Page 18 of Trouble
“This is serious business from now on,” I explained. “We have a lot of money tied up in this and we’ll have to work on the car every day until it’s finished. We’ll put together a plan. I assume you’ll be helping?” I laced my fingers together, anything to stop me reaching out and touching her.
Lyla nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement again.
My heart contracted. I loved the thought of us undertaking this project together.
“Tomorrow then. Even though it’s Sunday, we can start making the plan and on Monday we start ordering parts and executing. Got it?”
“Got it,” she affirmed. “Any plans for tonight?”
The drive back had exhausted me. There was nothing I wanted more than a beer, a pizza and an early night. Preferably with Lyla. But I couldn’t. We were all about business now. I couldn’t let the muddled feelings overshadow this project.
I shook my head.
“Me either, although Ianthe wants to hear all about Kayla’s birthday party.” She grinned.
“Then you should tell her.” My voice was flat.
“But I thought we could…?” Her mouth dropped.
“No, Lyla.” The words hurt me to say and I hated the way they would make Lyla feel. But, I had to stay strong on this. I couldn’t let her manipulate me again. Like she had done the past two evenings.
“Maddox, please,” she begged. “You can’t do this to me.”
“I’m not doing anything, Lyla. You know we can’t be anything more than friends, business partners even.” Even though it was the right thing to do, I didn’t like making her sad. I wasn’t happy with the situation either. “You know, I can do the work on my own, if you just want to split the costs on the parts.” I was struggling for excuses, anything to keep her at bay. There was no way I could handle her being here, working with me every single day and nothing happening between us.
It was an impossible situation.
“What? And watch you take more of the profits if and when we sell?” She pressed her lips together and pushed her shoulders back, emphasizing the swell of her breasts underneath her red t-shirt. “Not happening, Maddox.” Her chair scraped against the floor as she shoved it backwards. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I watched her retreat across the garage floor and out of the door. With a hard sigh, I slumped back in my seat. Had I done the right thing?
My phone beeped with a message.
Andre.
How’s it going buddy? Coming home soon. Be great to catch up on all the news! Found yourself a decent girl yet?
Of all the people…
It took me a good three minutes before I could think of a suitable response when the truth was actually more painful.
Hey, Dre! Thought you should know I’ve been hooking up with your sister!
Hi, buddy! All good here…Lyla’s fantastic at blow jobs!
I rested my head in my hands. I couldn’t say any of it. Instead I wrote back:Excellent news! When? I’ve got a new project which is going to take up most of my time. Who needs a girl?
His response was key. I needed to know when he was going to be coming back to Cali Cross. It would tell me how long we had to work on the MG together. When the work was done, so were Lyla and me.
The phone pinged again.
Probably a couple of weeks. Trying to sort out dates with Wes, he’s being sketchy right now.
It was good to hear Wes was being odd with Andre as well as me. When we’d met up the other night, he wasn’t himself, almost as if he were keeping a secret, and I knew he hated secrets.
But two weeks to finish the car? Even if I worked on it every day and pulled in the guys at the garage to help, there was no way we could do it in time.
Tiredness washed over me and not for the first time I was glad there was no-one in the apartment upstairs. I climbed the backstairs, dragging my heavy limbs and flopped onto the couch.
The faint smell of Lyla’s perfume lingered on the cushions and I wrapped my arms around one, taking a deep sniff for good measure. I’d take a nap here and then head home.
The thought of the intensity of the project overwhelmed me and I closed my eyes. Just a few minutes…
