He looks down at his feet and shakes his head before lifting his gaze to mine. “No.”
“No?”
“Life is too short, mariposita. While I will always respect you, I will not hide how I feel for you. I’ve spent two years denying myself—no more.”
I feel like the little animated guy from the Red Bull commercials; only instead of an energy drink, it’s Mateo that is giving me wings.
Like a lovesick lunatic, I launch myself at him. He expertly catches me, guiding my legs around his waist and spinning us so my ass is propped on the ledge of his desk.
“You’re so damn gorgeous,” he murmurs, leaning in. His lips are a hairsbreadth away when a jarring knock on the office door breaks us apart.
“What?” Mateo barks, one hand still on my ass and the other still tangled in my hair.
“The, uh, new hire is here,” Danton says from the other side of the door.
Mateo swears under his breath. “Tell him I’ll be right with him.”
I glance down at the space where our bodies are aligned. Mateo’s desire for me is very prominent; I can’t help but grin at his predicament.
“Here’s your first job as shop manager.” He steps back and helps me to my feet. “Give the new guy his paperwork while I calm down.” He kisses me softly. “Think you can handle that?”
“I’d rather handle you,” I singsong as I skip to the door.
He groans as I open the door and slip over the threshold and back onto the garage floor.
I stop by the restroom and fix my smeared makeup and tousled hair as best as I can before hurrying to the front to meet our new hire.
“‘Bout time,” Rodger grouses under his breath as I approach.
Ignoring the grumpy older mechanic, I paste on my customer service smile and address the newcomer. “Hi, you must be Ryker.”
The man before practically oozes bad-boy pheromones and judging from the cocky smirk on his lips, he knows it.
“And you are?”
My cheeks heat. My back office make-out sesh with Mateo has me more than a little flustered. “Sorry. I’m Seraphine.”
“What’s your role here?” he asks, looking from me to Danton and Rodger.
“I’m the manager.”
Ryker’s lips twitch like he wants to laugh.
“Something funny?” I cross my arms over my chest and glower.
“Just wondering what your qualifications are, is all.”
Why did Mateo hire this jackass? And why did he not tell me he was such a jackass?
Danton and Rodger exchange worried looks.
“I don’t see how my qualifications affect your ability to do your job.”
He tips his head back a fraction of an inch and breathes out a laugh. “Got it.”
“I don’t think you do. This shop was my father’s. Mateo owns it now, but it’s my dad’s name on the sign. I grew up here. I may have a vagina, but I assure you it doesn’t hamper my ability to do my job and it damn sure shouldn’t affect your ability to do yours.”
“Breathe, mariposita,” Mateo says, startling me. I’m not sure how much of that he heard, but I stand by everything I said.
Ryker eyes Mateo’s nearness to me and grins like suddenly my presence here makes sense.
“Everything okay here?” Mateo asks no one in particular.
We all remain silent until Danton says, “Yup, your girl was just setting the new hire straight.”
“Straight about what?” Mateo’s voice is low with menace.
“About whether or not I’m suited to my position here.”
Mateo rubs a hand over his chin before turning to Ryker. “Why don’t we go have a talk?”
Ryker’s eyes dart between me and the guys before he nods and follows Mateo back to the office.
As soon as they’re out of sight, Danton cracks up. “Let’s hope he doesn’t give new guy the same kind of talk he gave you.”
“Men in this industry can be real assholes,” I grumble.
“We are.” Rodger nods solemnly, but there’s a twinkle in his eye. “Now, get to work. We’ve all fucked around enough this morning.” He gives me a pointed look. “Some of us more than others.”Chapter Twenty-ThreeMateoThis entire week has been a lesson in patience—but it’s finally Friday.
“You ready to head out?” I ask Seraphine, diverting her concentration from whatever she’s showing Ryker on the computer to me.
After my talk with him Monday, he’s been a model of respect toward Seraphine.
Gracias a Dio—thank God—because I would’ve hated to fire him with the credentials he’s packing. But for her? I’d do it in a heartbeat.
“Almost done.” She smiles sweetly before turning back to her task. “You can head out; I’ll meet you there.”
My lip curls at the idea. “Or we could go now?”
She laughs. “Go home, caveman. I need to freshen up before the game anyway.”
Wisely, Ryker keeps his eyes on the computer screen. “Fine,” I concede, “but I’m picking you up.”
Seraphine bites down on her bottom lip, trapping the smile I see trying to break free. “Sounds good.”