Page 21 of Nails
Nails stood there for a moment, staring down at the ground like it held the answer.As much as he hated to admit it, Snow had a point.Riley wasn’t just some passing attraction.There was something about her that pulled at him.She had a presence, a fire, and even seeing her work on her car had him all twisted up.So, the idea of not saying anything…yeah, that might haunt him later.
Before he could answer Snow, the screen door creaked open behind him and was followed by his mom’s chipper voice.“I thought I heard you boys out here.”
He turned just in time to catch a plastic container being shoved into his hands.“What’s this?”
“Guacamole,” she beamed.“Do you mind taking it over to Riley for me.Please.”
Nails blinked and gave his mom an incredulous look.“You serious?”
“Of course I’m serious.I told you this morning that I was making it.”
From the side, Snow snorted, clearly enjoying every second of this.“Guess fate’s not giving you a choice, bro.”
Nails shot him a look, but Snow just winked and followed his mom into the house, leaving the front door swinging behind them.
He glanced down at the container in his hands, shook his head with a quiet chuckle, and muttered, “This is fucking ridiculous.”
He looked across the lawn separating his mom’s and Riley’s driveways like it was a damn battlefield.
Taking a deep breath, he started toward her place.
As he approached, he could hear an
eighties rock station playing from a small speaker she had sitting on the back bumper.He grinned at her music choice.
She had an awesome Jeep.It was a four-door, dark green with a black American flag painted on the sides.It was well-maintained and had all the necessary features.It was stylish and rugged, just like its owner.
He crouched down to see under the vehicle, knowing he would find the same care and upgrades on the undercarriage.He might have appreciated the Jeep more if his eyes weren’t drawn to Riley’s ass.She wore gray leggings that hugged her butt and thighs like a second skin.
She was on her side, her back to him, with a wrench in her hand, looking as if she was struggling with a bolt.Instead of standing there staring at her like a pervert, he decided to offer to help her.
“Need a hand?”he asked.
Riley flinched and looked over her shoulder at him.“Jesus, you scared the hell out of me.”
Nails chuckled.“Sorry.I didn’t mean to.”
She let out a breath, shaking her head.“You’re sneaky.”
Oh, I’m a lot more than sneaky.He thought to himself, trying to hold back his smile.
“Occupational hazard,” he said with a smirk.“But seriously, do you need some help?”
She huffed, “Be my guest.”She handed him the wrench.
She scooted over a smidge to make room for him to slide under.
As he slid under, their shoulders bumped.It was then that he caught a whiff of whatever spray or lotion she had used.It smelled like vanilla.And it smelled good.He looked at her, and she grinned, then pointed to the bolt that was giving her a hard time.
“The sucker won’t budge,” she said, and he laughed.
He placed the wrench on the bolt and twisted.Well, he tried, but it didn’t move.He tried again, but nothing.
“Told you,” she said.
He grinned and glanced at her, very aware of how close they were.He couldn’t help staring a bit longer into her blue eyes that sparkled with the same mischief he saw yesterday.
“Who in the hell changed the oil the last time?”
