Page 147 of Ice Mechanic

To my surprise, Chance slides his hand down my arm and links our fingers together instead. He pulls me to the group.

“Gentlemen.” He nods.

“So the prodigal son returns!” A man with thinning hair and a beer belly grins. “Are you finally ready to put that business degree to good use and join your father?”

“Dad is far from ready to retire and I’m all-in on hockey at the moment, but we’ll see what the future holds,” Chance says tactfully. “Have I introduced you to my girlfriend April? She’s a brilliant mechanic and entrepreneur. Her garage in Lucky Falls is flourishing.”

“How nice,” the men say, sipping their champagne and looking away.

“Lucky Falls? Where is that?” another asks with mocking laughter in his tone.

“It’s a beautiful place full of small-town charm. When you’re ready for a change of pace, I invite you to visit,” I say sweetly.

Chance looks down with a surprised look.

I blink up at him, proud as a peach.

“Excuse us. We have a few more guests to greet,” Chance says. He sweeps me away from the group of country club curmudgeons, his hand dangerously low on my back and his grip tight on my hip.

Heat slides through my stomach when he growls in my ear, “Who wasthatApril?”

“Thatwas the April who spent most of her life being the only female in the room.” I tilt my chin up boldly.

Just because I’m not used to being fancy doesn’t mean I can’t hold my own in a strange environment. I’ll admit, Chance met me at a time when I’d forgotten who I was. After Evan, I was floundering to find my way again. But I havealwaysbeen brave. If I was the type of woman who backed away from spaces she didn’t ‘fit in’, I never would have become a mechanic.

“ThatApril is sexy and Ireallywant to kiss her.” Chance pulls me closer to his side, looking greedily at my lips.

My breath catches in my throat. The tension between us is taut enough to drop a V12 engine from a suspended truck.

“April!” A familiar, joyful voice interrupts us.

Chance and I ease apart. At first, I’m annoyed that my kiss was postponed, but the moment I see Randal, my face lights up like a Christmas tree.

Mr. McLanely and I spent hours discussing vintage vehicles, automobile history, and debating the latest innovations in the auto space. Though he’s much older and richer than me, it feels like I’ve known him for years.

Chance definitely gets his charm and friendliness from his dad.

I start to greet Randal when a slender hand carrying a rock the size of a small planet suddenly appears around his elbow.

“Randal, there you are. And Chance, wonderful, you made it.” The newcomer gives Chance vapid air kisses. To her husband, she says, “You disappeared in the middle of Croxby’s egregious investment pitch. How could you leave me with that infuriating man alone like?”

“Sorry, dear.”

“Come. The president of Continuum is looking for you.”

“Wait, Corinth,” Randal remains in place, “you haven’t met Chance’s girlfriend yet, have you? This is April.”

“Hi,” I say, staring at Chance’s mom.

I’d imagined a woman with angry eyes, deeply red lips, and deep wrinkles hewn from years of scowling at children. But the regal silver foxette in front of me is… not that.

Corinth’s face is smooth as a baby’s bottom. Except for the faint lines around her pretty blue eyes, her peaches-and-cream complexion would make it nearly impossible to tell her true age. While her long, black dress is quiet and simple, the thick material paired with a tweed jacket and white pearls screams ‘expensive’.

This woman doesnothave to open her mouth or wave around gold bars to prove she’s wealthy.

“Hello, please do enjoy yourself,” she says with a smile faker than the five dollar ‘pure silver’ earrings dangling from my ears. Turning abruptly, she motions to her husband. “Dear, this way.”

Chance steps forward. “Mom, I know you’re busy tonight, so I’d like to take you, dad and April out to lunch tomorrow before we fly back.”

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