Page 7 of Jaz
“You like it?”
“It’s gorgeous, Jaz. What year?”
“’73.”
“That’s what I was thinking.” He shot her a puzzled look but didn’t question her. She loved being able to throw guys off with some of the inane knowledge of cars she had. She stroked the tip of her finger across the edge of the hood. “Did you do the work yourself?”
“Uh yeah. Most of it. Belonged to my foster dad and he’d always told me he wanted me to have it when he died. He kept it in amazing condition, and when he passed, I found out he’d meant what he said and left it to me. It meant everything to me, that even after all that went down between us, he kept his promise, kept his word. I knew how much he loved this car and finally realized too late how much he …”
His voice trailed off, and Mandi thought it best to let that emotional subject go. She understood what he was talking about, that thing called unconditional love. She’d had it from her parents and her brothers. She knew Jackie had it for him and …
Yeah, she needed to let that idea go for the moment too. She turned her attention, and his, back to cars. They were safe there. And with sex. Most definitely with sex.
“My brother, Trae, has a Charger, too. White with reflective red and orange stripes. White leather interior, dash included. My other brother, Trevor, has a Mustang. Red with black leather and chrome.”
Jaz beamed at her from ear to ear. Boyish charm and enthusiasm transformed his usual hard countenance and melted her heart. So much for not going there. Would he catch her when she fell? Or would he hightail it out of there, leaving her to introduce her heart to the pavement?
“That’s awesome. They still have them?”
“Yeah, both. They run a garage and work on these old muscle cars nonstop.”
“Amazing. I would love to see their shop.”
And she’d love to take him, love to see the looks on her brothers’ faces when she introduced them to Jaz. Neither would be able to match him in bulk or height, and they’d be hard-pressed to pick on her in front of him. She’d seen his protective side with Jackie. It was as long and wide as he was tall.
But introducing him to them … That meant more than a twenty-four hour birthday present of sex and pancakes and more sex.
She let his comment go.
“I love older cars. The paint is custom and new. The seats are original, but I had them recovered. New carpet, new dashboard. The interior had a complete overhaul.”
“What about the engine?”
“Restored. She runs like a dream.”
Mandi looked inside the passenger window then did a double take, finally looking up at him. “Did the laundry basket of towels come standard with the Charger back then? Or is it something restoration shops are doing now?”
“Smartass.” He slid the key in the lock and popped it, opening the door. He reached in and pulled the clothesbasket out, walking around to deposit it in the trunk. “They’re from work,” he offered by way of explanation. “Someone has to wash them.”
An image of him folding laundry flashed through her head. What a trip that’d be to witness.
“Get that smirk off your face and get in the car.”
Mandi bit back a grin and slid down into the soft-as-butter leather seat. Jaz was in her face before she got the seat belt pulled around her body. He was even larger in the close confines between her chest and the dashboard. He cupped the side of her face and licked at her lips before pressing forward with his tongue. When he lifted his head, he was smiling. “You’re a dangerous little minx, you know that? Inside that building, you tempt and tease with that sultry voice. You use those expressive eyes and that curvy body to twist us all. And underneath it all, with your blonde curls, your sweet, soft face … You’re still anything but innocent. I can’t wait to strip you down until there’s nothing but your hot-and-bothered soul begging me to sate your hunger.”
He was gone before she could say a word. More than his body was big. His mental, emotional and most definitely his sexual presence was as big as his physical one.
He got in behind the wheel and started the car. “Pancakes?”
It took her a moment to gain her wits about her again. “Yeah. With a side of bacon. I’m gonna need my strength.”
“No doubt.”
