“I’ve got a client here in ten minutes. Can you come by the showroom in fifteen? He’s after a really unique color, so I thought you might want to talk with him about some options.”
“Yes, that’s great. I’ll be there. Thanks, Duke.”
A few steps from the door he turned back to face her. “He’s not a bad guy.”
Seemed Asa’s paranoia about complications might have some basis in fact. “I don’t think he is. I think he’s a nice guy, as it happens.”
Duke grinned again. “He’s a loyal guy, yes. Brave. He saved my life. He carried me for three miles after I’d been shot.”
“I believe that. I’m glad he was there. I imagine you probably did your share of saving a time or two.”
His grin slid off his face for a moment before it was solid again. “You do what you need to. I don’t know how to do this, and normally I’d rather not get into his business this way. But don’t give up on him.”
Duke stepped back and spun, heading out. “See you soon,” he called as he went.
PJ was still thinking about that little exchange when she walked into the showroom just a few minutes later. Duke stood at the front desk with Asa and the guy who was most likely Duke’s client.
It hadn’t even occurred to her that Asa would be there, but it was too late to avoid him. It wasn’t like she didn’t see him when she was at Twisted Steel, but she tried to stay out of his way when she could.
Still, she wasn’t above being glad she’d fixed her hair and cleaned up before coming in to meet a customer.
Asa was in what was pretty much her favorite stance. Feet apart, arms crossed over his chest so his muscles bulged and his ink showed. He was so imposing and delicious, though she noted he needed to shave the sides of his head again.
She raised a hand, wanting to touch it, but waving and shoving her hand in a pocket before she grabbed hold and did something disastrous.
“Hey there.” PJ kept it friendly.
“PJ, perfect timing,” Duke said. “Alan Steadman, this is PJ Colman. She’s great with color, so I thought she could give us some input for your truck.”
Asa tipped his chin again. “Good to see you, Alan. Looking forward to this project, man.”
He moved to one of the desks a few feet away and started working at the computer. PJ chose to believe that even though he could’ve easily done the work in his office, he wanted to be around her. Which may or may not have been true, but that’s what she decided to go with.
Asa had spotted her walking across the lot from the painting bay toward the showroom. Her hair was glossy in the sunlight. The blue had faded and he wondered just what color she’d choose next.
When she came in he noted the sequined sneakers and held back a smile. She’d been surprised to see him but smiled anyway. He tipped his chin.
He missed her looking at him the way she did at Duke. Easy, no tension. Open.
He didn’t miss the way Alan looked at her, that much was certain. He should have gone back to his office to update their calendar to accommodate the ’58 Chevy Alan had just agreed to pay them quite a bit of money to customize. But he stayed close enough to hear instead.
PJ showed Alan several different shades of green and a few of purple and orange. They all went out, presumably to look at the vintage Schwinn bicycle she’d recently finished. It was tangerine orange with an orange metallic banana seat and acres of chrome. A birthday present for the teenage daughter of a local tattoo artist. PJ had outdone herself with the color. The paint had been expensive, but it was the coolest bike Asa had ever seen.
It was right as they came back inside that Alan made his move and Asa saw red.
Alan listened to PJ, but at the same time, Asa noticed the guy checking her out, and he knew PJ would notice that too. Alan got closer and she stepped back. Before Asa could get up and punch Alan for not giving her space, Duke returned to them and thanked PJ and then called Alan’s attention back to where they’d been working on putting together the plan for the job.
She looked at Asa and waved.
He could have gotten up and gone to her. Should have. The thought of her going out with a fucknut like Alan burned in his belly. But he stayed and she turned, leaving.
But not before she shot him a look that said she knew he’d seen that business with Alan. The pierced brow slid up and he couldn’t help but smile at her. She shrugged and left, and he didn’t stop watching the sway of her ass until she’d gone back inside the painting bay.
“He’s here.” Audra cruised over and handed PJ a drink.
PJ knew Asa would be at this event. Lots of hot women. Cars. Tattoos. Bikes. Plus Twisted Steel was one of the sponsors, so there was that too.
She was so glad she’d opted for something soft. Her dress was a figure-hugging navy blue summery number that hit her mid-thigh. Audra had given her a braid crown, but her hair hung loose in the back.
“You’re like fresh-faced catnip. It’s disgusting and awesome all at the same time.”
PJ snorted. “Come on then. I see someone I need to talk to.”
Audra shrugged. “Okay then. He’s totally watching you, by the way.”
“Good. Dumbass.”
She schmoozed and drank and flirted for another hour or so before she allowed herself to think about Asa. And once that happened, she couldn’t do anything but look for him.
That connection zinged between them when he glanced up from his drink and locked gazes with her.
“Here he comes,” Audra murmured.
It was like her skin knew he approached, like a caress that got more definite the closer he got as he stalked across the room to her.
He was so intense, his focus totally on her. How could he pretend this thing between them didn’t exist?
He stopped well inside her personal space. She looked up at his face, captivated by the sight. Asa was arrestingly attractive. Not pretty. Not even handsome. But absolutely a person who drew your eye. He carried himself with a confident masculinity she found sexy and charming all at once. He might have a New World face, but he had an Old World manner.
It made her feel… safe. Like she could say anything to him. And then he’d gone and been dumb.
“Hi,” PJ said.
He could have kissed her if he hadn’t been an ass. Instead he gave her a look that singed, realized it, tried to school himself, and annoyed her in the process. Why would he hide how hot he was for her?
Clearly there was backstory she didn’t know. The problem was that she wasn’t sure he’d let her close enough to share.
“Hey. Can I buy you a drink?” he asked.
“Sure.”
He tried to do one of those hand-at-the-small-of-your-back things to escort her to the bar, but she stepped out of his reach. He could have touched any part of her he wanted, but he’d blown her off, so he got to not touch her.
Asa wasn’t the only gorgeous man on earth. He wasn’t even the only one at this party. So if he wanted her to move on, he should understand what her moving on looked like.
She knew he’d noticed it when she was at Twisted Steel the week prior and one of their clients had hit on her. She knew he thought about her because he’d shown up at the photo shoot she was in over the weekend and pretended he wasn’t looking at her.
She ordered a rum and Coke and he got a beer, and they headed off to a quiet corner.
“That day.” He paused. “You came to Twisted Steel and had just had this important thing happen in your life, and I added to what was probably pretty heavy already. I’m sorry. That’s not what friends do.”
While he avoided looking her in the eyes for longer than a few seconds, he tried very hard not to look at her boobs. And failed. Ha.
“It’s fine. It’s over and done. I got the message.” Because he deserved to suffer, she flipped her hair back behind her shoulder and straightened enough to stress the material at the front of her dress.