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No, Charlie decided she found Eve anything but attractive.
Four
Eve
* * *
Eve sat behind the only computer in the reception, a deep frown hurting her forehead. Her dad had given her access to the schedule but she couldn't make head or tails of it. Everything was written down in shorthand with numbers and abbreviations that meant nothing to her.
She tapped her pen in frustration. She always knew her lack of knowledge about cars was going to be an issue but she didn't think it would cause trouble for something so basic as bookings. If her dad was here, she could’ve asked him for help but he was out on a towing job. Jack was also in the middle of something, plus Eve didn’t think he’d be too keen on helping her. Ever since she’d started her new job at the family garage, she could tell her big brother wasn’t too happy with her presence.
If only she knew why. They used to be close as children and Eve always thought they’d grow up to be the kind of adult siblings who hung out voluntarily, not just see each other at mandatory family dinners. She couldn’t have been more wrong.
A knock sounded and Eve looked up to find standing Charlie on the other side of the glass door. Despite the approaching winter, she was only wearing a sweater over her coveralls.
Eve waved to let her know she could enter, not wanting to leave the other woman out in the cold.
Charlie came in with rosy blushes on her cheeks. Some of her long blonde hair had escaped from underneath her backwards cap and framed her face.
It was impossible for Eve not to stare. She was used to women looking very different from Charlie, especially at her previous job. Everyone dolled up to make the best impression on clients, on sellers, on each other.
Not Charlie. The garage’s only female mechanic was dazzling in a casual way. She didn't care about form fitting clothing and instead of makeup, she had streaks of grease or oil on her face.
Eve found herself thinking about wiping them away and quickly dropped her gaze. This was not the time, place, or person to be looking at like that.
Charlie cleared her throat as she paused in front of the desk. “Hi. Just bringing back the keys to the Mercedes. I’m all done with the MOT.”
“Oh, great. I’ll unlock the keybox for you. If I can make sense of this program, hang on.” Eve was glad she could focus on the computer. “Okay, you’re all set.”
“Thanks.” Charlie's voice was pleasantly smooth, like it was coated in honey.
Eve watched the other woman as she went into the adjoining room to put the key away. She’d heard so much about the infamous Charlie, it was natural that she was a little intrigued. It wasn’t often that her dad and her brother agreed on something, but they seemed to agree on how amazing Charlie was.
It made Eve wonder exactly what Charlie was to her brother. As attractive as she found Charlie, she didn't want to step on anyone’s toes while she was here.
“Are you and Jack dating?” she blurted out. A little inelegant but at least she wouldn't wonder for ages.
A deep snort came from Charlie. “Me and Jack? Dating? That’s hilarious. No, we’re friends. Why?”
“Just curious. Growing up, Jack never really had any female friends so I thought maybe you two were more than that,” Eve said, her face heating up with her little white lie. That wasn't why she asked at all.
“Definitely not. Besides, we’re both bear shifters so even if I was interested, it wouldn’t work.”
The comment made Eve's eyebrows rise in interest. She hadn't expected the woman in front of her to be a bear shifter or for her to be so casual about it. Most shifters kept their identity a bit more hidden, certainly in the city where unaware humans lived.
Eve cleared her throat. “I see.”
Charlie nodded. “Plus I wouldn't date at work. Things can get complicated if coworkers get involved.”
“That's true,” Eve said. “I saw a lot of that in my last job.”
“I bet. Lots of hooking up opportunities in empty houses, huh?” Charlie guessed.
“That doesn’t happen as much as you might think. But I walked in more than one affair in the office,” Eve said, shuddering as she recalled the instances. She really wished she could burn those from her memories.
“Well, you’re safe here. Eduardo is married, Len’s boyfriend is long distance, Richard is old and decrepit, and Jack and I are single. I guess you could walk in on your dad and mum, but she doesn’t come here very often,” Charlie said, a smirk lifting one corner of her lips. “Pun not intended.”
Eve mock retched. “Why would you even bring that up?”
