Chapter 10
Addison admired the crystal drops and linen shades of the lighting fixtures. Frank got points for picking an upscale restaurant. A live band was setting up on a stage against the far wall. Windows lined two sides of the dining area, showcasing the evening sunlight on the lake.
Then there was her date. Frank Davis wore a blue suit. His hair swooshed to the right from a strong side part. She bet he’d worn it that way since childhood. Currently, his glasses slid down his straight nose as he perused the menu.
“What are you having?” His gaze flicked from the menu to her and then back just as quickly.
The server placed a steaming plate on the table beside them. Addison’s stomach rumbled. That’s what she got for skipping lunch. “The surf and turf smells delicious. I might have that. You?”
He nodded. “That looks good.”
Their server returned with their drinks and took their orders. Once she left, Addison picked up her wine. “Here’s to a nice evening.”
Frank picked up his glass, took a drink, and set it right back down.
Addison blinked, her glass still held high. So much for a toast. She took a sip. The smooth red wine slipped down her throat. She was tempted to down every last drop, but set the glass down and played with the stem instead. “So, Marti tells me you work in the insurance industry.”
“I’m an actuary.” He focused intently on the linen tablecloth. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he was counting the threads.
“What’s your favorite part of your job?”
He looked at the ceiling. “Lunch.”
Addison chuckled.
Frank smiled with a shy tip of his lips. He was handsome when he smiled. She wondered if he ever thought about getting contacts.
“How long have you worked as an actuary?”
“Ten years this November.”
Man, getting him to talk was like pulling teeth. Addison leaned her elbows on the table and cocked her head. What made Frank Davis tick? “Do you have any hobbies?”
“I read.”
Finally. Something they had in common. “Me too. What are you currently reading? I just finished a fantastic psychological thriller.”
“Um, I’m reading a science fiction novel at the moment. But I like graphic novels as well.” He raised his glass to his lips. His cheek color deepened.
“I used to date a guy who made comic books. I don’t know if you’d know his work.” She said the name, and Frank jumped a little in his seat.
“I love his stuff. You really know him?”
“Yup.” They dated for a few months. That was before he was picked up by a publisher.
“Wow.” Frank straightened in his chair. They talked about her ex and his books for a few minutes. Then he asked, “What’s your favorite movie?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” She dated an actor right after college. “I like action movies… and the superhero ones.”
Ding. Ding. Ding. She must have hit a winner because Frank’s eyes sparkled at her answer. “Marvel or DC?”
“DC.” She loved the grittiness of their films.
“Me too.” He glanced left, then right, as if he didn’t want anyone to hear. “What about the Star Trek movies?”
“I saw the last couple.” She’d had a big crush on Chris Pine since she’d seen him in The Princess Diaries 2. Hell, he was the reason she’d watched Wonder Woman.
“What do you think about Spock breaking the rule and talking to his future self?”
Uh? “Well, that was a twist.”
“I know, right? It’s like breaking the fourth wall.” The quiet man across from her lit up as if she’d flipped a switch.
She’d found Frank’s interests. He was off and running on conspiracies of the fans and which Enterprise crew was the best and why. Addison smiled, nodded, and occasionally murmured in agreement. She hadn’t a clue what he was talking about most of the time.
The server brought their food. Addison listened to Frank while she ate.
Frank was into his detailed analysis of the schematics of the ship when he must have realized Addison wasn’t really tracking with the conversation. He cleared his throat and shrugged. “Anyway. Like most guys, I like science fiction. But it’s not like I collect the action figures.”
Addison could have sworn he mumbled, “Not all of them,” under his breath.
Addison tried other subjects, but it didn’t matter—the animated Frank had left the building. Through the rest of the meal, he shut down and focused on his food.
The music started as another worker cleared their plates. Addison watched as a few couples took to the dance floor. She eyed her date. No way he would ask her.
She bit her lip, waiting. Screw it. “Would you like to dance?”
Frank looked at the people gliding around the floor and shook his head.
“Do you dance? If not, it’s alright. I can teach you.”
“I can dance, but not to this.”
“What type of dancing do you do?” A vision of Frank’s legs in rapid movement doing an Irish folk dance entered her mind.
He was staring at the tablecloth again.
She followed his gaze, expecting to find… what? A stain? Dating cheat sheet? Nope. Just clean, white linen.
He cleared his throat. “Line dancing.”
“Oh.” Didn’t that go out in the nineties? Addison didn’t think this band would play any country tonight.
The night wrapped up with a coffee and a handshake—Frank’s idea, not hers. He was a nice guy, but not the one for her.
Addison climbed into her car, cranked the air conditioning, and headed for home. At least she had Lu to curl up with.
A mile down the road, her dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree. “What the…?”
The engine sputtered and was losing power. Busted Knuckle was only a mile away. “Come on. You can make it.” She rocked in her seat, as if the motion would increase the distance before it died. One more block.
