Claimed by the Mechanic Read online

I turn on my heels and head for the front door.

  “Wait a second,” Ranger says, letting out a soft chuckle. “You don’t have to wait at your car. Just stay here.”

  “No, it’s fine. I don’t want to hold you up.”

  He lifts a brow at me and takes a step in my direction. “You’re not holding me up. And if you think for one minute I’m the kind of man who would let a girl—especially one as pretty as you—wait for a friend in her broken down car on the side of the road in the middle of the night, you obviously don’t know me at all.”

  Heat spreads across my face, moving south in the blink of an eye, and I feel my pulse quicken. I’ve never been sucker for men calling me pretty, but the way Ranger says it makes me flush all over.

  “Well, I definitely don’t know you, that’s the God’s honest truth.”

  But there’s also another truth—the one where no one is coming to get me. My mother basically told me a few minutes ago, with a slurred voice from the alcohol, that I made the choice to leave, so I was on my own.

  “I know I look scary,” Ranger says, swirling his Styrofoam cup. “But I promise I’m just a great big ol’ teddy bear. I help little old ladies cross the street and I’ve even been known to rescue kittens from trees a time or two.”

  He’s got this smirk on his face, and I can’t help but smile. “Sounds like you’re a real handyman. And a gentleman.”

  “I’m definitely a gentleman. Unless and until the situation calls for me to not be gentle. And then, all bets are off.” He takes a slow sip of coffee, keeping his blue eyes on mine.

  “Um, okay,” I say, laughing softly as nervous excitement pulses through me. I’m not sure if he’s suggesting what I think he’s suggesting, but if he knew how inexperienced I was, he’d probably take back everything he just said, and every look he just gave me. Guy like Ranger probably sleeps with a different girl every week and prefers that they know what they’re doing.

  I find myself standing there, biting my lip like an idiot and feeling like there’s this sudden energy between us. Dustin never made me feel this sexy. Then again, I was the one who wouldn’t give him my V-card, so he probably lost interest for that reason.

  “So,” he says, setting his coffee down on the desk. “Tell me if it’s none of my business, but I know almost everybody in this town, and I’m pretty sure I’d remember if I met you. Are you new around here?”

  Great. “Um, yeah. I guess you could say that.”

  He nods. “I thought so. What brought you to Bakerstown?”

  I run my hands through my hair, feeling my face grow hot from embarrassment. “Technically, I’m just passing through. I’m moving up to Pennsylvania. Starting a new job, a new life.”

  My throat tightens as I think about it. The fact that I might not make it there at all. That I might have to go back to my hellhole hometown and my drunk parents.

  “A new life?” There’s a lift in his voice, a curiosity.

  I nod. And he just looks at me for several seconds.

  “But you have a friend here in town?”

  Time for confession. “Not exactly. The truth is, I … didn’t want you to feel like you had to stick around. I don’t mind crashing in my car. I mean…” I let out a laugh, feeling stupid and embarrassed. “…I was planning on doing that anyway, to be honest.”

  Ranger waves his hands in the air. “Absolutely not. Call me selfish, but I wouldn’t sleep a wink if I knew you were out there all alone until morning. I’ve got a perfectly good guest room at my place that never gets used. Be a shame, really, to pass it up. And my house is right behind the shop here.”

  I chew on the inside of my lip, knowing how crazy it is to entertain the possibility of going home with a man I don’t know. But he is a business owner. Which means he’s probably a responsible and respectable member of this community, walking old ladies across the street and rescuing kittens from trees.

  “Mm, I don’t know…”

  Ranger nods knowingly. “That’s fine. I get it. Stranger danger and all that. Well, I’ve got a cot upstairs. Not as comfortable as my guest bed, but it’ll support you in a horizontal position and let you catch some sleep.”

  I notice this little gleam in his eye as he smiles, and it makes my stomach swirl in agonizing flip-flops. “You would trust me to stay here all night and not steal something?”

  He looks from side to side. “If there’s anything here worth stealing, you’re welcome to it.”

