“A good source?”
“Yeah.” I walk to the front of the car. “Pop the hood, babe.”
“It’s fine, Keeton. She takes good care of it.”
“This is what I do, Lainie. Pop the hood.”
Releasing an exasperated sigh, she mutters, “Fine.”
She reaches down for the latch and I hear the hood release and watch it as it pops up slightly. I press my fingers beneath the hood and lift. Finding the hood rod, I snap it into place. Peering down I clench my jaw so hard it hurts.Her sister takes good care of it? My ass.Turning toward the garage I yell, “Eric! Bring me my tools.”
“Be right out,” he shouts back.
She’s next to me now. Her hand is on my bicep. I flex it. I can’t help it.
“Keeton, seriously. It’s fine.”
What’s wrong with me? I can’t seem to control the fact that I’m feeling so fucking possessive over this girl. I turn to face her. I place my palm on the back of her neck. Like before. Leaning in, I kiss her lips softly. “Sweetheart, what kind of man would I be if I let you drive away in a car that’s not safe? Huh?”
“Oh.” She looks down at the engine. I know she can’t see what I see so I hope she trusts me. “It’s not safe?”
“Baby, this is a death trap.”
Her eyelashes are fluttering so fast, like a hummingbird. “It’s not safe and my baby sister’s been driving it?”
Now she’s worried? But not about herself, for her sister? “That’s right. It’s not safe for her either.”
“B-but can you fix it? Today? We need a car.” She turns and starts to pace. “We can’t be without a car. There’s no bus service here. No Ubers. Nothing.”
This rust-bucket needs to get towed to the dump today but I’m not sure she could handle that news right now. “Babe. It’s okay.”
Pacing more, she’s now chewing on her fingernails. “Bicycles. The weather is nice now, not too hot yet. We could get some bicycles.”
I stop her from pacing by blocking her current route. “Lainie? I’ve got an extra car.” Or four. “I’ll give you a loaner so we can take a look at this one.” I point my thumb at the blue beater.
“No. I don’t feel comfortable doing that. We just met.”
“It’s aloaner. Since you’re going to be working for me for a while, I’ll do all the repairs at cost and give you the loaner for free. I want you to get to work on time.” I smirk, but she doesn’t notice. She’s seriously worried.
“At cost?”
I thought I snuck that bit about her working for me past her, but I didn’t. Hands on hips, she snaps, “Keeton. I haven’t decided if I’m working here yet.”
“Fine. But, take the loaner today. You can bring it back tomorrow after you’ve decided. How’s that?”
“So, you’re telling me Bessie’s too dangerous to drive five miles?”
Bessie?“Yes.” I look down at the engine again. “That’s definitely what I’m saying.”
Eric jogs up next to me and sets my tool box down next to my feet. Stepping over to peer down under her hood, he whistles. “Jesus, babe. I can’t believe this thing hasn’t caught on fire yet.”
Babe?I growl low in my throat. “Eric?”
“Yeah?”
He’s oblivious. He throws around that word like it’s nothing. Such a fucking player. Ignoring him, I turn back to Lainie. “So, yes? You take the loaner so Eric and I can take a look at your car?”
She’s upset. So much so she snaps, “Fine. Thank you, Eric.” She looks at me and her eyes soften as does her voice. “And Keeton.” Smiling at me. Just for me.
“No problem. Can’t have my girl driving something that’s not safe.”
“My girl?” Eric says laughing. “Shit, bro. You work fucking fast. I need to take some lessons.”
“Fuck off, Eric. Grab her stuff out of that,” I point at the blue beast, “while I drive the car around for her.”
“Sure thing boss.”
