Page 31 of Suits and Spark Plugs

Connor scoffed. “She doesn’t need to entertain someone. She needs quiet time to study; that’s why she’s here.” His declaration surprised both me and Blaine.

“Do you often pop in while she studies?” Blaine asked.

I watched in horrified fascination as the two men turned their bodies away from me and angled them toward each other. It was like the nature channel had turned on right before my eyes.

Connor’s jaw worked. “It’s my shop.”

“It’s after hours.”

“When I see a strange car in the parking lot and shadows inside, I stop.”

“Does that happen often?” Blaine’s stance shifted.

“Are you asking if Liv often has strange men visit her in my shop after hours? Because I doubt she’d like that accusation.”

“I think I know better than you what my girlfriend would or would not appreciate.” Blaine’s eyes were shooting blue daggers.

“And I think you’re wrong if you really think she wants you to babysit while she studies.” Connor’s amber eyes held their own strength as they met Blaine’s.

I held up my hands, touching them each lightly on the chest as I stepped between them. I was surprised to feel two sets of fast heartbeats, two tensed bodies leaning in.

“Please,” I soothed. They both looked down to me, and I felt overwhelmed by what I saw in their expressions. Anger, defiance, and protectiveness radiated off both of them. It had me baffled enough to make me clear my throat and swallow again. “I’m fine. I was just about to go home anyhow. Nothing to fight about here.”

“We weren’t fighting,” Connor said. I felt his chest relax slightly under my touch, and I dropped my hand.

“We were just communicating,” Blaine agreed, although he remained unyielding under my hand. “I think Connor and I understand each other perfectly.”

“Well, understand this. I’m exhausted.” I coughed again into my elbow and winced a little when it hurt in my ribs. I hugged my arms around my stomach.

This time two hands came to my back, but one lifted almost immediately. “I’ll drive you home, babe. You can come back for your car tomorrow,” Blaine said. The one hand remaining on my back now slipped around to encircle my shoulders.

All the energy I’d felt earlier in the evening began to drain, and my shoulders sagged under his arm. I nodded as Blaine said to wait there while he went to the office to gather my things. I appreciated his thoughtfulness, but I had no idea how I’d actually get my car if I left it at the shop.

“How long have you two been dating?” Connor asked as Blaine disappeared from view.

“A bit over three months.”

“He must be a slow learner.”

“I’m not interested in what you mean.” I shivered a bit and rubbed my arms, fatigue beginning to take the heat out of me. Connor took a step closer as if he was going to...I don’t know, but he didn’t touch me and I was grateful.

“You don’t sound good. You sure you’re okay?” he asked. I nodded. “Did he bring you soup, or flowers?”

“Of course not.”

“What do you mean, ‘of course not’?”

“He’s busy and I told him to stay away.”

“Let me guess, he respects you enough to obey your wishes?” I could practically hear the eye roll in his tone.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“It’s a terrible thing. Do you really want a guy who you can walk all over? If he cared that much, he’d have shown up, banged down your door, and poured the soup down your throat.”

I coughed again. “You paint such a pretty picture. I’ve really been missing out.”

“He’s an idiot,” he grumbled.

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