Page 79 of It's Always Us

ROB: They want a meeting ASAP. I can meet you there tomorrow.

ME: Call me.

Chapter 24

LEX

I park my truck in my usual spot along the side of the old building I thought one day would be mine. I take a deep breath, gearing up to face my guys inside. Particularly the tall, heavily tattooed, and bearded one who’s probably spouting steam since I’ve ignored his messages.

I glance at Mark, who’s been preoccupied with his phone all morning. He received a text from his agent, but his quiet nose-in-his-phone state is making my crazed nerves wage a battle over which worry takes top priority.

He sets his phone on his leg, coming back up for air. “You ok?”

I pull the keys from the ignition and wipe my sweaty palms on my unbuttoned, mostly unzipped jeans. I tried that elastic hair tie around the button trick, but even that didn’t give me enough room.

“I have no idea what Grandpa told them. I haven’t missed days of work . . . ever. I left them without a word in the middle of projects, so I’d be pissed if I were them. Plus, Slade’s texted me a couple of times—”

“He didn’t talk to you about possibly buying Cal out.” Mark’s irritated tone almost makes me smile.

“Are you ready? These guys are like my brothers.”

“Yeah, I’m ready. You have no idea how much I hate that you work with a bunch of dudes. I’ll happily tell them to keep their eyes and hands to themselves.”

I laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Hey. I know exactly how you look when you’re talking cars, let alone working on them. Your tank tops and flannels. Shit, the work boots. Lex,you’re stunningly beautiful, but when you’re in the middle of all that . . . I’m getting pissed just thinking about anyone else seeing you—”

I lean over and kiss him, hard and fast on the lips, then pop my door open. “Let’s go. Sitting out here won’t make it better.”

Mark doesn’t move. “Are you sure? I think you should come back over here.” His voice is low and sexy.

I bite my lip to suppress a smile and shove myself out. He meets me, grabbing my hand. “You know, I wouldn’t mind kicking someone’s ass or watching Cal do it. I know that man’s still got a few rounds in him.”

I laugh, knowing he’s probably right. I haul open the heavy metal door, and there’s a whoosh of the same heavy scents and noise that’s filled my days since I was old enough to help out.

I was six years old when Grandpa had me on a stool watching how to change fluids and replace hoses. This is my place, and these are my people. The idea of it not being mine causes my throat to ache and constrict, and I stop inside the door.

As if Mark can sense it, his arm slips around me. I peer up at him, reminding myself of all I have to gain if I let this go. His strong jaw is set as his beautiful, dark, brown eyes roam the space like he’s taking stock. A few long strands of black hair rest on his forehead, and I want to reach up and push them back in place. His powerful, muscular body stands tall in defense.

He asked me to go with him. Looking at him, I wonder what’s holding me back.

“Well, look who it is?”

Wind’s voice breaks through my perusal of my brilliantly handsome husband. I notice all the noise has died down except for the radio, and the guys are standing, staring.

Carson leans against the hood of a Dodge Caravan and crosses his meaty arms over his broad chest. “Is this show and tell? I forgot to bring Taylor Swift.”

Ok. So they’re mad. I knew they would be. I can handle it. I’d be pissed, too.

Mark’s fingertips dig in, and I know at least Slade, standing in the far back, notices our closeness.

“Is that Mark Sandberg?” Trig leans over and whispers to Wind as his hands fidget with a socket wrench.

“Taylor Swift? Really? That’s your comeback?” Wind asks.

Slade shifts, widening his stance as he grips a greasy carburetor. His cold, hard eyes are dead set on me. He. Is. Pissed.

Great.I’ve seen him with Krissy, and his bark is always worse than his bite.

---