I look away, because he’s right.I love vintage engines, the old-timey mechanics, the well-built parts, the delicious history.But being elbow-deep in strangers’ junkers while a shop owner hovers over my shoulder with a clipboard?That isn’t passion.It’s survival.
“Stubborn little dove.”His fingers skim over my pierced nipple.“You don’t have to survive now.”
“That’s easy for you to say.”
“You bet your pretty ass it is.Because I can fix this part.”He sits up a little, resting his cheek against his shoulder as he looks at me.“What are you trying to prove by staying in that job?”
“I’m not trying to prove anything.”
“Then why does it feel like you’re punishing yourself?”
That knocks something loose in my chest.I swallow hard.
“Look, my brothers and I inherited everything Denver hoarded.And Rurik Strakh’s empire.And my dad’s old accounts.Offshore stuff I didn’t even know existed until Monty dumped the folders on the table.”He widens his eyes dramatically.“I have more money than I can ethically talk about out loud.”
“I don’t need your money.”
“I know.That’s why I want you to take it.”
“That makes no sense.”
“Sure it does.”He cups my breast, thumbing the nipple.“You’re not with me for my money.You’re with me for—”
“Your tiny pancakes.”
“I was going to say the best sex of your life.”
“Definitely the pancakes.”
He squeezes my breast with a wolfish smile.“You’re not trapped anymore.”
“Feels like I’m trapped.”I wriggle in his grip, matching his smile.
“You don’t have to cling to scraps to feel safe.”
“I’m not clinging.”
“You are.”He releases me and moves to my other breast, teasing me there.“It’s okay.I get it.But you don’t need to anymore.Your independence isn’t tied to a clock-in screen at some garage.”His voice sinks into a dark, velvety rumble.“You’re with me.That doesn’t make you less.It gives you room to breathe.”
The fight goes out of me all at once.It’s like my shoulders release for the first time in years.
“So what?”I whisper.“I just…Quit?”
“If it makes you miserable?Yeah.Let me take care of you.Not because you’re weak.Because you don’t have to do everything alone.”
“What about you?Will you quit, too?”
“Absolutely.Whatever you want, my queen.Besides, Jag already fired me, remember?And it’s not like I need the money.”
“But you love going in.”
“Because it’s fun.I show up whenever I want, tattoo whatever I want, turn away the idiots, and listen to Declan fill the silence with his unhinged conspiracies.I mean, he doesn’t shut up, but I kind of miss the guy.He’s awkward and odd as hell, and… Nice.Really nice.Being around him is better than being alone.But now I have you, so lonely isn’t a thing anymore.”
“You’re right.You’re not alone anymore.But you can’t quit.”
“Well, I’m not going to keep my job if I convince you to ditch yours.That’s villain behavior.Grade-A dick move.”
“Except what you have isn’t a job.It’s a passion.You’re pursuing what you love at your shop.That’s not what I’m doing at my shop.”
