Page 14 of The Mechanic's Virgin

“She has nothing to do with you,” I growl.

She lowers the phone and glances down at the photos. “She’s cute. Looks nothing like me.” Adrenaline pumps through me. The boys were right. This is a problem. “I guess you’re still trying to deny how you really feel about me.”

“Sheila–”

“This is what’s going to happen,” Sheila says, suddenly transforming into her ‘boss-bitch’ persona. “You’re going to dump little Miss Cutie here, or I’m going to tell her about what you did to me.”

“I didnothingto you!” I snap.

“And who do you think she’ll believe?” she asks, cocking her head to one side. “You? The man she just met? Orme?The woman you abused and had a restrainer order against you?”

My stomach is churning. My blood boiling. “You want to fuck my life up, Sheila? You’re going to need more than made up stories. Grace is a smart girl. She won’t fall for your tricks.”

Sheila stares back at me. I feel like a superhero facing off with his arch nemesis villain. After a long moment, she steps forward. I want to keep my distance, but I don’t back away. This is my garage. I won’t be intimidated.

“You could end this all, you know,” she says softly. She lifts a hand like she’s going to touch my chest but stops, thinking better of it. “You remember how good we were, don’t you?”

I shake my head. “I think you and I remember thingsverydifferently, Sheila.”

“There’s no need to be cruel.”

“Cruel?” I laugh. “What do you call threatening me? Filing false restraining orders and charges against me? Threatening my new–”

I stop myself. I’m getting too fired up. I promised I wouldn’t let this woman ruin my life, and allowing her to get under my skin now will only lead to that.

“Weweregood together, Nash. And we could be again. Andall thiscan go away, if you just take me back.”

I force the most painful smile I’ve ever had to fake across my lips and nod, letting her think I’m actually contemplating something I would never do in a million years. After a moment, she smiles back, crazy in her eyes. I don’t start to relax until she’s back in her SUV and pulling out of the parking lot.

Getting back together with Sheila?

Never gonna happen. I’ve found my true love, and her name is Grace.

6

GRACE

The rain poundsdown on the roof of my grandmother’s cottage. The sound would be deafening if not for my heart beating loudly in my ears. My fingers tremble as I read the text from Nash for the fifth time.

Dealing with something. I’m so sorry. I’ll come see you soon.

I nearly hurl my phone at the wall. My heart stings with a longing so fierce I can hardly process it. The ache between my legs is unbearable. My body is screaming for his touch, his hands, his mouth–to be fully claimed by him.

Every part of me aches for him. We wereso close, and then he was gone.

But why? Why would he run out on me like that? He said it was important and that he would be back, but it’s been hours now, and he still isn’t here, and I’m starting to feel abandoned.

I know I shouldn’t, and I’m probably being dramatic. After all, Nash does have a business to run, and any number of things could have come up that he’d have to deal with in order to keep that business going. And he did get Arthur away from me.

I know I rationally have no reason to doubt him, but emotions aren’t rational, and my emotions are threatening tooverwhelm me. I stare up at the ceiling for a long moment, listening to the rain, and then I realize I’ve had enough.

My clothes are still damp from the short walk from the car to the cottage, so I throw on a waterproof trench coat–justa waterproof trench coat, and a pair of heels, and call myself a car.

He told me to wait for him, but I can’t.I won’t.

Nash gave me a taste of our future, and I need it now.

The rain pounds steadilyon the roof of the cramped hybrid as we pull into Nash’s parking lot. I thank the driver and step out into the rain, nearly braking an ankle as I jog through the puddles to the warm light spilling out of his sliding door, which is half open. It’s like an invitation, just welcoming me in.

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