Page 33

THIRTY-THREE

SAINT

“I’m here, old man,” I call out as I throw my leg over my bike and start to roll it into the garage bay at Tommy’s. My third shift this week, and it’s only Wednesday, and fuck, I’m tired but one step closer to getting the rent money.

As much as I don’t mind being here with him, I’m ready for a single night off so I can sleep all fucking night instead of the four hours max I’ve been getting.

I’ve got my bike halfway into the garage when I hear a soft giggle, a sound that has me stopping short. What the hell?

I turn to the source and see none other than the girl I’ve been thinking about over and over again for the last twenty-four hours.

What the fuck?

“ Golden Girl ?”

The sound of my voice startles her, and she jumps, nearly dropping the lug wrench in her hand that is as big as her fucking arm.

Her long hair falls in deep waves around her waist, shining beneath the fluorescent light of the garage, and because I’m losing my goddamn mind, the first thought I have is how soft it was when I slid my fingers through it when she came on my dick and then swallowed my cum.

Yeah, I’m fucking sick.

All I’ve been thinking about is Lennon and her magical pussy, which has taken over my every waking thought.

There are streaks of grease on her cheek, chest, and hands, and it’s a stark contrast compared to the pink, girly shirt and cutoff, blue jean shorts she’s wearing.

“Saint?” she murmurs. “W-what are you doing here?”

I arch a brow. “Working?”

“You work here ?” Disbelief laces each syllable.

Yeah, I’m just as surprised as you are.

My gaze moves to Tommy, who’s grinning like a fool beside her, his thick, bushy brows waggling as he leans against a sleek black Range Rover.

“Appears so.”

Her cheeks tinge pink, and she nods. “Oh, right. Uh, well… I had a flat tire, and the tow truck brought me here. Tommy’s the only one who had my tire in stock this late in the afternoon.

He’s so kind to have stayed this late to help me.

” She looks beside her and gives him a dazzling smile that even I somehow feel the effects from all the way over here.

“Aw, darlin’, it’s nothing. I didn’t have anything better to do anyway.” He responds in the softest tone I think I’ve ever heard him use in all of the years that I’ve known him.

Lennon’s smile widens. “It means so much to me.” Her gaze finds mine again, and I nod, then push my bike the rest of the way into the bay and kick the stand down.

“Been teaching her how to change a tire,” Tommy says when I walk over to them, my jumpsuit in my hands. “I told her every young lady needs to know how to change a tire.”

A deep laugh almost bursts out of me at the thought of Golden Girl changing a fucking tire in her frilly little skating skirt.

Now, that’s a sight I’d pay to see.

I turn to her, noting the proud expression and triumphant smile pulling her rosy lips. “ You’re going to change a tire?”

“You say it like I can’t change one. Tommy just taught me how.” Her brow arches.

“Might break a nail.”

She cuts her eyes at me, and I smirk, offering her a shrug. I’m mostly teasing, but I’m not far off. I can’t see the pretty little princess getting a speck of dirt on her, but then the last thing I ever expected was to walk into Tommy’s and find her standing here, grease smeared all over her.

“Don’t be a judgy ass.” Her chin lifts, and she crosses her arms over her chest, still clutching that lug wrench in her tiny fist.

Tommy chuckles beside her, nodding. “She’s right. Leave her alone, boy. Now, come on, Lennon. Let me finish showing you how to tighten the nuts back on once you get this tire on.”

Giving me one last silent glare, she turns back to her car and listens as he begins to run through the instructions.

I step into my jumpsuit, never taking my eyes off them, silently observing the scene before me.

She might be only five foot two and tiny, but she uses every bit of her strength to pull on the lugs and then looks to Tommy for approval. When he nods, she squeals, “Yes! I knew I could do this.”

“Your daddy never taught you how to change a tire?” he asks.

For a second, she’s quiet, the smile on her face dimming before she quickly recovers.

“Uh… no. He’s a businessman and has a really hectic schedule.

Honestly, I’m not sure if he can even change one himself.

He probably has someone to do it for him.

Plus, we’re not… our relationship’s kind of complicated. ”

That sounds about fucking right. Entitled fuck.

Tommy shakes his head, shoving his hands into the pockets of his suit as he nods. “Well, now ya know, darlin’. And listen, if you ever run into trouble again, you know who to call. Tommy’s will always take care of you.”

“Thank you, Tommy. I hope you know how grateful I am.” She hands the lug wrench back to him and swipes the front of her palms onto the front of her shorts, removing some of the grease.

“I’m going to bring you some of my favorite strawberry beignets as a thank-you, and I am not taking no for an answer.

They’re from the bakery up the road, Ever After, and they are to die for. ”

He chuckles. “I think I can handle that, darlin’. Thank you. But this old man is going to head to bed now. It’s a little too much past my bedtime. I’m sure Saint here can handle the rest, right, my boy?”

I nod.

Lennon turns to him, throwing her arms around his neck in a hug, and he laughs, gently giving her back a few pats before she untangles herself.

Watching the two of them together, Tommy’s quiet reverence and care for the girl he’s only just met, and her… kindness and warmth shining in her eyes, it causes something strange to stir in my chest.

Something foreign I wasn’t expecting.

Something I can’t even really put my finger on.

Tommy shoots me a wink and strides towards me, dipping his head to my ear so only I can hear, “She’s a good one, boy. You better take care of her.”

“We’re no—” I start, but he brushes past me, calling out, “Night, y’all.”

Damn old man.

The stairs groan and creak as he climbs them, and once he reaches the top, the apartment door shuts, and a heavy silence settles between us.

My gaze stays rooted on her, part of me wanting to kiss the fuck out of her, the other part wanting the private, quiet solace of what Tommy’s is for me back.

Now that she’s here, I’m not sure it’ll ever be the same once she’s gone.

Would the familiar smell of gasoline and oil be replaced with the scent of her? Warm vanilla and honey that’s so sweet it makes my mouth water whenever I catch a whiff.

“I swear, I had no idea that you worked here,” she says, one of us finally breaking the tension.

It’s not uncomfortable. It’s just… different.

I shrug as I reach up and plow a hand through my hair. “There’s no place better than Tommy’s.”

“Yeah, I see why.” She smiles, soft and sweet. “Have you… worked here long?”

“Since I was a kid. Fourteen or so.” I’m surprised by my honesty, but the answer comes out of me without thinking, naturally. I grab some of my tools from the nearby bench and walk over to the older Ford next to her, placing them on the metal frame beneath the hood.

She watches me quietly, observing.

“If my tire’s done, um, I can get going. I know you probably have a lot of work to do, and I’ve already disrupted your evening.”

The corner of my mouth twitches, and I hold my stare. “Or you could stay.”

I don’t know why I offered or what the hell I’m thinking in the first place, but having her here while I work isn’t the worst thing.

Might pass the time faster.

Or maybe I say it because I just want her to be here. The revelation of that washes over me in a wave of unexpectedness.

“Or I could stay,” she murmurs.

I toss her a grin and grab my tools, then sit on the creeper.

Her hands flatten on the hood of her car, and she lifts herself, plopping down on top. She’s so damn short her feet dangle, and it’s… cute.

Fuck, I gotta get under this car.

Before I say or do some shit that I’m going to regret tomorrow.

I lie back on the creeper, using my feet to propel me beneath the car, and get to work.