Page 20 of Race to the Beach

The more time he spent with her, the more intrigued he was by her.He stepped over to pull it out for her.

As she got situated on the creeper, he said, "I had a chance to look over it before you got here.It's going to need a lot of body work, the suspension needs to be repaired, and there’s more work under the hood, but I don't think it's totaled."

She was under the car for a bit, which surprised him.He wondered if she knew what she was looking at.He resumed his quiet mode, letting her take it in on her own terms.

At last, she slid out from under the car and got to her feet."I would concur.It can be repaired."

"You know how to work on cars?"He had to admit that he'd never met a woman who liked to work under the hood of a car.

"You might say that."She hesitated.Then her gaze met his."I own my own garage."

That was the very last thing he expected her to say."You're a mechanic?"

Apparently he'd failed to keep the shock from showing on his face because she smiled at him."Don't look so appalled.It's not like I run a brothel."

He swallowed hard."Sorry.I've just never met a woman who knows how to work on engines."

"I also know how to do body work."

If she meant to shock him again, it didn't work.He'd already come to realize that there was far more to this woman than he'd originally thought.In fact, he wouldn't be surprised now to find that she was capable of anything.His respect for her continued to grow.

"That's good to know," he said."Looks like your car is going to need it.And so is mine."

She turned around, and her eyes widened.“Your car was damaged too?”

He nodded."I was behind you.I tried to get out of the way, but it all happened so fast."

She looked at him, and the anger was gone from her eyes."I remember now.After I wrecked, there was another hit.It was you?”When he nodded, she said, "That wasn't your fault.It was the goat."

Owen smiled and nodded."His name is Dasher.He lives on a farm just south of town.He's known to escape and make his way into town."

"Is he okay?I just couldn't stand the thought of hurting him."Her gaze searched his.

"As far as I know, he's just fine.Although, his owner wasn't very happy with him.But your car didn't touch him."

"Thank goodness.I can handle a wrecked car, but if I had hurt someone's pet, I would have been crushed."

"Nope.All is good.Well, except for your car."He looked at the smashed fender."What will you do with it?Take it home and work on it?"

She shook her head."I'm not taking it home."

"Surely you aren't going to junk it.The damage isn't that bad."

She shook her head again."No.I'm going to get it ready for the race."

Surely, he hadn't heard her correctly."You're still planning to race?"

She nodded."I've come too far to back out now."

"But how will you get the replacement parts in time for the race?"

"I have contacts."

"They must be really good contacts."He eyed up the visible damage."That's a lot of work."

She sighed."It is.But I'm on vacation all week, so I have the time to work on it."

"But your arm."He stared at the sling.

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