Chapter One

Scorching

 

 

“Babe, that van you?”

It had only been me and two guys, who based on their leathers, were most likely guys of the biker variety, in the waiting room. And neither of those dudes struck me as the type to be called ‘babe’ by another dude.

Not that I judge, of course. It just seemed unlikely.

Seeing as I was reading, and lost in my thoughts, I hadn’t even noticed anyone else entering the room until the deep voice called out.

Another quick room sweep out of the corner of my eye confirmed I was the most likely candidate to be called ‘babe’. Probably the only one there with a van, too.

“Babe, van?” he asked again as he turned around and began rifling through papers.

“Um, yeah,” I answered to his back.

It was a back. I’d seen lots of them. Backs were backs, right?

Yeah, no.

This was a back. Broad shoulders, and what I was sure were a lot of muscles somehow visible through his dark gray t-shirt. I’d never thought of backs as anything, but this was a good one.

“They do the paperwork with you?” he asked, turning back around with a stack of papers.

“Uhh,” I mumbled. They hadn’t. I knew they hadn’t. My brain fully acknowledged no paperwork had been done with me. Getting my mouth to communicate that, however, was not happening. Not once my eyes saw his front. I liked his back, but I liked his front a whole hell of a lot more. So much more, in fact, I couldn’t say the word ‘no’ about some simple paperwork.

There’s a whole lotta other things I wouldn’t say no to either.

Facing away and bent over, I’d noticed he was tall. Straightened up, though, I saw he wasn’t just tall. He was tall.

As in very.

At five foot four, I was used to looking up at people. Since he was at least a foot taller than me, I could develop a serious crick in my neck from craning my head to look up at him.

It was a sacrifice I was more than willing to make.

Because, along with being tall and built, he was hot. Beyond hot. I don’t think there’s a word to describe what he was. Scorching, maybe, if the heat I was feeling was any indication. His damp, dark blond hair was pulled into a messy knot at the back of his head. It wasn’t very long, probably only around shoulder length.

Since he looked to be in his early thirties, his face had long ago lost any boyishness. Amazing bone structure and hard angles came together in an almost beautiful way if he weren’t so overwhelmingly masculine.

His strong jaw was covered in at least a few days’ worth of stubble. Scruffy stubble that should have screamed “I need a shave!” Instead it beckoned “Run your fingers over me!”

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to do just that.

The thing that seemed to cut off communication between my brain and my mouth, though, were his eyes. Vibrant green eyes, lined with thick, long lashes. Sexy as hell, they left me mumbling like I didn’t have a brain.

Get it together! So, he’s tall. And hot. With those green eyes. And those muscles. And… Where was I going with this?

Oh yeah. Get it together!

He shook his head, his eyes shining with amused frustration. “Nope, no paperwork. Not a surprise, they never do anything that even slightly feels like work. Come on up, babe. Let’s take care of this.”

The sound of my heels clicking on the linoleum echoed in the room. I cursed my decision to wear them. High heels, in general, weren’t known for being easy to walk in. Four-inch ones, especially. Heels with jello knees forced me to focus extra hard on the simple task of putting one foot in front of the other.

I’d already mumbled like an idiot. I didn’t need to fall on my face like one.

I reached the counter, staying upright the whole time, and silently congratulated myself. When I looked up at him, his gaze was intense as he looked through me. And I mean through. Into my mind, my soul. I was sure he was sifting through my deepest and darkest secrets.

What he found must have bored him because his eyes quickly lost their intensity. Using a pen, he tapped a beat on the counter. “Name?”

“Piper,” I breathed. Yup, I breathed it. My voice came out soft, airy, and slightly raspy. I internally shook my head, attempting to lift the fog.

Way to go, Piper. You remembered your name, and were even able to talk this time. Now let’s see if we can’t start sounding less like a wannabe phone sex operator, hmm?

“Yeah, definitely no paperwork with that name. Last name?”

“Skye.” I spelled it out while he wrote.

“Piper Skye.” My name rolled off his tongue like it was one he’d said often. His lip quirked up. “I like it.”

