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Rick had never stopped looking after her.He was doing it even now, in the best way he knew.He’d changed his life for her, and now he was making room for her and her son in his house, and in his heart, and she would forever be grateful.
“Actually, the truck’s gotta have its oil changed this mornin’.Would you mind drivin’ it down to Salt Street for me?I’ll stay here with Toby.”
At the sound of his name, Toby gurgled happily and offered his uncle a toothy grin.
“That’s right, little man!You an’ me can watch cartoons while Uncle Rick mainlines caffeine,” he rumbled.
“Sure, I’ll drive it over.”
Only once she was in the truck with the engine going, did she remember that Levi worked at the auto shop.Fuck.
Well, she couldn’t get out of it now.
Maybe he didn’t work Saturdays, she thought as she made the drive.
Except that he did, and he was bent over the open hood of a grey Ford when she pulled up, his truly excellent ass on full view, clothed in worn, tight denim as music blared from speakers elsewhere in the workshop
“Morning,” she ventured, trying not to drool.
He smoothly stood from the car, and she saw that his hands were dark with engine grease.The car’s innards were shiny in the morning sunshine, wet with oil, all the metal parts akimbo.
It made her think of something her college friends had often muttered about boys.I’d like him to rearrange my guts.
She was thinking it about Levi now.He was pretty, with just an edge of rugged.The brim of his ball cap cast a shadow over his face.
His eyes were an utterly gorgeous shade of chocolate brown.
“Mornin’, Jenny.”He dug a rag from his front pocket and used it to wipe his hands.“What can I do you for?”
“Rick’s truck needs—” she stopped when a smear of bright red appeared on the rag.“You’re bleeding!”
He glanced down like this was news to him.“How ‘bout that?”
Jenny crossed to his side without thinking about it, digging in her purse for wipes.“Good thing I always have these on me for Toby.”She grabbed his injured hand, gently cleaning the shallow cut and the surrounding skin.“You’re lucky it isn’t deep.You should be careful.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he murmured, an amused smile tugging up one side of his mouth.
“I hope you aren’t making fun of me, Levi Russell.”
“Hell no.My mama would tan my hide for teasin’ a beautiful woman, especially one tendin’ to my stupid ass.”
Jenny’s face flushed, and she stopped scrubbing at his hand, offering him the small pack of wipes.“Well, I’m sure you can take it from here.”
He bent his attention to his hand, and she watched his fingers work.How old was he?Twenty-eight, twenty-nine?Younger than her, for certain.He pursed his lips as he wiped away the oil on his skin, and she was struck again by a sudden urge to see if the skin there was as soft as it looked.
She had itbad.
“Um, I came to drop off Rick’s truck.It needs an oil change.”
“Right.”Levi pushed the wipes and rag back into his pocket, and plucked a clipboard from a shelf built into the shop wall.“Oh yeah.He in a hurry to have it back?”
“He didn’t say.”
He scribbled something on the sheet of paper.His handwritten letters slanted to the left.“I’ll drive it by before I close up.Sound all right?”
“Yes.Great.Thank you.”He smelled of engine grease, lemon polish, and cut grass, and it was making her stomach clench with yearning.“See you later.”
She’d turned away and had taken three steps before he called out to her.
