Page 10 of Ice Mechanic

“Need some help?” A soft, feminine voice sounds behind me.

A glance over my shoulder reveals a petite woman with a curly brown ponytail pulled through the back of a baseball cap. She’s wearing a flannel shirt opened on top of a tank top and baggy jeans.

The brim of the cap hides her face but, when she lifts her chin, I crash headfirst into sea-foam green eyes set above a faint sprinkle of freckles that follow right across an adorable nose. When I get enough of counting those freckles, I glance down at her mouth and am totally blown away.

She’s got the face of a fairy with those emerald eyes and delicate cheekbones, and those lips are definitely my wish come true. They’re pink, plump and perfect.

Well, almost perfect. Their only flaw is that they’re not tipped up in a smile.

“Hello?” She plants her hands on her hips. “I asked if you need help.”

I realize I’d been too busy drooling over her face and respond, “No thanks.”

“It looks like your car won’t start.”

I lean against the side of the car. Even if it’s broken, it’s still a luxury car and that usually greases the wheels of every conversation with the opposite gender.

“Don’t worry your pretty little head about it.” I flash her a smile that’s been known to cause a swoon or two.

“You’re not from around here, are you?” Her tone has a hint of suspicion.

“Yeah, I’m new. Just rolled in today. Still don’t know my way around.”

She makes a noncommittal sound in her throat.

“Maybe when my car is up and running, you can take me on a tour? Show me around? By the way, my name is?—”

“Are you sure you don’t need my help? Last offer.”

I blink unsteadily.

“Suit yourself.” Without another word, she turns sharply and stalks off.

So… that went well.

As I watch her get into her pickup truck, my phone rings.

“Hey, Max,” I mumble distractedly. “Did you get that mechanic?”

“Yeah,” Max says cheerfully.

My eyes lock on the truck that’s currently speeding toward the exit like the driver wants to run me over, but she’ll settle for the pottery on either side of the ticket booth.

“Like you requested, I got the only other mechanic in town. Well, I asked Bobby to call them. He should be contacting them right about now.”

“Ah, I see.”

The pickup at the gate suddenly stops.

“What’s going on?” I mutter, straightening up and paying close attention.

“Huh?” Max says.

“Nothing.” Perplexed, I notice her brake lights blinking to life.

And then she reverses back to me.

“Later, bro.” I hang up, feeling genuinely excited to see her again and not entirely sure why.

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