The Mechanic's Driven Love

Chapter 1

The paper box slipped through her fingers and crashed to the ground, breaking one of her “Sizzling Summer” red fingernail tips. “Great. Just fucking great.”

Addison sighed. The day had started out so well. Her hair turned out fantastic today. She ran a hand through the locks. A gratified smile tipped her lips. “Not bad for eighty-percent humidity.”

Then, she had arrived at work on time thanks to the light traffic for the holiday weekend.

Her shift was breezing by… until her boss, Mark Louis, said, “Miss Benedict, would you come into my office.” The formal address was the first clue her good-luck streak was over.

Then Hal, the security guard, walked in. That clinched it.

Kneeling down on the blacktop, Addison scooped up the belongings of her desk of nine years and threw them into the box. Under the edge of the tire sat her Employee of the Year award. A chill ran through her as she picked it up.

She ran a finger over the etched letters of her name. Addison Benedict. Closing her eyes, she felt the weight of the award. Now, it was just another bobble. A paperweight. She dropped it into the container with the rest of her work memories.

Picking up the box, she chucked it into her trunk with all the disgust she felt for the situation.

She dusted off her gray linen slacks and climbed into her car. “Who did he think he was? Just because he owned the place… Like he could run that office without me. Well, go ahead and try.”

The engine purred to life, and she cranked up the air conditioning. She took one last look at the building, flipped it the bird, and peeled out of the parking lot.

With the tunes blaring, she slipped on her oversized sunglasses.

“Mark Louis.” She grit her teeth. Dating her boss was the worst mistake of her life.

How could she have thought he’d be the perfect guy? She shook her head. Her hair flew in the current of the vents.

With each mile closer to home, the gravity of the situation set in. She was out of a job. Sure, she had some savings, but she had a house payment and Lu to feed. His royal highness was used to only the best cat cuisine.

It was time for a margarita night with the gals.

Addison reached for the call button on her steering wheel and paused.

Laney was getting ready for their Fourth of July party this weekend, and all week Marti had been talking about her date tonight.

No way Addison could call and dump her bad news on them.

Without thinking, she tapped the call button. “Call Mom.”

“Julie’s Jewel. How can we make you beautiful today?”

“Hey, Vivian. What’s my mom’s schedule this afternoon?” Being the owner and stylist, Addison’s mom was eternally busy.

“Hey, sweetie. She’s finishing up a perm, but then she’s off the books for the weekend.”

“Great. Please let her know I’m coming in.”

“Will do.” The receptionist hung up.

Addison exhaled and checked the time. It was a thirty-minute drive back to Gray Duck Grove. Plenty of time to dwell on the fact she’d somehow flushed the last nine years down the drain by working at a plumbing wholesaler.

She snorted at the pun. Life hadn’t taken the path she’d expected. Not even close.

Addison merged onto the highway and cranked up the tunes. Time to push all thoughts of her termination and Mark Louis from her mind.

Tomorrow was Independence Day. The perfect time for a new start.

She parked in front of the century-old building on Main Street a little after noon. Addison smiled at the large window with her mother’s name in a scrolling, painted font. Her mom had painted it herself when she bought the salon from the previous owner.

Addison opened the door. The sound of chatter and blow-dryers calmed her anxiety instantly. Chickens cackling. She grinned. That’s what walking into the salon always reminded her of.

As the door closed behind her, the smells of permanent wave solution and hairspray permeated the air like smoke from a campfire. Addison inhaled, taking it all in—the sights and sounds of her childhood.

This was as much a home to her as any house or apartment she and her mom had lived in. It was the staple in their lives, never changing. Sure, the paint and wallpaper changed every few years, but not much else. It was a six-chair shop with sinks in the back.

Addison grew up doing her homework at the front desk between booking appointments.

She could do a roller set and comb out by the time she was eight.

By high school, she was cutting her friends’ hair for extra cash.

Addison once thought about following in her mother’s footsteps, but her mom always encouraged her to go to college and follow her own dreams.

Addison’s dreams may not have been crystal clear early on, besides entering every pageant around. One thing she quickly realized, her goal wasn’t to stand behind a chair for ten hours a day, six days a week.

Nina looked up and smiled. “Hey, girl, just in time. Come on over here and finish this wrap for me so I can go take a cig break.”

Waving hello to the other stylist, Addison strolled to the back of the salon. She gave her mom a hug on the way.