  I giggle, feeling my nerves melting away. He doesn’t know it, but he just scored major points with me in the trust department. Everyone needs a mechanic they can trust, right?

  “Actually, I think I’d be okay crashing at your place.”

  Ranger

  “You need anything else before I call it a night?”

  “I think I’m good, thanks.” Daisy sits on the bed with her hands folded in her lap. Her two suitcases rest on the floor. She was worried about leaving them in her car, so I carried them here while Daisy fussed about wanting to help me.

  “Help yourself to whatever you need. I’m usually up at the ass-crack of dawn, but I’ll try not to wake you.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” she says, sliding her flip-flops off her feet and driving me fucking nuts. “I feel bad enough as it is, putting you out like this.”

  I lift a brow. “Don’t make me get out the paddle, now. I told you it was no trouble.”

  Small dimples appear in her cheeks as she smiles at my joke. At least she has sense of humor.

  “Sorry. I have a tendency to feel guilty about a lot of things.”

  “Nothing to feel guilty about. I enjoy helping people out. Sleep well, Daisy.”

  “You too.” Her tongue drags along her lips, leaving a trail of glistening saliva I’d like to see coating my cock.

  After pulling the door closed, I feel my cock stir, wishing like fuck I could bring her into my bedroom. I damn sure don’t want to leave her alone. But asking her to join me one hour after meeting her would be a little weird. Mainly because Daisy isn’t that kind of girl.

  After taking a hot shower, I fall into my sheets, pulling the blanket over my aching bones. As I start to drift off, I imagine my hands wandering over Daisy’s pure body. Girl like her, she’s giving me a vibe. So sweet, so innocent and cautious. I’ll bet she doesn’t spread her legs for just anyone. Which makes me fucking crave her that much more. I feel like an animal stalking its prey, dying to get between her legs.

  But it isn’t just what’s between her legs that I want.

  I want the whole package.

  I want to know every thought she has. Every secret desire. Every heartache she’s experienced and every dream she’s ever had.

  I’m too tired to jerk off before falling asleep, but you can bet my stiff dick is the first thing I grab when I wake up.

  And it’s all because Daisy is the first thing on my mind.

  Knowing she’s in the room just on the other side of the wall … thinking about her lying in my sheets, her scent marking everything she touches … her hair looking mussy as she rolls over the pillow, and her soft voice making little noises as she wakes up.

  I stroke myself to all of these thoughts, eventually cumming as I picture her spreading her legs for me, proudly displaying her wet pussy just for me.

  She’s at my mercy, too, with her car in need of repairs. She’ll have to put her trust in me and know that I won’t take advantage of her. And I damn sure plan to earn her trust.

  I get up and take another shower before making enough breakfast for two. By the time I’m finished eating, the sun is just starting to come up and that sexy angel is still asleep. Good. I’m glad she feels like she doesn’t have to rise and shine just because I did.

  After writing her a quick note, I head out the door and walk the short gravel drive to the shop. There’ve been times I preferred having a little more distance between my humble two-bedroom house and my place of business, but in this situation, I’m glad Daisy is so close. I u
sually go home at lunch, and as it stands, the noontime hour seems a lifetime away.

  Patrick and Saul are already on the clock and folded underneath the hood of a car when I show up. I’d left a note for one of them to tow Daisy’s car over if they got here before me, and I’m pleased to see that they’ve done just that. After making a cup of coffee, I head into the bay.

  “Looks like you had an interesting evening,” Saul says as I lift the hood of Daisy’s car.

  “What makes you say that?”

  He makes a face and nods behind me where I see our two Styrofoam cups sitting on the wooden bench. The rim of one is lined with pink lip gloss, and it rests right next to a silver charm bracelet.

  “Yeah? So? This girl’s car broke down and I gave her a coffee.”

  “Uh-huh, I bet you did. Gave it to her so hard it knocked her jewelry right off.” Patrick laughs in the background and I just shake my head.

  “Fuck you, man. She’s not like that.”

