Dirty Deeds (Mechanics of Love #3)(37)

Michael stared at her, his face unchanging, then his gaze swept down her body and back up. “And how are you going to help?”

She pointed at the engine he was working on. “First, I bet the issue with this Toyota is excessive oil consumption, right? Common for this model year. So I can tell you right away what parts you need to fix it, since I just did one of these earlier this year.” She pointed to a Chevy truck in the corner. “Then I’m going to replace the tires because they are practically bald from your shitty roads. Then I’m going to organize some of the paperwork in your office because it’s a goddamn mess.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “You hungry? Because your son wants to have a meal with you, and his mechanic girlfriend wants some fish and chips.”

The only indication Michael was still alive was his chest moving with his breaths. They held gazes for a solid minute but Alex refused to look away.

Finally, Michael’s lips split into a grin, then he cackled. He was so loud, the man in the corner cracked an eye open, and someone across the street hollered for him to pipe down.

He quieted and, still smiling, looked at Spencer. “And this woman loves you?”

Alex stepped closer to Spencer’s side. “Sure as hell wouldn’t have traveled all this way for someone I just kinda liked. I’d rather pull my toenails out than fly.”

Michael’s gaze studied her for another minute, then it shifted to Spencer. “Ya done good, boy.”

Spencer puffed out his chest slightly, wrapped his arm around her back, and squeezed her hip. She’d done well too. She’d made Spencer proud. And dammit, she was proud of herself too.

Michael closed the hood of the car he was working on. “Dare’s isn’t rubbish. Want to eat there?”

Spencer nodded.

His father walked out ahead of them and Spencer turned to her. “You’re fucking amazing, you know that?”

Alex grinned and lifted her chin. “Hell yeah, I know that.”