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Ryan held up a hand. “I hear ya, but then we need to come up with a solution.”
“It’s not hiring someone.” I knew I was being stubborn, but I hated adding a new person to the mix. A new mechanic would bring a different dynamic to the shop. He’d have his own personality, and he’d want things done a certain way. I was used to Ryan. I didn’t want to deal with anyone else.
Ryan sent me an imploring look. “Will you please just think about it?”
My phone dinged with a text. When I saw Lily’s name, I shoved it back into my pocket. I couldn’t talk to her, not when everything inside of me was itching to get out of this space. I needed time to think things through.
“Sure.”
He raised a brow. “Really?”
I nodded.
“You’re not just stalling?”
“You know I need time to think things through.”
Ryan slapped his thighs and stood. “I would expect nothing less.” His shoulders lowered, and the tension in his face eased. “I appreciate that. I want to spend more time with my family. Not less.”
The tightness between my shoulder blades intensified. “I want you to have that time with them.”
He shouldn’t be at the shop all the time when I could pick up the slack.
“I’m heading home. When are you getting out of here?”
I held up my phone. “I have a call to return. Then I’ll head out.”
“Good.”
Not waiting for him to leave, I pulled up Lily’s text.
Lily: I’m cleaning out my grandmother’s barn, but there’s an old car here. I don’t know if it’s worth anything or what it would take to move. Would you be willing to take a look at it?
My first inclination was to say no. I couldn’t go to her house. I knew without a doubt I wouldn’t be able to control myself around her.
The phone buzzed in my hand. It was Lily. I took a deep breath before I answered. “Jake here.”
“Hey.” Her voice was soft and soothed the irritation from my conversation with Ryan.
“You have a car for me?” I closed my eyes at my words. I literally couldn’t control my mouth when it came to her. I was supposed to tell her I was too busy. I couldn’t get away from the garage. Instead, I agreed to whatever she needed.
“I don’t know what I’m looking at, but it appears to be in fairly good condition, and I need this space for a wedding reception in June.”
“Wow. You scheduled a wedding?” She’d mentioned it as an option for the future, but I hadn’t expected her to book something so quickly.
“They’re friends of mine. You know Max from Max’s Bar & Grill?”
“And Zoe.”
“That’s right. They’re probably just being nice, but—”
“Don’t do that. If they like the property enough to schedule their wedding, you did a good job selling it to them. You should be proud.”
“Thanks, Jake.”
Silence fell between us, but there was an unexpected goodwill I felt toward her, hearing that she’d had success in her business. Clearing my throat, I returned to the reason for her call. “You want me to tow it to the garage or a used car lot?”
She sighed in my ear, and I could almost imagine we were in bed together, her nails skimming down my torso, to my abs, and lower, her hair tickling the sensitive skin of my thighs as she took my cock into her mouth. Fuck, that image was too enticing.