I liked my name. I always had. Hearing his deep, gravelly voice rumble my name, though, made me love it. I found myself wondering how it would sound if we were doing other things, none of which were appropriate to be thinking about.

My cheeks flushed and I tried again to clear the mental fog. “Thanks.”

“What’s going on with the van, babe?”

I liked the way he said my name, but I really liked it when he called me babe. I knew he probably called every chick that, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t hot.

“It needs to be colder in the back.”

“Air not workin’?” He raised his eyebrow. “Why’d you come here for a repair?”

Hyde was a body and custom job shop, not a regular garage. I, along with most everyone, knew that. It wasn’t where you came for an oil change and a tire rotation. Hyde was where you brought a sweet ride you wanted made sweeter.

“Um, no, it works. It works great but it needs to be colder. I use the van for work and my stuff keeps melting in the back.”

“What type of stuff—” he started before being interrupted by a golden god entering the room.

“Jake, dude, you will not believe the sweet piece I had last night…” His words trailed off when he saw me. “Sorry, didn’t know you were busy,” he said to Jake, though he was definitely still looking at me. “Hey. Kase.” He extended his hand.

Since he was only an inch or two shorter than Jake, I still had to crane my neck to look up at him. It was not a hardship. His dark hair hung in dreads past his shoulders, and his groomed facial hair was slightly longer than Jake’s scruff.

I was sure he had to be wearing color contacts because no one had eyes like his. They were the most startling crystal blue I’d ever seen. Rimmed with black lashes and his golden skin, they stood out in sharp contrast.

Starting from his fingers up, intricate ink covered his arms, small patches of tanned skin peeking through here and there.

His skin tone and dark hair hinted at some exotic heritage, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

But I’d totally be willing to try. Finger, hand, tongue, whatever.

“Piper.” I reached my hand to meet his. I smiled, unsurprised by his sudden personality change. I knew I came across to most as more conservative, shy, and quiet. My real friends knew that couldn’t be further from the truth, but I was only that close with a handful of people.

My general vibe screamed ‘introvert!’

Actually, I don’t think you can scream introvert, but it definitely mumbled it.

I understood his thinking. I was in a body shop waiting room in four-inch heels, stockings with the seam up the back, and a white fitted blouse tucked into a pale pink pencil skirt. My black hair was pulled back in a neat twist. I knew I looked conservative, uptight, and very out of place.

However, I’d come straight from a meeting at the bank that had been unexpectedly moved up. And, unfortunately, meetings at the bank require you to look conservative, uptight, and very in place there.

It’d been a minor miracle I was able to get my van into Hyde. I wasn’t about to cancel just because I was in a skirt.

Kase lifted his chin. “Nice to meet you. Sorry about that. I, uh, I didn’t know there were customers here.”

I fought the urge to laugh. He came through the garage, which meant he saw vehicles there. He had to have guessed there were people waiting, and he was talking loud enough that I had no doubt the bikers against the far wall heard.

“Seriously, not an issue,” I said. “Congrats on the sweet piece.”

Kase’s smile turned sheepish before I was distracted by a throat being cleared. The throat of a very tall, very hot, impatient man.

“Kase, if you’re done, you got work to do,” Jake said, glaring at Kase.

Kase grinned at me, unfazed by Jake’s look. “Nice to meet you, Piper. Let me know if you need anything.”

I returned his smile. “Thanks.”

As Kase left, Jake turned back to me and began tapping his pen to a fast beat. “So, coolin’ in the back, got it. Anythin’ else?”

“Yeah, uh, Z is installing some new speakers.” I congratulated myself again on being able to actually form words while looking him in the eyes.

In an attempt to not blurt out something embarrassing or start drooling at his hotness, I distracted myself by thinking about Z. Since I doubted his real name was Z, I started forming ideas about what it stood for.

Jake finished writing something and looked amused. “Your work need louder speakers?”

“Well, yeah, kinda.” Maybe not my work, but I definitely did.

Leaning down, he placed his forearms to the counter. His head tilted to the side as he looked at me. “How so?”

“I drive a lot, for deliveries.”

“What stuff you deliverin’, since I’m doubtin’ it’s pizza?”

