Page 18 of Until Her

“Now you do.”

He doesn’t need to know why I have a job because it is none of his business but that doesn’t stop me from asking, “How would you know?”

He smirks. “Because I graduated last year and I’m the only one that has ever worked that attended there. I don’t remember seeing you there.”

“A lot of kids attend there. How would you know?” I challenge.

He angles his head, and his gaze finds mine. “Because I would have remembered you.”

Is he flirting with me? I can’t tell. His expression is hard to read and you could tell he doesn’t talk much.

I avert my gaze. “I didn’t attend last year. I went to another school and transferred to Spencer Academy to complete my senior year.” My head snaps back. “Do you ask everyone these many questions when they ask about the Jeep?”

He uncrosses his arms and slides his hands inside the pockets of his overalls. “I’m sorry. No, I don’t but I was curious. No one at Spencer Academy would want to buy a Jeep.”

He has a point. The cars I see the kids drive are something you see at exclusive dealerships that sell high end cars. I can see his point since he graduated from there.

I look past him and realize I must get going. “Look, I really have to get going.”

“You want to stop by after work?” he asks.

“I can’t. I don’t have a way to get here. Kinda why I’m inquiring about the Jeep.”

“I could bring the Jeep to you so you could take a look at it.”

I turn my head and I look at the Jeep admiring the rugged tires and shiny black paint, knowing that is not an option. I don’t even know this guy. I really need to leave.

My head turns back, and he is waiting for me to decide. “That is not possible, and I don’t even know you.”

He stretches his hand out. “I’m Lane Turner and I own Turner Racing.”

My hand twitches to reach out and shake his hand but I notice his hands are still dirty with oil. It would take me a long time to get that off my skin. I couldn’t touch groceries with dirty hands.

“My name is Aura Rayne. I don’t mean to be rude. I would shake your hand but it’s dirty.”

He lowers his hand. “Right. Sorry,” he says, looking at his dirty hands and sliding them inside his pockets. He looks embarrassed and I feel bad for pointing it out. I don’t mean to come off as a girl that is afraid to get dirty but handling groceries with greasy hands is where I draw the line.

“I work in someone’s house and they have been kind enough to let me stay there. It would be very rude for me to tell you to come over and show me a Jeep when I’m supposed to be getting their groceries.”

He flinches and pinches his brows. I silently signal Henry with one finger telling him that I will be over in just a minute. Lane twists his body to see who I’m signaling and sees Henry giving me his signature nod.

Lane turns back around and says, “Who do you work for if you don’t mind me asking?”

“The St. Claire's.”

His brows raise. “You mean Kalum St. Claire’s family?”

I nod and he shakes his head slowly in disbelief. “Is there a problem?” I ask defensively.

He is probably judging me and wondering how I ended up working for them and he obviously knows Kalum. I don’t need any trouble and quickly realize it was a mistake coming here.

“No.”

“I’m sorry to have wasted your time, but I really need to go.”

Sidestepping him, he asks, “What about the Jeep?”

Wanting to get away, knowing I have said too much already, I keep walking but answer him without stopping. “If it’s still here the next time I’m close by, I’ll stop by. Have a great rest of your day, Lane.”

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