Michael
Ever since I took over the garage, business doubled. Buying the run-down station from that old man Nickels had been the smartest decision I made in years. Working for other assholes and letting them reap all the reward for my hard work didn’t work for me, especially when most of them wanted me to bow down and kiss their feet for even giving an ex-con like me a shot. Fuck that, and fuck them.
“Michael! Got another one for you,” Leroy called from the front seat of his truck. I waved him in and he pulled around the back. Most tow truck drivers worked for a single garage, going on a call when one came in. Not Leroy. He liked being a “freelancer.” Whatever the fuck that meant in the mechanics world.
I took a quick look at the run-down Honda he pulled behind his truck and shook my head. Whoever drove that car had run the poor thing into the ground. Rust spots on the back hood and the door to the gas tank wasn’t original but had been pieced back together. Who knew what I would find under the hood once I got her up on the lift.
“Where’d you get this piece of shit?” I tapped on the hood as Leroy hopped out of his truck.
“Some hot chick a few blocks away. Called in a dead battery. I tried jumping it, but still wouldn’t turn.”
“Ah, damsel in distress?” I looked over at the cab of his truck. “Where is she? You have her tied up in your truck?”
Leroy shook his head. If the chick wasn’t with him, it wasn’t by his choice. “That’s more your game anyway.” He winked and started unhooking the car. “Said she had to run to school or something.”
I laughed. “Going for them young now?”
“UIC, you prick,” he called from behind the car. “Her info’s on the dash. Said she’d be here this afternoon. Real tight, that one, wound up good.” Every woman who turned Leroy down had something wrong with them, according to Leroy.
“Thanks.” I reached in the front window and pulled out the paper with her contact info on it. I read the name on the invoice and my heart squealed to a stop. Lauren Robertson. No way it was her. After all those years of staying clear of her, no way her car ended up in my shop. Just a coincidence. My Lauren would have been done with college two years ago. No way this was my Lauren.
I dragged my hand through my short-cropped hair. Fuck. She wasn’t mine anymore. Hadn’t been for seven years. I walked away from her, from that place. Nothing had ever been harder to do than decide not to go back after juvie finally released me. I could have. My dad would have let me go home, had even asked me to move in with him, but I couldn’t. I needed space between that past and my future. By the time I was released, Lauren’s mom had gotten rid of that asshole drunk of a husband. She was safe enough. My going back would only bring trouble with me, and Lauren needed to get clear of trouble. She had had enough of that shit growing up.
I kept tabs on her for a few years, made sure she wasn’t getting into shit like her mom did. Once I heard she’d gotten a scholarship to college, I had made my decision to let her be. Last I heard, she had moved into the city somewhere. Like me, she didn’t keep up with the old neighborhood. No, this Lauren had to be a different one.
“You okay, man?” Leroy waved an oil stained hand in front of my face. “You look like you just saw a ghost.”
“This chick. What did she look like?” I couldn’t help myself. I needed to be sure.
“I dunno. Hot. Tight ass, nice tits.”
“Fuckin’ perv. What color hair?” I almost laughed at his description. If Leroy ever had to be a key witness to any crime the only thing he would ever be able to give the prosecution would be the cup size of the girl involved.
“Oh.” His eyes squinted as though thinking was that hard for him to do.
I did laugh then. “Never mind. Your eyes never left her ass.”
“If you had seen it, yours wouldn’t have either.” He gave me a light shove then headed back to his truck. “See you at Teddy’s on Saturday. Poker, ten o’clock. His girl’s gonna make snacks.” Teddy’s wife owned a food truck, the kind that sat in a parking lot all day feeding the machine workers at the factories. Her tamales couldn’t be beat.
“Yeah, see you then.” I headed back into the shop, determined to forget the name Lauren Robertson. I’d spent the last seven years trying to forget her.
***
Sure fire way to get a woman off your mind, get another woman. Kelly, an old flame that never quite fizzled out all the way, walked into my office sometime after lunch. Her car needed an oil change, no problem. Tony would have it done in no time.
