Chapter 2
Sofia put down the wrench and surveyed her handiwork. She wasn’t exactly sure what part of her car’s engine she had destroyed, but it would no longer turn over.
The sun was only just starting to break the horizon, and Main Street was still deserted. She’d driven in early and parked out front of the deli, opposite Lucas’s garage. Now phase one was complete.
At least she’d never really liked the Mazda. Had bought it right out of college when she couldn’t afford much else. So it was hardly a sacrifice, though she’d take a wrench to a Porsche if she thought it would make this plan work. Fortunately, that wasn’t necessary—because Lucas was kind of religious about cars.
Satisfied, she headed inside and started baking. From the moment she flipped the sign on the door to ‘open’ at eight, a steady stream of customers helped keep her mind occupied. That evening she waited until it was dark, long after closing. Finally, she straightened her pale green summer dress, took a deep breath and started across the street. Time for phase two.
Lucas’s garage had five bays, all with street frontage. The primary bay, where he mostly worked, was directly opposite her front door. Next to the bay’s roller door there was a customer entrance. When Sofia stepped inside it took her a moment to spot him. He was underneath a car.
“Hello, Lucas.”
There was a pause, then she heard castor wheels across concrete as he rolled out from the undercarriage. Sofia swallowed. Those low-hipped jeans showed a sliver of black above the waistband. It was like he was laid out on a platter for her.
“Sofia.” His drawl made her weak at the knees and just like that, she was wet.
“I’m sorry to bother you. I know it’s late, but I saw you were still working.”
Lucas stood and she blinked to find him towering over her. He grabbed a cloth from his back pocket and slowly wiped his hands. “What can I do for you?”
I’ve got this problem only you can fix. “I’m having some car trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?” He leaned against the workbench along the back wall.
The kind that makes me hot and bothered. “I tried to turn it on. There was a loud bang, and now it won’t start.”
“A bang?”
“Uh huh,” she nodded. “A bang.” Studiously, she ignored his smirk.
“Want me to see what I can do?”
Yes. Please, yes. “I’d appreciate it.”
He pushed off the bench. Prowled past her, through the open double doors, over to her side of the street. Sofia trailed after him.
“Pop the hood.”
She followed his instructions.
“What the fuck?”
Uh oh. “Problem?”
He looked at her over the hood. “A bang, you said?”
She widened her eyes and nodded. He looked back at the engine. Muttered something under his breath.
“What’s wrong?”
“The cylinder heads are cracked.”
“Is that uncommon?”
“Not really.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
He looked at the engine. Back at Sofia. “Nothin’.” Slammed the hood shut. “Can’t fix it here. I’m gonna need to take it to the shop.”
She glanced over at his garage, gauging the distance between it and her car.
“Jump in the front.”
Sofia looked at him dubiously but did as he asked.
“Release the handbrake and put it in neutral,” he called out as he put his hands on the trunk of the car. Then he began to push. Sofia scrambled to turn the wheel, pointing it towards his garage. She should have been looking where she was steering, instead, she eyed Lucas in the rear-view mirror.
His biceps engaged and flexed. It was not a small car, but he moved it like it was a matchbox. “Head towards the second bay,” he called out.
Sofia flicked her eyes back and forth between the windshield and the mirror. Just enough to make sure that she didn’t hit anything. Applied the brake as they approached.
Then Lucas walked past and rolled up the bay door. Sofia had just opened the Mazda’s door and was about to step out when he returned. This time, he gripped the doorframe and pushed, blocking her in as he rolled the car forward.
Sofia forgot to breathe.
Cut abdominals filled her vision until she couldn’t see anything else. They were slick with perspiration in the summer night. Just like her own skin. Then Lucas backed away and her hand left the steering wheel, reaching towards him in protest. She never made contact.
“Brake, Sofia.”
Her hand wrenched back onto the wheel, and her foot slammed down without conscious thought. Inches away from the workbench. Lucas looked at her a little strangely, but he didn’t say anything. That’s when she knew.
It was time.
The little minx was up to something. If he wasn’t so distracted by the way that mint green dress flirted with her thighs, he might be able to figure it out. Unfortunately, there was no blood left to power his brain at the moment. Which was a shame, because he was certain that if he could just concentrate, he could break those tiny shoestring straps with will power alone.
Sofia smelled like sugar and lemongrass. His wilding was doing a yip-dance—a strange kind of yipping circle, like he was chasing his own tail. The reaction was familiar. It happened whenever Lucas breathed deeply around Sofia. Every other moment of his existence, it was a surly beast willing to take a bite out of anyone. Completely at odds with the easy-going demeanor the man projected. But then, the wilding had good reason.
Few people realized just how dangerous he was. It was one of the reasons his best friends were the most powerful shifters in town.
Like drew like.
“So… cylinder heads… Are they easy to fix?” Sofia asked.
“No.” There was something strange about her engine. Cylinder heads overheated and blew out. Whatever had happened to Sofia’s car left shrapnel inside the cylinder. Like the force was directed inwards. It was doing his head in.
Lucas watched her glance skitter over the other bays and catch on a sleek black car, half in the shadows, bearing the Jaguar emblem. It was as though she couldn’t meet his gaze. But he must have been wrong, because then she turned those gorgeous greens on him.
“Expensive?” she asked and took a step towards him.
“Yep.” His reply was measured. He leaned back against the workbench. Gripped it hard. She was in his space. Two steps away. His wilding had stopped fucking around and was preternaturally still.
“That may be a problem.”
Lucas arched a brow.
“I can’t pay.” She took another step. It brought her level with his outstretched legs. One more tiny step brought her between them. “But I have a proposition.” She took a deep breath.
“What do you have in mind?” his voice emerged low and gravelly.
Sofia closed the small gap that remained between them. Nestled between his thighs. Placed a hand on his chest and stood on her tiptoes. Leaned in and whispered in his ear.
“Trade services.”
Lucas’s mind went blank. Just for an instant. Then it filled with a mess of glorious images. The metal workbench crumpled under his fists. She didn’t just say that.
Flat mercury eyes pinned her. “You’re offering to fuck me if I fix your car.”
“Yes.”
