Hellion, a New Adult Romance Novel(42)

 

He points to a bookshelf covered in dirty, very old looking books. “A company called Chilton makes manuals for every car there is, pretty much. Tells you how to fix everything on the car.”

 

I go over to the shelf and pull one off. “Seriously?” I open it up and see a page with a weird engine part on it. “Alternator,” I say out loud. Looking up at him, I see him in a new light. “You know how to fix alternators?” It sounds very impressive since I don’t even know what one is or what it does.

 

“Yep. I can repair old ones or install new ones, depending on what the customer wants.”

 

“You’ve got skills,” I say, nodding in appreciation. Hot and good with his hands. Down, Hootchie! Down!

 

“Yeah, I’ve got skills.” He leans back into the engine. “Too bad they’re not skills like doctoring or engineering.”

 

I sense a note of something in his voice I can’t quite put my finger on. Jealousy, maybe? Regret?

 

“Being a mechanic is cool,” I say, meaning my words with everything I have. “My dad works at the power company. He’s an engineer, but his job sounds boring compared to yours.”

 

“Really?” Mick glances at me before going back to cranking his tool.

 

“Yeah. I guess once you get up in the ranks, it becomes all paperwork and administrative stuff. He doesn’t get to do the things he likes anymore. As a mechanic you get to do the cool stuff every day.” I look around. “Hell, you can even own your own place and call all the shots.” I look back at him. “My dad could never do that. He’s stuck.”

 

Mick pulls his tool out of the engine and puts it down, using a nearby rag to wipe his hands off. “I guess that’s true.” He nods at the driver’s door of the car. “Hop in there and turn the engine over, would ya?”

 

I look at him and then the car. “Are you sure?”

 

“Yeah, just turn the key.”

 

I get in gingerly and shut the door, hoping I’m not about to blow the engine up. This car looks expensive. Teagan has told me how much they go for once they’re done being restored.

 

“Just turn the key?” I stick my head out the window, trying to see around the hood to Mick’s face.

 

He leans out to see me, smiling. “Yeah. Just turn the key.”

 

“Don’t blame me if she blows,” I say, going back in the car and turning the key very slowly.

 

I jump a little when the engine roars to life.

 

“Take your foot off the gas!” Mick yells.

 

I yank my foot back and accidentally turn the key off at the same time.

 

I sit there feeling foolish as the sounds of footsteps come from the side of the car. Mick’s torso comes into view through the window. He bends down and puts his face right next to mine. “Do I make you nervous?”

 

I look out the windshield and try not to smile. “No. I’m perfectly calm, thank you very much.”

 

He leans in and takes my right hand, lifting it to put it over the key. “Your foot’s off the gas, right?”

 

“Yes.” I try not to react to him being so close and touching me, but it’s impossible. His hair is tickling my nose and he smells so good. I want to lean forward three inches and bury my face in the back of his neck. But I don’t, because I know he’s a hellion and I don’t have time for that kind of foolishness in my life.

 

He makes my hand turn the key. The car comes to life again, but this time with something more like a purr going on under the hood instead of a roar.

 

He pulls his hand back but doesn’t come completely out of the car. “See? That was easy. Maybe you just need my guidance to get it right.”

 

“Pffft. Yeah right. That’ll be the day.” I look right at him, amazed at how those green eyes of his can make my blood pressure go through the roof.

 

“I’m a good teacher,” he says, pulling his head out of the car. His voice goes all sexy-like. “I could show you some things.”

 

My jaw drops open a little. He has some nerve being so hot with me right now when it’s taking everything I have to keep my hands to myself. Time to bring him down a notch or two. My eyebrow goes up on its own power. “I’m not so sure about that.”

 

He stands up. “What? You know how to tune-up a car?”

 

I lean over towards the window so I can see his face. It’s the picture of innocence.

 

“Tune up? What are you talking about?”

 

“I’m talking about car repair. What are you talking about?” He smiles evilly.