Page 99 of In Plain Sight

“Yeah, no thank you to a crime car. Especially not one where someone died. That’s just asking to be haunted.” I suppressed a shudder and closed the hood.

Curiously, I glanced around the garage. The far wall was covered in shelves holding large storage tubs. The wall next to the door was set up like a workshop with a large worktable, a bench covered with tools, and jars of various screws, nails, and bolts. The wall above the bench had more tools tacked to it, and several bins were stacked next to a beat-up toolbox like the one he had at work. There were also two sets of coveralls hanging on pegs next to the door.

The area across from the garage door held an ancient fridge, a beat-up microwave on a metal shelf, and a couple of chairs.

“This is a nice setup,” I commented, giving the garage another once-over. “One day I want something like this. If I’m ever able to buy a house. Can’t really have a workshop in an apartment.”

He looked around. “I was lucky I bought this place before the market went crazy. It’s so insane to think that I couldn’t afford to buy in to this neighborhood now, not with what I make, and the shop pays us well compared to a lot of places.”

I nodded in agreement. Nate and Dev paid a very competitive wage, and I was making significantly more working at Legacy Mechanics than I did at my old shop. They also paid overtime, didn’t make us clock out for our breaks, and gave out bonuses at Christmas based on how well the shop had done that year.

It was night and day compared to my old shop.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever have this,” I said honestly. “It feels like it’s becoming more of a pipe dream the older I get. I make more now than I ever have, but I’ve never been this poor.”

“Yeah, it’s a different world out there than the one they promised us.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

He nodded.

“How did you afford to buy this place at twenty-one? Even if it was considered affordable back then, it just seems so crazy to buy a house at that age.”

“My divorce.” He shot me a wry grin.

“Your divorce?”

“Once we paid off all of our debts and split our assets, there was enough left for me to put a down payment on this place.”

“Wow, that’s lucky.” I winced. “I mean, it’s lucky because of the timing, not because you got divorced.”

“I figured that’s what you meant.” He smiled shyly at me.

The air in the room seemed to thicken as our eyes locked, and time did this strange thing where it seemed to slow down, stretching between us and making every moment feel a little longer than usual.

Zander’s gaze dropped to my mouth, and he dragged his tongue over his lower lip.

My body tightened with awareness, and my breathing picked up.

Zander’s eyes met mine again, and the heat in them was so strong it made my breath catch.

Taking a chance, I slipped my hand into his.

He laced our fingers together and held tight.

That simple move made my pulse race, and my mouth went dry as he flicked his gaze to my lips again.

Not thinking too hard about what I was doing, I gently tucked a lock of hair that had fallen over his cheek behind his ear with my other hand.

Zander stood completely still, his intense gaze locked on mine.

Swallowing the lump of excitement in my throat, I ran the backs of my fingers over the light blanket of stubble covering his cheek. The slight rasp against my skin sent shivers of awareness through me, and my cock went half-hard in my briefs.

“Is this okay?” I whispered, tracing one finger down his sharp jawline.

“Yeah,” he said, his voice husky with desire.

With my heart pounding in my chest, I leaned in and brushed my mouth over his in a soft kiss.

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