It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a Formula 1 garage.
Nostalgia sweeps over me, and I feel a lump in my throat.
“So, what do you think?” Uncle John asks from beside me.
“I think it’s amazing.” I push a smile onto my face.
“Come on. Let me introduce you to the people you’re going to be working with.”
I follow Uncle John over to one of the cars that a couple of guys are working on.
“Ben.” Uncle John touches his hand to the guy’s shoulder.
The guy lifts his head from the car, turning to us. He’s moderately attractive with light brown hair and green eyes, and he’s just a little taller than me. Not my type though.
“Andi, meet Ben. Ben is the head mechanic, so you’ll be working mostly with him. Ben, this is Andi Amaro.”
I see Ben’s eyes widen at the sight of me.
“Hi, Ben.” I step forward, holding my hand out to shake his. His hands are covered in oil, but that doesn’t bother me. “Nice to meet you. I’m guessing you’re one of the people Uncle John failed to tell that I’m a girl.”
Ben’s eyes flicker past me to Uncle John and then back to me. “He did.” Ben clears his throat. “But not that it’s a problem. Nice to meet you, too, Andi. I’m looking forward to working with you. John’s told me impressive things about your way with a car.” He wipes his hand on his overalls and shakes mine. “This here is Robbie.” He kicks a foot on the leg of a body underneath the car. “Robbie, get your arse out from under there, and come say hello to Andi.”
“He’s here?” The guy pushes out from under the car before getting to his feet. He looks at me and then glances around.
“This is Andi.” Ben gestures a hand to me.
“Hi. Nice to meet you.” I smile at Robbie and then offer my hand to him.
Robbie stares at my hand like it’s alien. Then, he looks back to my face, a little stunned, but there’s also harshness in his eyes.
Uncle John clears his throat behind me, snapping Robbie to his attention.
Robbie wipes his hand on his overalls and shakes mine. “Good to meet you…Andi.” Then, he turns to Ben. “I gotta go get that…thing. I’ll be back in a few.”
Then, he walks off.
Ben shakes his head. “Don’t mind him,” he says to me. “He lacks this thing called a personality. Great mechanic though.”
“So, it’s not just because I’m a girl then?” I grin.
Ben chuckles. “No. He’s like that with everyone. But when he sees that you’re just one of the boys, he’ll warm up in no time…or maybe not.” He laughs, again.
I like Ben more and more as the seconds go on. I think we’re going to get along just fine.
“John, you got a minute?”
I turn to the sound of the voice to see a man about the same age as Uncle John, I’d say, wearing a smart black suit. He’s very handsome in that older, distinguished way with short dark blond hair mixed with flecks of gray and piercing blue eyes.
“Owen, yeah, sure. Just let me introduce you to Andi first.”
Owen’s eyes land on me, fix, and then widen, and something settles into his expression that’s not altogether pleasant.
An uncomfortable knot forms in my stomach.
I follow Uncle John over to Owen. All the while, Owen’s eyes are watching me like a hawk.
“Owen Ryan, meet Andi Amaro, our new mechanic.” Uncle John says the word mechanic very pointedly.
Owen Ryan—this is Carrick’s dad.
Well, this is going to be interesting if the expression on his face is anything to go by.
“Hi, it’s really nice to meet you, Mr. Ryan,” I say, forcing confidence into my voice. I hold my hand out to shake his.
He just stares at my hand, like Robbie did, but with a more pissed off look on his face.
Ignoring me and my hand, which I awkwardly pull back, he turns to Uncle John. “This is Andi?” Owen points a finger at me. His accent is pure Irish.
I love the Irish accent, and I would normally be thrilled to hear it, but not when it’s coming from a man who clearly has an issue with me.
Uncle John frowns. Through tight lips, he says, “Yeah, this is Andi.”
“And she’s female,” Owen says through gritted teeth.
“Clearly.”
Am I invisible?
“And,” he growls, “she looks like that.” He wafts a hand up and down in my direction.
I look like what?
“Careful, Owen. You’re close to crossing a line.”
“I am? You hire a mechanic who looks like a fucking supermodel, and I’m crossing a line? Fucking brilliant, John. Has Pierce seen her yet? Even worse, has Carrick seen her?”