“Desserts. Mostly cakes and cupcakes.”

“Really? Awesome. What bakery you work at?” Kase startled me by asking.

I belatedly noticed him and three other hot guys standing in the doorway.

Apparently name guessing is a good distraction technique.

“No bakery. Not yet, anyway.”

“Hey. Eli,” one of the other hotties said as he stuck his hand out. He was shorter than the rest, around five foot ten or so. With his short brown hair and warm, brown eyes, he looked wholesome, boy next door. He almost seemed out of place at the shop, until you took in his ink. It was good ink. He must have agreed as there was a lot of it.

I took his hand. “Piper.”

“Xavier,” another introduced himself with a nod. This yummilicious man was all dark eyes and overgrown dark hair. It was hot, and worked for him. “Your desserts any good?”

“Well, people order. A lot, actually. So… yeah.” I knew my desserts were good. Based on the swell of my chest, hips, and ass, I knew this fact well. I had to sample stuff though. Quality control and whatnot.

You’re so good at lying to yourself.

The popularity of my desserts was what had brought me to the bank that morning. When I’d started making cakes for friends, I did one or two a month. Those one or two turned into three or four referrals, which then turned into three or four more referrals.

Before I knew it, my side hobby became a business, a Piper’s Cakes was born.

Up until last semester, I attended college but hadn’t picked a major. Since Piper’s Cakes was quickly growing, thereby solving the dilemma of what I wanted to do with my life, I cut back my classes and switched to a business major.

It was a scary decision, but in a good way.

In order to do all I wanted to do, I needed money for better equipment, more space, and maybe even some help. I was turning away a lot of orders because I didn’t have time. I couldn’t make money turning away orders. It was a cycle I was trying to break.

“Key,” a quieter voice said with a nod, the last of the hotties. He was a leaner and lankier hot, more Steven Tyler or Mick Jagger rock ‘n’ roll. He had slightly shaggy, light brown hair with moody looking brown eyes. “You got any dessert on you?”

I shook my head. “Nope, sorry. Maybe if I come back.”

I was rewarded with a half-smile from Mr. Brooding. As I was pretty sure that was as close to happy as he got, I was cool with it.

My answer was welcomed by a bunch of smiling, eager faces and murmurings of desserts to come. Most guys were predictable when it came to food. I’d delivered cakes for children’s birthdays, and it was the men that were hanging around, looking for a chance to swipe some.

“Guys, seriously, work,” a rough, annoyed, and very in control voice bit out. I almost jumped up and started working at his order, it was that firm. I, apparently, was the only one since the guys still stood around talking about desserts they liked. Jake looked up and inhaled deeply before going back to his paper. “Moving on. Why do baked goods need better speakers?”

“No, the baked goods don’t. I do.”

“Yours broke?”

“No.”

“Then why the speakers?”

“I spend a big chunk of time making deliveries. Have you ever tried driving without being able to really crank up your music?”

“What do you listen to?” Kase questioned.

If my vibe mumbled introvert, Kase’s seemed to shout extrovert, complete with neon sign, marching band, and flares. His friendly bordered on flirtatious, but there didn’t seem to be any actual interest.

In fact, all of the men appeared to be paying more attention to Jake’s reaction, not having any of their own.

Too bad for them since Jake was sticking to the mostly silent glowering.

“Almost anything,” I answered Kase. “But mostly rock. Can’t listen to rock at a ten when you can have an eleven.”

“Fuck,” I heard Jake mutter softly to himself.

“Did you just make a Spinal Tap joke?” Xavier asked.

Before I could answer, Kase laughed. “Damn, you’re full of surprises. Hiding a body of tats under that sexy librarian outfit you’re workin’?” he said jokingly. Which, of course, resulted in an immediate blush from me. “Oh, damn, I’m sorry, Piper, I didn’t mean to offend you, or make you feel uncomfortable. I don’t have a filter, so I—”

“Fuck,” Jake said again, loudly. I looked over to see him looking more than a little ticked.

“Damn, Jake, relax, I was apologizing. You know me, I didn’t mean to be a dick—” Kase started. Since Jake didn’t seem to like people finishing sentences, he was cut off again.

