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This was met with a “Yeah”, “Fine”, and “Whatever”. But it worked and the guys said their goodbyes before heading back through the door.

I turned my attention to Jake, who was watching me intently. “I’m really sorry about that. I didn’t mean to get in the way.”

“Yeah, sure,” he muttered, shaking his head as he sat on a metal stool.

“Pardon?”

“Don’t sweat it.”

I didn’t know what that meant, and was saved from more tense awkwardness when Z came out.

If Eli didn’t look like he belonged in a garage, Z definitely did not. He looked like he’d be more at home in a board room. Or a GQ spread. Or on a yacht with a supermodel. The fact he wasn’t wearing a custom tailored suit somehow surprised me. Sure, working on cars was dirty work, but still, it just seemed like that would be his casual wear.

Z was what I called ‘Rockabilly Dapper’.Around six feet tall, he was lean with compact muscles. I’d guess he was in his mid-thirties, but he didn’t look it. He had some ink, was wearing the heck out of a white tee and ass hugging black jeans, and was rockin’ a fantastic pompadour.

I seriously didn’t know how he could be working in a garage and still have perfectly coiffed hair. I could spend an hour on my hair, and five minutes in the humidity would leave it in total disarray.

I was pretty sure Z owned Hyde, but I’d never had the chance to ask. Our conversations at the few events we’d both attended had always been friendly but short. After a few minutes of small talk, Mommy Dearest would move me along to some boring Ivy League creeper.

I liked Z. And not because he reminded me of a GQ model and called me Doll Face.

Okay, notjustthat.

“I got good news and bad news, Doll Face. The air is working. And I’m pretty sure I froze a ball testing it. But the new speakers didn’t work. I hooked your old ones back up.”

I smiled at him. “That’s okay, the air was the most important part.”

“I can get replacements, but not until tomorrow’s shipment. Can you come back in on Friday, around eleven?”

I had a clear schedule. I knew it for a fact, not because it was only two days away. I could easily lose track of what day it was.

Or what time.

Or what I’d had for breakfast.

No, I knew because my schedule was almost never clear. When it was, it was memorable thing.

“Yeah, that’s no problem. Thanks, Z.”

“It’s my job. Now let’s get you out of here.”

I paid for the work on my air, though I got the distinct impression it was less than I owed. A lot less. I also got the distinct impression you didn’t argue with Z. Especially if it was about him doing something nice.

“Alright, Doll Face, follow me,” Z said as he walked through the door to the garage.

I started following before stopping to look at Jake. “Sorry about being in the way. It was nice to meet you.”

Nothing.

Okay, maybe not nothing. He looked at me. Like,lookedat me, making my heart pound in my throat. I was sure he could hear it, it was so loud. I wasn’t entirely convinced he couldn’t see it.

I turned quickly, and was almost to the door before I heard him.

“Piper, stop,” he said in that firm, bossy voice.

I stopped.

I don’t get how those guys can ignore that tone.