Page 5 of Saved By The Mechanic

“Miss Moore, are you okay? Do you need something from the car?”

“Yes,” I say, clearing my voice. “I was, um, looking for my purse.”

The edge of his lips twitch. “You took it with you to my office.”

Damnit. I search my brain for another lie. “Oh, I was looking for you. How long do I have to wait for the car?”

“I’m afraid it’s too early to tell,” he says, folding his arms in front of his chest, and my eyes linger on his sturdy chest before I quickly look away. I shake my head to clear the unbidden thoughts that keep creeping in and focus on the man clearly set on toying with me.

We both know nothing’s wrong with the car. Heck, from the looks of it, he’s barely touched it. Why, then, is he drawing this out?

Is there a point to it?

“If you are too busy, then I . . . I can take the car to another mechanic,” I tell him, chewing nervously at my lips.

“This is the only auto shop in the entire town, Miss Moore.”

“I’m sure I can find another one in the next town.”

A long beat of silence passes, and something akin to humor crosses his expression, but it’s gone just as fast. Ray tilts his head to the side, those intense blue eyes causing my heart to flutter in my chest.

“We can play this game all day, or you could tell me what it is you are hiding from.”

My eyes widen at his words, and I back up a step, except there is nowhere to go. “W-what are you talking about?” I sputter. “I . . . I’m just here to get my car serviced!”

Ray takes a step toward me, and then another. My heart is racing fast in my chest as he closes the distance between us, basically blocking any exit.

“I’ve been thinking about it all morning, Penny,” he drawls, the sound of my name on his lips sending a storm of heat rushing to my abdomen. “Why would a pretty girl like you show up at my garage with a car in perfect condition unless you’re looking to hide in plain sight? Smart, I have to say.”

“N-no. You’re wrong. There is something wrong with my car.”

“One advantage of being raised by and around lawyers is I always know when someone is lying.”

“I’m not!”

I swallow thickly when he places his arm on the roof of the car and cages me in. He’s so close, I can practically smell his strong masculine scent, and it’s doing things to my insides, but I can’t allow myself to be distracted.

Focus, Penny.Focus.

And yet, I can’t. At least not with this man standing so close to me.

“You are running from something, angel, and until I find out what that is, you are stuck here with me.”

Oh God!

I shake my head at his words. No, I refuse to be another man’s prisoner. Not again. This man cannot keep me here if I don’t want to stay. I should fight him, press my hands to those delicious-looking muscles, and shove him away from me. Of course, that’ll mean I won’t get to smell his scent so close to me or feel the warmth from his sturdy body.

Snap out of it, Penny.

I need to run. I have to get out of here and hide.

And I will. Right after I touch his sturdy chest to see if it feels as firm as it looks. I wonder how far those tattoos spread, and his beard . . . will it be soft against my fingers? How will it feel if it brushed the sensitive skin of my inner thighs? Christ, and those lips. His firm, sexy lips are so close to mine. Just one move. A single move, and I will feel them against mine.

A first kiss with a perfect stranger.

I could play it off like an accident. Pretend I didn’t mean to lean in so close, and the press of my lips was an accident. I’ve seen it happen too many times in the movies. Just one kiss, and then I’ll leave.

Christ, what am I even thinking?

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