Page 14 of Embracing Easy

I watch her shift on her feet, sensing there's more to her story.

I'll get to the bottom of it later. Right now, I want her comfortable.

Knox eyes her curiously. “So what brings a Kentucky girl to Miami?”

Lexi's eyes drop to the floor, her smile faltering. “I needed a change.” She shrugs like it's no big deal.

Knox raises an eyebrow, still friendly but probing. “Hell of a move. It workin' out for ya?”

“Not in the slightest,” she murmurs, fidgeting with her shirt.

I'm on alert now, watching her body language tighten.

Knox looks at me, his brows furrowed. I see it too. She's hiding something.

Suddenly, the only thing I want to do is protect her from whatever it is.

I lead her away from the others, giving her space. “Listen, you don't gotta spill your guts to them,” I say quietly.

Lexi shrugs, her gaze distant. “I just... didn't think starting over would be this hard,” she admits, barely above a whisper.

“Yeah, starting over's a bitch,” I tell her, keeping my voice low. “But you ain't alone. You got me.”

“Why?” she asks, her eyes honest and searching. “Why do you care?”

My heart races.

It's on the tip of my tongue to admit that I know how it feels to be alone, to start over in a new place, but for whatever reason, the words don't come.

“Easy,” Thorn shouts as he throws open one of the bay doors.

I look over and see him standing there with his hands on his hips.

Right.

He needs me to bring her car around.

“Gotta bring your car around,” I say, instead of answering her question.

Lexi's eyes search mine as she nods her head. “Right.”

Without another word, I haul ass back to my truck like a coward.

Getting the girl is going to be harder than I thought.

Chapter Seven

Lexi

I watch Shawn's broad back as he walks away, my head more confused than ever. One minute he's calling me his girl, the next he's practically running away from me. I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly feeling cold despite the Miami heat.

“Don't let his gruff exterior fool you,” a soft voice says behind me. I turn to find G standing there with a knowing smile on her face. “Easy's got a heart of gold under all that...” She waves her hand up and down, leaving the rest hanging. She doesn't have to say anything else, though. Even after only knowing him a short time, I get what she means.

“I'm starting to see that.”

She motions toward a metal staircase behind her. “Come on, honey. Let's get you a cold drink while the boys work their magic on your car.”

Grateful for the distraction, I follow her up the steps into a cozy open office space with a cream leather couch, pink frilly throw pillows, and a mint green mini-fridge in the corner. The femine touches are a huge contrast to everything downstairs.

---