Page 35 of Ice Princess

“Let me set these down first and I’ll put in that order for you,” Mauve says, her eyes darting between me, Gunner and Stewart.

As Mauve sets down plate after plate filled with delicious burgers and fries, my stomach turns. It was hard enough eating with one Kinsey. Now, I’ve got two in my sight. They’re multiplying like cockroaches.

Stewart moves his hand in a circular motion. “Don’t worry about me. Eat up!”

Gunner grumpily chomps on a French fry.

I don’t think I can stomach a bite of food, but I came here for a rootbeer float and I’m not going to let Stewart Kinsey take that simple, sugar-rush pleasure from me.

Gripping my straw, I drink so fast that pain slices through my head.

I wince.

Gunner pounces on me like I sawed my leg off and blood is spurting everywhere. He says nothing, but his frantic eyes and hands on either side of my head scream his concern.

“I’m fine,” I mumble, squeezing my eyes shut. “It’s just brain freeze.”

He pushes his glass of water across to me.

Under normal circumstances, I’d never drink from his cup. But even enemies join together in times of war.

So I take a sip.

Much better.

“So, Rebel,” Stewart says in a conversational tone, “I heard your little garage is looking for employees.”

“You heard right,” I say, drinking my root beer more slowly.

Gunner keeps a close eye on me and, when he determines that I’ll no longer try to freeze my brain circuits with ice cream and soda, he relaxes again.

Stewart snatches one of Gunner’s fries. “Interviews going well?”

I raise my chin. “We’ve gotten a few applications.”

“Any good ones?”

I stiffen.

Stewart is totally oblivious and chomps happily. “Word on the street says you got a bunch of clueless kids who don’t know the engine from the radiator. The only decent technicians who applied were…” He cracks his filthy mouth open and cackles. “You know, now that I think of it, they were the ones who couldn’t hack it at mine.”

Annoyance skates up my body. “Finding technicians that fit our vision at The Pink Garage takes time. April and I aren’t in a rush.”

“No, no. Of course not. But let me give you a word of advice.”

I scowl. “I really don’t need it.”

Stewart lifts a fry and shakes it at me. “Businesses need a solid foundation. Every time you turn a customer away, you’re sending them to the competition. Why? Because no matter how famous a mechanic is, if he’s not available to fix your car, he’s not that good of a mechanic.” Stewart raises both hands in mock apology. “I’m sorry. That mechanic might be a ‘she’ or a ‘he’. I know how sensitive you ladies are about these things.”

I’m holding onto self-restraint for dear life, but something inside me snaps at his condescending words.

Shooting to my feet, I glare down at him, “You know what Kinsey? You?—”

“Should take your food to go,” Gunner says in a calm, still voice.

Both Stewart and I whip around to take him in, but the younger Kinsey isn’t looking at either of us. He’s staring at Mauve who’s just tottering to the table with Kinsey’s burger.

“I’m sorry, Mauve. Make that burger to go,” Gunner adds, flashing her a solemn look.

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