“That’s not why she blushed. Is it?” He turned his dark, intense green eyes to me.

“Well, no.” I smiled at Kase. “And I wasn’t offended, so don’t worry about it.”

“Ohhhhhkay.” Kase looked between Jake and I. “Well? What is it, then?” He glanced at Xavier and Eli who both appeared to be just as confused.

“He wasn’t wrong, was he?” Jake asked with a softer voice, though his eyes stayed intense. Scorching.

Get your mind out of your pants! Or, well, in this case, out of his pants!

“He was. I’m not a librarian,” I said, playing clueless.

“The tats?”

“Oh. About that. Well… I’m not covered.”

“No shit?” Warm Eyes asked.

“You can’t leave us hanging like that. We gotta see some ink,” Xavier said, his smooth voice accented slightly.

“Most of them can’t really be seen without me taking off… Well, they just can’t be seen right now. I got one I can show.” I rolled up my sleeve. On the inside of my wrist was a hot pink star with the word ROCK written inside it in a very badass font.

“That is fuckin’ rock!” Kase said, complete with sticking his index and pinky fingers out to make the horns. “What else ya got?”

“Uhh, a swallow on each shoulder blade, musical notes down my ribs, shooting stars on the sides of my pelvis, and a heart on my lower back. And, uh, yup, that’s it for now.”

“For now?” Eli asked.

I lifted a shoulder. “Yeah, well, I like ink, so who knows?”

“Speaking of work,” Jake growled, though no one mentioned it. Slamming his pen down, he turned to Eli, Xavier, and Kase. “You mind steppin’ back into the fuckin’ garage and getting’ some shit done?”

This was met with a “Yeah”, “Fine”, and “Whatever”. But it worked and the guys said their goodbyes before heading back through the door.

I turned my attention to Jake, who was watching me intently. “I’m really sorry about that. I didn’t mean to get in the way.”

“Yeah, sure,” he muttered, shaking his head as he sat on a metal stool.

“Pardon?”

“Don’t sweat it.”

I didn’t know what that meant, and was saved from more tense awkwardness when Z came out.

If Eli didn’t look like he belonged in a garage, Z definitely did not. He looked like he’d be more at home in a board room. Or a GQ spread. Or on a yacht with a supermodel. The fact he wasn’t wearing a custom tailored suit somehow surprised me. Sure, working on cars was dirty work, but still, it just seemed like that would be his casual wear.

Z was what I called ‘Rockabilly Dapper’. Around six feet tall, he was lean with compact muscles. I’d guess he was in his mid-thirties, but he didn’t look it. He had some ink, was wearing the heck out of a white tee and ass hugging black jeans, and was rockin’ a fantastic pompadour.

I seriously didn’t know how he could be working in a garage and still have perfectly coiffed hair. I could spend an hour on my hair, and five minutes in the humidity would leave it in total disarray.

I was pretty sure Z owned Hyde, but I’d never had the chance to ask. Our conversations at the few events we’d both attended had always been friendly but short. After a few minutes of small talk, Mommy Dearest would move me along to some boring Ivy League creeper.

I liked Z. And not because he reminded me of a GQ model and called me Doll Face.

Okay, not just that.

“I got good news and bad news, Doll Face. The air is working. And I’m pretty sure I froze a ball testing it. But the new speakers didn’t work. I hooked your old ones back up.”

I smiled at him. “That’s okay, the air was the most important part.”

“I can get replacements, but not until tomorrow’s shipment. Can you come back in on Friday, around eleven?”

I had a clear schedule. I knew it for a fact, not because it was only two days away. I could easily lose track of what day it was.

Or what time.

Or what I’d had for breakfast.

No, I knew because my schedule was almost never clear. When it was, it was memorable thing.

“Yeah, that’s no problem. Thanks, Z.”

“It’s my job. Now let’s get you out of here.”

I paid for the work on my air, though I got the distinct impression it was less than I owed. A lot less. I also got the distinct impression you didn’t argue with Z. Especially if it was about him doing something nice.

“Alright, Doll Face, follow me,” Z said as he walked through the door to the garage.

