Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 78054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
We stilled—for one moment at complete peace and in accord.
She pushed at my shoulders, and I set her feet on the floor.
She didn’t say a word as she headed toward the door.
“No,” I begged. “Not this time. Come back.”
She didn’t even look my way. She opened the door and left me.
Again.
I stared at the door in the darkness. Waiting.
I was always waiting.
And then someone knocked on the door.
“Brett, you in there, buddy?”
The knock sounded again, louder. “Brett?”
I woke up, shaking and alone in my bed.
I was a mess. Covered in sweat, my hand around my weeping dick.
I wasn’t in the storeroom, and she wasn’t here.
The knock sounded impatient this time. Louder. The locked door handle rattled.
“Brett?”
“Yeah, hold up,” I called out.
I swung my legs over the mattress, drawing in a long breath and grabbing my sweats, yanking them on.
I opened the door, sticking my head through the space. “What’s up?”
Chase frowned. “You were yelling.”
“Oh, sorry. Nightmare, I guess,” I lied. “I shouldn’t have eaten that pizza so late.”
He didn’t look convinced, but he let it go.
“It’s eight. I’m heading to pick up the ice and the ribs Stefano ordered and dropping them off before I go to the garage. You wanna come with?”
I scrubbed my hand over my face. “No, I’ll meet you at the garage later.”
“Okay.” He paused. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m good.”
I shut the door and returned to the bed, sitting down on the mattress, feeling exhausted.
Another dream of her. Of us.
Always the same.
Us together, in perfect synchronization, our bodies saying everything our mouths couldn’t or weren’t allowed to say.
And her, leaving.
She always left.
I thought I was used to it.
Until last time.
That was when she left forever.
I sighed, whispering her name.
“Kelly.”
CHAPTER TWO
Brett
I wiped my hands on a towel, surveying the engine I had just finished tuning up. I had Chase start the car, and I listened in satisfaction. It purred like a kitten—or, in this case, growled like a lion. The client liked the loud roar of the super-powerful turbo this rebuilt Mustang had. He had done a lot of work himself, but we had fine-tuned the engine, and Stefano had done the complex paint job. It was spectacular, the color constantly changing in the light. It looked black until the sun hit it. Then it was like a kaleidoscope of color—green, purple, red, pink, gold, silver—the list was endless. It drew stares everywhere it went, which was great for the shop when the client was asked where it was done.
I waved my hand in a slashing motion, and Chase cut the engine. He slid from the driver’s seat.
“Sounds good.”
I nodded as I shut the hood. “It just needed tweaking.”
Chase grinned. “I’ll tell Jack. He’s been pacing outside like you were working on his firstborn in here.”
I laughed. “To him, this is as important. Go tell him his baby is all good and he can take her home. I’ll write it up.”
I headed to the office, surprised to find Charly there. She looked up, a frown marring her pretty face. Her red hair was wild today, and she looked anxious.
“Hey, Charly,” I greeted her, dropping a kiss to her head. “You’re not supposed to be here today.”
“Yeah, the stroll from the house was long and arduous,” she said flippantly.
I chuckled. “Chase and I have this covered. It’s a quiet day.”
“I know. I, ah, needed to talk to you.”
Her nerves were obvious. Charly had lots of tells. She fidgeted when upset, her fingers in constant motion. They were moving continuously right now. Obviously, something was bothering her.
I sat down, curious. “Something wrong?”
I tried not to be amused when I noticed her toes wiggling in her sandals. Whatever this was had to be big.
“Maxx send you here to fire me?” I asked lightly.
She slapped my arm. “Holy moly, don’t even kid about that.”
I chuckled. “Spill, Red,” I said, using Maxx’s nickname for her.
She blew out a long breath. “Kelly showed up late last night.”
I stilled in the chair. “Oh?” I managed to get out through my tight lips.
“I was shocked to see her. She never told me she was coming.”
I didn’t say anything.
“I-I wanted you to know.”
“Where is she now?” I asked quietly.
“Asleep. She looked exhausted when she showed up.”
“Ah.”
“And drained.”
“Hmm.”
“As if she’d been through something.”
I shook my head. “If you think I might know something, I don’t, Charly. I haven’t heard a word from her since she left last year. I have no idea what’s going on with her or her life.” I stood. “I don’t care to either.”
“You’re still angry with her.”
I scrubbed my face. “No. I’m ambivalent,” I lied. “She made it clear there was no future for us, nothing permanent, and she left. End of.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. “You understand me? She left, Charly. Not me. She ended whatever was happening between us without a word. She walked away and left me. If she’s had a hard time and came for a visit, well, I’m happy for her that you’re around. But I’m not getting involved this time. I can’t.” I paused, swallowing the constricted feeling in my throat. “I can’t go through that again.”