Page 13 of Ice Mechanic

Thinking about my debts makes me turn off my fan-girl side completely and focus on solving the problem. Leaving the engine behind, I open the front door and check the dash.

“I know what’s going on,” I say.

“That was quick.” His voice is closer than I expect so I twist around, only to come inches away from his face.

Prince Eric stares at me with frank, expressive eyes and I back up immediately, flustered for reasons that I don’t want to interpret. Unfazed, he blinks naturally long lashes that I know for afactRebel pays a girl in the city $300 to install.

“There’s nothing wrong with your engine,” I say, clearing my throat.

“Don’t tell me… was I really sabotaged?” His eyes narrow slightly and I can tell he has a few suspects on his list already. I wonder what he did to gain enemies after less than twenty-four hours in town.

“No, your immobilizer key is the issue. The key is malfunctioning.” I press it a couple times to show him.

“But the car started.” His eyebrows knit in confusion. “I pressed the button and it did what it usually does, and then it died seconds later. Are you sure?”

“A bad immobilizer doesn’t mean the car won’t start. It will, but the computer shuts down because of a corrupted signal from the immobilizer.”

He tilts his head and I can imagine this is the expression my high school Calculus teacher saw on every face in class.

“See that?” I widen the door so he can peek in and view the dashboard. “That light that’s flashing? That’s telling you that your key fob has malfunctioned.”

“So what’s the solution?”

“Do you have another one?”

“It’s at the hotel.”

“You’ll need to get it.” I hand him the dud key. “Did you drop your key or have it around a very strong magnet?”

“I think I might have dropped it on the ice earlier.”

My head bobs in understanding. “Yep. That’s what got it. Come back with the other key fob, and you should be good as gold.”

“Thank you.” He pulls out his phone. “I don’t have cash on me, but if you give me your bank number I can wire it?—”

“It’s okay. I didn’t do anything.”

“Are you kidding? If it weren’t for you, I would have filed a report for a missing engine.” He points to the frunk.

I laugh again. “Officer Derek would probably ask around for eye witnesses too. There aren’t too many cars like yours around here.” As I speak, I give the Miura a loving look.

“Really? It’s all I’ve ever known. Collecting is kind of a family hobby.”

My initial assessment was right. He does come from old wealth.

“I’ve got a bunch of these in storage back home. If any of them have a problem, I promise I’ll drive them over to you.”

He’s just being nice, but the thought of working on more exotic cars fills me with a dopamine rush.

And maybe that’s why, against my better judgement, I turn to Prince Eric and say, “Get in.”

“In…?” He points to my car.

I walk around to the driver’s side. “I’ll take you to get that key fob.”

CHAPTER

FIVE

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