Page 1 of The Relationship Mechanic

One

“I’m bored.”

Vini squinted against the glare of the sun. It was a beautiful uneventful day the same as any other. Business had been slow leaving her with the need for something, anything, to happen. She rolled her eyes at Aiden’s words but couldn’t deny she felt the same. Excitement was hard to come by in Peach Blossom, but even this bout of boredom was a bit much.

“Seriously, Vin. Can’t you at least put a television in here or something?” Aiden’s voice was starting to do her head in especially when he started with the whining. “Watching paint dry would be more entertaining at this point.”

“If you’re so bored,” she replied, not bothering to look over at him, “why don’t you organize the new shipment of parts we got in this morning?”

She knew that was a guaranteed way to get Aiden to shut up before he got on a roll of even more complaints. It wouldn’t be the first time, but she didn’t need his boredom to lead to her annoyance. He groaned but dutifully got up and walked to the back room where they kept the parts they needed to fix the vehicles that came in and out of the shop. Vini watched him go and almost told him she would do it instead. Organizing the stock wasn’t fun, but the repetitive nature of it at least helped the time go by faster.

Music drifted through the air and Vini leaned forward, elbows on the counter as she gazed out the window. The street in front of her auto shop was clear, save a couple cars that drove by. She almost regretted relocating the shop to the outskirts of the main part of town, but the space it had afforded her was worth it in the long run. Still, it would’ve been nice to be able to go one or two buildings over to chat with people instead of having to walk the three miles it took to get to Main Street. Not for the first time she was regretting not buying a television and installing cable in the shop. Or at least getting a smart TV to stream something. The radio only helped so much when there was a lull in vehicles to work on.

The landline ringing shook her out of her boredom, and she grabbed for the phone hoping desperately that there was something interesting to do.

“Hey, Lavenia. You free right now?”

Vini winced at her whole name being used. It wasn’t the first time Sheriff Patrick had done it, despite her insisting he was more than welcome to call her by her nickname like everyone else in town did. No one used her whole name anymore. Except her father when she was in trouble or her sisters when they were being assholes.

“Yeah. You got a job for me?”

“A car on the shoulder out on Seventy-five Southbound a mile out from exit one forty. Driver said the damn thing is a rental that just crapped out on her and could use a tow. She’s staying in Peach Blossom so figured I’d call you instead of Tony.”

“Good looking out,” she replied pushing up off the counter. Tony Prichard ran another auto shop in the town forty minutes north of them. Sheriff Patrick usually patrolled the strip between the two towns and called in help depending on which way people were headed unless it was an eighteen-wheeler which was much heavier than any of Vini’s equipment could handle. “I’ll get the truck and head your way. Is it a case of the forgotten pit stop again, or do you think this is legit?”

He chuckled, no doubt remembering the last wayward tourist who had somehow forgotten to fill his tank and then was surprised when the car exhausted its fumes and refused to go a mile farther. That had been a hilarious story to relay to her family when she had gotten home that evening.

“Nah. It’s a genuine one.”

“Got it. Be there in twenty.”

Vini called out to Aiden letting him know she had a job before grabbing her sunglasses and heading to the back lot. The air was blessedly warm compared to a few days prior when a random cold front had brought in the type of chill that had everyone in coats in the morning and short sleeves by the afternoon. Fall in Georgia was peculiar like that. But today was one of those gorgeous days that just guaranteed good things, and it put a little pep in Vini’s step as she climbed into the truck and got going.

She whistled along to the radio and dropped her sunglasses over her eyes as she made her way out onto the highway. Finding the sheriff was easy enough, though she did have to go up a ways before she could turn onto the other side of the road. As Vini pulled up, she waved to Patrick. He walked over as soon as she had parked.

“Thanks for getting here so quick. I got a call about a disturbance out at McArthur Farms so I’m heading out if you’re good.”

Vini nodded as she looked over at the car in question. “Yeah, I should be good.” As he got back in his car and drove away, she walked over to the driver’s side. “You all right?”

“No,” the woman said through the cracked window. She pushed the door open and stepped out. “I am so far from all right, it’s not even funny. Something told me I should have gone to Italy, but did I listen? No.”

Vini snorted softly at the running commentary that didn’t seem to require any of her own input. She always marveled at people who seemed to be able to ramble on without needing to take a breath. Jordan, her nephew, was like that sometimes, though he was a kid, so it didn’t seem all that unusual for him. “Okay. Can you tell me what happened before the car stopped on you?”

The woman waved her hand at the car, somehow looking elegant even as her words came faster. Vini had to focus hard to understand as each sentence picked up speed.

“I was just making my way down the interstate, even though this wasn’t even the car I reserved. I asked forreliable, and somehow they heardheap of junkinstead.” She turned and kicked the tire, making Vini hide another snort of amusement behind her hand. Dark brown eyes shifted to her, though there was none of the anger in them that she seemed to have for the car beside them.

“There wasn’t any warning,” the woman continued now turning to face Vini more fully. Honey skin glowed with the warmth from the sun overhead, and full lips seemed to wrap around each syllable distracting Vini even more from the words she needed to hear.

“So there was no sound before it stopped?” Vini asked trying to get her mind together as she stared at one of the most attractive women she had seen in a long while.

Those same lips tugged down before the woman answered. “I don’t think so. But I had the music up, so I wasn’t exactly paying attention. I know it’s not from a lack of gas, though. I’m not that clueless.” She smiled before pausing. Vini waited to see what else she might say but was startled when the other woman thrust out her hand. “I’m Jessica.”

Vini looked down at the hand before reaching out to shake it. “Vini.”

Warmth enveloped her slightly smaller hand, and Vini had to force herself to pull away. A thumb brushed over the back of her hand as they separated, and she swallowed hard. It had been a while since she had gone to the city and flirted with anyone who would actually flirt back, but that handshake seemed to be a bit handsier than strictly necessary. Then again, Jessica was probably just happy to have someone come save her from the situation to begin with. Vini had heard enough stories about creepy mechanics, and she wasn’t trying to add to them by being overly friendly.

“Well, let’s get her back to the shop so I can see what’s up.” Vini stepped away, her mind going into work mode as she got the car hooked up. She hopped back out of the truck and called out to Jessica. “We’re all set. Hop on in, and I’ll bring you to the shop. Town’s not too far from me so you can get there no problem.”

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