Page 3 of Wrong Number, Right Mechanic
“I know. That’s why it’s important you give Joe my message.”
“Still as stubborn as the day is long, I see.”
“Still as annoying as the stupid, old sayings you love to say.”
Jaxon chuckled, and the sound twisted my insides up, as if I put my organs in a blinder and pressed the high-speed button. “I’m not taking no for an answer. We can argue all morning if you’d like.”
“I’m sure Joe would love his phone lines tied up.”
“Anything for a customer.”
“I forgot you know everything. Teach me your ways.”
“You’re hilarious. Bring your car by the shop tomorrow morning.”
“Have Joe call me. Bye, Jaxon.” I stretched his name out using my voice, knowing the way I said his name drove him crazy.
Sure enough, as I brought the phone away from my ear to press the end button, I heard him growl.
My panties were now soaked.
Damn him.
CHAPTER TWO
Jaxon
I staredat the phone still in my hand. It burned my skin, and I quickly hung it up. Did that just really happen?
Is Lyla back in town?
How am I just now finding out about this?
Her mom never said a word.
Pam Wilkes, Lyla’s mom, came into the garage monthly, for her usual oil changes and tire rotations. She never once mentioned Lyla moving home. Granted, I never asked. But she still said hi and treated me the same as when I was number one in her daughter’s life.
Maybe Lyla asked her not to. Wouldn’t surprise me. I doubted she had any plans to tell me.
But it was a small town. And news traveled fast. I’d end up seeing her, eventually.
For the rest of the day, I thought about nothing except her. Let’s just say Joe could tell distraction got the better of me, as I made a few stupid mistakes I rarely made.
“Are you good, J?” Joe came up beside me after we finished closing the shop, a concerned look etched on his face. He could read me like a book.
Without him, I probably wouldn’t have survived my twenties. Between feeling lost, heartbroken, and not wanted, I buried my feelings in the bottom of liquor bottles. Yet Joe still took a chance on me.
“Yeah, just a lot on my mind.”
“I can tell. Want to grab a bite and talk?”
I nodded. “I’d like that.”
“Me too. It’s been a long time. Meet you at the diner?”
“Sure thing.”
Over cheeseburgers, fries, and crispy Cokes, I told Joe Lyla was back in town. He knew who she was, what we’d been through, and how important she was to me.
