Chapter 5 #3
Dad waited next to the open passenger door and helped me into the big truck before closing me inside the warm cab.
He must’ve turned the heat on the highest setting for me, because he was used to sitting on the back of a motorcycle in any kind of weather, and I’d never once gotten into a car with him when the heater was on.
“Buckle up,” he ordered as he climbed into the driver’s seat.
“I haven’t ridden in this thing in ages,” I mused, setting my bags between us.
“Proud of you for handlin’ yourself,” he said, glancing at me as we pulled onto the road. “Bas said that steering is fucked.”
“It wasn’t pleasant, I’ll tell you that much for free,” I joked.
“You didn’t notice any problems before that?”
“Not at all. It drove just fine to the restaurant. I didn’t notice anything going through town on the way home, either. It wasn’t until I got to that corner, and then boom, the steering wheel would barely turn.”
“You’re lucky you weren’t going any faster.”
“I would’ve been, but I drive like an old lady at night, especially when it’s raining.”
“Worked in your favor tonight.”
“I’m surprised Mom didn’t come with you. Is she still at Gram’s?”
“No, she told me she’d meet me at home. I met her at Casper’s after work, and I told her there wasn’t any reason to take both cars to the club.” He smiled a little. “May have downplayed the situation a little.”
“She’s gonna kill you.”
“Not unless you tell her.”
“She’s got a sixth sense.”
“She agreed to meet us at home, so maybe it’s gettin’ rusty.”
My phone started ringing in my purse, and I chuckled when I saw my mom was calling.
“You’re toast,” I told Dad before answering. “Hey, Ma.”
“Where are you? Are you okay? Did your dad pick you up yet? What happened?”
“The power steering went out,” I answered. “I’m fine. I pulled over to the shoulder, and Bas was there in, like, less than five minutes. Then Gray showed up and stayed with us until Dad got there. It was practically a party.”
“You’re headed back to the garage now? Do you want me to meet you there?”
“No, don’t worry about it,” I said quickly. “I’ll just ride home with Dad. I doubt we’ll be long.”
“I can’t believe they loaned you a piece of shit,” Mom said with an annoyed sigh.
“Well, the heated seats were nice while they lasted,” I replied. “I’m fine, Ma. Seriously. We’ll be home in a little bit.”
“Okay. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
“She pissed?” Dad asked as soon as I’d hung up.
“No, she’s fine,” I replied as we turned into the driveway and waited for a prospect I didn’t recognize to open the gate. “But you’ll probably hear about it when we get home.”
“Figured.”
We parked in the forecourt, and it wasn’t until we were backing up to a closed garage bay that I realized that Bas had followed us back. He parked, strode toward us, and was waiting by the time we climbed out of the wrecker.
“I’ll open the door,” Dad called, tossing Bas a set of keys.
“You didn’t have to follow us back,” I said as Dad disappeared into the large garage.
“Feelin’ a little less shaky now?” Bas asked gently as he looked me over.
“The adrenaline has worn off, and now I feel a little like an ass for interrupting everyone’s night, so yeah. Less shaky,” I confirmed.
“The alternative would’ve been tryin’ to drive it home,” he said. “Coulda fucked up the car or worse. It was better you interrupted my TV show.”
“My dad didn’t have to call you,” I said with an embarrassed smile. “I could’ve waited for Gray.”
Bas nodded with a sly smile. “Then I guess you owe me. I had to put pants on.”
“You weren’t wearing pants?” I asked as his smile grew.
“Let’s go, Bas,” Dad called as he climbed on the back of the wrecker.
I watched with nothing to do while they pulled the car into the garage, then slowly made my way inside.
When I was a kid, we weren’t allowed inside, and stepping even one foot past the doors was enough to get you in a heap of trouble.
There were always power tools running and heavy shit being moved around and sharp objects lying out.
No place for kids, especially since there were so many of us to keep track of.
All the boys had moved past that rule since most of them worked in the garage now, but I could count on my fingers the number of times I’d been inside.
I stood out of the way as they lifted the car and got to work.
Nothing they said made a damn bit of sense to me, but it was kind of interesting watching them work together.
They handed each other tools and anticipated next steps as they took one of the tires off and started messing with stuff I couldn’t see.
I barely glanced at my dad. I’d seen him work on cars my whole life, and he’d taught me how to check fluid levels and change a flat tire and my oil when I’d first started driving. Watching Bas was an entirely different experience.
There was something obscenely attractive about a capable man doing physical labor.
I appreciated intelligence, and a sense of humor and good manners were always a turn-on, but the attractiveness of a man working with his hands was a different animal altogether.
It was visceral. Watching his forearms and shoulders flex as he worked on the car was nearly a religious experience, and I stood perfectly still, hoping they wouldn’t glance at me as I felt my face flush.
When he crouched down, his jeans hugging his thighs and ass? I had to look away.
Good Lord.
I looked around the garage, trying to find anything else to focus on, but my attention was brought back by the tone in their voices, even though I couldn’t hear what they were saying.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, moving a little closer.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” Dad said, his voice low as he shook his head.
“It looks cut, man,” Bas insisted. “This isn’t normal wear and tear, and we would’ve seen it before if there was a weak spot in the line.”
“What’s going on?” I asked again.
“You got someone after you?” Dad asked with a huff. “Cuttin’ your power steerin’ line?”
“Yes,” I said with mock seriousness. “I should’ve told you. I’m an assassin, and I’m on the run from a shadow organization. They’ve found me.”
Dad chuckled.
“Why the hell would anyone do something to my car?” I asked doubtfully. “I did borrow it from the club, though. You have something you want to tell me?”
“I’m the head of the shadow organization,” Dad said dryly. “Boo.”
I grinned as he looked back at the car.
“So, I’m guessing this won’t be a quick fix?”
“Nope.”
“Uh, do you think I could take one of the other cars?” I asked hopefully.
Bas shook his head. “We need to check the others.”
“Well, shit,” I complained. “I mean, I guess it’s better that it happened to me and not a customer, right?”
“Fuck no,” my dad said, his back to me as he leaned in to mess with something under the hood. “Who cares about those assholes?”
I walked over and sat down on a rolling stool while they kept messing with the car. They’d figured out what was wrong with it, so I wasn’t sure what they were doing, but I wasn’t in any hurry. It’s not like I had anything else going on.
Eventually they stepped away from the car, and Dad wiped his hands with a rag before striding to the other end of the garage. He disappeared from view just as he lifted his phone to his ear.
I twisted back and forth on the stool as Bas headed toward a sink in the back to wash his hands.
I wondered if they had cameras in the garage that were catching me staring at him as he bent a little at the waist to rinse off his forearms. It was so quiet that I had the inappropriate urge to wolf whistle.