Miss Mechanic

I said nothing. I simply stared for a second, then walked out of the store.

He would be the death of me.

Chapter Ten – Jamie

“I have a question.” Dex slid his coffee mug across the table and grabbed a napkin. He wiped his mouth, and then said, “Why does everyone seem to wish me good luck where you’re concerned?”

I brought my own mug to my lips and shrugged, giving him my best innocent look. “I have no idea.” I sipped.

“Haley mentioned something about a temper.”

“She’s a terrible over exaggerator.” I set my mug down.

“She said it was worse than your attitude.”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course that’s not true. How could it possibly be?”

He stared at me. “You make an excellent point. But, in the same vein, I can see how you’d have a bad temper.”

“I do not have a bad temper,” I huffed. “I have a hot temper, and it’s a work in progress. Controlling it is a bit like herding cats. Just when I think I have my ducks in a row, I realize they’re more like rabbits at a rave.”

“I don’t know what I’m more impressed with. Your admission to having a bad temper or your totally ridiculous usage of three animals in a sentence that, weirdly enough, made sense.”

“I don’t have a bad temper. It’s a hot temper. And you’re coming dangerously close to being the match that sets it alight.”

He leaned forward, eyes twinkling. “Is your temper the only thing I’m setting alight?”

“That was the worst line I’ve ever heard.”

“Impossible. It wasn’t a line, it was a genuine question.”

“Believe me, I have a whole bunch of things you’re setting alight, but none of them are in the same road your thoughts are going down.”

“Is there a chance your thoughts are male and can’t follow directions?”

I stared flatly at him. Then, picked up my coffee and sipped. I kept my hard stare until my mug clinked against the table once again.

Dex’s lips twitched. “I sense a sarcastic comment coming my way.”

“As opposed to my regular, non-sarcastic additions to our conversations.”

His mouth formed a full grin, one that shone in his eyes. “Ah, there it is. Has anyone ever told you that you’re pretty when you cut someone with your words?”

“Now you’re just fucking with me.” I gave him a pointed look right as the waitress showed up with our tacos.

“Uh,” she said uncertainly. “I have our taco sharing platter?”

“Put it right in the middle,” Dex said, taking control. “Thank you. And excuse her. She forgot the soap when she brushed her teeth this morning.”

My jaw dropped, but the waitress just giggled.

“Is there anything else I can get you both?” she asked Dex.

“Yes. I’d like some water, please,” I said to the back side of her head.

“You got it, ma’am.”

Jesus, she didn’t even look at me as she walked off.

Dex snorted. “It’s almost as I answered in your voice without moving my lips.”

“You’re magic.” I selected a taco from the huge-ass board between us and set it on my plate.

“Which one should I start with?” he waved his hand over the platter.

“Hmm. That one.” I pointed to the one I had on my plate. The waitress brought over my water, and after a dazzling smile from Dex, left with a blush.

I barely resisted rolling my eyes. Instead, I decided to fold up my taco and shove it in my mouth in a very unladylike way.

But, hey, was there a ladylike way to eat tacos?

I hadn’t found it yet.

Dex raised an eyebrow, but he didn’t say anything, deciding to eat his own lunch. I couldn’t say I wasn’t glad about it, but I wasn’t ready for the deep groan that escaped him when he was halfway through the taco.

“This is a good taco,” he said with a mouthful of food.

I hid my smile behind my hand since I, too, had a mouth full of food.

After that, neither of us said a word. It was weird, since there hadn’t yet been a time—in the staggering number of days we’d worked together—that we’d been quiet, really. Certainly not like this. We’d basically bickered our way through work to this point.

Hell, we’d bickered our way through the entire day so far. It was like we didn’t know how to do anything but, and I was okay with it. If bickering with him meant I got to win this stupid thing in the end, I’d take it.

A part of me wanted to make a quip about that, but the rest of me was, well, hungry.

And quite enjoying sitting here without either of us fighting.

Huh.

I had to eat quicker. Hunger was addling my brain.

***

The next morning rolled around too quickly. After lunch yesterday, Dex and I had settled into being almost friendly with each other. I doubted it’d stay the same today, and a part of me was happy about that.