Page 30 of Stuck with my Mechanic Daddies

Lila nodded, the picture of ease. “Mmhmm.”

Samantha smirked. “She shocked you, didn’t she?”

I hesitated. “I mean… yeah. I’ve just never seen that before.”

Lila tilted her head, watching me. “I hadn't either. Not until them.”

Something about the way she said it, the quiet certainty in her voice, made my stomach do something strange.

Morgan leaned forward, propping her chin in her hand. “It’s kinda beautiful, actually.”

Lila hummed in agreement. “It is.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. Because in all the ways I expected her to describe it, I didn’t thinkbeautifulwould be the word.

But looking at Lila, at the way her eyes softened when she talked about them and the family they had created. She seemed so sure of what she had that I believed her.

Samantha grinned at my expression. “It’s messing with your head, isn’t it?”

I let out a breath. “A little.”

Lila laughed. “That's okay. I get it. It’s not for everyone.”

I nodded slowly, still wrapping my head around it. But I couldn’t deny, something about itdidsound wonderful.

And that thought?

It scared me more than I wanted to admit.

The night blurred in a haze of warmth, laughter, and the easy comfort of belonging. Something I hadn't expected.

But eventually, the bowling alley emptied, and reality settled back in.

Morgan and Samantha said their goodbyes, and Lila gave me a knowing smile before slipping off into the night. I watched her go, still thinking about what she’d said—aboutthem—but I didn’t have the energy to unpack it right now.

Owen stood beside me, hands tucked into his jacket pockets.

“Come on,” he murmured. “I'll walk you home.”

I hesitated, then shook my head. “I’m not ready to go back to the inn.”

He studied me for a beat, then nodded, like he understood exactly what I meant. “Then come with me.”

I should have said no. Should have gone home, slept off the drinks, and pushed down the feelings clawing their way to the surface.

But instead, I followed him, ignoring all the reasons I had not to.

Owen’s apartment was above the garage at Grady's Auto, separate from the main building. It was small but cozy, all dark wood and warm lighting. Masculine, but not in an overdone way.

I took it in as he shut the door behind us, my fingers running over the edge of his kitchen counter.

“You live alone?” I asked.

He leaned against the doorframe, watching me. “Yeah.”

There was something in his stare, something unreadable but intense.

My heart stuttered, and suddenly, the space between us feltsmall.

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