She frowned. "Len, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were jealous."
He glanced at her and smiled. "I'm not jealous. I'm envious. What does he have that I don't - besides money and good looks?"
She laughed. "You don't seem to be doing too bad - in either department. How do you like your job?"
"It's nice to hear you laugh. There for a while I thought you never would again."
She sobered and stared down at her hands. "Sometimes I wondered."
"Whatever makes you happy - I'm for it," he said with a sigh. He turned into a driveway and shut off the truck. "That's it over there."
"It" was a late model blue Toyota Camry. "I like it," she said instantly.
His laugh was more a snort. "You haven't seen anything important yet."
She shrugged. "That's why I wanted you to look for me. I don't know a thing about mechanics."
"I wondered why you asked me to look for it." He sounded disappointed.
She stared at him, but he didn't look at her. He started walking over to the car. Of course, he though she was giving him a signal. How could she be so stupid? She hadn't thought about his feelings or motive to help. He had offered to help in any way possible and she had found a way. It was selfish enough to be embarrassing. She followed him. Apologizing would do no good. He probably thought she had led him on.
She looked over the car and expressed her approval, but her mind was consumed with guilt. How could she have known how he felt? Yet as the world began to open beyond her little circle, she realized that he had been open about his interest all along. She had been so distracted with her own troubles that his interests and needs had been ignored.
"You don't like it," he said. "I can tell. I'll find you something else."
"I like it. I want to buy it. I was just wondering how to deal with the insurance company when the seller is the owner." It wasn't a lie. The thought had crossed her mind - briefly. She needed to talk to him, but not here in front of the owner.
He smiled. "Don't worry. I'll take care of those details." He turned to the owner and started negotiating price and terms. When everyone was satisfied, they exchanged names and numbers.