Page 17 of Mechanic Daddy's Girl
Just like my little princess.
“You’re fucking amazing,” I say, when I find the strength to speak again.
“I know,” she teases, pecking my cheek. “You’re not too bad yourself, y’know?”
I chuckle because there’s nothing else I can do. I flop over to the side, and Callie shuffles backward into my arms until we’re nestled and spooning.
She falls asleep in my arms before I know it. Worn out and satisfied.
And as I pull her tightly against my chest, I know I’ll never let her go again.
Even if it means a few haphazard slaps here and there.
9
CALLIE
Iwake in Boone’s arms a few hours later, the evening sun peeking through the venetian blinds hanging overhead. Not wanting to disturb Boone, I try and sneak out from under his arm, but he starts shuffling before I make it halfway out.
“Where do you think you’re sneaking off to?” he asks sternly, but there’s a playfulness behind it.
I look at him over my shoulder and crinkle my nose. “Gotta pee real bad.”
He bursts out laughing, and it’s exactly what I wanted. Seeing the man I pegged for a monster so happy melts my heart in ways I can’t understand.
“Then you better go before we have a mess to clean up.” He stretches as I walk to the bathroom, tensing every muscle in his body as he does. And my God, is that something to behold.
I finish up and rush back out to find Boone in the kitchen, half-dressed and sucking down a tall glass of orange juice. He keeps on drinking it as he hands a second glass to me.
“I need to run down to my workshop and take care of something. Mind running back to town and grabbing something for dinner?” he asks.
“I don’t have a car, remember?” I chuckle, but without hesitation, Boone pulls his keys out of his pockets and tosses them over to me.
“You can take my truck,” he says, like it’s no big deal. Like our lives didn’t just change forever.
“Sure, I’ll go.” I guess I shouldn’t be this surprised he’s being so open about things. After all, we did basically become one a couple of hours ago. “What are you in the mood for?”
“Anything. Everything. As long as it’s with you.” He smiles and winks, and I giggle goofily.
I makeit into Meadowview’s main square without issue. Though it’s unsurprising, given how few cars I saw on the road. With plenty of choices, but no idea how any of the places are, I settle on Mexican food for our dinner. You can’t go wrong with burritos and tacos.
But with our food in hand and a smile on my face, I notice something down the road that leaves me uneasy. And where a sleek black BMW shouldn’t be the tipping point for my good mood, it fills me with the urge to start running and never look back.
I set the food on the passenger seat and head around to the driver’s.
Get in and go.
It’s the only message running through my mind. Nothing good can come from this, and it might sound silly, but I’m sure of it. Most of the cars around here are old scrap heaps or trucks that look a lot like Boone’s. Anything too fancy is out of place, and that spells danger.
Before I manage to get into the truck, the BMW stops beside me. Tinted windows make it hard to see who’s sitting inside, and since we’re nowhere near a stop sign, whoever’s there must want something from me.
Relax. This person could just be lost.
Rational thoughts. Good, I’m not going completely crazy then.
But as his window rolls down, I realize I was better off wanting to run. Because instead of some lost traveler looking for directions, I know the man sitting inside. His perfectly coiffed mess of red hair and the sickly smile plastered on his gaunt face.
I freeze in place, a chill burrowing so deep into my bones it hurts.
