Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Ignoring the lust and jealousy that dominates me, I work even harder than before, making sure that I knock out most of the solo projects. It’s almost three when I meet up with Axel and Petrol, who are working on a classic Mustang that needs a full rebuild.
“We’re glad you’re here. We could use your help.”
“I’m finally done with my list.”
“Did you hand all your paperwork in?” my father asks as he comes up behind me, handing me a sandwich. “Don’t think I didn’t notice you didn’t eat. Any other time, I’d let that shit go, but you’re on meds, Son, and that can’t happen. We’ve all had injuries and know that you can’t do that shit. Eat, help these guys for an hour, and then get your paperwork to Vivian. She’s got a lot to learn, and we don’t need to make her job harder than it is.”
“I understand, Pops.” The fucks around me smirk until he scowls. I muscle down the rest of my sandwich while my father lays into these assholes.
“That goes for you shits too. Any trouble out of you guys, and you’ll find your asses unemployed and my foot up your rears.”
“You got it, Wrench.” We all get back to work for over two hours before I remember that I owe Vivian paperwork and am going to get chewed out. The customers receive their copies, but there are things I need to submit to the office. Most of it is done on paper so we don’t ruin the tablets with oily or greasy hands. Fuck—not only was I going to have to face the love of my life, but now the wrath of my parents.
I rush to my station and snag all the filed paperwork in my organizer on my desk that my mother set up for me and then take the stairs two at a time. Knocking on the door is a standard operating procedure if you don’t want your eyeballs ripped out of your head, or in my case, ripping them out myself. My parents have enjoyed many passionate moments in there. Hell, I might have been conceived in the office. A fucked-up vision of bending Vivian over the desk and joining the family tradition is something I can actually get behind.
“Come in,” she calls out, and my hand just lingers on the knob like I’m terrified to open up. Since I take too damn long, she whips the door open. “Simon,” she gasps.
I rub the back of my neck. “Sorry. I know I’m behind with the paperwork.”
“Well, come in here already.” She steps out of the way.
“My parents aren’t in here?”
“No, they stepped out for a bit.” She gives me a knowing smirk, and I know damn well that they needed their afternoon delight. Shaking my head, I laugh and hand her the documents. “So are these all the ones you had today?”
“Yes, but there’s no charge on Mrs. Colson.”
“Yes, your father has a note for me on that one. I’ve already worked on preliminary reports, but I need these.” She takes the papers from me and walks back to the desk, taking a seat and organizing them in some sort of system.
“You’ve got everything under control already, it seems,” I remark, impressed at the way she moves around the desk with ease. I’ve tried to keep things neat so my mother doesn’t ring my neck, but when I’m left in charge, nothing looks that organized.
“Hardly. I’m over my head, but your parents are extremely laid back and are giving so much grace.”
“Nah, they know you’ve got this.”
“Thanks,” she says, biting down on her bottom lip.
“Well, I need to get back to work.” I rush out of the door like a fool just as she opens her mouth to say something. I turn back, needing to see her again.
Chapter Nine
Vivian
I release the breath I didn’t know I was holding because my heart hasn’t caught a steady pace yet. I’ve been waiting for him to come see me all afternoon after Mr. West had said he was coming up soon to bring me paperwork. My entire body has been alive with anticipation, and yet the moment the knock came, I practically leaped out of my seat.
This morning when he was talking to his professor, I couldn’t look away as he leaned over the vehicle, turning the tool, the muscles in his back flexing. My thighs began sweating so much that I could feel the wetness sliding down them. I practically bit out a moan, but then I remembered why I’d come down there and went straight to Petrol to get some answers on his last tune-up.
Simon’s surly attitude hadn’t made things any easier. My body had only been more excited by his presence, and I nearly jumped into his arms, as if I had any right to do so. It wasn’t the right place or time for any of that nonsense. Simon was healing, and so was our friendship, if you could even call it that.