"I'm sorry. Are you sure it's not too much trouble? I wouldn't want to put you out."
"It's no trouble. Come on. Bring her in, and I'll get everything sorted."
Driving into the lot, she followed his direction, and all the time she tried to tell herself why she should get the car picked up to go elsewhere.
What was the point taking her broken car anywhere else? Everywhere was shut, and it was a miracle Carter was open.
"I didn't know you worked here," she said, climbing out of the car.
"I own this place. I took it over from the original owner. It's no problem. Cars have always been my thing." He walked around the car. "Isn't this Summer's old car?"
Heat filled her cheeks.
"Yeah, it was given to me as an eighteenth birthday present. I just can't bring myself to sell it. It's not like she drove it, and when she doesn't fall apart, she works like a dream."
"When you have a sound engine, it's impossible to get rid of something so good." He nodded. "Come on, we'll book her in."
They entered his office, and she was aware of the small space, with the scent of car oils and Carter heady in the air.
She took a deep breath and tried to focus on being normal.
Don't be a freak in front of him.
"When can you have it fixed by?" she asked.
"A couple of days." He held his hand out, and she placed the keys in his palm.
I can do this.
Just act calm.
He took the keys flicking them in his palm, and he whistled.
She tried to look at everything around the small room other than him. He was clicking away at his computer.
"Did you graduate?" he asked.
"Yeah, I did. I actually work in this bakery, Too Tempting. Have you heard of it?"
"I have. I've not had the pleasure of tasting any of their fine food."
She smiled. "You should come by. We have some great stuff." Autumn cringed. Could she be any more obvious?
"Do you bake still?"
"That's what I do. I bake. Hilary is an amazing boss. I love her." Shut up.
"I remember you were good at it. All the cakes were what you created, right?"
"Yeah, they were."
He sniggered. "I figured they weren't Summer's. She told me they were, but there's no way she could bake. She couldn't even toast bread."
Autumn laughed. "She didn't get the cooking or baking gene. It all came to me." She patted her thighs. "Every single bit."
****
"You look more than fine to me." Carter stared at the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, and he had no choice but to sit at the computer table. He was hard as fucking rock. The desire to push the table out of the way and take her was so strong, he was finding it hard to concentrate. There had been a lot of women in his life, but then he liked to fuck, and the best way to be the best, was to practice.
"Yeah, right."
"I don't see a problem with a woman that's got some meat on her bones, Autumn." She had always been fuller, rounder, riper. Forcing himself to concentrate, he booked her car in, took the necessary details, and finally, turned his attention back to her. She was biting her lip, which tempted him so damn much. Her lips would look so good wrapped around his cock.
"Is it all done?"
"Yeah. I'll get to this on Monday."
"Monday? Ugh, can't I like bring it back tomorrow? I really need my car."
"Where you got to go?"
"It's my parents' anniversary, and I was supposed to be there to give some lousy speech, but it doesn't matter. I've missed half of it. Summer's already going to be a nag."
He snorted. There was a lot about Summer he didn't like, but he wasn't about to share it with her sister. Besides, he'd spent over a year and a half with her, and he wasn't proud of the reason why. Summer had simply been an easy lay, and at the time he'd not been interested in chasing after other women to get some. The one thing he'd learned with the year and half he was with her sister, was that while Autumn and Summer may have their issues, might fight, scream, and curse at each other, in the end, they were sisters, and no one came between that bond. Summer had even surprised him a few times when she'd protected her little sister.
"I'm afraid I can't let that happen. Let me take you. I was heading out anyway. There's no way I can let you take a car that is clearly in need." And he'd love to have a few more minutes alone with Autumn. He'd not seen her in a long time.
"I don't want to trouble you. I can get a taxi."
"Not a chance. It's no trouble." He hung her keys up on the appropriate hook and turned to smile at her. His dick was still rock hard, but Autumn wasn't looking at his pants. No, she was staring through the window, out toward her car. "I won't hurt you."
"I know you won't, silly. Sorry. I don't know how Summer would react to me arriving with you."
"Then I'll drop you down the street from wherever you need to go."
"You'd do that?"
"Yeah. I offered, didn't I?"
"Yeah, yeah, you did."
She stood, and he waited for her to leave the office, admiring the curves of her ass. Following behind her, he locked up the shop, and opened her door for her.
"Thank you."
He didn't say anything as he rounded the car, and climbed in. Starting up his motor, he listened as she gave him directions to some swanky Italian place. He should have known Summer would pick something so expensive and stupid.
Pulling out of the parking lot, he told her he'd be a second, and locked up the gates.
"Do you like being a mechanic?" she asked when he climbed back into the car.
"I love doing shit with my hands. Cars are easy to fix. There's always a clue and a part to put together. Your car is in good hands."
"Thanks. I know it's old, but I love it."
He'd take care of it, for her, he would.
"Do you know where you're going?"
"Yeah, I know the place."
"Thank God. I thought I was going to get lost. I've never heard of it before." She pulled off her jacket and pulled her hair back into a ponytail.
He wished she'd leave it down. There were many dirty things he'd gladly do with the length. The main one would be wrapping it around his fist as he fucked into her nice tight pussy.
His cock had a mind of its own.
She let out a breath. "I hope she hasn't gone too crazy. I'm not very good with crowds."
"If I know Summer like I know her, then there's going to be a lot of people there. Just have a glass of wine or a beer, whichever is your poison, take a seat, and watch. That's what I did."
"Are you married?" she asked.
He frowned. "Hell no, why would you ask that?"
"No, I just, Summer said something when you guys broke up, and I just wondered if you'd settled down."
Carter glanced over at her. He knew the real reason why he and Summer had broken up, but what the fuck did Autumn think?
"Why do you think Summer and I broke up?" he asked.
"You cheated on her."
"What?" He yelled the word, somewhat shocked that Summer would lie. It was all in the past, and no hard feelings, but what the fuck!
"That didn't happen?"
"No. It didn't." He scoffed. "She cheated on me with some guy who was the partner at some firm."
"Malcolm! She cheated on you with strait-laced Malcolm?"
She sounded shocked by that.
"Yep, walked into her office, and found her rocking his cock to a whole new tune. Anyway, didn't really give a shit. It was just fun between the two of us." He did however go and get a checkup afterward just to make sure. He wrapped his dick, but he didn't want to take any chances, especially not with his health.
"Wow, I had no idea. I mean, I thought you were the one cheating. I can't believe my sister would lie to me. We're a lot of things, but she's never lied to me." He was sure he heard the cogs inside her head turning. "They say you learn something new every day."
"Bet you didn't think it was going to be that, did you?"
"No. Are you okay?"
"It didn't bother me, Autumn. I didn't love your sister, and the relationship didn't mean anything to me." It was a passing phase in his world.
"Oh, okay then."
They drove in silence for several minutes. "What about you? Any lovers, boyfriends, or husbands?"
"Not a chance. I've found boyfriends are a little … boring."
"Really, boring?"
"Yeah. I'm not interested in doing the whole couples thing, going out with friends, cooking for his friends. I had one boyfriend who thought I was going to bake and cook for him and his pals while they went out and partied, and then came on to my place. I don't think so. That's not a relationship. I'm not after that."
He was intrigued now. "What exactly are you after?" He chanced another glance over at her.
"A little excitement I guess. Something that gets me all worked up, but it doesn't have to come with a guarantee, you know?"