“And you want to get into her?” Austin deadpans.

I ignore him and walk around the hood to the driver’s-side door. Austin follows after me, laughing lightly.

“Sorry, couldn’t help myself. You walked into that one.” He grabs my door so I can’t slam it in his face. “So, why don’t you? We both know you’ve wanted her since that party.”

“She’s not my style.”

Austin cocks his head to the side and stares at me. The shape of Jessie’s curves flash through my mind again and I know I’m full of shit. She’s gorgeous. She’s every man’s style. That’s the problem. A girl like that has options. A future. Somewhere far away from my dirty little auto shop. Any fun we might have isn’t going to beyond a few months. I’m sure the fireworks would be spectacular right until they burn my life to ash. The drama ain’t worth it. I like steady. Reliable.

“It’s not going to hurt anything to have a little fun for once, Dev.” Austin lets go of the door and slaps the hood of my car. “Who knows, you might like it.”

I rev the engine as I drive off. Fuck Austin. Fuck Jessie. Fuck everyone trying to tell me what I’m going to like.

I lock myself in my office after the gym and charge through the day, forgetting Austin and all the rest of it. The door jingles and the sound of Jessie’s light laugh fills the shop. It’s an amazing sound, like pure unadulterated happiness. Like nothing in life could ever touch her. It grates on my nerves for reasons I’m not willing to admit. I walk to the office doorway and take in the sight of Mikey making goofball faces at Jessie, who’s doubled over in laughter.

“I swear, he blew up like a marshmallow over the fire!” He sets down the large paint cans he’s holding and floats around the shop like he’s a balloon in the Macy’s day parade, arms wide and cheeks puffed out. He catches me staring. Straightening up, he clears his throat and looks sheepishly back at Jessie. “Hey, Dev. I was just telling Jessie about that time Sean forgot he was allergic to shellfish.”

“How does someone forget they’re allergic to something?” She giggles, setting down two large bags full of what looks like painting supplies. She turns to face me, tracing her gaze up my body, her eyes sparkling with delight when they meet mine.

I’m snarling and she’s smiling. This woman doesn’t intimidate easily. She’d laugh in Death’s face.

“That’s Sean for you,” Mikey adds. I glare at him and he wipes his sweaty palms on his jeans. “I’ll just go see if anyone needs help cleaning up.” He slips out to the service bays, leaving me alone with Jessie.

“Have fun?” I bark out.

She looks over at where Mikey’s stealing glances at her. “Sure. He’s sweet.”

It bothers me even though I know it shouldn’t. She can flirt with whoever the hell she wants. I stalk up to her, encroaching on her personal space. She doesn’t budge. She straightens up and pulls her shoulders back.