Page 56 of Perfectly Naïve
“You do?”
“Yup.”
We clean up and discard the trash before heading back into the garage. Hayes sets the reusable shopping bag aside and gestures toward the thing he’d been lying on. “Lie on the creeper.”
“The creeper?” My eyebrows are nearly at my hairline. “That’s such a weird name.”
“It’s kind of funny.” He makes a hurry-up gesture.
“Okay,” I say slowly, taking a seat and carefully lying down. The cushion is surprisingly supportive, though I can still feel the metal frame through it. This can’t be comfortable to work on for hours on end.
“Good. Now take this.” He hands me a ratchet.
“I don’t know if I should.” I glance at the car. “I don’t want to mess it up.”
“Trust me, you won’t. I’m going to push you under. Ready?”
Absolutely not. “Uh, sure.”
The expression he’s wearing tells me he senses exactly how uncertain I am. “You’ll be okay. I’m here with you. As soon as you’re under, I’ll get on the other creeper.”
“All right.” Chewing on my cheek, I try not to panic as he wheels me under the vehicle that’s probably heavy enough to crush me. Hayes wouldn’t put me under it if he thought it was unsafe. I cling to that knowledge while I wait for him to join me.
The wheels of his creeperwhiras he glides under with practiced ease. “Okay?”
I nod. “Okay.” I adore him for checking in.
Hayes shows me what he wants me to work on, guiding my hand to the right spot, and watches me work the ratchet. There are four bolts to tighten—tightening what, I have not a clue—and once the first is secure, I move on to the second with a touch of a grin and confidence surging through me. Sure, it’s only a ratchet, but I’ve never so much as touched a tool. Mother never allowed it.
Hayes’s attention is warm on my face, but I furrow my brow and lock in, finishing the task as quickly as I can while still ensuring I do quality work. Maybe he regrets asking me to help? Once I finish, I lower the ratchet and roll my neck to the side, my gaze meeting his.
“I think I’m done.”
His green irises are a storm of emotions. The way he watches me is the way I’ve seen other packs watch their omega. As if I’m the answer to the world’s toughest equation. Butterflies erupt in my belly.
“Hayes—”
He lifts off his creeper as much as he can, reaching for me. The warmth from his body seeps into mine as his palm settleson the side of my face. He draws me toward him, and I follow his lead, falling into his control as he kisses me, lips plush and gentle. Beneath this car, we have our own secret little world, and part of me wants to stay here and never come out if it means he’ll kiss me like this.
His purr rumbles between us, and he breaks away, resting his forehead against mine. “Thanks for noticing me.”
My heart squeezes. How could I not?
As he pulls back, a smile steals away his serious expression.
“What?”
“You have some grease on your cheek.”
“Are you going to take care of me?”
He nods. “Always, omega. I’ll always take care of you.”
And I think I melt. Romance was always such an elusive thing, but this pack is showing me a heck of a lot more than how to be a good omega. They’re helping me experience the very thing most omegas would kill for. A swoon-worthy love story.
Chapter Nineteen
OLIVIA