I started following before stopping to look at Jake. “Sorry about being in the way. It was nice to meet you.”

Nothing.

Okay, maybe not nothing. He looked at me. Like, looked at me, making my heart pound in my throat. I was sure he could hear it, it was so loud. I wasn’t entirely convinced he couldn’t see it.

I turned quickly, and was almost to the door before I heard him.

“Piper, stop,” he said in that firm, bossy voice.

I stopped.

I don’t get how those guys can ignore that tone.

“Turn around.”

I turned around.

“Fuck,” he murmured.

Why couldn’t that be an order?

That thought required another clearing internal head shake, though they didn’t seem to be helping.

“Said it already. Don’t sweat it. Come around Friday, bring some dessert or they’ll never shut up, yeah?”

“Was already planning on it.” I loved to bake and used any chance to. And I had a feeling those boys wouldn’t turn away food of any kind, let alone sugary baked goods.

“Of course you were. See ya Friday, babe.”

“Yup,” I muttered as I took off through the door.

*******

“So, how is it?” Z asked as I slid out from the back of the van.

“Well, if any of you decide to start smuggling penguins, let me know. I can help with transport.” It was cold. I was glad my bra had a bit of padding to it because there was a definite tightness in my nipples.

Which of course has nothing to do with the badass, hot guy parade. Grand Master of that parade being Jake.

See? Good at lying to yourself.

“Seriously, though, it’s perfect. No more melty cakes. Thank you,” I said to Z.

“It’s my job, Doll Face. I’ll see you back here Friday. It might take a while with the speakers, so be prepared.”

“Sounds like a plan.” I hopped up into the seat and spoke through the rolled down window. “See you then.”

As I carefully pulled out, I turned my music up. Singing loudly, and badly, I thought about how I couldn’t wait for my new speakers.

Yup, it’s the speakers I’m looking forward to.

*******

“Piper!”

I hadn’t even turned off the van when my door was opened by a grinning Kase.

“Hey, how’s it going?” Looking around, I saw all of the guys were in the garage. I wished, not for the first time, that I was about six inches taller, thereby having the ability to get out gracefully. Instead, I stepped down awkwardly.

I slid open the side door of the van, bending and climbing slightly in to get the goodies.

“Hell, babe, hop out,” I heard close behind me.

Standing up, I moved out of the way. “I was just getting the stuff I brought.”

Jake reached in and grabbed the containers. He was muttering something, but I missed it over the noise of a bunch of grown men.

Not just grown, but badass, tough guy, hot men, acting like eight year olds over a treat.

“Shit, you were for real?” Xavier asked.

“About bringing dessert? Of course. Who would lie about something so serious?” I asked in mock horror.

I moved to take the cake boxes from Jake, but he just jerked his head and walked away. I took this to mean that I was supposed to follow. Which I did, partially because my brain was mush and partially because I had no clue where to go otherwise.

Mostly, though, it was because he had a really nice ass.

We went down a long hallway, giving me plenty of time to enjoy the view. The guys followed me, or, more likely, the cupcakes.

Jake set the boxes down on a table in their break room. “Babe, there are six men that work here. How much did you bring?”

I liked to bake. Really liked it. Which meant I occasionally went overboard.

Just sometimes.

Rarely, really.

It almost never happened.

It totally happened all the friggin’ time.

“Uhh, only twenty-four cupcakes.” Which wasn’t that much. Not really. “And twenty-four cookies.” Big cookies. Delicious, chewy, gooey long after they’d cooled, cookies. “I like to bake,” I stated, as if it needed to be said.

“Yeah, I kinda figured that one out.”

“Hell, Doll Face. Seriously. You made this?” Z asked, cupcake in hand, frosting on his lips.

“Yeah.”

“It’s good.”

The fact he ate a whole thing in two bites had tipped me off.

To be fair, it was a strawberry cupcake with whipped cream cheese frosting. They were my specialty for a reason.

“Yo, Pipe,” Kase said from across the table.

“Yeah?”

Kase held up a cookie and winked. “It’s fuckin’ delicious.”

“Thanks, Kase.”

“Gotta ask, you cook?”

