Page 4 of Romania
Mena laughed. “Get out of here.”
With another wave, I made my way back into the garage.
“Rommy, a prospect is bringing the bike into your bay now,” Billy said.
“Thanks.” By the time I reached my area, the GSX-R 1000 was already parked and waiting for me. She was a red beauty, and I couldn’t wait to work on her. The customer complained of a rattle when running, and it was up to me to figure out what the problem was and fix it. Smiling, I re-dressed into my coveralls and reached for my headphones to place them on. I selected a playlist and got busy.
Sometime later, I felt a tap on my shoulder and slightly jolted. It was lucky—for that person—I trusted everyone around me, or else I would have flipped them over my shoulder for startling me.
Pulling my headphones off, I looked to Fang. He tipped his chin up and said, “The customer for the car you worked on is here askin’ for you.”
Grinning, I blew him a kiss. “Thanks, Fang.” As I started to wipe down my hands, I asked, “How’s the family?”
His smile grew. “Perfect.”
“Awesome. Tell Poppy she has to come to the next girls’ night.”
“I will. She’s pissed she had a cold and missed the last one when Swan was here.”
“I’ll make sure the Ballarat girls come back up for another one. It’ll be epic.” We walked towards the office talking, and then Fang split off to head out into the compound.
Entering the office, I noticed Peter, the customer, was already looking at me. Glancing to Mum, I saw she was pretending to be busy with something on the computer.
“Peter, your baby is all ready for the race on the weekend.”
He smiled, stepping my way. “I knew it would be since you’re the one working on it.”
“There was nothing really to report, and I see you have the keys. Did you fix the bill with M?—”
“He sure did,” Mum said quickly. Like she didn’t want me to call her Mum in front of him. But why?
“Cool. Is there anything else I can help with?” I asked. Would he ask me out?
“Actually….”
A giddy flutter started in my belly. He was going to ask, and I was happy to go on a date with him since he was cute and sweet.
A chair creaked behind me just as the office door opened and in filed Dive, Knife, Beast, Billy, and Pick. Billy, at least, looked like he didn’t want to be there. And I absolutely knew Dad had texted them.
“Are we having a meeting I didn’t know about?” I asked. Frustration had my tone more snappish than normal, but I couldn’t blame the guys or my dad when they were doing this to protect me.
Still, it was annoying; they knew I was a machine in my own right.
Hell, I knew how to throat punch a guy while stabbing his eye at the same time.
Facing Peter, I told him, “Ignore the idiots. What were you going to say?”
The poor guy was too busy taking in the rough-and-tough men around me, who were wearing their club cuts, which he was also checking out.
Goddamn it. I already knew this guy wouldn’t ask me out before he stuttered, “N-Nothing. Thanks for your work, Rommy,” he said and then quickly fled.
When I turned to the brothers, who were trying to file back out of the office, I barked, “Stop right there.” When they actually froze, my eyes widened. “I know Dad put you all up to this because he doesn’t like the thought of me growing up. But, fellas, you will all suffer the consequences along with my father at lunch where I’ll be informing you all about a menstrual cycle.”
Dad shifted. “Now, Rommy. We’re?—”
Rolling my eyes, I quickly finished what he would say, “Just looking out for me. I know. But please, please, remember that I’m more than capable of taking care of myself. As soon as he nearly peed himself seeing you lot, I knew he wasn’t for me, so I do appreciate that, but let me figure these things out on my own, or I’m going to start making all your lives hell. Hear me?”
The brothers grumbled and nodded before they left, and I turned to Dad.
