Page 70 of The Bad Boy Rule

“Don’t be a judgy ass.” Her chin lifts, and she crosses her arms over her chest, still clutching that lug wrench in her tiny fist.

Tommy chuckles beside her, nodding. “She’s right. Leave her alone, boy. Now, come on, Lennon. Let me finish showing you how to tighten the nuts back on once you get this tire on.”

Giving me one last silent glare, she turns back to her car and listens as he begins to run through the instructions.

I step into my jumpsuit, never taking my eyes off them, silently observing the scene before me.

She might be only five foot two and tiny, but she uses every bit of her strength to pull on the lugs and then looks to Tommy for approval. When he nods, she squeals, “Yes! I knew I could do this.”

“Your daddy never taught you how to change a tire?” he asks.

For a second, she’s quiet, the smile on her face dimming before she quickly recovers. “Uh… no. He’s a businessman and has a really hectic schedule. Honestly, I’m not sure if he can evenchange one himself. He probably has someone to do it for him. Plus, we’re not… our relationship’s kind of complicated.”

That sounds about fucking right. Entitled fuck.

Tommy shakes his head, shoving his hands into the pockets of his suit as he nods. “Well, now ya know, darlin’. And listen, if you ever run into trouble again, you know who to call. Tommy’s will always take care of you.”

“Thank you, Tommy. I hope you know how grateful I am.” She hands the lug wrench back to him and swipes the front of her palms onto the front of her shorts, removing some of the grease. “I’m going to bring you some of my favorite strawberry beignets as a thank-you, and I am not taking no for an answer. They’re from the bakery up the road, Ever After, and they are todiefor.”

He chuckles. “I think I can handle that, darlin’. Thank you. But this old man is going to head to bed now. It’s a little too much past my bedtime. I’m sure Saint here can handle the rest, right, my boy?”

I nod.

Lennon turns to him, throwing her arms around his neck in a hug, and he laughs, gently giving her back a few pats before she untangles herself.

Watching the two of them together, Tommy’s quiet reverence and care for the girl he’s only just met, and her… kindness and warmth shining in her eyes, it causes something strange to stir in my chest.

Something foreign I wasn’t expecting.

Something I can’t even really put my finger on.

Tommy shoots me a wink and strides towards me, dipping his head to my ear so only I can hear, “She’s a good one, boy. You better take care of her.”

“We’re no—” I start, but he brushes past me, calling out, “Night, y’all.”

Damn old man.

The stairs groan and creak as he climbs them, and once he reaches the top, the apartment door shuts, and a heavy silence settles between us.

My gaze stays rooted on her, part of me wanting to kiss the fuck out of her, the other part wanting the private, quiet solace of what Tommy’s is for me back.

Now that she’s here, I’m not sure it’ll ever be the same once she’s gone.

Would the familiar smell of gasoline and oil be replaced with the scent of her? Warm vanilla and honey that’s so sweet it makes my mouth water whenever I catch a whiff.

“I swear, I had no idea that you worked here,” she says, one of us finally breaking the tension.

It’s not uncomfortable. It’s just… different.

I shrug as I reach up and plow a hand through my hair. “There’s no place better than Tommy’s.”

“Yeah, I see why.” She smiles, soft and sweet. “Have you… worked here long?”

“Since I was a kid. Fourteen or so.” I’m surprised by my honesty, but the answer comes out of me without thinking, naturally. I grab some of my tools from the nearby bench and walk over to the older Ford next to her, placing them on the metal frame beneath the hood.

She watches me quietly, observing.

“If my tire’s done, um, I can get going. I know you probably have a lot of work to do, and I’ve already disrupted your evening.”

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