Page 2 of Big Dog (Lonesome Garage #2)
Chapter Two
O ur mother will miss my baby brother dearly, but she’ll never be able to prove it was me.
The little shit has me between a rock and a hard dick, and he knows it.
Ever since Romy Turner came to town, I’ve been trying my fucking hardest to stay away from her.
I’ve been doing a good job of it too. Now Deke is feeding me like chum to a shark.
I’d be really pissed if I wasn’t a little excited at the prospect.
The first and only time I spent any time with Romy, she was sporting a black eye and a split lip from trying to fight off the home invader who kidnapped her niece.
She was in rough shape. Not too rough, though.
She patted me on the cheek and called me handsome while I was getting her cleaned up before the medic got there.
That one word has caused a lot of sleepless nights on my part.
Ninety-nine percent of me railed at seeing such a sweet young thing beat to hell.
She looked like a teenaged babysitter who went three rounds with a boxer.
The last percent was impressed that someone barely into her twenties got some licks in against a trained Navy SEAL with over a decade of experience.
It’s that one percent that has me dodging her at every turn.
I’m only thirty-eight, but that’s a lifetime compared to an innocent like her.
She doesn’t look old enough to drink in the snug jeans and fitted top that she’s wearing.
If her big blue eyes weren’t enough of a draw, according to Deacon and Violet, she’s na?ve enough to think she can make a go of a spa in rural North Dakota.
It would be cute except for the fact that she’s going to lose her shirt.
I can’t comprehend why my brother is encouraging her to invest in an already doomed venture.
We know what it’s like to own a private business.
Romy is too nice. She’s going to be eaten alive.
“I have some guys who will do a quality job, but they’re expensive.
The cheap guys are even more expensive since you’ll have to spend the money twice after their cut corners bite you in the ass.
” If I’m obligated to participate in this travesty, maybe I can limit her losses.
“Isn’t it a good thing that I’ll have you to advise me on my choices then. Want to discuss my options over breakfast, tomorrow?” Romy asks.
“He’s free,” Deacon pipes up.
“Fantastic. I’m buying,” she offers.
“Like hell,” I say before I can stop myself. As if I’d take anything from her besides that sweet smile. Fuck, now I’m committed. “Breakfast tomorrow at the Halfway Café. Eight o’clock.”
“Looking forward to it!” Romy gives me a bright smile like I’m not going to break her heart with what I have to tell her. Then she moves on to the next group of party guests.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I demand of Deacon. He’s never set me up with a woman before—we Dobermanns have never needed the help—and I can’t imagine he wants to start with his sister-in-law.
“Romy is practically my little sister now. Unfortunately, she’s a knock-out, and she’s a new business owner.
She needs somebody in her corner who isn’t some horny fuck trying to hit on her.
Violet says she’s not worried about Romy’s business, and I don’t want her to be.
So, be a good big brother and set Romy up with the best guys you know, would you? ”
Fuck me, Deacon’s right. Every contractor I know is going to hit on her.
Hell, everybody in my contacts list will be calling me for an introduction to the perky brunette.
I’m going to have to vet everybody, not just send a few emails to set up some meetings.
Exactly what I need while I’m in the middle of trying to find new staff for the garage.
“I do have a full-time job, you know. And interviews booked for the new mechanic that you insist we need.”
“She doesn’t bite, Bish.” Then Deacon roars with laughter. “Well, according to Violet, she does, but not since they were kids. Just give her some names so she can get started on these renos. How hard could that be?”
I don’t know. Spending time with his big, blue-eyed, innocent sister-in-law who he has slapped a “Do Not Touch” sign on?
I’m thinking pretty fucking hard.