  “Dude, I’m just yanking your chain,” Saul says, lifting a wrench from the tool box. “I found the bracelet on the floor in the office. Could belong to anyone. But, seriously … is it anyone we know?”

  “Nah, she’s just passing through. Happened at midnight while I was still here working on the Camaro. Too late to tow, so I told her I’d give it a look in the morning.”

  I pull the toolbox over to the front of her car so I can get started on some diagnostics. “Cool. Let me know if you need a hand. I’m trying to get this mustang up and running before lunch so this guy will get off my back.”

  “Better get on it, slacker.”

  Saul is a complete jackass sometimes, and a womanizer, but he’s one of the best mechanics I’ve ever known. So I keep him around. Patrick on the other hand is quiet, hardly ever says a word, but he knows what the fuck he’s doing too. I’m pretty proud of my team.

  I find my mind drifting as I look over Daisy’s car, but it only takes about an hour to figure out what the problem is.

  And Daisy isn’t going to like it.

  I’m not surprised her engine is toast. The car itself is about to tap out at 200,000 miles, and it’s bone dry of oil. She must not have known it was leaking, and I mean leaking for a long time. I’ll bet this car hasn’t seen a drop of oil in months.

  I know this is going to be hard on her. She was on her way to a new city, wanting to start a new life. And now she’s stuck here with a car that needs a new engine.

  “Damn,” I mutter, shaking my head.

  “Damn is right,” Saul says.

  I slam the hood shut, only to find Daisy standing at the garage entrance, her long brown hair whipping around in the breeze.

  “Good morning,” I say.

  “Morning. I was hoping you’d have my car in here. How’s it looking?”

  I can see the look of concern on her face, but my eyes naturally drift south. Her snug blue leggings cling to her hips, accentuating her curves, and her white sleeveless top seems to hug her modest upper assets. It’s a good thing the front of her car is blocking my crotch from view because I’m getting harder than a socket wrench right now.

  “You can head into the office. I’ll be right there and we can talk about it.”

  When she’s out of sight, Saul shows his true colors. “I’d like to get a look at that undercarriage.”

  I narrow my eyes at him. “You keep your filthy hands off her, fucker. She’s mine.”

  He tosses his hands up and pulls a face.

  I won’t let anyone take this girl from me.

  Daisy

  I can tell by the look on Ranger’s face it isn’t good news. Should have known.

  I woke up in such a good mood, too. I slept like a baby in his guest bed, having dreams about this mechanic doing things to me good girls ought not be thinking about. Especially girls who were raised in the south and made to go to church every Sunday (until I was about 13, and then going to church was suddenly a burden for my hungover parents).

  I guess what I’m saying is, how can someone as innocent as me fantasize about a grown man I hardly know holding me down and plunging his manhood in and out of my wetness, that little bump between my folds growing hard and throbbing until I reach a climax that makes my skin burst with electric shockwaves?

  I don’t know. I really don’t. But that’s just what happened to me this morning, waking up to an earth-shattering orgasm, thrusting my hips up and down in the air as I ran my hands over my aching breasts.

  The real topper was discovering that he had made breakfast, leaving me a plateful of pancakes and turkey bacon with a bowl of fruit on the side. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been pampered to this extent. I couldn’t find any coffee, but that’s not a must-have for me. So I washed the plate and came right over here, anxious to find out if he’d had a chance to figure out why my car sounded like a live gun show last night. And being in his garage, watching him stand over the hood of my car, it was almost easy to forget I even have a broken-down car.

  When he joins me in his office, Ranger rolls one of the chairs around for me to sit in.

  “Thanks for the breakfast, by the way. It was delicious.”

  “Ah, it was nothing. But I’m glad you liked it. Is this yours?” he asks, holding up a silver bracelet. My silver bracelet that I didn’t even notice was missing.

  “Uh, yeah. Where’d you find it?”

  “I didn’t. Saul found it on the floor in here.”

  I start to take it from his grip, but then I have second thoughts. “You know what? You can have it, sell it or whatever to pay for the tow. It was a gift from an ex, and I don’t need that kind of karma in my life anymore.”

