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ChapterOne
BROOKE
Isipped champagne, content to spend time with my friends, even if it was at the grand opening of a garage. We stood in the open bay, enjoying the unseasonably warm fall weather while music played softly over the speakers. I’d drunk enough of the alcohol to have that floaty feeling, like nothing could bring me down.
I wanted to support the owners, especially since Ryan was the boyfriend of my best friend, Hailey.
Ryan was currently under the hood of a vehicle, demonstrating something to a guest, while Jake stood nearby with his arms crossed over his chest.
“I almost wish I was having car trouble right now.” I wasn’t interested in anything long-term, but a one-night stand wouldn’t be out of the question. I needed to release some of the tension caught between my shoulder blades.
Hailey gave me a pointed look. “You cannot hit on my brother.”
“I would never.” The truth was that I’d never been attracted to Jake. As hot as mechanics were, I’d always gone for men in suits.
A sleek sports car pulled up, and Jake stepped toward the vehicle just as the driver’s side door opened.
A man unfolded from the low seat, straightening to his full height. I loved tall men, and that one exuded power from his expensive shoes to the black button-down shirt that fell open at the neck.
I gulped the bubbly liquid, wanting but failing to soothe my suddenly dry throat.
“We’re not open for repairs tonight,” Jake said by way of greeting.
My gaze swept over his face, admiring his neatly trimmed beard and the arch of his lips. But as I got to his eyes, I felt there was something familiar about them. They held a challenge as if he was used to getting his way.
It couldn’t be Bentley Monroe. The boy who’d moved onto my street at age seven and challenged me at every turn. I hadn’t seen my childhood nemesis in ten years. Not since we’d graduated from high school as co-valedictorians. Right before my speech, he’d leaned over to whisper in my ear that he was the real valedictorian, but the principal felt sorry for me. I hadn’t believed him—not really—but the familiar anger burned in my gut as I watched him extend his hand to Jake.
I wanted him to get back in his car and leave, but a bigger part of me wanted to know what he was doing there. I moved closer to hear their conversation.
His gaze snagged on mine, and I sucked in a breath.Itwashim.
“Bentley Monroe?” There was a buzzing in my ears that grew louder by the second.
“I go by Ben now.” His eyes narrowed on mine. “Brooke Langley?”
I’d teased him for his pretentious name in school, so it wasn’t a surprise that he’d shortened it.
“What are you doing here?” Maybe he was just visiting his parents and would be gone in a couple of days. My heart beat slower as I waited for his response.
Bentley—no, Ben, now—looked from me to Jake. “I’m dropping my car off for service. I left a message earlier.”
Jake gestured behind him at the crowd of people. “Sorry, man. We had our grand opening party tonight. I haven’t been checking messages.”
Hailey grasped my elbow and hissed into my ear, “Wait, is thistheBentley? The lemonade stand kid?”
I nodded; my gaze locked on Ben.
But he wasn’t a kid anymore. He was polished and put together. He had a presence that had nothing to do with expensive clothes or his fancy car.
“I heard you do good work,” Bentley said to Jake.
Jake nodded. “What seems to be the problem?”
Ben stepped to the side of the vehicle, gesturing underneath. “I hit something on the drive here from Philadelphia.”
“There’s an issue with the undercarriage?” Jake asked.
Ben nodded. “I think so, but I’m not a mechanic.”
