Page 80 of Love in Overdrive

Chapter 27

“No, Addison. I know even Oprah has a man in her life.” After a pause, “You’re right, I was an idiot. I already decided that.”

Ray could hear the bitch talking on her phone from outside the side window. He was so close to grabbing her and shoving her pretty blonde ass through the door when she opened it, but he slipped on an icy patch. Good thing the bitch didn’t notice him lying flat out on the sidewalk behind the snow pile.

He had been tailing her since the bar the other night. She was either at her crappy jobs, with her family, or with the pretty-boy lumberjack. Guy was built like a freakin’ tree.

But not tonight. It looked like they had a major blowout in the parking lot. He grinned at the thought. His mama didn’t raise no fool. Ray knew when a golden opportunity presented itself, you went for it. He was smart. He hung back a couple of cars, and turned off his headlights at the last turn, so he could coast to a stop two houses away and she wouldn’t notice.

And she hadn’t. If the neighbor had used ice melt, and the stinkin’ mutt hadn’t started yapping, he would be inside right now. Instead, he was crouched down like a common thief. He shook his head.

“I’m better than this,” he muttered under his breath.

Waiting for her to hang up the phone was trying his patience. Not that he had a lot of it to begin with, but women sure could yack on and on.

Finally, he heard her say goodnight to the woman on the other end of the phone line, and he started for the door. He didn’t get a foot before he heard her talking again, and it sounded like she was leaving a message. It was about time, he thought. This broad was pissing him off—first over his cash, and then by never being alone for more than a minute. Now she was on the freakin’ phone nonstop. He was going to pay her back but good.

Ray took one more look up and down the block. All was quiet. Gotta love a small town neighborhood. No one out but the dogs this time of night, and not even for long in this cold.

He stepped onto the front porch, pulled his cap brim down low, and rang the bell.

The light above his head came on. When the doorknob turned, he moved.

Cade broke every speed limit on his way to the shop. No way he wanted to sit at home and think about Laney. A shot of whiskey sounded good right about now, but all it would do is give him a headache in the morning.

Once inside, he turned off the alarm and relocked the door. The only thing that would take his mind off of Laney was working on his 'Cuda. He changed into his work uniform before he headed to the back half of the building where the personal vehicles were stored.

“Who needed women anyway?” Cade mumbled as he retrieved the keys from the box on the wall. His car wouldn’t cozy up to him, and then drop him like a bad cylinder. When he was done with her, she’d be purring in his hands. It was his first love, and maybe he should make it his only. He lovingly stroked a hand along the fender.

Too late. He already loved Laney. He ached to see her riding beside him in the 'Cuda when it was restored.

He didn’t care if she wanted a career or to stay home and raise babies. Shit. He just wanted to be the one she came home to at the end of the day. Maybe he should have told her that, but when? He pulled out his tools with more force than necessary.

Tonight would have been the perfect time to tell her how he felt… but he didn’t. He grabbed the tools he needed and started disassembling the motor. He’d wait until Nash was here to pull it from the car.

He unhooked the hoses and belts and stood for a moment. Why didn’t he tell her?

Setting the part on the movable bench, he dropped his chin to his chest. Because he was hurt. There, he’d admitted it. Probably a little mad as well.

Nothing he could do about it now. It’s not like she wanted forever with him.

But didn’t she? The voice in his head wasn’t convinced, and looking back over the last two weeks with her, Cade wasn’t convinced by her words, either. Could she be scared too?

Not of him, but of trusting her heart? He replayed each interaction they had as he worked.

After fifteen minutes of smashing his knuckles and trying to get rusty bolts loose, he was ready to throw in the towel. It’s not like he could wipe her from his brain. Even his beloved Barracuda wasn’t doing the job tonight. He should call her.

But what should he say? He could use the direct approach. “Laney, I love you and want to spend my life with you. Be anything you want, just be it with me.”

His chest clenched. Maybe he should tell her they could take it slow and then find a better time to share his feelings. Cade dropped his head into his hands. Lord, he could use some divine intervention—a quick flash of lightning and the perfect words.

He loved her, plain and simple. No other words were really needed.

Crawling onto the creeper, he wheeled under the car, impact in hand. The air tool reverberated off the metal. The loud, rapid-fire sound rang in his ears, but the bolt didn’t come loose. He let the tool slip to the floor and stared up at the undercarriage.

After the night he had, he really needed to get his mind off things. But the 'Cuda wasn’t working this time. His mind was a mess. He was distracted, and that wasn’t good for the car either. Not only were his internal thoughts interfering with his work, but now his phone was going off.

Laney? The realization hit him as the last note faded into the empty shop. “Fuck!”

He pushed with his feet and flew out from under the car so fast a racing pit crew would be jealous. He grabbed the phone off the bench and checked the miss call.

It was her! At seeing her number, excitement rushing through his veins. He unlocked his screen then hesitated. With each second that passed, bands of uncertainty constricted his chest. Cade stared at the screen. His finger poised to play the voice message, but… What if it wasn’t good?

Don’t look. He closed his phone screen, slipped his phone in his pocket, and shook his head. “Best to do this face to face.”

He wiped his hands with a grease wipe, grabbed his keys, and ran out the door.

“Oh, shit.” Cade skidded to a stop and fumbled with his keys. He'd almost forgotten to lock the door. His dad would have killed him. With the door locked and the alarm reset, he dashed to his car.