“What can I do to help?” she asks, blessedly changing the subject, because I was two seconds away from taking her in my arms and tasting her drink straight from her lips.
“Nada—nothing.”
“Are you sure?” Her wide eyes and pouty lips detour my thoughts back into dangerous territory. “There’s not anything at all?”
Everything about her screams fuck me—and the worst part, I don’t think she even knows it. She’s an effortless blend of innocence and sin. Her dick-stirring sex appeal comes to her as naturally as breathing; it isn’t something she thinks about—it just is.
I quickly call to mind the most unsexy thing I can think of—cutting my abuelita’s toenails when she was sick—before answering her. “We have a few appointments on the books, and I have a few interviews, too. But for the most part, we’re ready to go.”
Her earlier grin returns, and since I’m apparently a schoolgirl and not a grown-ass man, I get actual butterflies at the sight of it.
“Let’s do this then!”
As she says this, Rodger and Danton—the two mechanics I hired last week—walk in.
“Morning, boys,” Seraphine says with a finger wave.
Rodger grunts as he heads straight for the coffeepot. He’s older than me by about twelve years and has been in the car industry for three decades. He’s a little on the grumpy side, but his knowledge is priceless.
Danton, on the other hand, is only a little older than Seraphine and as green as a sapling. His eagerness more than makes up for it, though.
“Good morning, Seraphine.” He practically purrs her name, and I see red; turns out his eagerness may actually get him killed.
An involuntary snarl rips from my chest, and Danton rushes to acknowledge me as well, as though his lack of a greeting was the issue. “Mateo! Glad to be here, man.”
“I’ll bet you are,” I mutter, earning me a backhanded smack to the gut from Seraphine.
“Be nice,” she scolds.
“I’m always nice.”
“Be nicer, then.”
“If you two are done,” Rodger grouses, paper coffee cup in hand. “Maybe we can get to work?”Chapter FifteenSeraphineThe door chimes and I greet the newcomer without looking up from the computer screen. “Welcome to Dave’s. I’ll be right with you.”
“It’s you.”
I lift my eyes from the screen in time to see a tall, fit guy around my age eyeing me. There’s something familiar about him, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.
“Um…” is all I can say, because while he seems to know me, I think I know him, my brain is struggling to connect the dots.
“You don’t remember me?” He gives me puppy dog eyes.
I shimmy my shoulders in a shrug. “You’re familiar, but I can’t seem to place you.”
“That’s okay.” He grins and I shudder. Something about him makes me feel on edge. “I’m happy to remind you. I’m Cliff.”
It’s obvious he’s waiting for some kind of response; only, I’m not sure what. He clearly knows me, so it’s not my name he’s waiting for.
“Well, it’s um, nice to see you again. How can I help you today?”
His eyes light and my stomach drops. “I can think of fifty different ways, but let’s start with my truck, sugar.”
I blanch at the unwanted nickname. Who does this guy think he is? “What about it?”
“I got a new one, it needs a lift kit, wheels, tires, brush guard, the works.”
“Oh.” I nod my head. “We’re only doing maintenance for the time being. I’m not sure when the custom side of things is set to open, but I can take your name and number?”
“Come on, sugar. Put me on the books.”
“We’re not accepting anyone for resto or customizations yet.”
He plants his hands onto the desk and leans into my space. “Then let me take you to make up for it.”
I discreetly look around the shop for Mateo or one of the guys, but there’s no one. “Oh, um, I don’t think…”
He reaches out, as if to touch me, and I take a small step back.
“Say yes, sugar. I promise we’ll have a good time. And hey, you like cars… I’ll let you look under my hood if you let me under yours.”
Wow, that’s forward. And gross. “I think I’m busy.”
His eyes narrow. “I haven’t said when.”
Crap! I try to backpedal; he seems like the kind of guy you don’t want to cross. “I just meant with the shop opening, long hours, you know… busy with work and stuff.”
“Come on, now. You can’t be all work and no play.” He pulls his phone from his pocket. “Let me take you to dinner tonight. You gotta eat, right?”
I shift uncomfortably on my feet. Why can’t this guy take a hint?
“Tonight?” I suck in a breath through my teeth. “Tonight—”
“Tonight won’t work,” Mateo says, startling me. I have no clue where he came from but I am so freaking glad he’s here.