a small town—having a tab. The idea of the local store letting you leave without paying because they know you’ll pay your bill at the end of the month blows my mind. That is something that would never happen in New York.

He holds the door open for me as I slide in. “Thank you again for your help.”

“It was my pleasure, Justine.”

I go to shut the door, but he stops me as he rubs the back of his neck, looking up at me through his long lashes.

“Hey, I was thinking of heading down to Pony Up again tonight. If you’re feeling like it, you should come too.”

Even though I try to fight it, a small smile grows on my face. “Sounds like it could be fun. I’ll