She limped it into the parking lot seconds before the engine quit.
Dropping her head back, she blew out a breath. It made it. Miracles never ceased.
Grabbing her phone from her purse, she pulled up her mom’s contact but paused. The lights were on in the shop. Someone was working on a Friday night?
Might as well see who was here. She dropped her phone back into her purse and got out of the car. At the bay door, she stood on her tiptoes but still couldn’t see through the window. She knocked.
It opened. As the door rolled up, panel by panel, scuffed work boots appeared, followed by denim-clad legs.
The back of her neck tingled. Please don’t let it be him.
The door rolled up farther, revealing a form-fitting tee and lickable muscles.
Her thighs clenched. Oh no. That could only mean one thing.
A couple of inches more and a chiseled jaw with a day’s old growth of beard appeared, and then… a mouth, tipping up in a sexy smirk.
Well, shit. Nash stood next to a classic Chevy, almost as sexy as he was.
She retracted her earlier statement about miracles.
“Hey. I didn’t expect to see you back here tonight.” Nash crossed his arms over his chest. Then again, he hadn’t planned on coming in tonight, but after dinner, Leon’s boys invited Davey over. He had another hour before he had to pick him and the dog up.
“I was on my way home from dinner, and my car started acting up. I barely made it to the shop before it conked out on me.” Her focus bounced from stall to stall, zipping around the shop, landing anywhere but on him.
“Let me take a look.” He grabbed his flashlight and crossed the lot to her car, which straddled two parking spots. “Climb in and pop the hood.”
“You don’t have to check it out tonight. I can just call my mom to pick me up.”
“Addison, get in the car.”
Her green glare cut to his core. Damn, if he didn’t like it.
She held out a second longer before climbing into the driver’s seat.
“Good girl. Now pop the hood and start the engine.”
She rolled her eyes, but he’d seen the excitement in them. Interesting.
The car didn’t start, but it sputtered as she turned the ignition again. Could be a number of things, but the fact that it died while running eliminated a few.
“Let me get some tools. I’ll be right back.” He jogged back to his toolbox.
She was here and in the same outfit from work. That meant she’d been coming home from her date.
He checked the time and grinned. Short date. Gathering his tools, he rushed back outside. She was sitting in her car, the door open, thumbing through her phone. He blinked, not believing his eyes. She was here and needed his help.
He jogged up to her and set his tool bag on the ground beside the car. “Were you having issues before?”
“No. It ran fine on the way to the restaurant. No dash lights. Nothing.” She slipped out of the car and leaned against the door.
Nash checked a few things. He pulled out his gauges and checked the fuel pressure. Bingo. It wasn’t getting any fuel. “What’s your fuel level?”
“Three-quarters of a tank. I filled up yesterday. Really, Nash. Like I’m stupid enough to let it run out of gas.” She scowled at him.
He opened the gas tank door and inspected it. “I didn’t say that. But I think I found the problem.”
“What?” She rounded the car and looked over his shoulder.
A floral scent enveloped him. She always smelled good, but this close the aroma made his head spin and his gut tighten.
“So?” She swiveled and leaned against the car, facing him.
He ran a finger over the edge of the fill spout, put it up to his nose, and smelled. “Sugar.”
“I know I didn’t put sugar in my tank. Who would do that?” Her fiery tone matched the spark in her eyes. She was pissed, and he couldn’t blame her.
“Someone who wanted to cause you some trouble.” Nash replaced the gas cap and took her arm, leading her into the building, scanning their surroundings. Maybe it was all the shit he’d seen on his deployments, but his gut screamed duck and cover.
“Hey, what are you doing?” She pulled at her arm.
“In the shop. Now.” It was still daylight for another hour, but the sun was going down. He didn’t like the idea of someone wanting Addison stranded, most likely alone.
Inside, he let go of her and closed the bay door. “Do you have enemies?”
“Don’t be silly. No. I’m sure it was some kid pulling a prank.”
Nash stalked closer, pinning her between his body and the Chevy, standing so close he could see the flecks of gold in her eyes. “You don’t get it. This isn’t a simple repair. And this isn’t a harmless prank.”
“Stop trying to scare me.” Eyes wide, cheeks flushed, her nostrils flared.
His gaze roamed over her face. She was… So. Damn. Beautiful.
Nash bit back a groan. He should give her space, but his feet must have grown roots, because he couldn’t force himself to back away from her even if the shop were on fire. “Addison?”
Those hypnotic green eyes darkened.
Everything in him wanted to close the distance between them, but he wouldn’t, couldn’t.
He willed his fingers to relax their grip, but before he could, the tip of her delicate pink tongue appeared between her lips.
“Fuck.” If she didn’t give him a sign soon, he’d explode.
She moved, her lips so close he could feel her breath. Her gaze dropped to his mouth.
Green light. Go. He crushed his mouth to hers.