Free Just A Small Town Girl by J.E. Hunter Page B

Conductor’s.”
    “I don’t know if I can, I don’t have a car, so I’m not sure how I’d get out there,” I hated saying no.
    “You can borrow mine,” he said it like the idea of me not driving his car was silly.
    “Uh Fisher,” I swallowed hard, coming to a stop in front of our building.
    “Yeah?”
    “I can’t drive,” my cheeks colored a little at the admission.
    “Why not?”
    “Well I can, I’ve driven tractors before, but I don’t have a driver’s license,” I’d just never needed one because Sam was willing to take me wherever I wanted to go.
    “No way,” the genuine shock and slight horror was apparent in his voice. When I didn’t respond he went on, “well we’ll have to fix that.”
    And that is how I found myself behind the wheel of Fisher’s SUV the following Saturday afternoon.
    “Okay now your mirrors are set and your seatbelt is buckled. Put your foot on the brake and put it in gear,” Fisher placed his hand on top of mine and we shifted the car into drive together.
    We were only driving around the high school parking lot, but I was scared. I’d always been told there was no reason for me to get my license before I had children and even then it wasn’t a necessity because I could stay home with my babies until they started school.
    “Okay, now ease off the brake and ease on to the gas,” I stepped off the brake and eased my foot onto the gas, Fisher’s car zipped across the lot and I slammed my foot back on the brake making Fisher’s body sway forward with the momentum.
    “Oops,” I said a silent thank you we hadn’t brought Riley along for this little lesson.
    Fisher smiled brightly at me and in that moment I was so grateful for him and his general kindness.
    “It’s okay, that wasn’t so bad,” he let that sink in for a moment, “this time ease on to the gas a little softer, just with your toe.”
    I followed his instructions and the car started off down the parking lot, at the end of the row I turned right and we rolled down the other side of the lot.
    “Great job, now ease onto the brake.”
    I pressed the toe of my flat to the brake pedal and we slowed to a smooth stop.
    We practiced parallel parking and backing for half an hour before he suggested I drive home. After the fifth time he insisted I gave in and drove, very slowly, back to our building. When I pulled to a stop in front of our home and nearly expertly parallel parked Fisher turned to me.
    “Very good!” Fisher cheered, helping me put the car in park and leaning across the center console to wrap his arms around me, “I’m so proud of you,” he whispered moments before he pressed his lips to mine.
    I stilled, unsure what to expect, but his tongue darted out to massage my lower lip and I gasped, becoming enthralled in the kiss and giving as good as I got. I ran my tongue along his, tasting cinnamon goodness that I could only imagine belonged to Fisher. My hands crept up his chest and I gently stroked the hair at the nape of his neck. The intimate touch seemed to pull Fisher back to reality and he yanked away from me.
    “Sorry,” he mumbled, infuriating me, before he stepped out of the car and made his way around to open my door for me.
    “Piper,” he started in response to the glare I leveled him with.
    “Save it Fisher, I’m tired,” I took a few steps toward our building before calling over my shoulder, “thanks for the lesson,” and continuing inside.
     
    Fisher apologized again, this time more formally by bringing me a chicken dinner and taking me for three more driving lessons where he didn’t kiss me or apologize and I decided to forgive him. He even took me to the DMV for the driving test and gave me a very platonic hug of celebration when I passed. He and Bailey treated me to dinner with Riley and I drove us all home.
    After Fisher put the baby to bed Bailey and I sat on Fisher’s living room floor while he played his guitar from the couch.
    “You should sing along,” Fisher