Page 17 of Thor

"Well, things are about to get better. Look out your window," he said instead, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

I frowned but moved to the large windows that overlooked the street below. A gleaming black Dodge Challenger with racing stripes sat double-parked, standing out among the sensible sedans and eco-friendly hybrids.

"Your chariot," Thor said, dangling a set of keys with a silver skull keychain. "Beongs to the club. It's yours until your car's fixed."

I stared at him, then back at the car. "That's . . . not exactly subtle," I said, taking in the muscle car with its aggressive lines and obvious power.

Thor's mouth quirked up at one corner. "I don't do subtle."

The simple statement was so perfectly Thor that I couldn't help the small laugh that escaped me. Nothing about the man was subtle – from his size to his intense gaze to the way he commanded attention just by existing.

"Want to go down and check it out?" he asked, the keys still dangling from his fingers. "I figured you'd need wheels to get to your sister."

It was unexpectedly touching to hear.

"Let me grab my purse," I said, surprised by the gesture and trying to hide how much it affected me.

I locked my door and turned to find him waiting, closer than I'd anticipated. The hallway suddenly felt too narrow, too intimate. His body radiated heat, and I caught the scent of leather and something woodsy that made my pulse pick up. Our arms brushed as we walked toward the elevator, and I felt that contact like a current running through my veins.

The elevator doors closed with a soft ping, trapping us in a box of mirrors and silence. Thor's reflection multiplied around us, his size even more apparent in the confined space. I stood straight-backed, clutching my purse strap, and tried not to fidget under his gaze. In the mirrors, I could see him studying me, his blue eyes lingering on the spot where my makeup didn't quite hide the cut on my forehead.

"Wounds's healing well," he said, breaking the silence. He gestured toward my forehead with a surprisingly gentle motion for such large hands.

"It’s no big deal," I replied, resisting the urge to touch it. "And thank you again for last night. I would've been stranded if you hadn't come along." The memory of clinging to his back on the motorcycle made my cheeks warm. I'd wrapped my arms around his waist, pressed against him as rain pelted us. The whole ride had been terrifying and exhilarating in equal measure.

"Just lucky I was headed that way," he said.

“What were you doing out there?”

"Just patrolling. Nothing specific.”

The elevator felt smaller with each passing second. I focused on my breathing, counting the floors as we descended.

"Hey," Thor said, his voice dropping to a register that seemed to vibrate through me. "Got a question for you."

I glanced up at him, trying not to notice how his henley stretched across his chest. "Yes?"

" I was wondering if you could bend your ear about some financial stuff later. For the auto shop."

My stomach dropped as the elevator did. Another responsibility. Another demand. Another plate to keep spinning while I was already juggling Prestige Financial's demanding client load, Amy's treatments, and the MC accounts.

I knew that his help wouldn’t come for free.

We reached the lobby and stepped out, but I froze mid-stride, my brain racing through my already impossible calendar. My breath quickened, a familiar tightness spreading across my chest. Not now. Not a panic attack in front of Thor of all people.

He noticed immediately. His expression shifted, brows drawing together as he took in my reaction. He lowered his voice, stepping closer so no one in the lobby could hear.

"Hey, forget it," he said, his tone softer than I'd ever heard from him. "Not important."

"No, I can make time—" I started to protest, professional instinct kicking in.

"Mandy," he cut me off, the use of my name startling me. "I shouldn’t have asked. You've clearly got enough going on."

We pushed through the lobby doors into the cool morning air. The Challenger gleamed black and threatening under the gray sky, its aggressive lines a stark contrast to the sensible vehicles around it.

To my surprise, Thor walked me to the passenger side and opened the door. The gesture seemed oddly formal coming from a man who looked like he could tear the door off its hinges if he wanted to.

“Sorry things are so stressful at the moment.”

---