Page 46 of The Millionaire's Mechanic

Still smirking, Garrett sat back on the long leather couch set against the wall. “I thought you were coming up here alone, except for that mechanic who gave you the heads-up about the kidnapping. I would have never guessed you’d bring a woman. I mean, it’s smart, but I had no idea you had it in you.”

“I don’t.” Rainer couldn’t quite look Garrett in the eye. “Georgiaisthe mechanic.”

It didn’t register the first time. Rainer had to repeat himself before Garrett understood.

“Your mechanic is a girl?”

“No, you ass. She’s a full-grown woman.”

Garrett whistled. “Oh, trust me, I noticed. And damn if I’m not jealous. My mechanic is male, balding, and has a paunch out to here.” He held out a hand a few inches in front of his stomach. “If mine looked like that—”

Rainer held up a hand. “Do yourself a favor and don’t finish that thought. I’m still not over the fact you saw her naked.”

His friend snickered. “Is that supposed to be my fault? Because the last time I checked, this place has half-a-dozen bedrooms. There’s no need to play your reindeer games in the living room.”

Rainer scrubbed a hand over his face. “I know, I know. But it was necessary to sleep out here when the power went out. The guest rooms were frigidly cold, the gas lines frozen. The only wood-burning fireplace is that one in the living room.”

“Oh, yeah. I had that one done the old-fashioned way for ambiance,” Garrett said, crossing one leg over the other. “That’s why I came out here. I heard from the power company—my office received the service notice for the solar panel repair. That’s how I knew something had gone wrong up here, so I decided to drop by to make sure everything was all right.”

He broke off, studying Rainer’s face. “I did text you first.”

Rainer covered his mouth, face hot. “I didn’t get it. But thanks for coming to check on me,” he muttered.

“You’re welcome.” The sardonic expression on his face was classic Garrett, but his eyes held a hint of concern.

“The cell tower must have gotten knocked out,” Rainer added. “We haven’t been able to get calls or send texts. Only the WIFI works. I organized the solar repair by email.”

“Ah, well that explains it. I had fiberoptic installed a couple of years ago—the wires are buried underground.”

Rainer pictured the long drive up the mountain. “Wasn’t that expensive?”

“An arm and a leg, but a few of us who come up here went in on it together.”

Rainer nodded, then hesitated. “Had I known you were coming, I would have…er…”

“You would have hidden your sex slave?” Garrett finished for him, laughing.

Rainer closed his eyes, praying for patience. “It’s not like that. Georgia is special.”

“You don’t have to tell methat. There are not that many women who would willingly let you do that to them. Well, I suppose you could find some at a BDSM club, but even those might have a problem with being tied up while you went about your day.”

Garrett cocked his head to the side, a move right out of his therapist’s playbook. “But the way she’s just lying there is a little unnerving. Are you sure she’s okay?”

Dear God, Rainer didn’t want to be having this discussion. “George is fine,” he insisted.

“Really? Because I don’t know whether to call a social worker for her or bow down to you—you put someone in a sex coma.”

“Could you not?” Rainer snapped. “And it’s not a sex coma. She just spoke. You heard her.”

“Yeah, that’s my point.” Garret leaned forward. “I came in saw her buck naked, and she didn’t even try to cover up.”

“She’s half-asleep. I woke her early.”

His friend’s face tightened. “Rainer, she talked to you. Yeah, she’s out of it, but she was awake.”

Where the hell was he going with this? “What are you implying? That she was coming on to you because she was naked and didn’t rush to cover up?”

“Of course not. There was no invitation in her eyes.” Garrett’s face screwed up. “That’s not what I’m saying. It’s just that most women would have snatched that blanket to hide the goods. But your George barely batted an eyelash. Are you sure she’s not on something? She didn’t smell of booze, but what about drugs?”

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