“Like savory food?”

“Shit, I dunno. Like cook. You know meals. Dinner and shit.”

“Yeah, Kase. Not as good as I can bake, but I can cook.”

“Run away with me?”

“Christ.” Jake shook his head. “Keep it in your pants, Kase. The rest of you, finish what you got and get your asses back to work. Now.” After barking out those orders, Jake’s voice softened as he looked down at me and said, “Piper, this shit is amazing.”

Helloooooo, jello knees.

“Thanks. I’m gonna head out to the waiting room.” As long as my knees could carry me, that is.

“No.” His tone was back to bossy. Surprise, surprise.

Oh, I like bossy voice.

Shh, quiet, girly bits!

“What?” I asked.

“You eat?”

“What?”

Where’s my brain? I know what eating means. Why am I such a dingus?

“You know, food. Not sugar in cake form. Have you had lunch?”

“No, I was just planning on walking somewhere.”

Jake turned to Kase. “I’m takin’ Piper to grab a bite. Do your shit, we’ll be back.” It wasn’t an invitation.

Even if it was, I doubt I’d have said no.

I turned to the rest of the guys and waved as Jake grabbed my other hand. “Uh, I’m glad you all like the dessert,” I said over my shoulder as he pulled me out the door. It took me a second to wrap my brain around the fact that Jake was still holding my hand as we stepped outside the shop.

My hand? His hand?

Yum.

I looked up at Jake as we walked. “You don’t have to do this. I’m sure you’re busy.”

Shh. Don’t ruin it. Lunch. Hand holding! Shut up!

“I’m not letting you sit in there all afternoon.”

“Seriously, it’s cool. Z warned me it’d be a while. I came prepared.”

“No, you didn’t.”

Uhh, what?

Which, lack of filter meant I said, “Uhh, what?”

My question went unanswered. Though Jake stayed silent, he did it still holding my hand. It was strangely hot. His hand was much larger than mine. I normally hated my petite size, but suddenly I was seeing some major benefits.

We came to a stop in front of a small deli. “You like sandwiches?”

I raised my brows up at him. “Who doesn’t like sandwiches?”

“Fair enough.”

Jake opened the door and the scent of fresh baked bread hit me.

“I love that smell.”

“What one?”

I grinned up at him. “Fresh bread. Regular bread smells good. But the warm, carby smell of fresh bread? Unbeatable. Did you know they sell bread scented candles? It isn’t like the real thing, of course.”

Jake chuckled. “Of course. Figure out what you want, babe.”

When we ordered at the counter, Jake paid and I tried to protest. He gave me a look and I stopped protesting. When it was ready, he grabbed our order and guided us to a table tucked in a corner.

As we got settled I asked again, “Why couldn’t I sit in the waiting room?”

“You said you were prepared.” He shook his head. “You weren’t.”

“How do you figure that?”

“Your clothes.”

I looked down. “I’m not following.”

“Too much skin.”

What the hell? What century did I unwittingly time travel to?

“Maybe if I was a nun.” My thick strapped, black ribbed tank and black cuffed shorts hardly seemed indecent. It was Massachusetts in July, which meant it was hot. I could look outside and see a handful of women, and even a couple men, wearing much less.

“Trust me. There were other customers in the waitin’ room. Shorts, emphasis on the short, and a tank top. Definitely too much skin.”

“Thanks for the heads-up, fashion police,” I muttered.

“Eat.”

I didn’t know what to say. So, I didn’t say anything.

I glared.

“Eat,” Jake ordered again, immune to my dirty look.

I picked up my turkey sandwich and we ate in silence.

*******

After lunch, I wasn’t surprised when Jake brought me to the break room. We hadn’t said more than a few words to each other on the walk back, though he’d held my hand again.

So, awkward, silent lunch followed by hand holding?

Meh, I’ve had worse days.

“I gotta see how much fuckin’ around they’re doin’. Hang out in here ‘til the van is done. One of the men will come get you.”

Since I couldn’t wait to investigate the break room, I nodded.

Jake started to walk away before pausing and turning back. “Piper?”

“Yeah?” Breathy. Again.

God, I was an idiot.

