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Handsomely? Who spoke like that? Coy shook her head in confusion. “So buy a new one. Do you know how expensive it’ll be to repair a car like this? We’re talking almost a complete restoration, Sawyer.”

“Do you question all your customers until they decide to go elsewhere?”

“What you’re asking me to do is …”

“Crazy? It’s only crazy when you’re not seeing the full picture.”

Coy nodded, agreeing with her there. She clasped her hands together. “Okay, so give it to me. Explain why this needs to happen.”

“No.” The hardness in Sawyer’s voice made Coy’s head snap up to look at her. She was glaring again, her angular jaw clenched so hard it was a wonder her teeth didn’t break under the pressure. “I’m offering your father’s company a lucrative job. If you take it, this will be the last conversation we’ll have about the McLaren. You’ll either accept my conditions or walk away.”

Coy swallowed, confused by her body’s reaction to Sawyer’s. Even when she was downright hateful, Coy couldn’t stop the intense attraction she felt for the older woman. “What conditions?”

Sawyer stepped closer to Coy until they were almost touching. Then she reached into her purse and pulled out another slip of paper. Coy’s eyes widened. “Is that a … contract?”

Sawyer nodded once, just a jerk of her pretty head. The side part in her hair hardly swayed with the movement. Their eyes met, and as usual, Coy felt as if she was caught up in the turbulence of storms. “Take some time to read it over. My number is on the bottom. You can text me if you have questions or when you’ve made a decision. I work a lot of hours, so most of the time that you’re here, you’ll be alone. I’ll be letting you into the garage only via a smart app.”

“Excuse me, what? Pops won’t go for that. The business isn’t insured for off-site projects.” Coy’s cheeks heated at going toe to toe with Sawyer.

Sawyer only shrugged. “Then work for me on your own time. I don’t care, but the car stays in my garage. Like I said, I won’t be here for most of the time but will still be able to keep an eye on things with my surveillance from time to time.”

Coy scanned the contract. It was basic, to the point. No stealing, no recording of the process, commit to six days a week, be punctual, but contact Sawyer if she can’t make it for some reason. Coy fought the urge to roll her eyes when she noticed that Sawyer had written in three different areas—and underlined them—that Coy was not to flirt with her.

Like we’d even see each other much.

“I’d have to work early mornings. Like, early early.” Coy glanced up at Sawyer, explaining, “I work at the shop at nine, and in the evenings—”

Sawyer held up her hand, silencing Coy just as she’d done in the shop. It should be an infuriating trait Coy hated, but she didn’t. At all. In fact, a flush of warmth spread over her each time Sawyer’s assertiveness sprung forth.

“That’s not an issue. I’m awake by five and leave for work by eight.”

Coy nodded.Am I actually considering this?

Not having her breathing down Coy’s neck could be a positive thing, and she needed the money for her nana. She licked her lips, aware of the subtle drop of Sawyer’s eyes as she did so. Was this contract for Coy’s benefit or Sawyer’s? Whichever it was, Coy had a feeling she was already in way over her head.

Wait ‘til Abs finds out about this.

Chapter 9

Sawyer

“Sawyer, it’s good tosee you,” her doctor rushed to say as he closed the door to the exam room. Dr. Cooper was a tall, lean, middle-aged man with an early onset of fine white hairs that he kept cut low to his scalp. He’d been Sawyer’s family doctor for almost as long as she’d lived in B.C., and she trusted him.

“Yes, well …” Sawyer pointedly checked her wristwatch for the time before clasping her hands together. She leveled her gaze at him. “We’re both busy people, George, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t waste both our time by beating around the bush.”

“Straight to the point as always. You’re not even going to let me ask how Bree is? Alia says they’ve been keeping in touch.” Dr. Cooper smiled, but not unkindly. He pulled up a chair and sat down, a yellow folder already in his hands.

Sawyer laced her fingers together over her knee, proud of herself when only the faintest sigh left her lips. This was theissue with knowing your doctor outside of the exam room.And our daughters meeting at the same private school.“She’s well, thank you. And Alia?”

“She’s great. She actually just flew home for the summer break last week.”

“Fantastic.” Sawyer squeezed her fingers together, needing something to distract her other than the time ticking by on the wall clock.

“I know you’re anxious to get going,” Dr. Cooper chuckled, “so tell me. What have you been doing to reduce your stress since the last time we spoke?”

Sawyer could have groaned.Not this again.“What you suggested I do. Take Sundays off, relax in a bath, and do yoga.”

Okay, so technically, her bath typically involved wine, and her yoga consisted of stretching before her daily morning run, but who had time for an involved yoga session? Runningwasher relaxation.