Page 8 of Love Collided

Fox

I’ll be there in about 30 minutes. Head over now and I can take a look at it then.

I punched in the directions to Hollows Garage. Ten minutes later I was pulling up to the old brick building. The exterior wall was painted with a mural of their name.

I walked in and knew I was in the right place when I saw the bright green Supra car in one of the bays. I headed over, looking the car over, and growing even more impressed by their work. Not only had endless modifications been done, but the enginebay was almost a work of art. Everything was color coordinated and there wasn’t a wire out of place.

A head moved over an engine of a WRX in the next bay over, the red hair catching my eye.

“Well, if it isn’t the ankle-biter,” I said, not missing the way her hand tightened on the wrench.

A strange feeling bloomed in my chest and I realized it was the semblance of being excited. I could see the recognition in her eyes, and wasn’t surprised when she scowled.

“What are you doing here?” she asked. Her arms were covered in dirt and grease, she crossed them over her chest, but the small black tank top wasn’t hiding anything. Two locks of her red hair had escaped, framing her lightly-freckled face. Despite her size, there was an undeniable strength in the set of her jaw, the cute, sharp nose, and the way she held her head up high. Bright, hazel eyes stared back at me, and it took me a few seconds to remember what we were talking about.

“I’m waiting for Fox and Ash.”

“They aren’t here right now. You can leave your car if they are looking over it or I’ll tell them to call you. Quinn’s in the office, she’ll take the keys.” Her words were so clipped, but the annoyance was bubbling. I didn’t know what it was, but getting under her skin was quickly becoming a favorite hobby of mine.

“I know they’re not here. That’s why I said ‘waiting.’”

She gave a hard eye roll but looked back down at the car. “Well there is a designated waiting area,” she said pointing again, the scowl on her face deepening. “In the office.”

She was trying so hard to be polite, professional even, and I wanted to see how easy it would be to make her break.

“I can wait out here. Mind if I look over the cars?”

“I do mind. We don’t like snoops. I don’t like cheaters, either.”

I moved around the car, closing the distance more. “And why is that? Bad ex-boyfriend? Cheating current boyfriend? Why are you so quick to brand me a cheater?”

She gave a harsh laugh and reached over the engine, grabbing a different wrench. “How exactly would you like to be branded then?”

I had made it to her side, and leaned down. “Usually just nails down my back, but I’m open to suggestions.”

Her nostrils flared and eyes went wide. The wrench slammed down onto the car and she spun to face me, her body only inches from mine.

“Did you come here to make lame attempts at flirting or were you actually waiting for Ash and Fox?” She tried to keep her face calm, but the deadly look in her eyes gave her away.

I still wanted to push her more. I reached up, winding one of those stray locks of hair around my finger. “Oh, I’m actually waiting for them, but this is a lot more fun than a waiting room.”

“You know what is even more fun?” she asked, stepping back. “Waiting in a Porsche.”

“The Porsche is why I’m here. I need it fixed.”

“Couldn’t figure out how to change a tire?”

I flashed another grin, grabbing a wrench off the car and flipping it around. “I can change a tire. What I can’t do is diagnose a Porsche’s engine without a code reader. Sorry to disappoint you.”

“Not disappointed. Just busy, so why don’t you get going?”

“And how would I get my car fixed if I leave exactly?” That got to her, her nostrils flaring again.

“What is your problem?” she asked.

“I don’t have a problem. You’re the one who seems less than happy about my being here. What is your problem?”

“My problem is that I don’t particularly like you, you cheated during our race, and now you won’t leave me alone.”

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