Chapter Four
Jessa
I just can’t seem to catch a fucking break. This job was supposed to be an opportunity to start fresh in a new place, but of course the ridiculously hunky guy from the side of the road is the lead mechanic at my new job.
When I interviewed with Bill I had high hopes this position might be at least a little better than where I worked before.
He’d hardly batted an eye when I walked in for my interview.
I purposely put Jess instead of Jessa on my resume to keep from being discriminated against. Not to be deceitful, but to let my experience speak for itself without first being judged for being a woman.
Marnie had been great, and I think she might’ve helped smooth the way for me. Even so, Bill has been nothing but kind to me in our interactions. So I had been optimistic this would finally be a place I could work in peace.
That hope withered like fruit on the vine during a drought when Lane climbed from the bowels of the CAT he was wrenching on and I saw who he was. The guy with the Fat Boy who pulled over when I was working on Carla.
Talk about fucking luck.
Now his eyes are full of heat as they roam my body, leaving an unexpected tingling in their wake. I’m more than used to this behavior, but I don’t want to start my new job this way. Besides, it’s a little disconcerting that I’m not nearly as indifferent to his ogling as I usually am.
Not to mention the backwards baseball hat, which is like catnip. I don’t know why I find it so freaking appealing because in my experience it’s a sign of cockiness, but it revs my motor—same as most other women.
I heave a sigh, arms falling to my sides. Maybe I should cut my losses now. “You know what? I’ll just go tell Bill this isn’t going to work out.”
“What!? No, wait.” His hand lands on my left forearm, stopping me.
The contact has electricity shooting through me. I swear every nerve ending lights up at the touch as a gasp escapes.
His eyes flare, and he snatches his hand back as if he’s been burned. He holds both of them up. “Sorry. Just don’t go. Look, I think we got off on the wrong foot.”
“Ya think?” I scoff.
His hands fist at his sides, his lips pressing together as he inhales deeply, eyes falling closed. When he releases the breath, they pop open, as does his mouth. “Obviously, but you’ve been making some assumptions about me that aren’t even close to the truth.”
My gaze narrows and my lips purse at his observation. “And just what assumptions have I made?”
“Never once have I said I don’t think women can work on engines or repair equipment. You have said that and never given me the chance to disagree with you. In fact, last time, you barely let me get in two words before leaving me in the dust.”
I open my mouth to refute him, but it slams shut as I think back over our brief conversations. He really hasn’t said any of that.
His smirk as he watches me come to that conclusion doesn’t win him any points. “It’s killing you to realize I’m right, isn’t it?”
His rough chuckle causes my pulse to race, perturbing me further. My eyes narrow, and he holds his hands up in surrender again.
“I promise I won’t rub it in. As long as you promise not to continue to lump me in with the rest of the assholes you’re used to.”
It grates me to no end to have to agree but I do begrudgingly.
“Fine. I can admit maybe I jumped to some conclusions, but let’s say I’ve had plenty of experience to back up my assumptions from past interactions.
And the last time we crossed paths, I may or may not have just been on the worst freaking date of my life. I wasn’t exactly in the best mood.”
He nods. “’Preciate that. Let’s just start over with a clean slate. Now this dozer here is giving me fits. How about you wow me with your skills and help me fix the damn thing before we head out to our scheduled appointment this afternoon?”
“Alright, what’s got you stumped?” He proceeds to tell me about the hydraulics that keep bleeding out. We dig into the big machine for the next hour.
Lane’s stomach rumbles as we put away the tools we’ve been using. He glances at his watch. “We’ve got some time before we have to be at Forge Creek Road and Ridge for routine maintenance on a few of their trucks. How about I treat you to lunch? Steel Belly just happens to be parked on the way.”
My nose scrunches. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not sure about eating at a place called Steel Belly. Is one prerequisite for consuming the food?”
He grin as my stomach flips. “Absolutely not. I promise you, it’ll have your belly singing afterward. Benji is a BBQ genius.”
“Oh my God. This is the best thing I’ve ever tasted.
” There’s no containing my moan as the delicious smoky flavor hits my tongue.
The subtle sweetness of the BBQ sauce is the perfect complement to the meat, so tender it practically melts in my mouth.
The lightly toasted, buttery sub roll makes the perfect vessel to contain the grilled perfection.
I chew the bite, savoring the goodness before swallowing. “I hate to admit you being right again, but there’s no way I’d want to miss this.”
I glance over at Lane, whose hands are holding his own sandwich but are frozen in front of him. We’re sitting side by side on a short retaining wall near the black food truck, which is my new favorite place to eat. His gaze seems to be locked on my mouth.
“What? Do I have sauce on my face?” I swipe at my lips with a napkin, just in case. “Don’t have anything to say about me admitting you’re right?” I nudge his foot with my own.
“Huh? Oh…a…no. I mean yeah. Told you it was good.” He shakes his head before his pearly whites tear into his sandwich.
Now I’m the one transfixed as I watch the muscles of his jaw work. Never before have I been fascinated by a cheek muscle but here I am. His Adam’s apple bobs on a swallow, and damn if that isn’t just as enticing. I snort at the ridiculous idea.
At the noise his eyes swing to mine. They’re full of unabashed heat, which has my traitorous nipples pebbling.
What is it about this man that can rev me up with only a look?
The thought has the same effect as a bucket of ice water.
We work together, and we’ve only just begun a tentative truce.
Even though I had been prepared to walk away earlier, I really don’t want to.
This position is a good opportunity and I don’t want to start all over again so soon.
Hell, I don’t want to move again so soon, because that’s probably what I would have to do.
I refuse to let another man chase me from my home and job again. There should be no issue squashing the unwanted feelings he elicits from me. I’ve had plenty of experience dealing with unwelcome advances and attention from men for most of my life. My walls are fortified with cement from doing so.
They should work both ways, so it shouldn’t be a problem to use them to keep Lane out.