I’d decided Jake was kind of an ass, though a hot one. Coincidentally, he was a hot ass with a hot ass. But he was still an ass.

I was trying to avoid people who made me feel small. Well, small-er.

“Just… Help yourself to anything, yeah?”

“Okay. Thanks again, Jake.”

“Yeah.” With a chin lift he was gone, leaving me to explore.

Their break room was a full blown, restaurant grade kitchen. It had a six burner gas stove and a shit ton of counter space. The countertops were a gorgeous black granite and the appliances a gleaming, stainless steel.

It was what I’d want my dream kitchen to look like. Modern, but comfy.

Tiptoeing like I was breaking the law, I opened the huge walk-in cooler to find a bunch of car parts. “So that’s how they make such cool cars.” I looked around quickly. “Thank God no one was around to hear that,” I whispered to myself.

After surreptitiously taking a few pictures, I settled into a lush couch and brought out my iPad. I’d just started reading when Kase came in and headed straight for the box of baked goods.

“Pipe. Seriously. Did you put crack in these cookies?” Since I’d seen him earlier, he’d pulled his dreads back and lost his t-shirt.

Oh, how unfortunate. I should help him find it and all his other shirts.

And burn them.

It’ll be my service to all womankind.

His white tank top and low hung jeans were smudged with grease.

Oh, I see… Golden hued, ripped, flirty, crystal blue-eyed… Wait, where was I going with this again? Oh yeah. So Kase can wear a tank but I can’t?

I smiled at him. “Nope, even worse. Loads of sugar.”

“They’re awesome. You have crazy kitchen skills.”

“Speaking of crazy kitchens, what’s the deal with this one?”

“It used to be a restaurant-slash-party house before it was Hyde’s. Too much work and too expensive to change this room, with the gas line from the stove and all. Plus, kind of hard to disguise a walk-in. So, it was left as is, and made into the break room.”

“Gotcha.”

“I gotta head back. Thanks for the sweetness, Piper,” Kase said with a finger wave.

I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of a badass doing a finger wave.

As he walked out, I settled in to read. After about five minutes, I heard a distant and gentle, “Babe.”

I blinked. Or rather opened my eyes, and saw Jake looking down at me. I glanced behind him to the clock on the wall and saw the five minutes was more like an hour and a half.

“Damn,” I said through a yawn as I sat up and stretched.

Jake leaned back on the table, crossing his arms over his chest. “You good?”

“Yeah. Sorry. Dozed off reading.”

“Nah, it’s good. I would’ve let you sleep, but I didn’t know if you had to be anywhere. Your van is done.”

“Cool. Thanks.”

“Yeah,” he muttered as he stood. After giving me a chin lift, he left without another word.

I went to the front and paid Z, once again suspecting it was much less than it should have been.

“Ready to rock, Doll Face?” he asked, flipping me my keys.

I followed him back into the garage.

“Test her out. Put something hard on.”

I put my current favorite CD on and squealed as the bass pumped. Turning the volume down, I hopped out. “Z, this rocks. Thank you so much.”

“Quit with the thanks bullshit.”

“Alright. Sorry.” I grinned.

“Doll Face,” he warned. “Anything else you need?”

“Can you fix a dent?”

His eyes swept the van. “No dent.”

“No, it’s on my car.”

“Got a car?”

“Yeah, this is just for work since my car doesn’t have the space to hold cakes.”

Before Z could answer, Kase came through the door. “Z, Jake needs help in the office. He can’t find the papers for the Viper.”

Z lifted his chin. “Be back.”

As he left, Kase peeked in at the new speakers. “Damn, that sounds sweet. Fuckin’ rockin’ a minivan and shit. You like Harington?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I’m totally hooked on this album.”

“You know they’re playing tonight over at Rye, right?”

“Seriously?”

“We’re all heading over tonight, you should come with.”

“Sorry, I can’t. Crazy busy night with cakes.” While I had a ton of homework and some cakes to prep, that wasn’t what was stopping me.

“Piper, come on. Live a little. Let your hair down.” Kase smiled.

I have no doubt he uses that charming smile to get his way with chicks.

