“Hello, angel,” he practically purrs when he reaches me.
“Why the hell are you here, Tazen?” I mutter, noticing that Joanne is scurrying away to my left. Thanks, Jo!
“Heard you were tryin’ to make money, thought I’d come down and check it out.”
God, he makes me want to punch him in the nuts.
“To gloat, you mean?”
He crosses his arms and his muscles flex and bunch beneath his skin. “No, angel, I’m just interested to see what you’ve got.”
“What I’ve got, buddy,” I spit, stepping closer, “is a whole lot more than you could even begin to imagine.”
I can’t see his eyes behind those shades, but I know, I just know, they’re running over my body because a slow, sexy smile spreads across his lips and he mutters, “Fuck yeah, you do.”
Ugh.
My cheeks burn and I cross my arms to stop myself swinging at him, which is what I really want to do.
“There are a thousand other garages in the area,” I whisper with fury. “Go and find another one.”
“There are, you’re right,” he says, stepping closer. “But yours is in the perfect location.”
I want to stomp my foot with rage. He is purposely here just to get under my skin. For whatever reason, he’s decided that taunting me is the highlight of his no doubt action-packed life.
“Don’t you have better things to do, being a world-famous ass … I mean custom car builder?”
His grin gets so big those dimples pop out. God, he’s so beautiful it burns my eyes.
Jerk. No one should be that … pretty.
“She’s heard of me, I’m flattered. And for your information, angel, I do have better things to do. Plenty of better things, but you have a location I want. What more could a man ask for than to be doing what he loves, in a garage in the perfect location?”
“The problem with your perfect little plan,” I snap, “is that you’re taking away my garage, my passion for working with cars and stealing what I love.”
His brows shoot up. “Sweetie, do you really think you can do a better job here than a famous custom car builder who has worked with cars his entire life?”
I lean in close, so I’m up on my tiptoes and in his face. “Hell yeah, I can, sweetie.”
I just hope I’m right.
He snorts. “Well, that makes me feel a whole lot better about trying to take this garage. You’re clearly not in a stable place within your mind.”
I lift my hands and place them on his chest, giving him a shove but he’s too quick. He catches my wrists and jerks me forward so I lose my balance and fall towards him. I gasp as he leans down, so close our lips are only millimeters apart. “It’s time for you to give it up, little angel. I will get this garage, and I will do it justice. Consider it me doing you a favor. I’ll give you a good price; you can pick your life up and get out of debt. Won’t that be nice?”
“What will be nice, jackass,” I snarl, “will be when I save this garage and you have to take your shiny, expensive ass to torture some other poor person.”
He lets my wrists go and steps back. “We’ll see.”
He turns and looks towards the guys, who are busily scrubbing cars. “It’s so nice to see men who don’t mind doing what they’re told. Good job, Quinn. I’m sure they all feel exceptionally manly with their nuts in your pocketbook.”
Pig.
He turns and saunters towards the exit, but there is no way he is getting out after insulting my guys. I grab the nearest hose and aim it towards Tazen. I charge towards him as he turns around, hands going out in front of him. I spray him right in the face and he lets out a gurgled bellow as the water spurts into his face at full force.
With a grin, I stalk closer.
“Oops, sorry, Tazen. Whenever you’re around I seem to have the worst habit of spilling water on you.”
He barely lets me finish my sentence before he lunges at me, wrapping his arms around my waist. We slip and go down with a thump, him falling over me. Pain shoots through my back and I cry out in agony as I squirm to get out from beneath him. His hands find the hose in mine and he shoves it out, before forcing my hands above my head.
“That was un-fucking-cool,” he barks.
“And so was insulting my guys,” I spit back.
“You’re the one dressing them in bikinis. Why don’t you cut their dicks off while you’re at it?”
“You’re such a jerk.” I squirm trying to get out of his grip.
He leans down close, until our lips are nearly touching. “And you fucking love it.”
“Get off me.”
He presses his body into mine and I bite my lip to stop myself from gasping at the feel of his hard flesh pressing against mine. He feels fucking incredible.
“I’ll get off you when I’m good and ready.”
“You’re the worst person I’ve ever met,” I snap.
“Well.” He grinds his hips against mine. “And there are plenty of girls who would be envious of you right now.”
God.
“You’re disgusting. Why don’t you go and lay one of them down?”
He grins. “Because none of them are as feisty as you. I like the challenge.”
“And I’d like to get off the damned ground.”
“Shit, dude, get off her.”
This comes from Jace who’s approaching us with an angry gleam in his eyes. I’m grateful because a moment later Tazen pushes off me. “No harm done,” Tazen says. “We just took a little spill.” The bastard then proceeds to lean down and capture me under my arms, raising me to my feet. When I’m steady, I jerk backwards. He smirks at me, then gives me a long, sexy stare. “We’ll see each other again soon, angel. As always…” He leans in close. “It was a pleasure.”
I grit my teeth and turn away.
Damned Tazen Watts. He’s getting the better of me.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” I say to Dad as I pace the room Friday after work.
“Quinnie, it’ll be fine. I told you I’m getting better and I’m going to fix things. You’re not even leaving the state. You can call in, if you’re so worried.”
I bite my lip, mulling this over. After a heck load of work, the guys have managed to free up my weekend so I can go to the race with Jace and spend a few nights away from everything. We managed to make just over three thousand dollars at the car wash, but it isn’t nearly enough to pay off what we owe. But it’s a start, and everything helps.
The problem with going away is the fact that I’m leaving Dad alone and I’m not all too comfortable about that. I’m worried he’ll get drunk and hurt himself, or choke on his own vomit.
“I’ve told Lenny to check on you each night.”
My dad frowns. “I’m not a fucking kid.”
No, then maybe you shouldn’t act like it.
I shake those angry thoughts from my head. I hate when they pop up because they make me feel guilty.
“Please, Dad, if you care about fixing things, then let him come around.”
He stares at me, then mutters, “Fine.”
“Okay.”
A knock at the door interrupts our conversation. I rush over, flinging it open to see Jace standing, ready to go. “Hey there.”
“Hey, honey,” he grins.
I step out of the way and let him in.
“How’s it goin’, Robbo?” Jace says as he follows me down the hall I’m currently charging down.
“Hello, Jace.”
When I reach my room, I fling the door open and step inside. I’ve been so busy worrying about leaving Dad and organizing things to make sure he at least eats, that I haven’t been able to pack. I drag out a suitcase and start tossing clothes in.