“Since when do I have to sit in the waiting room?” She smiled at me from my office doorway. I raised an eyebrow at her and took my time taking in her body. Her tits overflowed my hands, and took a lot of punishment from me when I found myself in the mood. The low-cut tank top didn’t even try to hide them, and the too short tennis skirt gave me more than a little wood looking at her ass when she turned around to shut my door.
“Maybe I’m busy.” I leaned back in my chair, rolling away from desk to give her room to slide in. Her red hair had been pulled up into some tight bun thing on top of her head, but being the good girl she could be when she wanted to be, she pulled it down for me, letting it flow over her shoulders. Hopping on my desk, she planted her feet on the arms of my chair. Both capturing me and giving me a sweet view of her pussy. “No panties?”
“Figured why waste the time.” She moved her hands down her legs, smoothing down her skirt just until she reached the hem and pulled it up, exposing herself completely.
“Smart thinking.” I gave her a wink and leaned forward. Not moving her feet from my chair, I grabbed her waist and pulled her hard to the edge of my desk. Bringing her pussy right to my mouth, I dove in. Licking her, tasting her. Her hands wove into my hair, but I pushed them away. She knew better than that, and didn’t try again to control my movements.
Spreading her pussy lips, her clit came into view from its hiding place. I’d get her off in a just a few seconds; sucking that clit would drive Kelly wild. Always did. I’d let her come, then I’d fuck her hard. I needed the release. The fast and hard fuck would clear my head.
“Fuck, Michael.” Her hands gripped the side of my desk, her hips pushed up at me, a silent plea for more. “Goddamn. Fuck.” Her thighs started to tremble, she was close. Pushing three fingers into her wet pussy she came unleashed. Each breath accompanied another curse, another plea. “Cock. I want your cock, please, Michael.”
Standing up, I kicked my chair away and grabbed a condom from the top drawer of my desk. Kelly wasn’t the only girl who hated waiting in the public room. She licked her swollen lips watching me roll the condom down my cock. “Goddamn, I love that thing.” Her hand reached out to wrap around my dick, but I slapped her hand away.
“Not today.” Without another word, I wrapped my arms around her thighs, yanking them apart and up as I drove into her hard. She gasped, but wasn’t put out; she knew what kind of fucking she’d get when she walked into my office; it was the kind she came looking for. “Show me those tits.”
She pulled her tank up, letting her bare tits bounce freely. No bra. This girl wanted it bad. Letting go of one leg, I grabbed her tit, squeezing it hard until she arched her back up at me and squealed. That sound…that fucking beautiful sound. My cock plunged into her harder. Taking her nipple between my fingers, I twisted it this way and that until she was writhing beneath my grip.
“Please. Please,” she begged, but not for me to release her. No, she wanted to fucking come. “Dammit, please.”
The desk scrapped against the floor of the office. I released her tit and moved to her clit. If she thought she was close before, she would be surprised. I pressed the pad of my thumb down on and she nearly bucked off the desk, taking my cock deeper into her pussy. “That’s it. There it is. You wanna come?” I continued to stroke her, letting her lead me to my own release.
“Fuck yes. Michael. Please. No more teasing.” She gripped my forearms hard. I pushed her legs over my shoulders, making her pussy even tighter around my cock.
“Come for me, then.” I watched her face as she tried to scream out her orgasm. Not a sound. Just an open mouth ready to belt out her pleasure, frozen. I could feel her pussy pulsating around my dick and plowed into her even harder, not giving a fuck that the desk had worked its way a few feet away from where we started. The harder I pounded her, the harder she gripped my arms. The slight mixture of pain from her nails mingling with the tightness of her pussy threw me over the edge.
I pumped two more times into her, then froze. Letting the waves of my orgasm carry me away.
“Fuck, Michael.” Her heavy breathing started to slow while she lay on my desk, crushing my papers beneath her.
I pulled away from her, yanking the condom off and tossing it into the trash can. Once she hopped off my desk, I turned back to her, dick already put away, and sat back down in my chair, trying to catch my breath.
