5. Luke
CHAPTER 5
Luke
I was not in a good mood.
I’d started my day working on my latest restoration project—a 1955 Ford Thunderbird—but nothing was going according to plan.
Andrea, my receptionist, was out on maternity leave. Great for her, but not so great for me. I’d hired a woman named Stephanie as a temporary replacement, but she hadn’t shown up for work. Again. That meant I kept having to stop to deal with customers, and now I was missing a part I needed and couldn’t find a copy of the order form.
The noise of power tools drifted from the garage into the lobby as I shuffled through stacks of paperwork on the cluttered front desk. The lobby was small, just the tall wooden desk and a couple of chairs next to the front door. The walls were decorated with photos of cars we’d rebuilt and restored—some of the highlights of our work. We’d done everything from muscle cars like the ’69 Charger to an old Ford Model T. One of my personal favorites was the cherry-red 1952 Corvette. Such a hot car.
Behind the desk were old black-and-white racing photos, most from the early 1900s. I’d inherited them when I’d taken over Haven Auto Restoration from my great-uncle in my early twenties. Since then, I’d grown the business from a one-mechanic shop to an award-winning restoration garage.
Over the years, I learned that there was a lot more to being a business owner than knowing your way around an engine. And some days, when all I wanted to do was get my hands greasy, a million other problems seemed to come out of the woodwork.
Like what had happened to that order.
And where the hell was Stephanie?
With a frustrated groan, I dropped into the chair and pinched the bridge of my nose against the headache threatening to split open my skull. That was why I was so grouchy. Work stuff, and my head hurt. It had absolutely nothing to do with unexpectedly seeing my ex-girlfriend the other day.
Why? Why did she keep popping into my head like that? So she’d almost hit my car. I’d avoided the collision. There was nothing else to think about. I didn’t need to keep wondering why she was in town. Her family lived in Tilikum, that was explanation enough. I didn’t need to keep thinking about her.
Or her mouth and the curve of her hips.
What I needed to do was figure out why Stephanie wasn’t at work.
I found Stephanie’s number and called. It rang a few times, and I thought I was about to get her voicemail when she answered.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Stephanie, it’s Luke.”
“Hi, Luke.” Her tone was cheerful.
That was odd. Did she not realize she was supposed to be at work?
“So, are you coming in today, or…”
“Oh, about that. I’m not. ”
“Why not?”
“I don’t want to.”
I hesitated, not sure how to respond to that. “You don’t want to?”
“My best friend from high school just got back into town. We’re getting mani-pedis and then probably going shopping.”
“But you’re supposed to be here.”
“You can’t expect me to blow off my friend. She’s my bestie.”
I shook my head in frustration. “I can expect you not to blow off work.”
“That reminds me. I won’t be able to come in tomorrow either.”
“I think maybe there was a miscommunication. I hired you to come in regularly, not just when you feel like it.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. That’s how jobs work.”
“Well, that’s definitely not going to work for me. I have too much going on.”
“Okay, if you have too much going on to come in to work, I’ll have to find someone else.”
“So should I come in next week?”
I blinked a couple times before answering. “No.”
“Really? Oh well. I guess it wasn’t meant to be.”
“I… guess not.”
I didn’t bother saying goodbye. Just ended the call.
Pinching the bridge of my nose again, I let out a frustrated breath. When I’d interviewed Stephanie, she’d given me the impression that she might be a little flighty, but I’d hoped she just needed a chance. Bad call on my part.
The door opened, and I looked up to find my older brother Garrett in his sheriff’s deputy uniform and a pair of slightly cliché, but admittedly very cool, aviators. He swiped the sunglasses off his face as the door shut behind him .
“Hey, bro,” I greeted him. “What’s up?”
“Just out following up on a few things.”
“Not another murder case, I hope.”
“No, nothing like that.”
Last year, some crazy shit had gone down with Garrett’s investigation of a cold case murder. He’d almost gotten himself killed. I’d been there—saw the whole thing in real time. I’d always respected my brother, but after watching him go through hell to save his wife, Harper, and his son Owen, I was in awe of him.
He was a freaking badass.
“I’d say let’s grab some lunch, but I’m buried,” I said. “Andrea is on maternity leave, and her replacement fell through.”
“That’s okay. I actually stopped by to ask you about something.”
I glanced up.
He had his cop face on. Serious, stoic, responsible. “Is something wrong, Deputy?”
“Do you know anything about the underground racing that’s been going on down at the old Cascade Speedway?”
Shit. “Why?”
“You know, rumors. Things get around.”
“Come on, you know better than to trust the gossip line. People say all kinds of wild stuff in this town.”
“I know.”
“Most of it’s bullshit.”
“Yeah.”
“Then what are you worried about?”
“You.”
I leaned back in the chair. “You don’t need to worry about me.”
“Or the roll cage in your Mustang?”
I grinned a little. “Safety first. ”
Garrett glowered at me. Apparently, he didn’t find that amusing. “I thought you quit that scene a long time ago.”
“I did.” That wasn’t a lie. I had quit. I just hoped I could leave out the part where I’d started up again.
“Look, forget the uniform for a second. Officially, I’m not here talking to you about this. But unofficially…”
“Unofficially, what?”
“Someone saw you and let me know. Not to rat you out. They figured I’d want to know first so I could keep you out of trouble.”
“Not to rat me out, my ass. Who was it?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
I glanced away. “It’s not a big deal.”
