Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
JAKE
Monday morning arrives with Arden calling an all-hands meeting at eight a.m. sharp.
We’re all gathered around the main workbench, including Rhys, who started part-time last week and has already proven himself invaluable with the electrical systems. The workshop feels different today, charged with anticipation and change.
“Morning, everyone,” Arden starts, looking more formal than usual in his pressed shirt and bow tie. “I’ve got some announcements that are going to change how we operate around here.”
I catch sight of Stella emerging from the office, and my breath catches.
She’s wearing a crisp white dress shirt that hugs her curves perfectly.
It’s tucked into a red flared skirt that ends just above her knees and those heels that drive me mental.
Her red hair is pulled back in a professional bun, and she’s wearing her green-framed glasses.
She looks every inch the successful businesswoman.
And it’s doing things to me that are completely inappropriate for a Monday morning meeting.
Our eyes meet across the workshop. She gives me a small smile, and my cock twitches. Christ. After our text conversation the other night, just looking at her is enough to get me worked up.
I haven’t stopped thinking about her. As much as I’ve wanted to go over there and fuck her breathless, I’ve held back, I wanted to prove I can be patient while she works through all these big changes.
“First,” Arden continues, “I’m pleased to officially announce that Stella will be taking over as our Operations Manager, effective today.”
We break into applause, and I can see the genuine pride on the guys’ faces. She’s earned their respect in two weeks—no small feat.
“What does that mean for us day-to-day?” Chase asks. He already knows—he lives with Arden. No way this decision was made without his input. He’s asking for everyone else’s benefit.
“It means Stella will be overseeing all business operations—client relations, project management, financials, staffing decisions. Basically, if it’s not directly related to turning wrenches, it goes through her.”
“So she’s our boss now?” José asks, no attitude, just curiosity.
“She’s your Operations Manager,” Arden clarifies. “Chase is still your direct supervisor for workshop activities, but yes, Stella has authority over operational decisions.”
She straightens at that, confidence radiating off her. She was born for this role.
“Which brings me to my second announcement,” Arden says. “We’re expanding the team.”
He gestures to the entrance. Two men walk in—one older, maybe in his fifties, with greying hair and the build of someone who’s worked with his hands his whole life. The younger one looks mid-thirties, tall and lean, dark hair and an easy smile.
“Everyone, meet Robert and Parker McDonald. Robert’s a master fabricator, and Parker’s a qualified mechanic with fifteen years’ experience.”
“G’day,” Robert says in a no-nonsense tone, with a slight accent I can’t place. “Looking forward to working with you all.”
“Yeah, excited to be here,” Parker adds, and his enthusiasm seems genuine, even if he is wearing suspenders under open coveralls.
“Robert is actually my uncle,” Arden proclaims, and surprise ripples through the room. “We only recently discovered each other through some family research. They’ve just moved to New Hope from Acre Woods to get to know their long-lost family.”
“That’s mental,” Asher says. “Good mental, but mental.”
“It is a bit surreal,” Robert chuckles. “But when Arden told me about this place, I knew I wanted to be part of it. Classic car restoration is my passion.”
“Mine too,” Parker says. “Been working on classics since I could hold a wrench.”
“Brilliant,” Chase replies. “We can definitely use the extra hands.”
“Robert will be setting up a dedicated fabrication area in the back corner,” Arden explains. “Stella will be working on the fit-out with him. We’ve got projects coming up that require custom metalwork. Parker will be working alongside Jake and the rest of the mechanical team.”
I nod at Parker, sizing him up. He seems decent enough. We need help with our growing workload. I’ll see how good he is once I’ve seen him work.
“Stella will be coordinating everyone’s schedules and project assignments,” Arden adds. “We’re also looking at expanding our client base significantly, so things are going to get busier.”
“Any questions?” Stella asks, speaking for the first time. Her voice carries a new authority that wasn’t there two weeks ago.
“When do we start?” Robert asks, grinning.
“Today,” she smiles. “I’ve got project assignments ready for everyone, and Robert, I’ll show you the fabrication area after the meeting. You can let me know what you need, and we’ll get it ordered and installed.”
“Efficient. I like that,” Robert nods approvingly.
“If we’re talking about upgrades, can we discuss the paint booth?” Asher asks, sipping his coffee.
“Set up a meeting with Stella—she’ll make the final call. I’m happy to spend the money if it means we can expand,” Arden says with a grin. He’s been bitching about the booth for months.
Once the meeting wraps, everyone scatters. Robert and Parker head off with Chase, Rhys is buried in the electrics of a ‘67 Mustang, and José and Asher are comparing new assignments.
I hang back, watching Stella organise her paperwork. When the workshop settles into its usual rhythm, I make my move.
“Congratulations, Operations Manager,” I say, coming up beside her at the workbench. I squeeze her shoulder when what I really want is to pull her in for a hug.
“Thank you.” She looks up, those green eyes making me want to do very unprofessional things. “It feels surreal.”
“You deserve it. You’ve earned it.”
