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“Morning!” Jamie breezed in and handed me a drink. “I woke up early and managed to get a coffee on the way and got extras. You want one?”

I just stared at her outstretched hand and the foam cup before being forced to clear my throat.

“I couldn’t think of anything I’d like more.”

Her fingers brushed mine, leaving a heat behind that rivalled that of the coffee as she flopped down into the chair on the other side of the desk.

“I’ll finish off the Commodore this morning,” she told me, “so what did you want me to do next?”

If she could see the mental images that flashed through my head right then, she’d have jerked herself up and out of that chair and walked out, then kept on walking. Me, her, her mouth open, panting out her pleasure… Instead, I leaned forward and consulted the computer screen.

“There’s a few services scheduled, but… Martin Henderson is bringing his XB Falcon in for its yearly check-up.”

That smile of hers, the way her whole face lit up as she sat straight.

“The Interceptor’s coming in?” It was the same model as the original car driven by Mad Max in The Road Warrior. “Oh my god, I know Gary usually looks it over, but I would sacrifice small animals to dark gods to get my hands on it.”

Gary would be pissed, but he was getting old and I had explained that other people needed to get experience working on classic cars.

“Get the Commodore done and it’s yours,” I said, soaking in the warmth of her grin.

Anything for Jamie, my heartbeat. Anything.

Chapter 3

Jamie

“Oi!”

That’s the only warning I got as two perfectly manicured hands reached for me under the car. None of the boys had stepped out to go to the local nail salon, so I knew it had to be Millie.

“One second!” I said, frantically tightening up a loose nut before I was yanked out. “Goddammit, Millie!”

“What’s the matter?” she said with a grin. “Thought it was one of your ‘boyfriends?’”

“You got a boyfriend, Mousey?” One of the older guys I worked with, Ken, ambled over, ready to ruffle my hair. I’d earned the nickname due to my light brown hair and because I was quiet as a mouse when I first started my apprenticeship.

Not now.

I jabbed my elbow into his ribs, and he let out a great oof, much to everyone else’s amusement.

“Don’t mess with The Mouse.” Clinton was much closer to my age and he wiped his hands on a rag as he smiled at the two of us. “Especially when she’s with Amelia. The Mouse and the?—”

“Do not finish that sentence,” Millie said with a growl. “You’re going to compare me to some animal, thinking it a compliment, but instead it’s just going to be sexist and annoying and then I’ll have to nut punch you.”

“At least you’ll be touching my nuts,” Clinton replied with a broad grin. He got a series of cackles from the peanut gallery that had formed. Work was always set aside when our boss’ hot sister walked in the door, if only because it riled Brock up. “Though I’d prefer?—”

“You’re a fuck boy,” she said, raising one finger. “You deliver sleazy lines like a fuck boy. You’ve got that whole fuck boy smirk going on and as I’ve said every other time I’ve walked in here, I don’t do fuck boys.”

“I’d change for you,” he replied, edging closer, but that was the moment the office door slammed open.

“Why is everyone standing around…?”

Brock’s voice trailed away as he stared at the lot of us, his brows drawing down as he saw his sister standing there. When I was a brand new apprentice, I’d found Brock intensely intimidating, but now…? I tried very hard not to notice the size of those thick forearms, the way he crossed them as he leaned on the railing. Brock always seemed completely in control, just as he did now. Under his steady gaze, the guys moved away, knowing instinctively they needed to go back to work and he hadn’t said a word.

Making me wonder what it’d take to shatter that steely resolve.

He’s your boss, I reminded myself for the millionth time, which made him completely and utterly unavailable, but if that was the only obstacle to him seeing me as a woman, I’d have left the garage years ago. No, I was little Jamie Kingston, forever his kid sister’s best friend. When we were still in high school, he was starting his own business.