“You sure about that?”
Out of all my brothers, Garrett was the last one I wanted to know I’d gone back to racing. He was a cop. But he was also the last one I’d ever lie to. Especially after everything we’d been through. He’d trusted me when it mattered. That meant a lot.
“Okay, truth. Yeah, I race sometimes. But it’s just to blow off steam. No street racing, only on a track. And hell, it’s not even in your jurisdiction.”
“Blowing off steam is fine, but when you’re risking your life on a closed track in an illegal and unregulated race, that’s a problem. Don’t even get me started on the rest of it.”
“Rest of what?”
“The illegal gambling. That could be a felony.”
“I don’t do it for the money.”
“But you take the money.”
Groaning, I ground my teeth together. “I’ll donate it or something.”
I don’t know why that made him laugh, but it did. “You’re killing me. Couldn’t you find a hobby that’s not likely to get you killed? Or arrested? ”
“Which one worries you more?” One corner of my mouth lifted. “Be honest.”
“I’ve arrested Zachary. Don’t think I won’t arrest you.”
He was half joking about arresting me, but only half. And he had arrested our brother Zachary. Probably more than once.
I was too old not to know he was right. Of course he was. Twenty-year-old me might have gotten a pass for being young and idiotic, but I was in my thirties. Illegal racing was stupid and dangerous, and I knew it.
But it was also addictive.
“I don’t want to lie to you,” I said.
“Then don’t.”
“You’re right. It’s stupid. I should find a better hobby. And if I tell you I won’t do it again, I’ll mean it right now.”
“But?”
“But I don’t know if I can promise to never do it again.”
“Have you tried skydiving?”
“Dude. I’m not jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.”
Shaking his head, he chuckled. “Killing me. You should have gone into law enforcement. Plenty of excitement there.”
“I don’t think I could do your job.”
“Fair enough. Just… be careful. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
He turned to leave but paused at the door and looked over his shoulder. “You know what you really need?”
“Other than someone to fill in for Andrea?”
“Yeah.”
“What?”
He smirked at me. “A good woman.”
I wadded up a piece of paper and tossed it at him.
He just grinned and walked out the door.
A good woman. That was even less likely than me quitting racing for good. I was pretty sure I was cursed when it came to women.
Dramatic? Maybe. But true. My track record spoke for itself.
Besides, he was wrong. I didn’t need a woman in my life.
So why was I suddenly picturing Melanie Andolini? She was like a song I couldn’t get out of my head, the lyrics running through my mind in an endless loop.
If I did need a good woman in my life, it was not her. I was a pretty easygoing guy. Usually got along with everyone. But Melanie? Not so much. Our relationship had had more ups and downs than a roller coaster. Granted, we’d been young. I’d mellowed out since my teens, so maybe she had too.
Actually, I doubted it. Mellow wasn’t in her vocabulary.
It didn’t matter, anyway. We’d run into each other. So what? Tilikum was a small town, and her family still lived here. It had to happen occasionally.
Although it was odd that it had been so long. Her family did live in Tilikum, and it was a small town. Why had it been so long since I’d seen her? Where had she been? What was going on in her life?
I shook my head to clear it. None of my business. I didn’t need to know.
What I needed was a temporary employee. That was my current problem, not my high school ex-girlfriend.
I figured I’d call my sister, Annika. She worked for me before our brother Josiah stole her away. Maybe she had time to help me out for a few months.
And maybe she knew why Melanie was in town. They’d been friends back in the day. Did they keep in touch?
I groaned. How was Mel still so frustrating? She wasn’t even around. But there she was, invading every freaking thought in my head.
I pulled out my phone and called Annika.
“Hey, Luke. ”
“Hi. Listen, I’m in a bind at the garage. Andrea went on maternity leave, and the gal I hired to fill in flaked out on me.”
“That’s frustrating.”
“Yeah. I know you’re busy already, but could you find a way to come in for a few hours a day? Just temporarily.”
“I would love to help, but I can’t. I’m sorry, I just don’t have time.”
“Come on, it’s not like you have kids and a job and everything.” My voice was tinged with humor. “You can’t be that busy.”
She laughed. “Nope, not at all. Speaking of, hang on.” Her voice got quieter, as if she’d moved the phone away. “Will, stop right there. Don’t come in the house yet.”
“Is he okay?”
“He’s covered in mud.” Her tone was matter-of-fact, as if that were an everyday occurrence. “I need to go hose him down.”
“Fair enough. Before you go, do you know anyone who’s looking for a part-time gig? Ideally someone who might actually show up to work?”
“Not off the top of my head, but if I think of anyone, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks.”
“I have to go take care of my little mud monster. Oh good, the girls are covered too.”
“You’re an awesome mom.”
She laughed again. “Thanks. I just know when to pick my battles. Kids get dirty. It’s fine. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye.”
I ended the call and put my phone down. Well, that sucked. Annika would have been the perfect solution. Not that I blamed her for saying no. She had her hands full.
Who else did I know who might be available? I had a great crew, but their skills were out in the garage. I was pretty sure Ollie was allergic to paperwork, and although Patrick was a genius with bodywork, he had the personality of sandpaper. Not the kind of guy to fill in at the front desk, even for only a few hours a day.
I’d just have to do my best to keep up with everything. And maybe being slammed at work was exactly what I needed to shake off the effect of seeing Melanie again.