Exposed to You (One Night of Passion 2)

Joy smiled and handed the car back to Errol. “They use that kind of car on the Formula 1 circuit.”

Errol’s brown eyes went wide at that. “You know about Formula 1 racing? Do you know Michael Schumacher? Sixty-eight pole positions, ninety-one Grand Prix wins, seven world championships,” he said in a pressured rush. “He’s Katie’s and my favorite driver. Katie took Derek and me to see him drive once in St. Louis, and—”

“Errol, that’s enough. Remember what we talked about. Not everyone loves cars and planes as much as you do.”

Joy smiled. “You and Katie sound like very good friends.”

“Katie ran me over with her car—a Maserati GranTurismo,” Errol said matter-of-factly before he returned to his stool and continued to study the model.

Olive’s eyes twinkled with amusement when she noticed Joy’s stunned expression. “Katie accidentally hit Errol on her first night in Vulture’s Canyon,” she explained under her breath. “Errol had to have knee surgery. They’ve been friends ever since.”

“I can show you the way to the river,” Errol mumbled, his head lowered as he turned the car in his hands.

Olive pursed her lips, considering. “That’s not a bad idea. Can Ms. Hightower sketch out on your dock, Errol?”

“Yeah, okay,” Errol said.

“It’s up to you,” Olive said, glancing at Joy. “Errol can show you the way if you give him a ride. He walks into town every day. He’s got a beautiful view off his dock. That’s probably the view Katie was referring to when she mentioned the river.”

Joy hesitated only for a split second. The proposal was unusual, granted, but there was something so innocent about Errol and Olive’s familiar, protective attitude toward him, it didn’t strike Joy as anything but a kind and well-intentioned offer.

“That’d be wonderful. If you’re sure it’s okay, Errol?” Joy asked.

Errol’s shrug seemed to convey he’d be content either way.

“Errol, Jamie is going to come in for the dinner crowd to replace me. I’ll be out to your house when she gets here,” Olive said. “Here’s a loaf of seven-grain bread. You can make some toast if you get hungry. And offer Ms. Hightower a glass of something cold when you get there. It’ll be hot out on that dock,” Olive instructed when Joy and Errol stood up to leave the diner. Errol grabbed the bread, his gaze still glued to the model car, and trailed after Joy out of the diner.

* * *

Katie glanced up from where she was sitting on the living room floor when Everett walked in.

“Where is everyone?” Everett asked, his gaze running over Rill, who was looking up something on his laptop and lazily stroking Barnyard’s neck.

“Seth is sketching out in the atrium, and Joy took off about twenty minutes ago,” Rill said gruffly, his attention returning to his computer screen.

“What do you mean Joy took off?” Everett asked, stunned.

Daisy gave a happy little shout from her baby swing. Katie imitated the sound, smiling, and stood up.

“I’m going to talk to Everett in the kitchen; can you watch Daisy?” Katie asked Rill.

“Yep.” Rill set down his computer and lowered himself to the floor on all fours, acting like a lion on the prowl. Everett saw his niece’s eyes pop wide as she stared at her dad, and then heard a giggle before he followed Katie into the kitchen.

“Where did Joy go?” he asked Katie impatiently. He’d been in such a hurry to shower and remove the tattoos that he hadn’t followed Joy’s careful instructions or used the solvent she’d given him, utilizing an abrasive loofah instead. All that rush and the sacrifice of a layer of skin, and she wasn’t even here.

“She said something about going to the river to sketch. I told her it was a pretty view.”

“Oh,” Everett said, disappointment flickering through him. He’d have liked to have gone with her, but supposed he’d just have been in the way.

“Sit down for a second,” Katie said, nodding at one of the kitchen island stools.

Wariness prickled through him. “Why?” he asked suspiciously.

“Everett,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“What’s this about? Is it about Joy?” he asked cautiously, sitting on the edge of the stool.

“Yes,” Katie admitted, standing with her hands on the counter.