Page 19 of Wreck Me
Her hazel eyes watched him for a moment before she shook her head with a smile, wisps of her dark hair falling around her face. “What are you, Aidan, some kind of saint?”
If she only knew the dirty thoughts he had where she was the star. “No. But you need help, right?” He shrugged. “I have the time, I can help.” His nonchalant tone betrayed the churning in his gut that told him he needed to tread carefully with his offers of help.
“You don’t have anything you need to do? You know, work or something…someone else?”
“Nothing else. No one else.”
She shook her head again and stood. “Okay, give me a few minutes to change and we can go. If that’s okay with you.”
“Take your time.”
She bit her lip and fidgeted. “Would you mind if I took a shower?”
Hell yeah, he minded because he didn’t need the images of her naked in his shower tumbling around in his head. But he cleared his throat and said, “Megan. Take your time. It’s fine, okay?”
She nodded and hightailed it out of the room. A little while later, she came out into the living room in a colorful sweater that hugged curves her T-shirt and pajamas pants had done their damnedest to hide from him, and a pair of leggings that clung to shapely, long legs. Her freshly washed and dried hair fell in waves down her back, and her lips were glossy.
It didn’t bode well for him that covered from head to toe, with no makeup, she made his blood thrum under his skin.
“Okay,” she said, slinging a small bag over her shoulder, “I’m ready.”
He cleared his throat and stood from the couch. “Let’s go.” His voice came out a bit gruffer than he’d intended. If it bothered Megan, she didn’t let on.
She trailed behind him out to the garage, where he opened the door. When the sun lit up the garage, Megan gasped.
“Wow, this car is beautiful.”
Aidan nodded. “She’s my girl. And I haven’t driven her in about a week. Thought we’d take her out, stretch her legs.”
The royal-blue ’69 Mustang gleamed in the sunlight, ready to hit the road. They slid in, and Megan looked around the front and backseat. “It’s in pristine condition.”
Aidan started the engine, which roared to life and then idled to a purr. “Yeah, I finished the restoration on it a few years back after I got home from the service.”
They rode in silence for a couple of moments before Aidan shifted his glance over to her. Her hands were in her lap, fingers twisted together. “Want to go by Henderson’s and see if they have an update on the estimate for your car?”
She turned her head to him, and a small smile curved one side of her full mouth. “I’d appreciate that. But you’ve done enough, Aidan. I know you didn’t sign up to be my nursemaid and taxi.”
He shrugged a shoulder, one hand draped over the steering wheel. “It’s not a problem. We’re going right by there.”
“Okay, then. I do need to get an update.”
They pulled into a spot in front of Doc’s office, and when he put the car in park, she laid her hand over his that gripped the gear shifter. “Aidan, thank you so much for your help. If the doctor gives me the all clear, I’d like to go ahead and move to the inn so you can have your house back.”
“You’re fine, Megan.” Again, his tone came out with a snap that made him want to saw his tongue in half when her eyes widened and she pulled back her hand as though he’d scalded her.
Fuck.
When Megan put a hand on the door handle and pushed it open, he stopped her. “Wait. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I just…” She turned back and looked at him, the lightness and smile on her face from earlier gone.
And he’d done that. Damn it. He ran a hand through his hair. “I just meant you don’t need to keep thanking me.”
She looked down at the seat between them for a moment before meeting his gaze with a smile that didn’t make it to her eyes. “Apology accepted.”
He tilted his head, not quite believing her. “We’re good?”
She nodded, but it was stiff. “We’re good.”
Without another word, she got out of the car and hightailed it into the office before he could catch up with her.