“You don’t have to do that. Nina can wait ten more minutes until she has Sandy’s perm wrapped and processing.” Julie shot her old boss a scolding look. The older woman didn’t so much as flinch.

“It’s fine. I’ve got the time today. When are you taking lunch?” Addison crossed to Nina’s client. Nina was already hustling to the breakroom.

“After I finish Ida here. Fifteen minutes or so.” Julie checked her watch and continued working.

“Great, we can grab a bite at Rumors if you have time.”

Her mom nodded and went back to the conversation with her client about her dog and her puppies.

Addison smiled at Nina’s client, picked up the rattail comb, and sectioned the next piece of hair for the rod.

Yup, this was where she needed to be right now. Home.

Nash Steele rolled out from under a sixty-four Corvair. Sweat ran down his back in waves. He hadn’t sweat this much since his deployment to the Middle East. “Any chance your dad is adding air conditioning during the remodel?”

“Nope. But we will have those big-ass fans. The ones the size of twin-engine props.” Cade swiped a shop rag across his forehead.

It didn’t matter that it was Minnesota. Ninety-eight degrees and eighty percent humidity made the Busted Knuckle Automotive Repair and Restoration shop unbearable.

“Here.” Cade tossed Nash a bottle of water from the mini fridge by his workbench.

“Thanks. It wouldn’t be so bad if Leon would keep his shirt on.” Nash cringed. He didn’t mind the sixty-year-old’s tats, but didn’t need to see so much of them. The tramp stamp was a little disconcerting. Seriously, the guy must have lost a bet or something.

“Leon’s naked body isn’t what I want to see.” Cade rubbed his eyes like he could wipe away the visual of his father’s best friend rocking out to an eighties tune as he torqued the lug nuts on a Jeep. “Speaking of naked bodies, how was your date with the flight attendant last night?”

“Fine.” Nash shrugged, not making eye contact with his buddy.

“Oh, that bad?” Cade leaned against the hoist, waiting for all the juicy details.

“Don’t get me wrong, she was a knockout, but we had nothing in common, and that was pretty clear real fast.” He couldn’t see her as someone he’d want to introduce to his son, and with all his dates, that was the determining factor as to whether or not Nash would be seeking a second date.

“Sorry, man. That sucks.”

It did, but Nash kept quiet. He focused on organizing the sockets in his toolbox.

“So, no bang time then? Bummer.”

“Not every woman falls at my feet.” She would have, but Nash wasn’t getting into that with his friend. Ever since Cade and Laney hooked up, and Cade was getting it regularly, he was even nosier when it came to Nash’s love life, or lack thereof.

“What about Addison? You had it pretty bad for her last winter.” Cade referred to his fiancée’s bestie. The woman barely tolerated him through the life-or-death situation where Cade and Laney fell hard and fast for each other.

Nash glared at his friend. “The woman hates my guts. I’d have better odds of her stabbing me in the chest than actually going out on a date with me.”

“She just needs a little time to warm up to you.”

Nash snorted. Right? He’d been nice, charming even, but… nothing. If anything, she took one look at him and slammed the proverbial door in his face.

“Yeah, right.” Nash’s luck with women sucked lately.

Oh, he could find a hookup, but he wanted something deeper.

He had it once… briefly. His marriage had lasted a few years, but Beth hated being a military wife.

She wanted a career, so he decided not to re-up.

If that had been their only problem, maybe they’d still be together.

Nash stared at the line of shiny sockets in the drawer, not fully focusing on them.

He and Beth were so young. So crazy for one another, until they weren’t.

It’s like they grew up and apart, but they did one thing right…

Davey. The best thing to happen to him. He just never saw himself as a weekend dad in his thirties.

Cade’s chuckle cut through his thoughts.

Nash glanced up. His friend was texting.

No doubt, with Laney. Cade’s bliss was a little nauseating, but not as bad as his matchmaking.

The last thing Nash wanted to think about was Addison Benedict and her curvy little body and sexy green gaze.

Nope. Time to change the subject. “Are you all ready for the party tomorrow?”

“Oh yeah, Laney and I went to Wisconsin last weekend. I spent half my paycheck on fireworks. She thinks I went a little overboard.” He grinned. “What can I say? I love to see things explode.”

“I think you were in the wrong designation. You have explosives tech written all over you.”

Cade’s eyes twinkled. “Naw. I’m much better with a long-range fifty cal.”