Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
NATHAN
I really want to take Riley on a proper date, so I give her a call.
“Hey, Nat,” she says when the call connects. Behind her, I hear something drilling into metal.
“Boss, the wave forms are telling me that the throttle position sensor is putting out the correct voltage.”
Riley yells, “Check if it’s getting the right power and ground!”
My lips curl up at her firm, knowledgeable tone. I didn’t know that I’d be into mechanic jargon, but I find Riley’s statement about ‘power and ground’ incredibly sexy.
“Just a second, Nat. Let me go to my office. It’s noisy out here.” I hear her breathing softly and a door clicks shut. The background noise cuts in half and Riley’s tone shifts from authoritative to gentle. “Hey.”
“Hey,” I answer, my heart beating double time.
Riley waits a beat. “Why did you call?”
Right. Lunch. Date. Fancy restaurant. “Are you free for lunch? I wanted to take you somewhere.”
“Oh,” she says hesitantly.
At once, my hope of whisking her away to a fancy restaurant starts to wane. “Are you busy?”
“Carlos’s mom brought some tamales to the shop, so we planned to eat together for lunch. Like… as a team.”
“Tamales sounds good,” I say, keeping my tone buoyant while my heart sinks like the Titanic.
“You should join us.”
“I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“You wouldn’t be intruding,” she says and then in a quieter voice, Riley admits, “I’d like it if you came.”
My heart probably thinks it’s strapped to a rollercoaster because, as quickly as it sank, it’s now rocketing up to the stars.
“Yeah, I mean… if you want me to, I’ll be there.”
“Great.”
“Boss,” someone says in the background, “I think you were right. It’s not picking up a ground.”
“I figured,” Riley mumbles.
My grin expands. “I’ll see you soon.”
When Riley hangs up, I run down to my car. Chance, Kinsey and Renthrow left the gym a long time ago. They’re putting the finishing touches on tonight’s proposal. I heard Max will be there to help too.
Since I could only get the morning off from drills, I couldn’t join them, but it works out because I get to go home early and prepare for the date.
Out of the shower, I shave my face and run a brush over my short hair.
“Would I look better with longer hair?” I murmur, frowning at my reflection in the mirror.
There’s not much I can do about that now.
In my bedroom, I sort through a couple T-shirts and jeans. I’m not meeting Riley in sweatpants, that’s for sure. After I settle on a pair of dark slacks and a white T-shirt, I drive downtown.
On the way to the garage, I drive past the florist and impulsively stop in the parking lot. Ten minutes later, I pay for a bouquet of roses and set them gingerly in the passenger seat.
My heart bucks against my ribs and I wipe my sweaty palms on my slacks as I drive to the garage. Why am I so nervous today? I don’t think I’ve been this keyed up even on a game day.
“You need some help, bro?” A heavy-set man in black overalls asks when I walk into the mechanic bay. His eyes dart to me and then the flowers.
I stuff the bouquet behind my back. “No. I mean, yes. I’m here for Riley?”
“You’re Nathan Campbell.” The other voice belongs to a scrawny boy with a curly, mop-top hairstyle and beady eyes.
“Campbell? Wait, that’s the guy with the leg? The one trying out for the Lucky Strikers?” The larger man points to me.
I don’t appreciate being known as ‘the guy with the leg’, but if the leg fits…
“Nathan Campbell!” A face I finally recognize appears. Jimmy skips into view, wearing a welcoming grin. “Good to see you again.”
“You too, Jimmy.” I swivel away from the other two mechanics who are still staring me down as if I’ve stepped into enemy turf. “Where’s Riley?”
“She went to the bathroom, I think.”
“Oh.”
“You’re Riley’s boyfriend?” The younger one asks me, and there’s a hint of disapproval in his tone.
I narrow my eyes at him. Is he interested in Riley too?
“Nah, he’s Riley’s brother,” Jimmy says easily.
I stiffen. Why did I go around telling anybody who would listen that I’m Riley’s brother? Looking back, it was obvious that I was overcompensating because—at that point—I already knew I had feelings for her.
Should have just kept my big mouth shut.
“If he’s her brother, then why’d he bring flowers?” The other man points out.
Jimmy’s gaze whips to me. “Flowers? What flowers?”
“Nat, you’re here.” Riley’s beautiful voice is a hallelujah chorus to my ears.
I eagerly break away from the circle of mechanics who are all starting to regard me with suspicion and make my way to her.
As usual, her eyes are outlined with something dark and she’s wearing a mechanic jumpsuit zipped down halfway to reveal a tank top.
However, she’s wearing a new hairstyle. Rather than her usual ponytail, half of her hair is in a loose bun at the back of her head and the rest spirals around her shoulders. She’s kept the two tendrils at the front of her face.
I stop dead when I see her.
How could a woman be so stunningly attractive? It’s insanity.
“Hi,” I say, drinking her in.
Riley fights a burgeoning smile. “Hi.”
Someone rudely and loudly sniffs the air. “Is that perfume?” asks the young boy.
At the question, Riley pulls her lips into her mouth.
“I smell it too,” the other mechanic agrees.
Jimmy looks worriedly at Riley. “Boss, are you feeling sick? Your cheeks are red.”
“Not just her cheeks. Her lips are red too.” The young one peers at Riley’s lips—an act that I immediately take issue with.
The older man laughs. “I think that’s called lipstick, bro.”
“Why’d you put on lipstick?” Jimmy asks.
Riley’s eyes dart all around the room. “I’ll share out the tamales. Wash your hands and join me in the office when you’re done.”
She takes off like a gunshot towards the back of the shop. Refusing to be left behind with her mechanics, I chase her down.
The moment she locks the door behind me, Riley lets out a breath and presses a hand to her chest. “My heart is beating so fast.”
“Mine too,” I admit.
She casts a dirty look at the door. “Why can’t they mind their own business?”
“I feel like you just went from having one older brother to four,” I admit, laughing nervously.
Riley rolls her eyes. “They’re just nosy. That’s all.”
I smile.
Riley catches the look on my face and arches an eyebrow. “What?”
“Did you put on lipstick?”
Her mouth opens and closes and the rest of her face turns an even deeper shade of red. “I may be a mechanic, but I’m also a woman and women wear lipstick. There’s nothing weird about it.”
“I didn’t say it was weird.” I step forward. Riley’s eyelashes flutter as I hover over her and stare at her lips. My voice drops an octave. “I like it.”
She swallows audibly.
My lips quirk upward. “I like your hair too.” I take my free hand and brush one of the long tresses in front of her face. “Especially these two pieces here.”
Her breath thickens.
I lean in closer, feeling the charge in the air as I shorten the distance between our bodies. “Have I mentioned that I like you a lot, Riley Carter?”