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The business world was tenuous. You could be flying high one week and come crashing down the next. It wasn’t for the fainthearted. Not that I thought of myself like that, but the stress got to me—eating me from the inside out.
I kept most of it from Ryan. He didn’t need to know my internal struggles. Especially when they wouldn’t become an issue. “I got this.”
Ryan smiled as he stood and walked toward the door. “I hope you do. I’m eager to see what you do with her.”
“She’ll look the same. Only better,” I said as he walked out.
While Berta was on my mind, I pulled up the original estimate I’d sent Lily that didn’t include everything. I’d kept it to necessities only. Now that she was my pet project, I was pulling out all the stops.
But maybe I wouldn’t add everything to the estimate. I didn’t want her to worry that it was too expensive. I wanted her to sit back and enjoy the ride.
I shook my head to clear the image of her riding my dick out of my brain. I was starting a business relationship with her, not a personal one.
I’d need to confer with her, make sure she was okay with any changes. She’d need to stop by the garage more often, and I’d need to keep her apprised of the work. Instead of feeling hesitant, I was looking forward to seeing her.
When I was around Lily, I felt lighter. As if the darkness from my past could disappear if I was around her long enough. I was positive that was an illusion, but I liked it just the same.
Before I could think better of it, I sent Lily a text.
Jake: Want to meet up tonight to discuss Berta?
When she called me last night, I’d saved her to my contacts list.
Lily: I can do that.
Then I remembered how she didn’t have a spare vehicle to drive around.
Jake: We have a loaner here you can use.
Ryan was going to kill me because the loaner was reserved for paying clients, and we only used it sparingly.
Lily: I don’t know.
Jake: One more thing we can discuss tonight.
Lily: I can be there at six.
I barely resisted pumping my fist in the air. I wasn’t even asking her out on a date, but I felt as if I had, and she’d said yes.
Jake: See you then.
With the increased workload, I’d be working late most nights and weekends. But it would be worth it to see Lily happy. To not get a call about her being broken down on the side of the road at night.
I got lost in work, grabbing the sandwich I’d packed for myself sometime in the afternoon. I barely paused when Ryan left shortly after five.
Few clients came in the evenings, so it was a large chunk of uninterrupted time to work.
“Jake?” I heard her voice before the soft click of her heels on the concrete.
“Here,” I said, pushing out from under the vehicle I’d been working on. Pushing to stand, I wiped my hands on the cloth we kept around for that purpose. “I lost track of time.”
Lily stood at the entrance to the bay garage in a long, flowy dress, her hair braided over her shoulder, looking uncertain. “Do you want to meet another night?”
“Tonight’s perfect. We need to get started on Berta right away if we want to get her back on the road.”
Lily’s face flushed with pleasure. “I’d like that.”
My stomach rumbled loudly.
