Page 7

“I’m fine.” I straightened up, doing what I did best: changing the subject. “These new blades will save your ass in the summer thunderstorms.”

“Thanks,” he said, pushing off the wall again. “But I’m trying to have a serious conversation with you.”

“And I’m trying to subtly avoid it,” I sighed. “I don’t do emotions.”

“Fair enough. How much do I owe you for changing those?”

“Nothing, I’m off the clock,” I answered with a wink, one I must have given a dozen people a day. I didn’t even mean anything by it, but the pink flush to his cheeks didn’t go unnoticed.

I ignored it, walking past him to head inside.

“Be careful with those beautiful baby blues. They could get you in trouble.”

I whirled on the spot, glancing around to make sure no one heard him. I wasn’t entirely sure that I’d even heard him correctly. Thankfully, we were alone.

“Be careful with that mouth,” I said, closing the distance between us until we were toe to toe. “That could get you in trouble. I can’t run all over town saving your ass because you can’t keep it shut.”

Brown eyes sparkled with mischief. Ryan’s lips twitched, and he bit down on the bottom one to hide his grin. My own eyes narrowed in response and I took a couple steps back, choosing to ignore the confusing flutter in my stomach.

“You came here to shoot your shot, didn’t you?” I asked, disguising my unexpected nerves with a laugh..

“Can you blame me?” He shrugged, rolling that damn lip between his teeth.

I tore my gaze away from his mouth. “I… I’m—I’m flattered but⁠—”

“You don’t play for my team,” Ryan finished for me.

“Sorry,” I said bashfully, winding my shirt around my hands.

“No need to apologize. Sometimes you never know until you ask.” Ryan opened his car door. “But um, if you ever want to talk to someone who doesn’t watch your every move, you know where to find me.”

I looked over my shoulder to where Charlie was hovering by the garage doors. That wasn’t suspicious at all.

Trying not to linger as he left, I hightailed it back to the office—only for Charlie’s hand to stop the door before I could close it completely.

“What was that all about?” she asked, working her way into the space.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I said, still running the shirt through my hands. It was soft… so soft. And it smelled incredible. “I was changing his wiper blades.”

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Charlie’s brow furrow in suspicion. “Are you⁠—”

“Charlie, please leave it alone.”

I didn’t look at her. I didn’t even pick my head up from the desk. Charlie slowly backed out of the room, returning to the garages. I should have gotten up to help her, considering I had a job to do myself.

However, I was frozen in my seat, tossing my shirt between my hands and taking in the scent of whatever it was Ryan had washed it with. Every second that went by I willed myself to move, but I stayed put, hoping my head would clear.

It didn’t. I couldn’t get that cocky little smirk out of my head, the way his eyes twinkled when he realized he’d gotten me all… twitterpated. It was driving me up a wall.

Half an hour passed before I finally stood up and went back out to the garages. It was time for me to channel my energy into something else.

“Charlie—you alright if I take off early?”

CHAPTER FOUR

The speedometer crept over eighty as the city limits disappeared in my rear-view mirror.

When I’d slipped behind the wheel of my truck, it was almost as if the vehicle was leading itself. My stomach rumbled, knowing exactly what we were headed for.