Chapter 11
Brad
Despite already having started work on Olivia’s Jeep, I now needed to work up an official estimate for her. I didn’t bother before because our payment agreement wasn’t exactly something that could be put down on paper. When I went into the shop the next morning though, I knew I needed something official to put on the books. Rex had been right about one thing, if word got out that I was screwing a customer, it would be bad for business.
Still, that didn’t deter me from seeing Olivia. I would continue seeing her as long as she wanted. I just didn’t know how long that would be.
After we had sex the night before, she told me about her new job at Carla’s art gallery. I’d known Carla for years, and I knew she would help Olivia out. Still, that didn’t mean Olivia would stick around Santa Fe any longer than she had to. Once she earned enough money to pay for the repairs, she would be gone, and there wasn’t anything I could do about that.
The thought of her leaving bothered me more than it should have. I wasn’t the kind of guy to get emotionally attached to a woman, and yet, it made my stomach ache to imagine Olivia leaving town for good.
I told her I wanted to keep seeing her, even though she was now paying me cash for my work on her car. Our arrangement ended, but that didn’t mean our fun had to. She never answered whether that was something she wanted to. Instead, she changed the subject, and I left her hotel room without knowing where we stood. I tried not to dwell on it, but as the day dragged on, I found myself thinking about her more and more.
She said she’d stop by the shop today to pick up the estimate but it was already lunchtime, and she hadn’t yet stopped by. I wondered if she was working at the gallery or if she just wasn’t ready to see me yet. Maybe she was afraid of turning me down, of admitting she didn’t want to see me anymore. I told myself I wouldn’t care if she did, that I would remain professional cordial despite the reject but I secretly hoped I wouldn’t have to do that.
The connection between me and Olivia was primal, and I didn’t want it to end. No matter how long she stayed in Santa Fe, I wanted her while she was here.
After Rex got back from lunch, he came over to join me by Olivia’s Jeep. I had my head buried under the hood, jotting down notes on my clipboard as I inspected it.
“What’s up?” Rex asked. “We already know what’s wrong with it.”
“Gotta work up an official estimate,” I said.
“Oh,” Rex said. “Why?”
“Olivia’s coming in later so we can work out that payment plan I told you about,” I said. “She’ll need a full estimate when she gets here.”
“Got it,” Rex said, suspicion in his voice. “When did she tell you this?”
“What?” I asked, distracted by my work.
“That she was coming by today,” Rex said. “When did she tell you? Did she call while I was out?”
“Oh,” I said. I shook my head. “No, she told me last night.”
“She called the shop?” Rex asked, his eyebrows raised.
I sighed and looked up at him. He was clearly probing me for information, and I didn’t appreciate it. Whatever was going on between me and Olivia was none of his business. I didn’t want to share the intimate details of my life with Rex, especially when they involved Olivia.
“What are you getting at, Rex?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he said, shrugging. “Just making conversation.”
“Well, don’t,” I said. “Just get back to work,”
“Yes, boss,” Rex said, his tone mocking.
I rolled my eyes and finished up my inspection on Olivia’s Jeep. With my clipboard in hand, I hurried into the office to type up the official estimate. It wasn’t going to be cheap. Even working for Carla, Olivia would have a hard time paying the entire bill. I sighed and tried to think of ways I could cut costs. If I reduced my fee for labor, then it would cut off at least—
I shook myself. Sighing deeply, I threw down the estimate and closed my eyes. I ran my hands over my face and tried to relax. What was it about this girl? Here I was, thinking about her constantly and going out of my way to make her bill cheaper. What the hell happened to me?
All day, I’d been stressing about our conversation from the night before. I was worried she would say no to seeing me again and that I would be forced to keep my desire in check. It wasn’t like me to care this much. Just the thought of her leaving town was enough to make my chest ache and my palms sweat. I had to pull myself together, or everything would turn to shit.
I finished Olivia’s estimate and tucked it away on my computer. It was almost time to close the garage, so I knew she’d stop in soon. I thought about going back out to the garage to distract myself with work while I waited for her but I never got the chance. Just as I rose from my chair, I heard the distinctive sound of the front door. Peering around the wall, I saw Olivia stroll through the lobby and stop by the front desk. I grabbed her estimate and hurried out to meet her.
“Hey,” she said, her face lighting up with a radiant smile. I swallowed hard and smiled back at her.
“Hi,” I said. “I was beginning to wonder if you were going to show.”
“Sorry about that,” she said softly. “I’m here now, though. What’s the damage?”
I slid the estimate over to her and watched as her face fell. Her eyes darkened and her forehead furrowed. I knew the price was intimidating, but when she looked back up at me, there was a determined look in her eyes.
“Okay,” she said with a nod. “I can do that.”
“You don’t have to pay it all right away,” I said. “We can work out a payment plan.”
“I was hoping for that,” she said, relieved. “I won’t make a lot at the art gallery, but I’ll make a little each week.”
“Sounds great,” I said. “Just factor in your hotel costs and then pay me the rest. We’ll do that until the bill is paid off.”
“Perfect,” Olivia said, smiling. “Thank you so much for doing this.”
“It’s nothing,” I said. “What am I going to do? Slam the door in your face?”
She laughed and shook her head. Her eyes fell to the counter, and she blushed slightly. When she looked up at me, the determined look was gone from her face. In its place was that fire I recognized immediately.
“I’ve been thinking about our conversation from last night,” she said softly. “And, I don’t want to stop seeing you either.”
“You don’t?” I asked, heat flooding my stomach.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t know how long I’ll be in Santa Fe. Once I get the Jeep paid off and a bit of money saved up… Well, I don’t know what my next move will be. I just thought you should know that before we continued anything.”
“I know,” I said. “I like you, Olivia. If all we do is have some fun while you’re in town, that’s fine with me.”
I wasn’t sure my words were entirely true but when she leaned across the counter to press her lips against mine, it no longer mattered. I melted into her, letting the kiss drag on until a slamming door made us jump apart.
Olivia blushed, and I felt my face grow hot. That kiss, unlike the others, was full of more than just sexual desire. I felt myself sinking into her, losing myself in the feel of her soft lips. In a daze, I glanced around to see who had come through the door. Thankfully, it was just Rex moving through the office. He was still in the back and hadn’t seen a thing.
I grinned at Olivia, licking my lips and staring at her. She laughed and rolled her eyes, leaning forward and letting her cleavage spill out of her shirt.
“The shop should be closing soon, right?” she asked softly.
The answer to her question came in the form of Rex. He walked around the corner and stopped when he saw us standing there.
“I’m heading out,” he said. “Everything’s all locked up out there.”
“Thanks,” I said without looking at him. “See you tomorrow.”
Olivia and I stared at each other until we heard Rex’s truck fire up. Her grin was mischievous as she jumped on top of the counter and swung her legs over it, dropping to her feet in front of me.