Page 71 of Turn Up The Heat

He gave her a tentative smile, so different from the sexy smirks and cocky come-ons that she was used to him dishing out. As they sat in his truck, staring at each other rather than the gorgeous view over the guard rail, Bellamy was struck by the irony of being on the edge of something so stunning and yet so terrifying at the same time.

“Oh. Well, in that case, how does next weekend sound?”

24

The unease that had parked itself squarely on Shane’s chest the minute he’d lied to Bellamy didn’t even budge when they pulled into the side lot of the garage. He hadn’t lied on purpose, and he’d definitely meant it when he’d told her he didn’t want to forget whatever it was that had been happening between them. The words had just sort of popped out, and the next thing he’d known, he’d promised to do the one thing he knew he couldn’t.

But it wasn’t just as easy as sucking it up and getting on the highway for a few hours. He’d sworn he’d never go back, for damn good reasons.

Not that he could tell her that.

“Shane?”

Man, those big green eyes were going to be the end of him, they really were. “Sorry, I must have been zoning out.” Shane scooped her hand up and planted a quick kiss on her gloved knuckles.

“About what?” Tiny lines of worry ghosted over her brow, but her lips twitched with the suggestion of a smile.

He snatched it up and ran. “If I tell you, it’ll just ruin the surprise later.” Shane arched a suggestive eyebrow at her.

“You’re terrible,” she laughed.

“You like me that way.” He pulled her closer until the irresistible taste of her was on his lips and under his tongue.

“You’re going to be late for work,” Bellamy warned with no heat whatsoever, parting her mouth to kiss him back. Her teeth took a gentle slide over his bottom lip, barely scraping, and he groaned.

“I’m already late for work.” But instead of pulling back, Shane threaded his hand through her hair, holding her closer.

When Bellamy finally slid back a minute later, his brain didn’t waste any time hollering at him to bring her back. “Come on. You have to work. Let’s go, before wedon’tgo.”

He conceded, much to his dick’s dismay. They crunched over the snow-packed gravel of the lot and through the side door, and Shane stuffed down the unease bubbling in his chest. He’d spend the next few days with her, just like they’d promised. He’d figure out how to get out of going to the city later.

For now, he’d take what he could.

* * *

Shane hadn’t been latefor work once in the entire fourteen months he’d worked at Grady’s, but that didn’t stop the guilt from flooding through him at the twenty minutes that had dropped off the clock in his absence.

“Morning, Grady. Sorry I’m late.” Shane didn’t volunteer an excuse, mainly because Grady was no dummy. Whatever explanation Shane offered up would be canceled out by the fact that therealreason was standing right next to him, looking cute as hell with that blue hat framing her curls.

Grady looked up from Lucky Gunderson’s Cadillac, a grin splitting his silvery stubble. “No apologies. ’Specially not when you’ve got a pretty girl with you.”

Shane chuckled and shook his head. It figured that Grady would pull out the old-man charm for Bellamy. She was the first woman Shane had ever brought around the garage. Guess he had this coming. “Grady, this is Bellamy Blake.”

“Nice to meet you.” Bellamy balanced the lasagna tray in one hand and extended the other with a smile.

“Good to see you, darlin’.” He wiped his hands carefully on a rag before taking hers in a firm handshake.

Bellamy drew her brows down in a slight pull, as if she was trying to place Grady’s accent. Shane suppressed a laugh. Grady was a product of the Blue Ridge, through and through, but he doubted she’d peg the cadence of his words without having grown up here.

“I brought you some lasagna that I made. In case you get hungry later.” She offered the tray with a tentative smile, but really, she had nothing to be nervous about. That lasagna was freaking amazing.

“Well, that’s right nice of you. Thank you.” Grady took the tray and put it in the fridge. “So, that’s your sports car we’ve got over there?” Grady jerked his head toward the Miata, which sat in the bay next to Shane’s Mustang.

Bellamy nodded. “I’m really grateful you’re able to fix it for me.”

“Ah. Piece of cake, those trannies. Don’t you worry your head over it. We’ll get you fixed up just right. Soon as those parts get here, anyhow.” Grady’s eyes flicked over Shane for just a second, but then settled back on Bellamy with a wink.

Shane straightened and he turned toward the office.Speaking of which.“Hey, let me call the distributor. Your transmission might actually get here today,” he sais, but Grady cut him off.

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