Havoc (Tattoos and Ties 1)

With the impact wrench in hand, ready to lock the lug nuts in place, Key rested back on his heels and looked up over his shoulder at Alec. “What are you talkin’ about?”

“Don’t bikers have nicknames with meaning? It’s like a rite of passage, right? I was identifying your name’s meaning. Like based on something of value or perhaps something you may have done or accomplished? Maybe something simpler—you lost the keys. Or the opposite—always found the keys. My guess is you always have the answers, like last night and this morning. You’re extremely clever.” Alec’s eyes lit up as he spoke, and his easy smile drew Key to him, like a fly to honey.

Keyes barked out a laugh, turning back to his work, and continued tightening each bolt firmly in place. People were crazy. Watch a few biker movies and everyone thought they were an expert. Another, louder, chuckle spilled out as he thought about the gatekeeper comment. Keyes laughed so hard he had to lower the wrench so he didn’t scratch the car. He hadn’t been this genuinely amused in a very long time.

After he’d finished replacing the tires on both sides of the Ferrari, Keyes pulled all his equipment away from the car, pushing it toward the front of the building, out of the way. “I guess by the way you reacted to my observation, I’m way off base. So, then what’s Key short for?”

“Keyes. It’s my name. The only nickname I have is to take the es off. Then I’m Key,” he explained, still grinning at Alec.

“Ah, what an unusual name,” Alec said, crossing his arms over his chest. The sweatshirt tightened, showing off what Keyes had seen last night, a lean muscular frame under all those clothes. “I’m not sure I’ve heard it before. I like it.”

Keyes allowed himself the moment to just stare. Though the sunglasses Alec put on as they were talking covered his eyes, they didn’t hide the genuine interest or that magnificent grin all focused just on him.

“My parents were unusual people,” Keyes added honestly, reaching for his phone to run the charge, then nearly growled. Dammit. For at least the span of this tire change, he’d forgotten all about his troubles. It had been just another day, a great day, where he sort of flirted with a hot guy. The smile slipped from his face, feeling awkward as the boundaries slid back in place as he remembered who he was and who the guy he’d gotten carried away with was. He even took a step away from Alec. “I should’ve told you cash. I’m sorry.”

“That’s not a problem.” If Alec recognized his attitude change, it didn’t show. He reached for his money clip, counted out ten one-hundred-dollar bills, and handed them over.

Keyes didn’t reach for the cash as he said, “It was only six hundred.”

“I’m paying for the spare—”

“And I got that back.”

The easygoing expression dropped from Alec’s handsome face. The V of his sandy blond brows slid behind his shades. The guy’s jaw tightened. Hardness replaced all that smooth casualness, making Alec’s face next-level extraordinary. For the second time in minutes, a genuine smile touched Keyes’s lips—which was technically two more smiles than he’d had this year. His lawyer-man just got angry, determined, and oh, so much hotter. The current in the air around them shifted, and the sensation traveled all the way to his soul.

“Take the money. You saved me a mint last night. The tow alone could have cost all of this. You got me back up and running, and I did read this morning that that’s a very dangerous stretch of road, one of the most dangerous in Texas. Out of all the places to break down, that wasn’t a good one.”

Serious, yet reasonable. Key didn’t really know many lawyers, but he bet Alec was damn good at what he did. He took the cash, counting out six bills, handing the others back to Alec. “I’ll handle the paperwork with the dealership. I work with them regularly.”

He didn’t take it, just tucked the money clip back inside his front pocket.

“Thank you, that’ll help. They’ll want to know what happened.” Alec hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “These spares deflate, correct?” For the first time since he’d arrived, Alec left him standing there, going for the spare to his car. He stared after the man, losing track of everything, watching those long, jean-clad legs move. When Alec got to his spare, he bent at the waist, touching the valve stem.

“I got it. Hang on.” Keyes quickly grabbed a tool and had the tire deflated in minutes. He worked beside Alec to get the wheel securely back in place. Once done and the hatch closed, Keyes handed over the towel tucked in his back pocket, letting Alec wipe his hands first.