Page 37 of Stuck with my Mechanic Daddies

“Of course not,” Hank said smoothly. “Just a warning.”

Then, just like that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the festival crowd.

I didn’t move until he was gone.

Aurora let out a slow breath, and I turned to her. “You okay?”

She hesitated for a second, then nodded. “Yeah.”

I didn’t believe her. “Aurora.”

“I don’t even know what that was about,” she cut in, shaking her head. “He's acting like I did something to him when I’ve never even met the guy before.”

I frowned. “He's been sniffing around town for a while now. Trying to buy up property, forcing people out. If he's got a problem withyou,it’s because he thinks you're standing in his way.”

Her brows furrowed, and she looked lost in thought.

Then she let out a humorless laugh. “Great. Just what I needed. Some unhinged real estate guy coming after me when I don’t even want to be here in the first place.”

I studied her carefully. “Whatdoyou want?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know.”

The words felt like the truth. And for some reason, that made my chest tighten.

I nodded, exhaling. “Come on. Let’s get you a drink.”

She blinked up at me. “A drink?”

I shrugged. “Something stronger than cider.”

For a second, I thought she was going to refuse. But then she let out a breath, her shoulders loosening just a little.

“Yeah,” she murmured. “Okay. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

CHAPTER TEN

Aurora

Who the hellwas that man?

My heart was still hammering against my ribs as I walked beside Ethan, the festival lights glowing soft and golden around us, laughter and music blending into a distant hum. But all I could hear was Hank Lawson’s voice.

Your uncle ruined my life.

He stole from me, and you're just waltzing in here like nothing happened?

Page Turners doesn’t belong to you. It never will.

The words replayed over and over in my head, twisting into something dark and sticky, something I couldn’t shake no matter how hard I tried.

Because none of it made sense.

George Bennett had been a bookstore owner. A quiet, quirky old man whose heart had failed him—leaving me his struggling shop and a mess of financial problems.

Sure, his manager, Beatrice, had acted a little strange, but that was just because she didn’t like me. Right? Nothing to do with my uncle, who everyone I’ve met only had kind words for.

But then there was the break-in at the bookstore.

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