Page 6 of Nixon’s Promise

We worked in comfortable silence. He’d picked up the crowbar and held the tensioner pulley back so I could fit the belt back on. Which, to add, was difficult. Not because the piece of rubber was giving me trouble—no, the challenge was due to his muscles flexing from exertion.

And unfortunately, I had an up close and personal view considering he was standing close. His proximity was also an issue because I could smell him. No cologne for Nixon Swagger. He smelled a little like hay, sweat, and tobacco. In other words, he smelled like a man. All man. A man that worked outside and didn’t need some fragrance to make women swoon.

“Start her up,” he told me when the belt was on.

Wordlessly, I got in the truck and turned the key. She purred to life and I jumped out, meeting Nixon in front of the pickup to watch the new belt spin.

“Everything looks good.” He walked to the open door, reached in, and turned off the truck.

“Thanks for your help. I’m sorry to pull you away from what you were doing.”

“Stop apologizing, McKenna.”

“Sor—” I clamped my mouth shut and he smiled. “You can call me Micky. Everyone else does.”

He shook his head. “You don’t look like a Micky to me.”

“I don’t?”

Now I was laughing. Everyone had always called me by my nickname and I’d never given it a second thought.

“Definitely not. McKenna suits you. It’s a beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”

What in the actual hell?

Sheesh. Nix had all the moves down. I really needed to make sure the gate was latched. I didn’t need to spend any extra time near Nix, and Zack really needed to steer clear of him. I didn’t need any of Nix’s cool rubbing off on my brother.

“Hey, Micky!” Zack shouted from the back step. “I’m gonna go to the movies with Caden.”

“Are your chores done?”

“Everything but putting the laundry away.”

“Put it away. Then we’ll talk.”

“Come on, Sharleen is—”

“Then hurry up and put it away,” I told him, then asked, “When does the movie start?”

“Fifteen minutes.”

The movie theater was in town. It was only a five-minute drive but I was filthy. Not that it would be the first time I’d gone in looking like a farm hand, but I did try and keep it to a minimum.

“I can take him,” Nixon offered.

I watched my brother’s eyes widen and before I could stop him, he said, “Thanks. I’ll be down in three minutes.”

Three minutes meant he was either going to toss the laundry basket into his closet thinking I’d never find it, or he was going to shove clean clothes into his drawers until they were overflowing and push them closed with pieces of fabric sticking out between the wood frame of the bureau.

“Thanks for the offer. But you’ve done enough for us today. I’ve got—”

“I was heading into town before I brought Sally back. It’s not a problem and you’re covered in grease and could use a shower.”

My face flamed red. Of course I needed a shower. I’d been sweating my ass off working on the pickup. And unlike him, the smell of my body odor wouldn’t be attractive.

“If you’re sure.” I took a giant step away from him and held my arms to my sides hoping like hell I’d put on deodorant before I came outside.

“Ready!” I heard Zack yell right before the screen door’s wooden frame slammed against the house.