Or have his way with them.

“If it’s at Rye, I really can’t go.”

“Why? Did ya get tossed from there?”

“I’m not twenty-one yet.” I headed towards my van. “I can’t get in there.”

“For real? Not twenty-one?”

“Yeah, not for another couple months. Thanks for the invite though.”

“Twenty? Damn, you got your shit together. Good for you. Seriously. But you’re still coming with us.”

“I can’t. It’s cool, but—”

Kase pulled his cell from his pocket, touched the screen a few times, and held his finger up to me.

Apparently no one here likes to let people finish a freakin’ sentence.

I sighed and climbed into my van.

“Rhys? It’s Kase. Yeah? Yeah, I know, your Mom mentioned it while I was eating her last night.”

I grinned when he gave me a sheepish smile.

Hot.

I watched Kase walk back and forth as he talked. “Yeah, bud, look, I got a favor to ask. I know, I know. I got a friend that’s a big fan of Harington. Thing is, she’s only twenty. Ha, I wish. She’ll class your fuckin’ dump up. She’s at the shop. Get this. Getting a boss ass sound system put in a minivan. Nah, not a MILF. She bakes cakes and shit and uses the van to deliver. She brought some today and, I’m not kidding, I’d give up eating pussy for a week to have those cookies every day. Chocolate chip, pure crack. Yeah? I’m sure I can work that. Thanks man.”

I was bouncing with excitement by the time he ended the call.

“You’re in. Three things, though.” He held up a finger. “First, if you drink, don’t get stupid shitty.”

“Why would you be getting shitty?” Eli asked, startling me as he came into the garage.

I looked to see the rest of the men coming through the door

“She’s coming with us tonight,” Kase answered for me.

Eli and Xavier both looked happy. Key half smiled, which I counted as a grin from anyone else. Jake looked unreadable, and, at best, disinterested. I didn’t care. He was an ass that wasn’t interested in me. So what if my panties got wet every time his rough voice got bossy with me. It was probably a coincidence.

Seriously, the way you lie to yourself is deserving of an Oscar. It’s such a stellar performance.

“Okay as I was saying, don’t get stupid shitty drunk.” He held up another finger. “Second, Rhys says he wants some of your crack cookies tonight. That possible if I’m picking you up at eight?” At my nod, he lifted another finger. “Last, wear something sexy. Once again, direct quote from Rhys, though I ain’t arguing.”

“Fuckin’ A, Kase,” Jake cursed, tossing a stack of files onto a work bench. “I gotta tell you and Rhys to keep it in your pants?”

Kase lowered two of his fingers, leaving only the middle one up and pointed in Jake’s direction.

As much as I wanted to see Harington, I didn’t want to cause a bunch of drama. “I have a lot of work—”

I almost finished a full thought before Jake broke in. “You’re goin’. I’ll pick you up since Kase has got a full car already.”

Kase shook his head. “Eff that. Key can walk his scrawny ass.”

“Damn, why I gotta be the one to walk?” Key said in protest.

“Jesus,” Z said, cutting everyone off. He turned to me. “The car with the scratch, drive it tonight. Yeah?”

I nodded.

“Good. I’m all about the wires. Jake’s the best with dent skills. Let him see that shit, see what he can work.”

Again, I nodded, though this time more hesitantly.

“Good. See ya tonight, Doll Face.” With a wink to me, he grabbed the files from the workbench and walked out the door that lead to the hallway.

“Phone,” Jake ordered. Shocking.

I didn’t get what he was saying. Double shocking. “What?”

“Let me see your cell.”

Pulling it from my bag, I handed it over to Jake who had it for a minute before passing it to Kase. When I got it back, I had five new numbers, from five hot guys.

“Text one of us when you get there. Let us know where you park, and wait for us. You got a dent?”

“Yeah.”

“Alright, text me then. I’ll check it out. Yeah?”

I nodded, because, really, what other option did he give me?

“See you tonight, Piper Skye.”

Full name?

Yum.

“Rest of you sorry assholes, get back to work,” he said as he walked out.

I said my goodbyes and left in my van with its new, loud ass speakers. Rock on!