Page 136 of Beneath the Hood

“Well, who ya lookin’ for? Maybe I can help. Small town and all.”

“Jackson Rhoades.” I say it fast, his name rolling off my tongue before I lose my nerve entirely.

Her eyes widen. “You’re lookin’ forJax?”

My chest wrings tight. “I take it you know him?”

She grins. “Even when I wish I didn’t.” Her eyes scan up and down my body. My head grows dizzy, her perusal making anxiety slam down on my lungs.

I focus on my breath and practice PMR.

One. Two. Three.

I hope she doesn’t notice that I’ve suddenly gone stiff right in front of her, but I’d rather her think I’m awkward then see me in a full-blown attack.

“How’d you say you know him again?” she questions.

My heart palpitates. Obviously, he’s never mentioned me. Not that I can blame him. “He worked for my dad out in California. I just... there are some things I need to tell him.”

Recognition hits her eyes. “You’re that girl he was always complainin’ about,” she mutters.

A tendril of amusement works its way through my nerves and a small smile lifts my face. “I was an expert at pushing his buttons.”

She throws her head back and laughs, walking right up to me and linking our arms. “Well then, I think we’ll get along just fine. Come on, now, we’re about to head to meet him for dinner. You can follow us there.”

My stomach somersaults. “Really?”

She smirks. “I ain’t never told a lie. I’m Becca, by the way. Andthat’sEli.” She points to the black Jeep pulling up behind my Maserati.

There’s something about her that draws me in and I find myself smiling—trusting her before I even really know her. “I’m Blakely.”

Her eyes sparkle. “Nice to meet ya. Now you just hop in that fancy car and follow us, okay? It’s a straight shot to the middle of town.”

Nodding, I walk around and sink into the driver’s seat, my hands brushing against the wheel. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to drive a car, and my gut churns, wishing my dad had picked something less flashy.

Oh well, too late now.

My stomach is tense the entire drive over, lost in my head, running through all the things I want to say. I barely see the scenery as it passes me by. But there’s a sense of calm in the air, a peace that doesn’t exist in a big city. And I get the feeling that being here for a few days could lift years of tension off my shoulders.

The Jeep parks in a driveway and I pull onto the curb, my hands trembling as I turn off the car and get out, closing the door.

What the hell am I even doing?

My heart pounds against my ribs as I walk over to Becca and Eli and I force a smile on my face, hoping that my nerves aren’t showing themselves too strongly.

Eli grins. “Hey there.”

I’m so nervous I could puke, so I don’t open my mouth, just lift my hand in a wave and walk behind them to the door.

“I called Jax on the way over,” Becca says.

“He knows I’m here?” A heaviness presses against my chest.

She nods. “Yep.”

The door swings open and my stomach swings with it, flying into my throat. A man with dark hair and a sharp jaw stands in the frame, his eyes glossing over Becca and Eli before landing on me.

“You gonna just stand there all day or you plannin’ on lettin’ us in?” Becca snarks.

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