Page 52 of Stuck With You
She stops with one leg hanging out.
“Have a really nice day.”
Her eyes flick between mine before her eyelids drop just the slightest bit lower. “You are the biggest shit, you know that?”
She tries really hard not to smile, and it tugs on the place in my belly that hasn’t sensed feeling in so long that it takes me a moment to recognize.
Shit.
She steps out and slings her purse across her body, then grabs her lunch bag.
“Your car will be ready in the next couple of days.”
“Really?” I hear the excitement in her voice, but that means no more mornings like this, which is for the best.
“Yeah.”
“Great.”
“You have a ride home?”
Her head falls to the side. She sticks her thumb out, bending and flexing it. “Sure do. This and hiking my skirt up a little higher . . .” She widens her bold eyes. “Works like a gem. It’s free, too.”
I clench my jaw, and she smiles that smile that pinches something deep inside. I avert my gaze back to the windshield, needing to focus on what’s ahead.
She pushes the door closed, but just before I hear it latch, she yanks it back open.
“Hey, Slade.” She leans into the truck, and I meet her stare. “Be careful. You keep playing like that, and people might think there’s a fun personality trying to escape that big body.”
A smirk appears on that pretty face as she closes the door.
I push out a breath, making sure she enters the building before putting my truck in drive. I want to press the accelerator and peel out,running far and fast. This woman poses a threat to my long-held plan and resolve. The one where I’ve been happily committed to a simple, mundane life. Alone.
I pull out of the parking lot toward the garage, my mouth curling into a smile, and all I can think is . . .
Fuck.
______
I grab the key fob from the board and hit the button. The garage door rolls open to the dark parking lot.
“What are you doing?” Carson asks from the workbench, cleaning up for the night.
“The wheel bearing is in for Sarah’s car.” I head to the lot to pull her car in.
“You’re putting that on tonight?”
The cold air fills the garage. “She needs her car. If I put the bearing on tonight, we should be able to squeeze in the brakes tomorrow, and then Trig can install the tires.”
I unlock it and climb in, wanting to ignore that it smells like her. Light, sunny, and fresh. I hold my breath as I pull it into the garage.
Carson puts the door down behind me. “Seriously, you’re working tonight?”
“The schedule is completely full.” I toss the keys to him, and he returns them to the hook.
“You want some help?” He strolls over.
“What’s it going to cost me?”
