How to Rebuild (Hearts & Horsepower #4)

by A. K. Evans

Kieran had other plans in mind.

  And he didn’t just walk out that night with the promise to pick me up at the end of the week for our date.

  Nope. He was all about building anticipation throughout the week.

  On my way to work Tuesday, I reached out to Scarlet. She would be worried about me and how things went with Kieran, so I wanted to update her.

  “We’re going on a date,” I declared after she answered my call.

  “What?!” she shrieked. “Are you serious?”

  “Yep. He scares the shit out of me, but I had to take my advice,” I explained.

  “Your advice? What are you talking about?” she asked.

  “I was talking to Porter yesterday, and we were discussing the possibility of doing a soft launch on the spring collection with all that’s going on right now,” I started. “And while we still haven’t made an official decision on it just yet, I did mention to him that we’ve never backed down because we were scared about entering unknown territory. We didn’t get Flynn Beauty to where it was by being afraid. So, even though I’m completely terrified about doing this with Kieran, it’s not in my nature not to go after something I want. Sometimes, it just seems to take me some time to realize exactly what it is that I want.”

  Truthfully, I hadn’t expected I’d even get the chance to even go after him. It wasn’t even a thought in my mind. Because the reality was that I believed the minute he found out what I did for a living and how he could be negatively impacted by it, he’d be out the door.

  I would have been relieved to know that he wasn’t upset about the article. The fact that I got that and his continued romantic interest left me feeling shocked. I was relieved, of course, but completely surprised.

  And considering Kieran was mere inches away from me when he expressed that interest again, I could smell him. He smelled so damn good. Plus, he was gently stroking his thumb over the back of my hand, and I couldn’t concentrate. I couldn’t focus on anything but how badly I wanted him.

  So, even though I tried to warn him before I ultimately agreed to try this out with him, I didn’t think I would have been able to say no and see him walk away a second time.

  Following a beat of silence, Scarlet rasped, “I’m so proud of you, Elise. This is the girl I know you are, and I honestly believe this is going to be the best thing you ever did for yourself.”

  “I hope you’re right,” I mumbled, still not convinced I hadn’t made a mistake.

  We talked for a bit longer but had disconnected by the time I made it to work. No sooner did I sit down at my desk that morning when my phone chimed, indicating I’d received a text message.

  I pulled it out of my purse and saw I’d received a message from Kieran.

  Kieran: Only eighty-one hours and thirty-four minutes left.

  What?

  Me: Until what happens?

  Kieran: Until I pick you up for our date.

  Me: What? You mean you aren’t counting the seconds?

  Kieran: I see I’ve got a comedian on my hands…

  That was it. That’s all he said.

  And because I didn’t know how to respond to that, I didn’t.

  So, I got to work. And the rest of the day, I’d remained focused on what I needed to get done at the office.

  On Wednesday, I ended up getting a brief phone call from him in the evening because I’d been the one to initiate the conversation with him right when I got in my car to leave work. I sent him a text asking him to pray that I’d make it to the gas station because I had gone out for lunch earlier that afternoon and barely made it back to the office. I’d been so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t realized I was low on gas.

  I had just pulled into my driveway with a full tank of gas when my phone rang.

  “Hello?” I answered.

  “Are you okay?” Kieran asked. That was his greeting.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Why?”

  “I’m calling to make sure you aren’t stuck on the side of the road somewhere,” he answered.

  “Oh, yeah. No, I’m good,” I confirmed. “I just pulled into my driveway. Apparently, the auto manufacturers want to give people like me a heart attack and have my car tell me that I can only drive two more miles when I actually made it seven miles to the gas station.”

  Kieran laughed.

  I loved the sound of it and only wished I could have been there to see it.

  “You’re crazy, lady,” he said after he settled down. “Don’t let your tank get that low again. It’s not good for the fuel pump, and it’s not safe for you.”

  “Sorry, Kieran. I know you work with cars, but I’m going to be honest right now,” I started. “I have about as much interest in learning about them as I’m guessing you do about makeup.”

  “Fair enough,” he replied, accepting my answer. “Okay, as long as you’re home safe, I’ll let you go. Just two more days.”

  “Yeah,” I agreed. I didn’t want to get off the phone with Kieran, but I figured he must have had something he needed to do. So, I said, “I’ll see you on Friday.”

  “Goodbye, Elise.”

  “Bye, Kieran.”

  It wasn’t until last night that I figured out that the real reason Kieran didn’t want to stay on the phone with me the night before. I had a feeling the only reason he called me was that he was genuinely concerned about my safety. It was then that I had secretly wished my car ran out of gas because I was curious about what Kieran would have done. My thought was that he would have come to my rescue, which would have allowed me to see him and talk to him sooner.

  The only communication I got from him last night came in the form of a text right at six-thirty.

  Kieran: Exactly twenty-four hours left until I start collecting.

  The idea of him collecting rewards sent a shudder down my spine. And since I didn’t like that he was toying with me like that, I decided it was only fair that I play with him, too.

  Me: So, should I have my clothes off when you get here?

  A solid two or three minutes passed before I saw the bubble with the three dots pop up.