“I hope so. There’s a lot of pressure now.”
I step closer, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re going to be brilliant.”
“Jake,” she says softly, glancing around to make sure no one’s watching, “you can’t be doing stuff like that.”
“I know. But I’m proud of you, and I wanted to tell you.”
Before she can protest, I cup her face and kiss her, pressing her back against the workbench. She melts into me, fists curling in my coveralls, kissing me back with equal intensity.
“Jake,” she breathes, “someone might see.”
“Everyone’s busy,” I murmur, kissing along her jaw. “And you look so fucking sexy in that outfit.”
“This is so unprofessional,” she protests, but she’s arching into me.
“Completely unprofessional,” I agree, hands sliding down her waist. “But I can’t help myself around you.”
I press her more firmly against the bench. She gasps as her back hits the metal. My hands roam over her body, and when I kiss her neck, she lets out a soft moan that goes straight to my cock.
“We should stop,” she whispers, fingers sliding into my coveralls, tracing the lines of my chest.
“Should we?” I nip her earlobe.
“Yes, we should—oh, fuck.”
I’ve found that spot on her neck that makes her knees weak, and I take full advantage, sucking gently while my hands explore her curves. She’s so responsive, so perfect, and having her pressed against my workbench is fulfilling fantasies I’ve had for weeks.
“Jake, I—oh no.”
I pull back to see what’s wrong, and that’s when I notice the grease stains on her pristine white tank top. My hands, apparently not as clean as I thought, have left distinct fingerprints on the fabric.
“Shit.” I grin, not even sorry. “Sorry about your top.” I apologise, although there is a hint of amusement in my voice.
She looks down and laughs. “Well, that’s one way to mark your territory.”
“I could say it was an accident.”
“Could you?” she asks with a raised eyebrow. “Because it looks suspiciously like you grabbed me right… here.” She taps the evidence.
“Maybe I got a little carried away.”
“A little?” She tries for stern, but I can see the laughter in her eyes. “Jake, this is brand new. I bought it specifically for my first day as Operations Manager.”
“And now it’s been christened. About time one of your white shirts got a little dirty. I’ve got fantasies of you covered in grease—it’s hot as fuck.”
“That’s not how christening works.”
“Isn’t it? Because I distinctly remember christening you against this workbench just now.”
She blushes. “You’re terrible.”
“And you love it.”
“I do not love—” She stops mid-sentence, and I can see her realising what she almost said.
“You do not love what?” I prompt with a grin.
“I do not love that I’m going to have to change shirts and explain to everyone why I have grease stains all over me.”
“Tell them you were inspecting the workspace and got too close to the equipment.”
“Is that what we’re calling you now? Equipment?”
“Well-maintained, high-performance equipment,” I say with a wink.
She shakes her head, but she’s smiling. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And you’re beautiful. Even with grease stains.”
“Smooth talker.”
I dip my head, my lips brushing her ear. “You should see what else I can do with my mouth.”
She shivers, and I know her mind’s gone to places we shouldn’t be thinking about here.
“I need to go change.” She bites her lip, still not moving away.
“Or keep it as is. Let everyone know you’re mine.”
“Jake—”
“I know, I know. Professional boundaries.” I step back reluctantly. “But Stella?”
“Yeah?”
“This is just the beginning. You being my boss doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
Something flickers in her eyes—uncertainty, maybe fear. “Everything’s changing so fast. The job, the new people, us… it’s a lot.”
I can hear the worry in her voice, and I want to reassure her. “Change can be good.”
“Can it? What if I can’t handle it? What if I’m not ready for this level of responsibility?”
“Hey.” I take her hands in mine, not caring if more grease gets on her. “You’ve already proven you can handle it. Look at what you’ve accomplished in such a short time.”
“But now there are more people, bigger projects, higher expectations?—”
“And you’ll rise to meet them. You were made for this role. I’ve watched you work—you don’t just manage tasks; you see the bigger picture. You know how it all connects.”
“What if things get complicated between us? What if it affects the team?”
“Then we figure it out. Together.” I squeeze her hands. “I’ll be honest, I’m a little worried about all the changes as well. New people, new dynamics, everything shifting. But you know what I’m not worried about?”
“What?”
“Us. Because whatever else changes, we feel right. You feel right.”
She studies me, some of the tension leaving her shoulders.
“The changes are for the better,” she says, almost to herself. “More work means more income for everyone. Better systems mean less stress. New team members mean we can take on bigger projects.”
“Exactly. And with you running operations, I know we’re in good hands.”
She laughs, and it’s a sound I feel right in my chest.
“I really do need to change,” she says.
“I know. But Stella?”
“Yeah?”
“Welcome to your new job, Operations Manager. You’re going to be incredible.”
She walks toward the office, heels clicking on concrete, shoulders set with confidence.
The workshop’s changing. Expanding. Evolving.
And with Stella in charge, it feels like it’s changing for the better.
Even if I do have to keep my hands clean around her.
Not that I’m entirely sorry about the grease stains.