  And I sure as hell don’t need any reminders of Dustin the loser.

  Ranger slowly swivels his arm until the bracelet is hovering over the trash can, where he allows it to drop. The metal thumps the plastic bottom, and he brushes his hands. “I don’t need to sell something that has bad karma associated with it.”

  “Wise decision.”

  “Let’s talk about your car,” he says, his voice changing tone.

  “This seems serious,” I say laughing rather morbidly.

  It’s probably just a leaky valve, or a weak piston, I think to myself, no freaking clue what I’m talking about seeing as I know nothing about cars.

  “Well, your car has a disease, but it isn’t terminal. Just needs a little TLC and she’ll be good as new.”

  “Define TLC.”

  “She needs a complete engine rebuild.”

  My heart feels like it drops all the way to my stomach. “That sounds more serious than a weak piston,” I mutter.

  “A what piston?”

  I shake my head. “Never mind. An engine rebuild. What does something like that run these days?”

  I’m guessing more than fifty bucks, which is literally about all I can spare.

  This is the point where Ranger makes a face I can’t describe. It’s like he’s confused and scared, or maybe sympathetic all at once. When he leans forward in his seat and clasps his hands together, I get a good look at his fingers, the ruggedness therein and the black soot-like substance crusted under his nails.

  Damn. Why is that so hot?

  “Honestly, I’d have to make a few calls to get an idea on the parts, but you’re looking at about fifteen hundred, maybe two grand.”

  My jaw drops to the floor, and I burst into laughter. “You’re joking, right?”

  But I know he’s not. Rubbing his lips, Ranger slowly shakes his head.

  “My car isn’t even worth that much! It’s, like, twenty years old!”

  “I agree with you there. You’re better off just getting a new car, to be honest.”

  I throw my hands to my head, feeling like I’m about to pass out. “I can’t freaking believe this.”

  Letting out an exasperated sigh, I stand up and pace the floor. Ranger leans back, and I feel his eyes on me as he sits there, cool as a cucumber and watching my every move as I walk b
ack and forth in front of the vending machine like a crazy person.

  “Let’s not panic just yet. I might be able to cut that estimate in half if you’re willing to get creative with me.”

  I laugh again, feeling like everything in me is about to explode. “That’s the thing, Ranger. I don’t have half that much. I can’t afford a new car and I sure as crap can’t afford to fix this one.” I take a breath and continue. “I left my drunk ass parents and an ex who stood me up at the altar with just enough cash to give me a fresh start somewhere else. My hometown is toxic and if I have to go back, I’ll gouge my eyes out and scream bloody murder until my ears bleed!”

  I stand still, fists clenched and eyes closed as the stress of all this overwhelms me. It’s when I feel Ranger’s hand glide down my back that the anger begins to dissipate, dissolving like small warm bubbles that move across my skin.

  “You mean to tell me some moron willingly walked out of your life?”

  I snap my head in his direction. “Yes.”

  He offers a look of shock, then shakes his head. “Look. We’ll work something out. I won’t let you go back to something like that … to a place that’s toxic.”

  “Why?” I turn to look his way, tears forming in my eyes. “You don’t even know me? Why do you care?”

  I don’t know why I’m asking such a forthright question, but I can’t ignore this pull to him. And I think that maybe I’m worried I’m the only one who feels that pull.

  “Hey.” Ranger grumbles, gripping me by the shoulders and turning me to face him. I’m immediately snapped out of my headspace as I stare into his dark blue eyes, feeling like I’m drifting out to the ocean. “I might not know you that well in all the ways that one can know a person. But I’ve got a good head on my shoulders and a sixth sense about these things, and I know a good heart when I see one. You don’t deserve to have life shit on you. Not like this. And I’ll be damned if I let a good girl like you go back to a set of drunk parents. Not on my damn watch, that’s for sure. So you can stand there and question my motives or you can say thank you, Ranger. That’s awfully kind of you to help me.”