I had a kitchen put in for the guys in the back to use on lunch and dinner breaks when they work late. I’ve hired the best around to have on my team, and with what I’m paying them, they are really good at keeping things clean and efficient around here. We work on high-end cars, and I want the place to reflect that.
In the beginning, I worked my ass off with Jimmy to try and impress Eve’s dad, but all he saw was a mechanic in a garage who could never be good enough for his daughter. I’ve built this business in three years to over a million-dollar company, and even though I could care less what he thinks anymore, it still gives me satisfaction to know what I’ve turned this place into. I’ve been featured in car magazines more times than I can count and it just continues to grow. Plans are in the works to expand in the next two years to add on another garage and a showcase room where clients will be able to display their cars on a rotating basis.
My cell phone rings as I lock up the front door. I glance at Jake’s picture that pops up.
“Hey, Jake. I know I’m running late. Steve just left, so I’m locking up the shop now.”
“Just checking. I know how you lose track of time when you’re working. Travis and Sophia just got here, and we’re about to fire up the grill. Max has been asking about you.”
“Tell little man I’m on my way, and he better be prepared for Uncle Ryder’s slam dunks in the pool.”
“Will do,” Jake laughs. “See you soon.” He hangs up, and I throw my phone on the passenger seat. I’m looking forward to seeing them all again. I don’t make it down to see them as muchas I should so it’s been a minute since I’ve seen Max. I can’t believe he’s already finished with first grade and will be seven soon. The time is passing by way too fast.
I pull up to our house a few minutes later and park in the garage. Since we turned one stall into a home gym, Travis and I got dibs on the other two. Miles is gone a lot, traveling with his band, and there was no way I was parking my Porsche in the driveway. He drives his motorcycle anyway when he’s home, which he keeps in the garage, so the band’s van is a permanent fixture in our driveway when they’re not using it.
“Uncle Ryder!” I grin when I walk through the door and hear Max.
“There’s my favorite car guy. Are you ready to help me this summer? I’ve got a lot of big jobs coming up and will need your help.” I pull him in for a hug and ruffle his hair.
“Yes! Dad already told me I could go as much as I wanted to this summer.”
“I’ve got a GT3 coming in next week. I thought we would start with that one since it’s your favorite. You can help me decide on the modifications. The client wants me to look it over and give him a list of what I think it needs.”
“Awesome,” he grins before bending down and playing with Nemo, his one-and-a-half-year-old golden retriever. Travis let Max name the poor dog, and he got stuck with being named after his favorite movie when he was five.
“Hey Ryder.” I look up and see Travis. Married life looks good on him. They’ve been married for a year now, and I’ve never seen my brother happier. Sophia is the best thing to ever happen to Max and him. I stuff down the pang of jealousy that hits me out of nowhere before smiling at the two of them.
“Trav.” I walk over and hug my brother. He’s an inch taller than me, at six feet four inches. I pull back to grin into his grey eyes, which are identical to mine. His black hair is under abackward hat, and his broad chest is covered in tats that extend down both arms. They must have been swimming because he’s wearing black swim shorts. “I’m glad you guys are able to spend the summer here again.”
“Me too. Now that I’ve hired a couple more tattoo artists, the shop basically runs itself. I have a few portraits that I need to finish, but I brought my supplies with me.”
“If you need a quiet place to work, feel free to use my place when I’m not there.”
“I’m sure I can find a place around here somewhere, but if I can’t, I’m definitely taking you up on the offer,” he chuckles.
“Hey, sis.” I grin at Sophia before pulling her in for a hug. With her black hair and beautiful green eyes, she and Travis look damn good together. Jake and Miles love to get under Travis’s skin every chance they can get by letting him know how hot they think she is. She’s a kindergarten teacher and had Max in her class when they first moved there. We still laugh at the fact that she and Travis hooked up without knowing that tiny detail. In a way, Max brought them together, and they’ve been inseparable ever since.
You can tell how much she loves Travis and Max, so it was easy to love her right away and accept her into our family as one of our own. She adopted Max shortly after they got married. His birth mom left Travis and him when he was only four weeks old and then recently passed away last year, so she’s the only mom Max has ever known. He thinks she hung the moon. He still gives her flowers from the backyard every Friday, just like he did when she was his teacher.
“Hi, Ryder. How have you been?” She pulls back from the hug and searches my eyes. She’s the only one I can’t hide my feelings from. It’s like she can peer into my soul and see through the mask I put on every day to hide the pain that still creeps up.
“I’m doing good. Business is growing, and I get this view every day to wake up to.” I wave my hand at the windows overlooking the ocean.
“He’s doing better than good. He’s got a date tomorrow night.” Miles grins over at me and winks.
I should have known I wouldn’t be able to sneak and have this date without everyone hounding me about it. I feel Sophia’s eyes on me, and I glance back at her.
“You have a date tomorrow night?” She asks before breaking out into a grin.
“With who?” Travis chimes in, and I run a hand roughly through my hair.
“Just a girl I met at the grocery store while buying Jake’s damn muffins. It’s just dinner. It’s not a big deal.”
“It’s a huge deal,” Travis grins. “This is good Ryder. I’m proud of you for getting back out there. You deserve to have some fun.” He puts a hand on my shoulder and squeezes.
“I’m proud of you too.” Sophia smiles. “Maybe we will get to meet her this summer.”
“Maybe. Let me just get through the date first before you all start setting a wedding date. I’m taking it day by day.”
