Betting on Love Read Free Page A

Wyatt scanned the first item.
    Drew nodded. “For now anyway.”
    Wyatt picked up the spark plug and furrowed his eyebrows. “What’s this for?”
    “The dump truck. I’m pretty sure that’s all that’s wrong with her.”
    “Is it broken or just not running well?”
    “Won’t start up like it should.”
    “Are you sure it’s just a spark plug? Melody came over to the house yesterday after church, and she fixed Gracie’s car in no time flat. I was sure it was—”
    Drew lifted his hand as he peered at his friend. “I believe I know a bit more about vehicles than you.”
    Wyatt raised his hands in surrender. “Hey, don’t be so defensive, man. I wasn’t insulting your abilities. I was just saying Melody really seems to know what she’s talking about—”
    Drew clenched his hand then pounded the counter with the side of his fist. “And you don’t think I do?”
    “What is the matter with you, Drew? Why does she get on your nerves so bad?”
    Drew thought of Melody in the long silver dress she wore as Addy’s bridesmaid. She’d looked amazing with the sides of her thick, dark hair tied in a knot at the back of her head and the rest of it flowing in long curls down her back. Her dark eyes held such depth and mystery. When she walked down the aisle, for a moment, Drew nearly lost his breath.
    Then he’d watched her play with the kids on the merry-go-round. Her expression and body language had been of complete freedom and bliss. Her laughter rang through the breeze with the children’s, and he’d found himself again drawn to her as he’d never been drawn to a woman before.
    Then she’d challenged him to cornhole. The Melody he’d seen when she first arrived in River Run exposed herself. Melody couldn’t simply have fun with the game. She had to win. She had to gloat. Sure, the gloating had only come from her expression, not her lips. Still, Drew had noted it all the same.
    She was the same way when it came to mechanics. She had to prove to everyone that she was the best, that they should trust their transportation to her and no one else. And after years of looking after the vehicles of his family and friends, he took offense to her waltzing into River Run and stomping all over his toes.
    Drew finally looked at Wyatt. “The woman thinks she knows everything.”
    “You mean about vehicles?”
    Drew nodded his head. “That’s one thing she thinks she knows it all about.”
    Wyatt leaned forward against the counter. “She
is
a nationally certified diesel mechanic.”
    Drew rolled his eyes. “Who cares?”
    “And she’s good.”
    “A lot of people are good. I’m good.”
    Wyatt lifted one eyebrow. “Are you jealous of a
girl
, Drew Wilson?”
    Drew folded his arms across his chest and growled. “Do I need to whip some sense into you? It’s been a few years since I’ve done it, but you know I can. Of course I’m not jealous of her. It’s her cocky attitude that gets on my nerves.”
    “She did beat you at cornhole.” Wyatt’s mouth curved upward just a tad on the left side, and Drew felt a real urge to punch his friend in the face. Wyatt lifted two fingers in the air. “Twice.”
    Anger boiled within Drew, and he pointed his finger at Wyatt. “Now, look here…”
    Wyatt backed away from the counter. “Actually, you two are a whole lot alike. You’re both so stinkin’ competitive. Have to be the best at everything. But you’re a Christian, and she’s not.”
    Drew’s fury started to simmer. He knew Melody wasn’t a Christian. Addy had prayed for her every night at the dinner table before she and Nick got married.
    Wyatt continued. “Gracie prays for her constantly. She really likes Melody, but the woman’s got some kind of wall all built up around her. She doesn’t want to let anyone in. Not even Gracie, and you know how easy it is for people to open up to Gracie.”
    Drew blew out a long breath. “Addy feels the same way. Nick said Melody was raised by her mom, just the two