The Blizzard Bluff Series

Chapter 3

Merry

Nothing you do is small.

I don't know how to respond to the words he's spoken to me. Thankfully, I don't have to as he moves on to another topic.

"Do you know you have a taillight out?"

He's moved so quickly, I'm slightly confused. "What?"

"Your taillight, it's out. Do you know how to change it?"

A laugh bubbles up from my chest. "Do I know how to change my taillight? Not a chance. I might be able to construct and decorate some of the most complex cakes. However, I have no idea about anything when it comes to cars except how to check the fluid levels."

His smile is patient. "I'll follow you over to the auto store and fix it for you."

Since I moved to Blizzard Bluff, I've been so focused on getting For Goodness Cakes up and running and making it successful. Which I've done. I now make a decent living from what I've put my heart and soul into. It's incredibly rewarding, but what's been neglected is my personal life. The things that make life worth living, at least that's what everyone says. I've always been career-focused and nothing has changed.

"Thank you, I really appreciate this."

Getting into my Grand Cherokee, I head over to the local auto shop. This reminds me that I need to pay more attention to what's happening around me. I had no idea my taillight was out. What happens when I don't pay attention to something important around me? What if someone means to do me harm? I'm probably not going to see it happening because I'm so focused on what's going on right in front of me that I'm not stopping to look around at all.

It's a holdover from my last relationship. When it came to the ex-boyfriend, I was like a bullet moving from one target to the next. Getting up early to accomplish as much as I could, working my day at the bakery, and then rushing to get to him in Denver.

I was exhausted but, because of his job, I was expected to attend dinners with him. There were cocktail nights and parties where we rubbed elbows with who's who of the elite there. I had to look perfect and hold myself to as strict a code of conduct as the people who worked for that company and ran in those circles.

The truth was, I never felt comfortable. I've always been a small-town girl. The one who wanted to live a simple life. I'd never wanted the glitz and glamor of Denver, but I convinced myself I did for a while.

But I longed for this.

Taking leftovers to the school, knowing the streets I'm driving down, and recognizing everyone who walks into my bakery. Letting the hot construction worker, who also turns out to be a good baker, fix my taillight in the parking lot of the local auto shop.

I park next to the front door and get out. Beckett does the same and we meet at the front of my Cherokee. "I'll go inside with you so I know what type of light to get."

He chuckles. "I don't know off the top of my head what type of light to get you. I'd suggest you either Google it or there's a booklet inside that will tell you what type you need."

My mood lightens. "So that means I'll be able to do this on my own later?"

"As much as I'd prefer you not have to do anything on your own, yes, you can be an independent woman whenever you want to be."

Being independent is important to me and I love that he seems to understand it without me having to tell him. "Thanks, Beckett. Show me how to do this?"

* * *

"You can pop these off." He points to what he called the pins holding the actual light in place. "I'll do the first one and then you can do the second."

He holds a screwdriver he bought me inside, along with the bulb. I watch carefully as he works the head of it under the top of the pin. Once he pops it off, he hands me the screwdriver and raises an eyebrow. "Your turn."

I'm slightly nervous as I follow the instructions he gave me. "It's hard to pop off," I grunt as I do my best to pry it off.

"Use the edge as leverage." He shows me how to brace the side of the screwdriver against the end and press against it.

"Okay." I nod, doing exactly as he did. When the pin releases, I jump back, not expecting it.

Beckett laughs, the sound deep and low in his chest. I realize I've never heard this type of noise from him before. It goes all through my body, causing goosebumps on my forearms. "Good girl."

That phrase runs through me too. All I want to do is more things for him to say it again. Swallowing roughly, I run my tongue over my dry lips before lifting my gaze to meet his. "Now what do I do?"

His eyes follow my tongue against my lips before he clears his throat. "So now you pull the light out. Just put your hands on it and yank, it'll come out."

Again, I'm nervous before I do what he asks me to do, but I trust him. I'm beginning to trust him more than I ever imagined I would.

"And there's the bulb, you can see it's blown. Here ya go." He hands me the brand new one I just bought. "All ya gotta do is unscrew it and put the new one in."

After doing what he tells me, I push the light back in and place the pins where they were originally.

"Okay, go turn the Jeep on and let's try it out."

"I have remote start." I hold up my key fob. "But I'll still have to go turn the signal on." I laugh, rolling my eyes as I realize what I've just said makes no sense. Before I can allow the embarrassment to take hold, I hop in the driver's seat and flip the signal.

"It's working," he yells, before hitting the button to close the trunk.

Watching in the side view mirror as he walks toward me, I admire the easy way he carries himself and the way his hips roll. When he gets to me, he's got a smile on his face. "You did it."

"I did, but not without your help. I really appreciate it."

He ducks his head. 'You took a chance on me, Merry. Anytime you need me, I'll take a chance on you."