Page 36 of Stuck with my Mechanic Daddies

A cheer went up from the crowd.

Mason groaned. “You’ve got to bekiddingme.”

Jaxon slapped me on the back, laughing. “Damn, man. That steak must’ve been magic.”

I smirked as I took the first-place ribbon, shaking Charlie’s hand. The crowd was still buzzing, people clapping me on the back, and Mason was sulking like a sore loser.

“This is rigged,” he muttered, crossing his arms. “I demand a recount.”

Owen, who had taken third place without a single complaint, just rolled his eyes. “You lost, Mason. Get over it.”

Jaxon was still grinning. “We'll have to get you aChef Gradyapron now.”

“Don’t push your luck,” I grumbled, tucking the ribbon into my back pocket.

I should’ve been enjoying the moment—basking in my victory, rubbing it in Mason’s face, maybe even celebrating with Aurora.

But then I saw her. And my entire body went tense.

Across the square, just past the crowd, Aurora stood near the old library, backed against the brick wall.

Hank Lawson was in front of her, his posture stiff, his expression cold.

And he was yelling.

What the hell?

The celebration around me blurred. Without thinking, I started moving.

Hank leaned in closer, his voice sharp. Aurora’s shoulders squared, but I could see the tension in them, see the way she was holding herself still, like she was forcing herself not to react.

I was across the square in seconds, my pulse pounding.

Hank’s voice cut through the festival noise.

“I don’t knowwhatyou think you're doing here,” he spat. “And you think you can just waltz in and take over like nothing happened?”

Aurora didn’t flinch. “I have no idea what you're talking about.”

“Bullshit,” he snapped. “I won’t let you ruin this town.”

I stepped between them, my voice cold. “That's enough, Hank.”

Aurora blinked, her gaze flicking up to me, but she didn’t say a word.

Hank took a slow breath, straightening.

“Ah. Ethan Grady, town hero.” His lips curved. “Should’ve figured you’d come running.”

I didn’t move. “If you’ve got a problem, you take it up with someone else. You don’t corner her in the middle of a damn festival.”

Hank’s expression didn’t change, but I saw the flicker of irritation in his eyes. “This doesn’t concern you.”

“The hell it doesn’t.” My voice dropped lower. “You think I’m just gonna stand here while you harass her?”

Hank exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “You don’t know the half of it, Grady. But you will soon enough.”

I clenched my jaw. “Is that a threat?”

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