experienced an attempted break-in at the clinic, seen
a friend suffer a horrible fate, and now this. She’d have to be mighty strong to endure
three setbacks in such a short period of time, but she didn’t need his pity.
When he made it to her parking spot, Jamie was shifting her butt right and left. He
swallowed a chuckle at her action. She didn’t seem like the ass-wiggling type, nor
did she seem like someone who would know a spark plug from a brake line.
When she planted her foot on her calf, an overwhelming rush of interest invaded his
bloodstream. Damn, she was doing it again to him—just like at the wedding. Max had
dated a lot of women over the years, but he hadn’t been looking for someone special.
He’d cut off that part of his brain, waiting until he’d found the arsonist who’d burned
his family home. With that man in jail, he was ready to resume his life, only Max’s
emotional cells had yet to fire—until now. Too bad the timing sucked. Rock Hard needed
him to do a job.
Max cleared his throat to let her know he was near. “Need help?”
She stiffened, shot out from under the hood, and turned around. Her long inhale implied
she was warring with herself. “No.” She paused. “Thank you. Grayson can be temperamental
sometimes, but I’ve always managed to get him started.”
A chuckle escaped. She named her car? “Grayson?” Max hadn’t seen this whimsical side
of her before, but he liked it.
Her chin lifted. “That’s his name.”
“Mind if I take a look? I’m rather handy with engines.”
“Really?”
“When I was sixteen, I took apart an old clunker. Would have been able to put it back
together again if my grandmother hadn’t decided that my summer project took up too
much garage space. She dumped all the pieces in one big bin. Never did get it to run
properly, but I sure learned a lot.”
She clamped a hand over her mouth and laughed. “Seriously?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Did she apologize?”
“Not my nannie. Said I should have known better.”
Jamie smiled. “She sounds wise.”
“Not to a sixteen-year old she didn’t. So, do you want my help or not?”
“I’m good.”
Of all the women he’d ever known, he’d never met one who turned down help—especially
when it came to cars. But if Jamie thought she could fix it without any tools, he’d
stay for the show. Her decision to repair the car herself was a good sign. Her actions
indicated someone who wasn’t a victim anymore. Maybe their little talk had helped.
Folding his arms across his chest, he leaned against the car parked next to hers.
Rich didn’t expect him at the firehouse for another hour, but he bet Jamie had patients
to treat at the clinic. If she didn’t hurry, she’d be late.
God, but she was cute. Tiny, wiry, and with just the right amount of spunk. Now more
than ever, he wanted to know who this woman was. She fascinated him.
Jamie continued to push and pull at the wires as if the car would miraculously start.
“Would you like me to give you a jump?”
She kept her head averted. “If I jiggle the right wires, I can get it started. It’s
always worked before.” Her focus and good intentions were admirable. He hoped she
succeeded, but in his experience, randomly tugging on wires didn’t solve many engine
problems. When she seemed content with her attempt, she stood. “Let’s see if that
worked.”
Her satisfied smirk sent another unwanted spark straight through him. What was it
about this woman that pushed him off balance?
Don’t even answer that.
Max zipped up his coat, fearing the dreaded storm might come sooner rather than later.
She yanked open her door, hopped in, and cranked the engine. It made a grinding and
freewheeling noise, like the starter or possibly the solenoid had gone bad. That would
set her back both time and money.
Stubborn set to her jaw, she got out again, and ran her hands up and down her arms.
a friend suffer a horrible fate, and now this. She’d have to be mighty strong to endure
three setbacks in such a short period of time, but she didn’t need his pity.
When he made it to her parking spot, Jamie was shifting her butt right and left. He
swallowed a chuckle at her action. She didn’t seem like the ass-wiggling type, nor
did she seem like someone who would know a spark plug from a brake line.
When she planted her foot on her calf, an overwhelming rush of interest invaded his
bloodstream. Damn, she was doing it again to him—just like at the wedding. Max had
dated a lot of women over the years, but he hadn’t been looking for someone special.
He’d cut off that part of his brain, waiting until he’d found the arsonist who’d burned
his family home. With that man in jail, he was ready to resume his life, only Max’s
emotional cells had yet to fire—until now. Too bad the timing sucked. Rock Hard needed
him to do a job.
Max cleared his throat to let her know he was near. “Need help?”
She stiffened, shot out from under the hood, and turned around. Her long inhale implied
she was warring with herself. “No.” She paused. “Thank you. Grayson can be temperamental
sometimes, but I’ve always managed to get him started.”
A chuckle escaped. She named her car? “Grayson?” Max hadn’t seen this whimsical side
of her before, but he liked it.
Her chin lifted. “That’s his name.”
“Mind if I take a look? I’m rather handy with engines.”
“Really?”
“When I was sixteen, I took apart an old clunker. Would have been able to put it back
together again if my grandmother hadn’t decided that my summer project took up too
much garage space. She dumped all the pieces in one big bin. Never did get it to run
properly, but I sure learned a lot.”
She clamped a hand over her mouth and laughed. “Seriously?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Did she apologize?”
“Not my nannie. Said I should have known better.”
Jamie smiled. “She sounds wise.”
“Not to a sixteen-year old she didn’t. So, do you want my help or not?”
“I’m good.”
Of all the women he’d ever known, he’d never met one who turned down help—especially
when it came to cars. But if Jamie thought she could fix it without any tools, he’d
stay for the show. Her decision to repair the car herself was a good sign. Her actions
indicated someone who wasn’t a victim anymore. Maybe their little talk had helped.
Folding his arms across his chest, he leaned against the car parked next to hers.
Rich didn’t expect him at the firehouse for another hour, but he bet Jamie had patients
to treat at the clinic. If she didn’t hurry, she’d be late.
God, but she was cute. Tiny, wiry, and with just the right amount of spunk. Now more
than ever, he wanted to know who this woman was. She fascinated him.
Jamie continued to push and pull at the wires as if the car would miraculously start.
“Would you like me to give you a jump?”
She kept her head averted. “If I jiggle the right wires, I can get it started. It’s
always worked before.” Her focus and good intentions were admirable. He hoped she
succeeded, but in his experience, randomly tugging on wires didn’t solve many engine
problems. When she seemed content with her attempt, she stood. “Let’s see if that
worked.”
Her satisfied smirk sent another unwanted spark straight through him. What was it
about this woman that pushed him off balance?
Don’t even answer that.
Max zipped up his coat, fearing the dreaded storm might come sooner rather than later.
She yanked open her door, hopped in, and cranked the engine. It made a grinding and
freewheeling noise, like the starter or possibly the solenoid had gone bad. That would
set her back both time and money.
Stubborn set to her jaw, she got out again, and ran her hands up and down her arms.
Similar Books
