I sighed and leaned against my car, scanning the area. I lived and worked in downtown Portland and only ever came up here for my hair needs. But there had to be someone around who could help me so I wouldn’t be stuck here for another hour.
I walked a few feet away from my car and looked around.Bingo.A little hole-in-the wall mechanic’s garage was across the busy street and three doors down. Concerned they wouldn’t be open, or would be manned by grease monkeys who liked to take advantage of women in need of automotive services, I shuddered, but trudged toward the shop anyway. If they were open, I figured they’d probably be able to help me, but if they weren’t willing, then I’d give them a nasty Yelp review. I should probably do that to Lonnie, but wasn’t entirely sure I was quite that brave. It took me years to find her.
* * *
Hatch
I dumped an armload of parts onto the front counter of Bruce’s Specialty Auto Services, and pulled out my clipboard to check them off. My buddy’s shop was one of several I’d made deliveries to today, but luckily it was the last and the least amount… it meant I’d been able to carry everything in the saddlebags of my Harley Fat Boy. The day was too nice to be locked in a cage. I’d needed to ride. And now I wanted beer and pussy, not necessarily in that order, but I had to wait ‘til I got back to the compound to enjoy either.
“Hatch!”
“Yeah?” I called back, still scribbling on the order sheet.
“Hot one comin’.”
I glanced up to see a woman navigating the intersection and heading toward us. She wore a fitted light-blue blouse, tight, white jeans that hugged her shapely legs, and heels that looked like they cost more than my bike. Her long, blonde hair hung in straight sheets, but as a gust of wind caught her locks, she had to fight to keep the strands out of her face. She slid her sunglasses on top of her head, pulling her hair away from her face and my breath left my body. She was like the first ray of sunshine after the rain. Damn, she was a knockout.
She walked into the tiny customer area and gave me a tentative smile. “Hi,” she breathed out. “My battery’s dead and Triple-A’s going to be a while. Is there someone here who’d be willing to give me a jump?”
My dick took notice of her sweet, British accent.
“Yeah, sweetheart, I’ll jump you. Anytime, anyplace,” Bruce said, and I watched her step back slightly, her face a little paler than before. For whatever reason, Bruce’s dirty innuendo made me want to beat the shit out of my old friend.
“Piss off, Bruce,” I ordered quietly, then turned to face her. I was shocked by a sudden need to protect her, but I planned to help her and get her the hell out of my space. I needed a woman to protect as much as I needed a hole in the head, but I did have a sister and I’d never leave a woman stranded. “I’ll get you goin’ again. Where are you parked?”
She pointed to the parking lot across the street. “Just over there.”
“Bruce, where’s your portable jump pack?”
Bruce grabbed it from the back room and handed it to me.
I smiled at the woman and nodded. “I’ll follow you.”
“Thank you.”
“Be back, Bruce.” I nodded to the clipboard on the desk. “Sign off on the delivery so I can get out of here, yeah?”
“No problem, Hatch.”
I followed the woman to her car and she popped the hood, sliding inside the car to start it. After hooking up the jumper cables, I called out, “Okay, turn the key.”
After several tries, we were still unable to get the Lexus going. She joined me at the front of the car with a sigh. “It’s not the battery, is it?”
“Nope.” I dipped my head further inside and checked all the cables before facing her. “Do you mind if I check your fuse?”
“I don’t know where that is, but sure.”
I opened the front door, pried open the fuse panel and pulled out the troublesome little buggar. “Your ignition fuse is blown.”
“Crap,” she said. “Please tell me you have one in the shop.”
“It’s my buddy’s shop, so I’m not sure, but give me a minute and I’ll find out.”
She nodded, and I called Bruce. “Hey man, you bang her yet?”
I turned away from the woman with a scowl. “Shut the fuck up, asshole. She’s got a blown fuse. You got one over there or not?”
“Depends on what car.”
