Page 197 of Ice Mechanic

I hang my head. “But I still should have told you.”

Stewart sees us and takes a step toward our car.

My muscles tense and I reach for the door handle.

April stops me and points at the scowling man outside. “I got it.”

I stare into her determined green eyes and though everything in me wants to protect her, I’m aware that she’s right. She’s got it.

“I’ve gotyou,” I tell her. “And I’ll be close by if you need back up. I’m not afraid to punch someone in the face, even if it means getting on the bad side of the Kinseys.”

“Trust me. I know. I appreciate your intentions, Chance, but fist fights and secret lawsuits aren’t going to fix this.”

She undoes her seatbelt, reaches over the console to kiss my cheek and then steps out to meet with Stewart Kinsey.

CHAPTER

FIFTY-SEVEN

APRIL

I can feelChance’s eyes boring through the windshield and into my back. He’s one second away from springing out of the car and going full ‘bodyguard boyfriend’.

I silently hope that he stays put.

Stewart Kinsey can’t hurt me. At least, not emotionally.

Not anymore.

And if he tries to hurt me physically, well…

That’s what wrenches are for.

“Mr. Kinsey,” I say in a polite tone. “What an unexpected surprise.”

“Let’s not hide behind pleasantries, April. I’ve been patient with you long enough.”

I arch a brow. Kinsey’s tone is rubbing me the wrong way, but I refuse to be ruffled. My father taught me to keep a cool head even in the face of chaos.

‘You know what hurts the most when someone’s trying to get a rise out of you, April? When you don’t give them the response they were looking for.’

I fold my arms over my chest, emanating calm.

Kinsey yanks his sunglasses off and sticks them on top of his head. “This talk is long overdue.”

“I agree that it is.” Courage snakes its way into my heart. It stems from a place deep within, a part of me that was untended for too long.

I’m ready.

Kinsey glares at me with his beady blue eyes bracketed by deep wrinkles. Those eyes look mighty old and tired, like perhaps he needs to sleep more than he needs to be making judgements on women’s appearances.

“Lucky Falls is a family, April. Afamily.Families don’t settle their disagreements in court and they don’t muddy each other’s reputations over nothing.” He tacks a finger at Chance’s Lamborghini. “City slickers do things a different way. They’re all about backstabbing and stepping on each other to get ahead. You’ve let that man influence you in the wrong direction, April. This is unlike you. I’m highly disappointed and I’m here hoping that you end this madness.”

I fold my arms over my chest, ignoring most of what he said and focusing on only one part.

“Who exactly is your family, Mr. Kinsey?”

His eyes widen in surprise. It’s an involuntary reaction and he quickly shields his expression again.

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