“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.