Page 30 of Cinderella and the Outback Billionaire

‘Drive in. Bay three should be free.’

‘What is this place?’

‘It’s where my team converts regular vehicles to electric ones.’

‘Uh-huh.’

‘Don’t worry.’ He’d caught her sideways glance. ‘Converting this old dear is out of the question. Probably. But they’re all mechanics or engineers of some kind and they can give it a once-over and get it running properly for you.’

She found bay three and parked as requested. By the time she’d collected her shoulder bag, Reid was already out and talking with a dark-haired man with grey streaks through his beard.

Both men turned towards her as they approached. ‘Stan, meet Ari. Ari, this is Stan. He vets my engine designs and tells me I’m dreaming.’

‘Sounds about right.’ Stan nodded. ‘Cheers. We’ll take a look at the old girl and give you a call when she’s ready. Meanwhile, we’ve got a replacement ride for you. Special order for Reid, here. Even better if you get to be the test driver while he’s in it.’

‘Told you I had a good idea,’ he murmured.

Stan led them to what looked like a brand-new farm four-wheel-drive. ‘Hybrid fuel, double cab manual workmate with a cab chassis, bull bar, front winch, towbar, lockbox, air pump in the lockbox, off-road tyres, and an air intake upgrade.’ Stan patted the hood. ‘Outback baby, as requested.’

Reid nodded. ‘Torque?’

‘Four hundred Nm max. Best we could do.’

Ari had no idea what they were talking about but nodded along with them, only to find two sets of eyes on her, expressing no little amusement. ‘What? I can admire an Outback baby when I see one. Long as it gets me where I’m going.’

‘Good, because I had it tricked out especially for you.’ Reid opened the driver’s-side door for her. ‘Even if I haven’t figured out a way to make you accept it. Yet.’

CHAPTER EIGHT

ARI TOSSED HER bag on the seat, grabbed the handhold and hoisted herself up. How was she supposed to object to his gifting her this beautiful Outback vehicle when he hadn’t even tried to give it to her? Yet.

Reid stayed where he was, arms crossed in front of him. ‘You want a running board on this thing?’

‘I’m only driving it for one evening, no matter what you think the future holds.’

‘Maybe just a running step,’ he mused. ‘You’re still going to need the clearance.’

‘We are not even having the same conversation.’ She took the time to absorb that new car smell and all the bells and whistles—phone slot, big screen. ‘This thing isn’t going to take over the driving, is it?’

‘Not if you don’t want it to—although I think the boys did add self-drive capabilities. Needs testing in the desert, though.’

‘Huh. Another prototype?’

‘This is me you’re talking to. Everything that comes out of this workshop is a prototype.’

Hopefully not as life-challenging as his last one.

The truck was ridiculously easy to drive, and comfortable as well. Windows that sealed—no whistling wind. A dash that didn’t rattle. No leaves fluttering in the broken air-conditioning vent. This air conditioning actually worked.

The air conditioning alone was enough to make her high-falutin’ principles waver.

‘How’s it drive?’

‘I feel like a princess in a golden carriage. Good job.’

Even the dratted man’s quiet laughter made her feel happy. What was it about him that made her want to sign up for so much more?

But the car beeped whenever she got too close to other vehicles, and basically critiqued her driving the entire way to the inner-city warehouse apartment complex that Reid programmed into the car’s computer.

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