  Kieran: Not unless you’re prepared to have me spank your ass. I’m taking you on a date tomorrow. If you’re naked when I arrive, that won’t be happening.

  Me: And here I thought you had all this patience. Guess not.

  Kieran: Sounds like somebody wants to be spanked.

  There was no way I was responding to that. I’d gotten myself in hot water because I thought I was cute and teasing him. Kieran was an expert at all this.

  And now, after a full day at work today, I was putting the final dab of lipstick on before my date.

  I was not naked.

  I wasn’t even going to try to challenge him. There was no doubt in my mind that he’d win.

  Instead, I was wearing a boysenberry-colored jumpsuit. It was simple and elegant with a touch of sexiness, and I thought it was a much better alternative to a dress.

  As it turned out, according to the forecast, we were in for a pretty bad snowstorm. Admittedly, I had been worried that Kieran might cancel on me, but since I hadn’t heard from him, I assumed we were still on for the night. Technically, it wasn’t supposed to start until a little bit later in the evening, and I had a feeling we’d be back here way before then. Or, at least, I kind of hoped we would be.

  Scared about this or not, I knew there was one thing I wasn’t afraid of—Kieran in my bed.

  There were no words that would do him justice, so I wouldn’t even try.

  I walked from the bathroom to my walk-in closet, where I slipped on my heels and gave myself a once-over in front of the full-length mirror. Satisfied with my look, convinced Kieran would appreciate it, I smiled and walked out.

  As I was descending the stairs, the doorbell rang.

  He was right on time.

  I made it to the door, pulled it open, and saw Kieran looking down at his phone.

  “Hey,” I greeted him.

  His head shifted away from the phon
e and his gaze settled on my feet. Then he stepped forward into the house, and his gaze traveled slowly and appreciatively up my body as he said, “Seven… six… five… four… three… two… one.”

  His eyes landed on mine on the final number, and he grinned.

  I grinned back.

  Then he declared, “I’m a bit disappointed.”

  “What? Why?”

  “All bark, no bite,” he stated. “I thought you were going to be naked.”

  Did he believe that?

  I took two steps backward. “Oh, um, I was just jok—”

  “I knew you were joking,” he cut me off. “Get your ass over here and kiss me.”

  I did not hesitate to honor his request and launched myself forward, throwing my arms over Kieran’s shoulders. He caught me around the waist, lifted me slightly off the ground, and lowered his mouth to mine. The moment our lips touched and our tongues collided, everything else faded away.

  He was right.

  He was absolutely right.

  Patience brought about greater rewards. This was proof of that.

  Even though we kissed a long time, it still felt like it had been too soon when Kieran finally tore his mouth away from mine.

  “You look beautiful tonight, Elise,” he whispered.

  Smiling against his lips, I replied, “Thank you. I was going for sexy but sophisticated.”

  “You manage that without even trying, money,” he returned.

  That was twice now I’d heard him call me that. I tipped my head to the side and asked, “Why do you call me that?”

  “Aside from the obvious fact that you have a shit ton of it?” he countered. When I nodded, he shared, “Everything about you screams class. The way you look, the way you dress, and how you speak are just a few of the things that stand out to me. And I thought this about you the day I saw you at the airport. I think the best thing about you is that you’re all class without the bitchy attitude.”

  That was nice to hear, and it made me feel good. “Thank you for saying all that.”

  He shrugged. “It’s the truth. Does it bother you that I’ve called you that?”

  I shook my head.

  “Good. Now, we need to get going,” he insisted.

  “Let me just grab my coat,” I replied.

  With that, I moved to the closet and grabbed my coat. Once I locked my front door, Kieran held his arm out to me so that I could link mine through it. Light snow had just started falling, so I was grateful I’d have him to hang on to, especially with my shoes.

  Once we were both in the truck, I said, “I thought the snow was supposed to start later. You don’t think we’ll have anything to worry about, do you?”

  “They’re calling for a lot, but the last I heard, it wasn’t supposed to get bad until later,” he answered. “Either way, I’m not worried. I’ve got snow tires on the truck, so we’re good.”

  A little while later, we were seated in a private corner of the Sierra Grillhouse. It was probably the fanciest, most upscale restaurant in all of Rising Sun. Evidently, Kieran could be classy, too.

  Once we’d given our dinner selections to the waitress, the two of us sat there staring at one another. There were quite a few lip twitches from him while I could feel butterflies storming madly in my belly. I liked that. I liked knowing he made me feel that way.

  For that reason, I knew that this was the perfect opportunity for me to get to know the man better.

  “So, I know you work at LT Motorsports with Ryker and the rest of the guys I met on Friday,” I started. “But what exactly do you do there?”

  “Engine building,” he replied.

  “I’m sorry. What?”

  Kieran chuckled. “Okay, so the cars that come into LT Motorsports to get work done on them are typically race cars. In more than half of those cars, the owners are doing whatever they can, sparing no expense, for a car that’s built to perform,” he shared.

  “What about being built to last?” I wondered.

  “That, too,” he said. “But it’s more important that it performs. Sometimes, racers are pushing the limits of what their cars can handle. So, it’s not uncommon for them not to last. Most guys who are serious about it have backups of everything. They expect there will be problems.”