She righted her shirt and smoothed down her skirt. “I heard Leroy’s gonna bring a girl to the poker game on Saturday.” I hadn’t heard that, but he probably was. That guy couldn’t go a day without a new chick to bone, not that I had a problem with that. I supported his ruling on keeping women on his dick then letting them go free. I didn’t run as quick of a turnstile as he did, but fast enough to keep my cock well serviced and the rest of my life free of drama. “Maybe she could use some company.”
I checked my phone for messages, and ignored Kelly’s comment. Fishing for an invite wasn’t going to get her anything but a world of disappointment.
“Watching you guys play poker all night maybe would spark some other fun.” Going for the balls, the only way she knew how to get what she wanted.
“Maybe. I’m sure Leroy could use a second girl for his arm. Just give him a call.” I tossed the phone on my desk and pretended not to see the flash of anger in her eyes. It wasn’t my fault. I never gave her a line. I didn’t do long term. Fuck, I barely did short term. A few dates, maybe, several fucks, hell yeah, but never would I stick around long enough to get invested in a woman. That spelled trouble. And I’d had enough of that shit already.
My office door swung open and Tony popped his head through the opening. He noticed Kelly, but ignored her. “That Honda’s ready for you.”
“Thanks.” I waved him off and retied my boot that had come loose. When I walked past Kelly, still looking more like slapping me than kissing me, I gave her a peck on the cheek. “Didn’t think to lock the door when you came looking for your fuck?” Pleased with the proper caliber of humility in her expression, I left her in my office to finish the Honda.
***
The summer heat wouldn’t let up. Even with the industrial fans and garage air conditioners, the shop acted more like a furnace than a work place. The Honda had proven to have more than just a quick fix. The alternator had blown and the AC was completely out.
Tony had called the owner to get her okay on getting the repairs underway. I wanted to call, to see if that voice would strum a memory for me, but I forced myself not to. I had to forget her. I had to remember why staying away was best for her. The sort of life I found after getting out of juvie for beating that prick of a stepbrother of hers didn’t include her. It was too rough, too hard for a soft girl like Lauren. If the Honda belonged to her, I didn’t want to know.
The plan was to fix the car and hide myself in the back office until it was picked up. No need to put eyes on something I couldn’t have. In case it was her.
“Michael!” Tony called from the doorway of the office. I tightened the last bolt and stood up, shooting him a glare first. I hated being beckoned like some fucking dog. I owned the fucking place. Tony wised up. “Sorry,” he mumbled, and walked over to me. “The Honda ready? She’s here.”
Somewhere in the pit of my stomach a sour twisting started. My eyes instinctively went to the large window, searching her out. If I had thought myself prepared, I had been a fucking idiot.
She was older. Not just in years, but in looks. The stringy blonde hair I remembered always being pulled back in a ponytail hung around her shoulders with a gentle wave from the humidity. Still the same silvery blonde, but there was nothing stringy about the woman standing at my front desk. A backpack hung from one slender shoulder, accentuating her toned muscles. When she glanced my way, not seeing me yet, I could make out the subtle beauty that had captivated me so damn hard when we were in high school. Piercing blue eyes narrowed as she waited to hear back from Tony about her car. Her t-shirt had pinched tight around her chest from holding her bag, showing me exactly how much more woman she was now than the last time I saw her. Full breasts filled out her shirt. Had they always been so beautiful, or had the years of telling myself she was an innocent kid warped my memory of her?
“Michael!” Tony waved a hand in my face, breaking my stare. She still hadn’t seen me, but she was walking to the window, peering into the garage.
“Yeah. It’s done. Discount her. Parts only.” I shoved my way around him, heading to the sink to clean off the grease before shuffling into my office to hide.
“Michael?” A soft voice froze me as I took a step. “Michael.” A firmer voice now. Insistent. Fuck.
I looked over my shoulder, just to verify what I already knew. Lauren stood in the doorway of my garage, holding the door and searching me with her eyes. When I turned around completely, I couldn’t help the smile that started to tug at my lips. Fuck, she was gorgeous. Tears sprung to her eyes, and I shook my head. That’s why I needed to hide. She didn’t need my sort of complicated in her life.
