Miss Mechanic

Not that I had a place doing so, but still. With an ass like that…

I shook my head to rid my mind of those thoughts. She might have a great ass, but she was a big fucking pain in mine. Her stupid, smart mouth. Her ridiculous, sassy comments. That fucking pretty smile she got when she knew she had me.

The one she’d given me after the tow truck conversation this morning when I realized I’d talked myself into the worst job I’d do this week.

That was fucking stupid. And all it’d made me do was realize that she was cute as fuck when she smiled like that—especially when she had a grease smudge over her cheek.

The craziest part was that her lipstick had still been intact at the end of the day. That’d been some goddamn sorcery right there.

The person in front of me in line stepped aside, so I moved forward and placed my order.

“That’s a twenty minute wait. Is that okay?” The pretty, young redhead asked me, blinking bright blue eyes in my direction.

I waved my hand. “Fine. I’ll go take a seat with some friends.”

She nodded. “Cash or card?”

I pulled my card out of my pocket and swiped when she motioned to.

“Here’s your number.” She handed me a receipt with the number circled on the top. “The machine will call out when your order is ready, and you can collect it from the other end of the counter.” She pointed to an area with a “Take-Out Collection” sign hanging above it.

“You got it. Thanks.” I stuffed my card back in my pocket and folded the receipt in two. A glance toward where Haley was sitting told me Jamie hadn’t returned from wherever she’d disappeared to.

Going up there, to that table, was a bad idea. After all, one of the women took pleasure in pissing me off and the other obviously was mildly interested in just the pleasure.

Which is why I went up there. Because I was fucking good at bad ideas.

Case in point: I’d hired the woman who took pleasure in pissing me off.

“Do you mind?” I motioned to the empty side of the booth where Jamie had been sitting.

Haley looked up, straw between her bright-pink lips. “I don’t,” she said. “But Jamie probably will.”

“Perfect.” I slid across the booth, gently pushing her plate toward the edge of the table.

Haley’s lips curved. “I take it you haven’t been introduced to her temper yet.”

“It can’t be worse than her sarcasm.”

She laughed, but it was almost hollow. “Boy, you’re brave. You’re playing with fire.”

I grinned. “I turned my grandfather gray with all the ones I used to set as a kid. I think I can handle Jamie Bell.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Brave and stupid. I give you a week before she chews you up and spits you out on the sidewalk.”

“You don’t know me.”

“And you don’t know her, yet you seem to assume you can handle her.”

“Her and her hot temper, right?” She had a bad attitude—not a hot temper. They were wildly different.

Haley leaned back in the booth and studied me. “You know, she told me you were a dick, and now I see it. You’re not so pretty anymore.”

I fought a laugh. “Pretty? That’s the first time I’ve ever been called pretty by someone that wasn’t my niece.”

“Kids. Always there for an ego boost. My nephew is the same.” She folded her arms.

“This is cozy,” Jamie said, approaching the table. “Sure, take my seat, Dex. Would you like to finish my burger, too?”

“Nah, I’m good. I have my own cooking.” I nodded toward the counter. “Feel free to sit next to me.”

She motioned to Haley to move up. Haley rolled her eyes, but she slid over so Jamie could sit next to her. “What are you doing here?”

“Your politeness is astounding,” I replied.

She hit me with a flat stare.

“Waiting for food,” I continued. “I asked, and Haley said she didn’t mind.”

“I mind.”

“That’s what I said,” Haley muttered.

Jamie shot her a look, then at me. “Isn’t it bad enough I have to spend nine hours a day in a garage with you? Now, I have to ruin my dinner, too?”

I leaned back and rested my arm across the top of the booth seat. “It’s your choice to be in the garage, darlin’. You can leave any time.”

“And pass the chance to beat the sexism out of you?” She raised an eyebrow. “I’ll take my chances at passing out from stress, thanks.”

A robotic voice called out my number.

“You should try being nice.” My lips twitched as I moved across the leather seat. “You never know. You might find that you like me.” I winked at Haley. “See you soon.”

Jamie didn’t reply, but her gaze followed me as I grabbed my food order and then snaked my way through the diner.