Page 33 of Driven to Love

“DC.” She loved the grittiness of their films.

“Me too.” He glanced left, then right, as if he didn’t want anyone to hear. “What about the Star Trek movies?”

“I saw the last couple.” She’d had a big crush on Chris Pine since she’d seen him in The Princess Diaries 2. Hell, he was the reason she’d watched Wonder Woman.

“What do you think about Spock breaking the rule and talking to his future self?”

Uh? “Well, that was a twist.”

“I know, right? It’s like breaking the fourth wall.” The quiet man across from her lit up as if she’d flipped a switch.

She’d found Frank’s interests. He was off and running on conspiracies of the fans and which Enterprise crew was the best and why. Addison smiled, nodded, and occasionally murmured in agreement. She hadn’t a clue what he was talking about most of the time.

The server brought their food. Addison listened to Frank while she ate.

Frank was into his detailed analysis of the schematics of the ship when he must have realized Addison wasn’t really tracking with the conversation. He cleared his throat and shrugged. “Anyway. Like most guys, I like science fiction. But it’s not like I collect the action figures.”

Addison could have sworn he mumbled, “Not all of them,” under his breath.

Addison tried other subjects, but it didn’t matter—the animated Frank had left the building. Through the rest of the meal, he shut down and focused on his food.

The music started as another worker cleared their plates. Addison watched as a few couples took to the dance floor. She eyed her date. No way he would ask her.

She bit her lip, waiting. Screw it. “Would you like to dance?”

Frank looked at the people gliding around the floor and shook his head.

“Do you dance? If not, it’s alright. I can teach you.”

“I can dance, but not to this.”

“What type of dancing do you do?” A vision of Frank’s legs in rapid movement doing an Irish folk dance entered her mind.

He was staring at the tablecloth again.

She followed his gaze, expecting to find… what? A stain? Dating cheat sheet? Nope. Just clean, white linen.

He cleared his throat. “Line dancing.”

“Oh.” Didn’t that go out in the nineties? Addison didn’t think this band would play any country tonight.

The night wrapped up with a coffee and a handshake—Frank’s idea, not hers. He was a nice guy, but not the one for her.

Addison climbed into her car, cranked the air conditioning, and headed for home. At least she had Lu to curl up with.

A mile down the road, her dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree. “What the…?”

The engine sputtered and was losing power. Busted Knuckle was only a mile away. “Come on. You can make it.” She rocked in her seat, as if the motion would increase the distance before it died. One more block.

She limped it into the parking lot seconds before the engine quit.

Dropping her head back, she blew out a breath. It made it. Miracles never ceased.

Grabbing her phone from her purse, she pulled up her mom’s contact but paused. The lights were on in the shop. Someone was working on a Friday night?

Might as well see who was here. She dropped her phone back into her purse and got out of the car. At the bay door, she stood on her tiptoes but still couldn’t see through the window. She knocked.

It opened. As the door rolled up, panel by panel, scuffed work boots appeared, followed by denim-clad legs.