Page 101 of That Moment
I yank my shirt down, fumble my fly, shove myself back behind denim while my pulse hammers against my chest. My hands shake. I can’t tell if it’s from almost coming in her mouth or the fact that I’m about to get caught with the Slade princesson her knees in my shop like a fantasy I never had the guts to say out loud.
She scrambles to her feet, coughing once, smoothing her hair with quick, guilty fingers, then grabs the nearest rag and pretends to study the Mustang’s engine like she’s been doing nothing but inspecting belts and hoses all day.
I rake a hand over my jaw, swallow hard, and try to look like a man who wasn’t just two seconds from coming down Adrienne’s throat.
“Holy shit,” I mutter, forcing my voice steady as I step away from the car like distance can erase the picture. “Act normal.”
She bites her swollen lip. “Define normal,” she whispers back, laughing even as panic buzzes between us. The shadow crouches. A familiar voice floats in, casual and too damn loud.
The bay door rattles, sunlight slicing through the gap just as I’m yanking my zipper up. And my stomach drops through the floor.
“Hey, man—didn’t expect to see you here.”
Axel’s voice is easy, but his brows draw together as he ducks under the half-open door. He’s holding a clipboard, keys jingling, completely unaware of the panic detonating inside my chest.
“Same,” I manage to choke out. “What are you doing here?”
“Decker needed a favor,” he says, strolling in. “Dropping off the truck, grabbing some equipment. You know how it is with the ranch, always something.”
Behind me, there’s a softclangof metal against concrete. Adrienne’s knee has just clipped a socket tray.
Axel’s gaze snaps toward the sound, and time goes still.
“Oh my God—” His eyes go wide, flicking from me to Adrienne, who’s frozen mid-crouch, rag in hand, cheeks flushed a guilty pink.
I blurt the first thing that leaves my mouth. “We were just—uh—working on the car. You startled us.”
He stares for a long beat, then, mercifully, grins like a man who knows exactly what he walked in on but has the decency not to say it. He drops the keys on the workbench with a metallicclink.
“No rush on the truck,” he says lightly. “I’m out.”
And just like that, he’s gone—boots scuffing, head shaking, a low laugh trailing behind him.
Silence floods the garage again. Adrienne presses a hand to her face, her shoulders shaking with laughter she’s trying to smother. “So much for nobody knowing.”
I groan, dragging a palm down my face, but the sound that slips out of me is halfway to a laugh. “You think he’s gonna keep his mouth shut?”
She tilts her head, eyes glinting with mischief. “About as well as you can keep your hands off me.”
“Christ, Barbie.” I step closer, catching her waist before she can dart away. “Pretty sure my life just flashed before my eyes, and it was a slideshow of every way your brothers can and will kill me.”
Her grin widens, wicked and soft all at once. “Guess we'd better make the risk worth it then. Before I can answer, she leans in, whispering against my jaw, “Close the door, Scotty.”
“Not funny,” I mutter, but she’s already laughing.
“Come on,” she grins, tugging on the collar of my shirt. “You should’ve seen your face. I don't think I’ve seen that look since we were teenagers and got caught sneaking into the brewery to steal a keg.”
“Don’t,” I warn, but it’s useless. She’s full-on giggling now, bent over the hood of the Mustang like she can’t help herself.
“What? You were just getting a little afternoon tune-up,” she whispers, wickedly.
I groan, drag a hand down my face. “You’re gonna kill me.”
“Pretty sure my brothers will handle that for me,” she shoots back. “Although I have to say, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Axel look that shocked. He was truly speechless. It was hilarious.”
“Hilarious,” I repeat flatly. “Right. Nearly dying of heart failure is so funny.”
She sidles closer, her smile softening. “Relax, Bescher. He’s not gonna say anything.”
