AllFreeNovel
Share Us
1
Faye
Faye collided with the reception counter. Her elbows rested against the laminate countertop and she put on her prettiest smile as she looked up at Adam Cullen. As far as mechanics go, he probably had to be the cutest one she’d ever met.
He was built like a cowboy, but she’d never seen him on a horse. There was grease under his nails and smudged across his cheekbone. She’d always been a sucker for a guy who had a good work ethic.
Adam glanced up at her from the computer in front of him. His smile matched hers before he glanced in the direction where her sister and future brother-in-law waited. “You guys make your decision on that truck?”
She shifted and tilted her head. “Riley said he’d pay for the parts as long as I pay for the labor.”
He glanced once more over to Grace and Riley, confusion marring his handsome face. “Isn’t Riley dating your sister?”
“Engaged, actually.”
“But you’re the one keeping the truck.”
Faye nodded. “Grace said it’s too much work.”
Adam chuckled, and the sound of it slid down her spine like a trickle of warm water, giving her all kinds of goosebumps. “You have no idea. Well, if you’re intent on putting in a new engine and rebuilding the transmission, the labor is going to be—”
“Actually…”
He stopped typing and glanced at her again. “Youdon’twant me to fix your truck?”
She fidgeted beneath his stare. When she’d come over here, she’d been full of excitement. The rush of knowing Riley would help get her truck fixed had probably given her more confidence than she should have had.
Adam was arealmechanic. What made her think that she could convince him to offer his services for free? Now that she thought about it, she knew she couldn’t ask such a thing. Faye squirmed some more then nibbled on her lower lip. This would be different if they were friends. The more she dwelled on it, the more she realized her mistake.
Faye cleared her throat and mumbled, “Yes. I want you to fix it.”
“Okay, I can put you on the schedule—”
“But I don’t think I can afford your rates.”
Once again, Adam stilled. He stared at her like she’d grown another head, and she might as well have. Who in their right mind would ask a guy to fix her truck for nothing? The worst part was that she barely had any money, and she definitely didn’t have enough to pay for even a percentage of what it would probably cost.
Faye peeked at him and gave him a lopsided smile. “I don’t suppose I could help out. Would you let me assist you or anything?”
He twisted away from the computer and rested his elbow on the counter. “You want me to build your transmission and replace your engine for free?”
“With my help…” she murmured. Her face flushed hotter than it ever had. Yep, this wasn’t going at all how she’d viewed it in her head. She fidgeted, pulling away from the counter.
If only he’d give her some kind of smile to show her that she wasn’t absolutely crazy. But that didn’t seem likely at all. Nothing could make this moment any worse. He needed to just tell her that he wasn’t able to do such a thing and leave it at that.
Faye couldn’t help it. She beat him to it. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have even asked. You know what? Don’t put me on that schedule after all. We can sell the darn thing.” Before he could make some snide comment about there being no way she’d get anything for that truck in the first place, she charged for the door. She didn’t even bother explaining to her sister or Riley what had just occurred.
All she could do was send a prayer heavenward that Adam didn’t breathe a word of this conversation to anyone. The last thing she wanted was for people in town to talk about how airheaded and entitled she was.
She was a fool; that much was clear. What did she expect? It wasn’t like she’d been thinking he’d do any of it without some kind of quid pro quo. The only problem was that she had nothing to offer.
Absolutely nothing.
By the time Grace and Riley made it out to the truck, Faye had slipped and shrunk into the smallest size possible in the back seat. She covered her searing cheeks with her hands, but there was no hiding just how embarrassed she was. Hopefully, neither one of them would ask what happened.
Faye groaned. Inwardly, she prayed Adam hadn’t said anything.
Riley and Grace stood outside of the driver’s side door and chatted. Their voices were muffled, but they didn’t sound like they were worried about what had just happened. They didn’t sound amused either. Maybe fate would smile down on her and she wouldn’t have to talk about it with Grace at all.
