“That was kinda hot,” I tease.

A soft rumble of his chest is the only indication he heard me. “You can stop with the statue impersonation, Big Man. I know you can talk.” I poke him in the shoulder.

He grabs my waist to pull me off the counter. I lean back and grab the edge behind me. I’m not going to make it easy on him. His callused fingers slide around my wrists with a firm grip and I lose my hold. Pinning my arms behind my back, Devin slides me off and into him. My chest is pressed against his. His eyes are burning into me. My heart is doing its best to smash through my rib cage and my mouth is drier than the Gobi Desert.

“I’m not sure which one is sexier, Sweet Devin or Angry Devin.” I hum, my body charged under his electric touch. He tightens his grip on my wrists, pulling me harder against him as he leans down. My eyes flutter closed and my lips part to suck in a ragged breath.

The doorbell jingles and Devin’s body shoots away from mine. Frustration surges through me and I whip around to meet the unwelcome intruder.

“Am I interrupting something?” a cute girl asks from the doorway with a mischievous smirk. She can’t be much more than sixteen or seventeen, but the way Devin clears his throat and reorganizes a stack of invoices, you’d think we’d just been caught butt-naked and going at it. Holy shit, is he blushing? Too adorable for words.

I slap on my customer-service face. “Welcome to East Side Auto Service. How can we help you?”

The girl looks between Devin and me. Devin’s ignoring her. I’m grinning like an idiot. She takes a couple of tentative steps forward. “And you are?”

“Jessica Allen.” Feeling the tension rolling off Devin beside me, I can’t help but add, “Devin’s future girlfriend. And you are?”

Devin’s eyes snap to me and, without looking, I feel them searing the side of my face.

The girl looks back at Devin and cracks up. She closes the distance to the counter. “Rebecca Bennett. Devin’s sister.”

I shake her hand and we both send teasing glances over to Devin. He groans and the sound makes me want to push him further. I slide around the counter and wrap Rebecca in a hug. She goes with it, loving the irritation splashed across her brother’s face as much as me.

“Sister!” I exclaim. “I’ve always wanted a little sister.” Rebecca and I both laugh.

Devin snaps, “What do you need, Becs?”

“Me? I’m just here to get to know my future sister-in-law,” she deadpans.

Devin scoffs and skulks off to the back office.

Becs holds up her hand for a high-five. I think I love her.

Chapter Seven

Jessie

I am nervous. I know the business plan I’ve laid out for the shop is solid. I’ve spent almost every free waking minute on this thing. It’s not convincing Rob I’m worried about. It’s Devin. If his veiled antagonism is anything to go off, he’s going to resist my ideas like his life depends on it.