“Lauren.” I forced a neutral tone, and made no move to close the gap between us. I didn’t need to, she walked into the garage, ignoring Shane calling her from the front desk to stay out of the restricted work space.
“You’re here.” She shook her head and grinned. “Of course you’re here. I see you. When did you get back to town?” Her standing in full view now, I could take in the curves of her hips, the tightness of her thighs. The yoga pants she wore hid nothing from me.
“A while ago. Your car is ready. Shane will check you out, and Tony will bring it around front for you. You should still get a full tune up, but you can bring it back another day for that. Or to another shop closer to home.” I turned back to the sink, needing to busy myself and get away from her before I wrapped her in my arms. The urge to touch her, to just feel her under my fingers became too much. I needed the distraction.
“Oh. Uh. Well, I’m only about a half a mile away. So I guess I could bring it back. Maybe next month.” I heard the waver in her voice and knew it for what it was—her shield. She wanted to get to the heart of it all; she wanted to ask me where the fuck I’d been for the past seven years. Why the hell I didn’t call her from juvie, or return any of her letters, but she wouldn’t. Not yet.
“Okay.” I nodded, not looking over at her. I knew what I would see. I would see disappointment, hurt, and I wasn’t ready for that yet. I needed to steel myself against her first. To remind myself it was for her benefit. “Like I said, Shane will get you all set up.” I yanked a paper towel from the holder and nodded toward the door she had just walked through.
“I heard you.” A little more heat in her words, maybe she was recovering quicker than I thought she would. “Michael. Where have you been all this time?”
“Around.” I looked over at Tony. “Can you get the Honda pulled up front? She’s in a hurry.”
“No, I’m not,” she countered, her eyes burned into me. “I’m free the rest of the afternoon.” Her chin went up an inch, and her shoulders rolled back, but she sucked in the left corner of her lower lip.
“Liar.” I tried not to grin and it damn near killed me.
“Well, I could be free,” she mumbled, casting her glance down.
“Lauren, you should go.”
“Michael, I’ve tried finding you for years.”
“Well, you found me. Now you should go.”
Her feet shifted uncomfortably, and that damn lip trembled. “I don’t understand. After you…when you went away, you just disappeared.” The engine of her car started, and we both ignored Tony as he pulled out of the garage.
“It was better that way. Now go, Lauren.” If she took another step toward me, I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands at my sides. I knew I would pull her in for hug, and then I’d never fucking let her go. And she needed to go. “Lauren, I never contacted you because I didn’t want to. I didn’t answer your fucking letters because I didn’t want to. Don’t you get that?” I forced the harshness into my voice, ignoring how much the words grated against my conscience.
She blinked a few times. “You blame me for what happened.” I almost didn’t hear her; she spoke so softly. “It wasn’t my fault. I didn’t—”
“No. I told you how many times to stay clear of that fucking asshole if he came home. Didn’t I? I said if you see him, wait in the house. Lock yourself in your room until I got there. But you didn’t. You stayed on the fucking porch.” Everything I said was true, but I never once in all the years of my going in and out of the system did I blame her for what happened. She had been too innocent. Had given too much credit to the wrong people. “Your car’s out front. Forget the bill. Just go.”
Walking away from her at that moment had to be the right thing to do. I needed to put distance between us, even if I had just torn open wounds for her. It was best she knew what sort of man I had become since we’d last seen each other. I wasn’t that loving, caring little boy she loved. I didn’t need that shit.
I heard the soft sob escape her as I walked by, but ignored it. I walked into my empty office and slammed the door. Fuck. Once I was sure she had left the garage, I looked through the blinds of my office to check, I went out to let Tony know to write off the parts for her job.
I saw her pull out into the street, her wheels squealing as she took the turn too damn fast. A loud roar of an engine caught my attention, and I ran out into the front of the garage. She drove through the green light, but the engine I’d heard belonged to a Challenger, going too fucking fast and not even trying to stop at the red light. I screamed out to Lauren to stop, but my words were lost in the sounds of metal crunching, a high-pitched scream from within her car. The Challenger plowed right into her passenger side, pushing her several feet into the intersection.
My lungs burned as I sprinted to her. Please let her be okay.