Page 2 of Driven to Love

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?”