  “That seems like a waste,” I told him.

  The corners of Kieran’s mouth twitched. “If you ever drove one of the cars, you’d probably feel differently.”

  “I’m good with my car,” I assured him.

  “Yeah, as long as you remember to fill it with gas,” he teased. I rolled my eyes at him before he continued, “Anyway, my job typically comes into play after Ryker has removed an engine from a car. The reasons for it are always different. Sometimes the owner is looking to build the engine for a specific type of racing. Other times, the car comes in with a blown engine that needs to be rebuilt. Then, the owner plans a build on his own and can do all of the mechanical work, but he doesn’t have the slightest clue what to do with the motor. That’s where I come in.”

  Kieran paused briefly while he allowed me the time I needed to absorb everything he said. Then he went on, “The work I need to do on each one isn’t always the same, but the result always is. I’m responsible for delivering an engine that’s built to perform. And while performance is the main goal in ninety-nine percent of cases, it isn’t uncommon for my work to last several seasons. I’m good at what I do, so as long as everything else is done properly, my engine’s last for quite a long time.”

  “Do you have special equipment you have to use?” I asked.

  Before he could answer, our waitress returned with our salads and a basket of bread. Once she walked away, Kieran shared, “I have an entire room at the shop that I work in. It’s meant specifically for engine building. All of my equipment is in that room. And yes, there are lots of special tools that I use.”

  “That’s cool,” I said. “Now, do you guys go racing?”

  “Depending on the weather, things start to pick up for us in mid to late March,” he started. “The first big race that we typically go to is late April or early May. And considering Logan has a car that he races, Avery has a car that she races, and we have all our customers’ cars to provide support for, we are at the track with alarming frequency throughout the season.”

  “If it’s allowed, I’d love to check it out sometime,” I told him.

  His brows shot up. “Really?”

  “Yeah. Why not?”

  He shook his head. “There’s no specific reason. I was just surprised,” he answered. “If you want to come and watch, I’d love for you to be there.”

  “I can’t believe Avery races,” I stated. “She’s such a badass.”

  Cocking an eyebrow, Kieran pointed out, “And you are the boss lady of a multi-million-dollar company. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that that’s pretty badass, too.”

  “Yeah, but I’m in the middle of a disaster with the said company right now,” I reminded him.

  “And Avery crashed her old car at the beginning of last season,” he countered. “She worked hard and did what she had to do to rebuild it. Everyone has obstacles they have to overcome in their lives, Elise. It’s how you handle those obstacles that make you who you are and determines whether you’re a success or a failure.”

  Damn.

  The man could kiss, and he was smart.

  I was beginning to think I lucked out.

  “Well, I worked hard all week, making decisions about the future of the company, so hopefully it’ll all turn out to be a success in the end,” I said.

  “I’m sure it will,” he agreed. “Now, tell me how this all came to be. How did you end up the CEO of Flynn Beauty?”

  Grinning at him, I shared, “Believe it or not, it would never have happened if I hadn’t met Scarlet.”

  Kieran seemed surprised by that and confirmed his confusion when he returned, “Really? How so?”

  “She and I met nearly ten years ago at a boo
k signing,” I started. “At the time, I was just working as a makeup artist and was hired by another author. That author set it up so that other authors at the signing could take advantage of my services. That’s where I met Scarlet. We learned that we were both from this area and decided to keep in touch when we returned. We’ve been best friends ever since.”

  I paused a moment, gathered my thoughts, and continued, “Anyway, it wasn’t long after we met when she suggested I start a beauty channel on YouTube. So, I did and started uploading makeup tutorials. The channel exploded, I built my social media platforms, and started getting requests from followers to launch my brand.”

  “That’s incredible. Was it a struggle at the beginning with the brand?”

  I shook my head. “I think I had many of the same struggles that any new business owner would have,” I began. “But when it came to actual sales, those came easily. Having the following going into it helped tremendously.”

  “I can imagine,” Kieran replied.

  Before I could respond, our waitress returned with our entrees. She set them down, removed our salad plates, and asked if we needed anything else. After she walked away, Kieran and I ate our dinner while I continued to tell him a bit more about how Flynn Beauty came to become what it was today. He told me a bit more about the different types of racing, what they focus most of their attention on, and their projected start time for the season. It was so crazy how vastly different the industries that Kieran and I each worked in were from one another. Despite that, I was starting to think he was even more perfect for me.

  Once we finished dinner and he insisted on dessert, I no longer had any doubts. Kieran was perfect. In every way.

  And I had to admit it had been the perfect first date.

  I was trying to come up with the right words to indicate to Kieran just how I truly felt, but my ability to do that was slightly hindered in my current state. I was naked in my bed, my body curled into his, and I had just experienced rewards like I never knew was possible.

  Not only was I blown away by just how wonderful it had been, but I was also relieved that it had happened at all.

  When Kieran and I walked out of Sierra Grillhouse after our dinner and dessert, we were surprised to see the snow had started falling. Apparently, the forecasters had gotten the timing of the storm wrong because not only had a significant amount of snow already accumulated on the ground, but it was also falling very fast.