His smile had my heart skipping a beat. “Is it road ready?”
“I was in the middle of testing to see if it started first.”
He chuckled. “Kind of looked like you were taking a nap.”
“On the job? I’d never.”
“You’re right.” There was a subtle twinkle in his eyes when he turned them to me, his hand sneaking up from my knee to between my thighs. “You’d be doing something else to help you relax.”
Well, that was one way to put it.
I’d been wanting to have a sit down serious conversation with Avery for a few days now, however, each time I worked up the nerve to pull the trigger and spill my guts as to how I’d been feeling, something always seemed to crop up at the last second.
Whether that was some divine sign or my own avoidance rearing its ugly head, I had a hard time getting myself to go through with it, regardless of Avery’s poking and prodding at me.
It was at least obvious to him that I’d had something on my mind and while he wasn’t privy to the subject of it, he was courteous to know not to push me on it. Figuring that I’d tell him eventually.
I wanted to.
Ineededto.
The problem was the fear of rejection. Of him telling me—or rather reminding me—that his stay here in Ellington Heights was coming to an end. Soon, he’d be on his way back to the city where we would no doubt have yet another falling out. Gradual, of course, as we’d always done so.
At least this one wouldn’t leave me wondering if he was dead or not. That was at least alittlecomforting, though tragic all the same.
“Hey...” He cupped my face, pulling me out of my daze. “I was only kidding. You can tell me I’m being an ass, Bran.”
Oh, how I loved this lovably oblivious man.
Reaching up, I wrapped my hand around his wrist in order to keep his hand pressed to my face while I leaned forward to grab the key still hanging in the ignition. Torquing it forward, the car’s engine stuttered twice before finally roaring to life with a healthy rumble.
The seat under me vibrated from the horsepower, getting me a little horny in the process.
I loved the power of a good and well taken care of engine. It spoke to the humanistic genius that was machinery.
Avery’s laugh cut through the sound of the motor. “Oh, that’s a nice sound.”
He leaned his upper body against the frame of the door, keeping his other hand in place on my knee. If I wanted to, I had the ability to pull him down into a kiss—and he’d let me do it. In the middle of my damn shop where just anyone could walk in. He wouldn’t care in the slightest if we were caught.
Didn’t that mean something? Wasn’t that a prime example that I was getting too much in my own head about his feelings for me? He told me he liked me, spoke those words that I’d be longing to hear since I was sixteen.
Yet, I was still convinced that he could easily walk away from me at any time. We had no label. There was nothing keeping him here other than an old friendship. I wanted more so badly but didn’t know how to ask for it.
Howcould I when it would mean asking him to give up his life in the city?
“We taking it for a joyride?” he suggested.
I killed the ignition instead, letting go of his wrist. “Needs new tires first. I only wanted to make sure I wasn’t working on a dead machine.”
“Makes sense.” He stood back in order to pop my door open for me. “You hungry?”
The butterflies in my stomach kicked up at the sight of the plastic bag that had been set down by his feet. Always bringing me food. Always making sure I was taken care of.
Ugh, my poor heart couldn’t take it.
“Av...”
He trapped me against the side of the car the second I climbed out of it, cradling my face in a tender hold. I was kind of thankful the shop had cleared out for lunch. I wasn’t atall ashamed or embarrassed about Avery being here or getting caught with him—quite the opposite, in fact.
