Loathe at First Sight: A small-town enemies to lovers romance: The Lawsons: Book 1 (The Lawson's)

1. A Bad Attitude in High Heels

one

Jack

“Yeah, Jamie, what’s going on?” I ask, answering the phone through the speakers of my tow truck.

“Hey, Jack. Mrs. Nicholson just stopped by and wanted us to replace the cabin filters in her car while we change her oil, but it looks like we are out of them here.”

“Alright. I’m on my way back now. I’ve got to stop and get gas, and then, I’ll hit the auto part store.”

“Thanks, boss. Late.”

I swear I’ll never get used to the younger generation. What is up with hanging up a phone with “late”? Is saying “later” or “bye” really that much harder? At least this time, he didn’t call me “bro”.

Man, I’m starting to sound just like my mom did when I was younger.

I may only be thirty-six, but working with a twenty-three-year-old is a whole new beast. Never in my life do I feel older than when I’m around Jamie.

Despite all of that, though, he’s a good worker. He may not know a ton just yet, but he’s willing to learn, and one day, he will be a damn fine mechanic.

After a few more minutes of driving, I pull into the Quick Stop gas station that sits on the outskirts of town. Lilly Leaf Falls is settled in an area surrounded by mountains, and this is the last gas station before you hit the winding roads that lead you into town.

As I get out of the truck, I spot a little black sports car sitting next to one of the pumps. Noticing a fancy car has nothing to do with the fact that I’m a mechanic. It’s more so the fact that it sticks out like a sore thumb around here.

I figure it must be an out-of-towner. No way does a local drive that car in and out of town on the treacherous mountain roads—especially come winter. Four-wheel drive is almost a necessity around here. Whoever is the driver of that little thing is probably just stopping on their way back to the highway.

I put the truck in park and make my way inside the small convenience store. Before heading to the front counter, I walk to the back cooler, grabbing one of my usual energy drinks.

On my way, I pass a woman who I’m sure must be the owner of the sports car outside. She sticks out almost as much as her vehicle does.

My eyes stare at her long legs that look even longer with the pointy high heels she has on. Her gray pants look as though they are perfectly tailored to her lean frame. Moving further up, I see her white silky shirt that looks just as nice as the pants. Her mane of long, straight, black hair hangs a couple of inches past her shoulders, and her big sunglasses sit on top of her head, pushing the strands out of her face.

I only catch a brief glimpse of her face, but she’s definitely pretty. Her skin is an olive color, and her eyes look like they’re a light brown, but it”s hard to tell with the long fake eyelashes. Her features are all sharp from her slightly pointed nose and thin lips to her cut jawline and long neck.

Yeah, she’s a looker. But not my type.

I don’t date city girls.

Anymore…

Been there...done that...and got the really shitty t-shirt.

After grabbing my energy drink, I make one more stop to pick out a pack of gum before getting in line. Just my luck, I’m right behind the out-of-towner.

I try not to stare, but I can’t help but notice how great her ass looks in those pants. They fit her so well that they don’t leave much to the imagination.

When she gets to the counter, she sets down a bottle of water. “Can I also get fifty dollars on pump eight, please?”

Gina, the owner of the gas station, pops her gum as she hits a few buttons on her cash register. “Alright, that will be $52.17 with the water.”

The woman pulls out a credit card and starts to hand it over.

Gina points to a giant sign behind her that reads: CASH ONLY.

“Seriously?” The woman asks. “What kind of store doesn’t take plastic?”

“One that doesn’t want to pay all those crazy fees to the banks.” Another gum pop.

“Alright.” The woman tucks her card back into her wallet. “Do you have an ATM?”

“Back in the corner.”

“Great.”

“But it doesn’t work.”

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me,” the woman snaps. “How the hell am I supposed to pay for gas?”

Gina points to the sign again without saying a word.

“Nobody carries cash anymore.”

“Maybe you don’t. But plenty of other people do.”

“Like who? People who don’t embrace modern technology?”

Gina points to the line that is getting longer by the minute. “All the people behind you who I am sure know how to read a simple sign.”

“How am I supposed to pay for things?”

Gina shrugs her shoulders. “Not my problem. If you can’t pay, why don’t you get out of line for someone who can?”

The way the woman stands with one hand on her hip tells me she’s ready to go toe-to-toe with Gina. Maybe that’s not the best idea, though. I know for a fact that Gina has been robbed before and now carries a loaded shotgun underneath the counter she stands behind.

They stare at each other in a silent battle of wits, each of them with their arms now crossed over their chests.

Wanting to step in and try to diffuse this situation, I walk to the counter and set a hundred on the counter. “Here, Gina. I’ve got it. Just put whatever is left on pump two.”

The woman looks from me to the bill I just laid down. Her eyes narrow in on me as she stops Gina from taking the money.

“What are you doing?” She asks. “You don’t even know me.”

“No, but I know that you’re holding up the line here, and I think at this point, all of us would be happy if you just got your gas and left.”

“Look, it’s not my fault that this place still lives in the dark ages. Turning people away for not having cash is insane.”

Man, this woman is something else. I’m trying to help, and she still wants to stand here and argue. She turns her body toward me, telling me she’s ready to move this fight to me instead of just Gina.

Two can play that game.

“Well, princess, it may sound insane to you, but it doesn’t mean they are going to change their way of doing things. No matter how much of a fit you throw.”

I watch her jaw clench and know that I’ve hit a nerve. Now that I can get a better look at her, I see how attractive she really is—although her acting like this knocks her down a few pegs on the hotness scale.

I think that she’s getting ready to start yelling—or throwing punches—but instead, she drags her sunglasses down over her eyes and picks up her keys off the counter.

“You know what?” She scoffs. “I don’t have time for this. You can take your handout and shove it up your ass.”

With that, she storms out, and I take her place at the counter.

“Gina, you okay?” I ask.

She waves her hand as if wiping it all away. “Oh, Jack, that’s not my first rude customer, and I’m sure as hell it won’t be my last. Don’t worry about it.”

While Gina rings me up, I look out the window and watch Miss Cranky get into her car. Back in the day, I would have taken one look at her and immediately tried to get her to come home with me—bad personality or not. And in my former life, I’m sure that she would’ve come willingly. Women like her seemed to flock to me.

But now? Now, things are different. I stay as far away from women like that as I can. You couldn’t pay me to date a fancy city girl again.

Gina hands me my change and says, “You okay? She wasn’t exactly nice to you either.”

I watch the sports car screech its tires as it flies out of the parking lot. “Yeah, I’m good. Just happy we won’t have to deal with the likes of her again.”