She’s like an eclipse, fascinating but deceptively dangerous. She makes me want to give in, to lose control—something I know from my family’s violent history I can never afford to do.

I’m in the far bay, helping Mikey sort out a rats’ nest of wires, one of which keeps causing an electrical short. His eyes are eating up Jessie’s curves with a young hunger. He’d be a better fit for her, ready to have some fun and make the mistakes life hasn’t taught him to avoid yet. I tap the pliers on the frame of the Toyota to catch his attention and point down at the problem at hand. He tears his eyes off Jessie and ducks back under the hood.

I glare at her while indulging in the sight of those long legs in those short shorts. She stops to give Sean a big hug, unconcerned with the grease and assorted shit on his overalls that’s going to stain her white shirt. His hands stay on her sides, a friendly gesture, but it makes me curl my fingers into fists, eager to touch her. Sean leans down and says something in her ear. Her stare snaps to me and that dauntless persona drops for half a beat. When Sean pulls back, Jessie kisses him on the cheek. I let out a light grunt, jealous of the old hippie for the first fucking time in my life.

Jessie passes by Shelley’s stall and gives her a fist bump. Shelley gestures to me over her shoulder. I can’t hear what she says, but it’s Shelley, so I’m sure it was X-rated. Jessie’s eyebrows do that teasing wiggle, a soft pink covers her cheeks and she bites her lower lip.

After Shelley, mine is the only bay left. Jessie takes her time making her way over. She keeps her hazel eyes locked on me, that sexy grin on her lips. I stand tall, legs wide and arms crossed, watching her strut through my auto shop like it’s a goddamn catwalk. She’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.

“Hot damn,” Mikey murmurs next to me. He clears his throat and returns his gaze under the hood where it belongs. “Found our problem. Looks like the left turn signal.” He thinks I can’t tell he’s been sneaking peeks at Jessie rather than doing his damn job. I don’t bother acknowledging him. JB has my full attention.

She steps up to me, into me. She mocks my pose, legs wide and arms crossed. With a scowl that looks as natural as lipstick on a pig, she peers up at me, bats those long lashes and grunts. “Hey.”

My control melts under the heat of my desire for this woman. I’m starved for her, and in this minute, I don’t give a fuck who knows it. In a flash I cup her face and crash my lips on hers. She’s surprised as hell, almost jumping out of her skin and letting out a startled yip. The sound makes me grin against her mouth. She recovers, breaking our kiss for the briefest moment before she unfolds her arms and wraps them around my waist, pulling me against her.