Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 122206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Lilly was here.
“Sweet baby Jesus in the manger, protect me.”
When she came up to the desk, I had to ease up off my seat so I could keep eye contact with the tiny woman.
“Hello, Lilly.”
My throat felt constricted.
“New girl. Let one of me lads know I’m here.”
I remembered Dante had told me not to be a pushover when it came to Lilly, so I decided to take that advice … even if I was bricking it.
“I’ll do just that once I finish what I’m workin’ on.” I lowered myself back down to me seat. “If ye take a seat in the waitin’ area, one of the lads will be out shortly.”
Lilly didn’t make her usual “hmph” judgment sound. Instead, she tilted her head and narrowed her beady eyes. Just when I thought she might hop over the desk and deck me, she nodded, turned, and walked to the waiting area. I nearly collapsed back into my chair. That was barely a confrontation, but it was still one I had won, so it counted in my book. I waited another minute before I got to my feet and headed into the hangar looking for someone available to see to Lilly.
JJ and Harley were out of the question. They were currently working on difficult engine issues on a single vehicle. Ryder was in the middle of helping a courier unload parts just delivered, leaving me with Damien to turn to since Dante wasn’t here and Gavin was on paternity leave. I approached the white-haired man shyly because I didn’t really know him that well. I wasn’t sure if he liked me or not. He never stopped by my desk for a cuppa and a chat, and I suspected it was because of his ongoing feud with Dante.
“Damien?”
He was in the pit of bay three looking at the underside of a car.
“Yeah?”
“Can ye help me with somethin’?”
He walked up the steps of the pit, removing his black rubber gloves as he went.
“Sure, what’s up?”
“It’s Lilly,” I said. “She’s here and lookin’ for one of her lads.”
Damien snorted. “Tell her we’re busy today.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Sure you can.”
He didn’t understand.
“Damien, please.” I reached out and gripped his arm. “She’ll kill me. I know she will. If I go back out there without one of you in tow, she’ll hang me from the rafters by me toenails!”
Damien’s laughter did nothing to calm my spiked nerves. He placed his hand over mine and gave it a friendly pat, but that didn’t calm me down either.
“You’ve got nothing to worry about. One of her guys is already taking care of her.”
I turned my head to see what he was talking about, and through the door that led into the reception, Dante was leaning down to hug Lilly. Without a word, I walked away from Damien and into the reception. I watched the interaction between Dante and Lilly and found it so incredibly sweet. I left them to it while I returned to my seat behind my desk. I felt Dante look at me a few times as he talked to Lilly, but I didn’t look up. I was too busy trying to figure out how to end whatever was going on between us.
The scratches on his back told me that he was with a woman last night, and I wasn’t going to sit around and be played by Dante. It didn’t matter if I already had deep growing feelings for him. I wouldn’t play the part of a fool for no man, not even Dante Collins. Never again, I refused.
“Ina?”
I looked up when she said my name.
“Yes, Lilly?”
“Have a nice day.”
I blinked. “You too.”
I didn’t understand what the old woman was up to, but she left my reception, which allowed me to breathe. Dante was seeing her out to her car, and I didn’t want to be here when he came back inside, so I got up and went into the staff room to make a cup of tea. Minutes later, I heard him, then I felt his hands touch my waist, and my body shivered. It felt like I could relax now that I had experienced his touch.
“Heya, gorgeous. Missed ye somethin’ fierce.”
He leaned down to kiss my neck, but I side-stepped out of his reach.
“What’s wrong, specs?”
“We’re over.”
I heard a couple of murmurs from behind me, but I didn’t turn to see what was going on. My focus was glued to the man next to me when Dante turned me to face him.
“Repeat that.”
“Ye heard me.”
“I did, but I wanna hear ye say it while ye look me in the eye.”
I locked my eyes on his, and through the sudden pain in my chest, I said, “We’re over.”
“Ina, what the fuck?”
I bristled. “Don’t curse at me, Dante.”
“Tell me what the fuck I did wrong then!”
“Ye blew me off last night!” I snapped, letting my anger overtake my hurt and surge to the surface. “Ye were supposed to come over to spend time with me, but ye never showed up. Ye never even bothered to phone or text me, so I was awake until late because I was worried sick about you! I shouldn’t have been worried, though, should I? I saw ye through me peephole when ye came home. Ye were shirtless and had scratches all over your back … ye were with another woman, and I’m not about to stand by and be ripped off by you. I refuse to be a side piece to another man, so fuck you! Go ahead and date someone else because I’m done with you.” I looked him up and down. “I should have listened to your daddy!”