She breathed deeply through her nose. The fried food and cigarette smoke smell of the fair still clung to both of them, but his surprisingly familiar male scent wove between it all. He smelled right. Here in the darkness she was tempted to be more open than she ever would be in the full light of day. “I don’t know why I’m attracted to you.” Her lips clamped shut. The guy had given no indications of being like every other guy she’d ever known, easily manipulated by feminine wiles. She felt as if she’d just cut her chest open and forced him to look.
He grunted. “We’d drive each other crazy.” His gaze seemed to intensify. “And I’d hurt you.”
She almost laughed, but he was serious. “I’m sorry, Nate, but I could have you going six ways from Sunday with your heart lacerated on the ground and you blinking and wondering what happened.” She nodded. “If one of us is getting hurt, it’ll be you.”
Nate nodded slowly and his big knuckle came up to brush her jaw. “You’re probably right.”
Kaitlyn stood still under his caress. She wanted to push into it, to step into his firm, committed embrace. Her gaze dropped to the dark outline of his lips and she willed them closer. He would kiss her. They would end up making out on the couch, and she’d know exactly what made this mysterious man tick.
“I’ll see you in the morning.” He lowered his hand and walked out.
Seconds later, the kitchen door slammed. When his car pulled away, she was still standing in the living room feeling as if she was missing something important. She sat on the couch, still warm from where he had been laying. His scent surrounded her and, leaning her head back, she closed her eyes. Why did he fascinate her so? He was just a boring intellectual, same as all those other bland guys that she’d been ignoring all her life.
Getting a guy’s attention had never been hard. There was only one man who’d avoided her. Tank had insisted on treating her more like a kid sister than a woman. According to Clint’s pictures, that had changed a month ago. But if Tank, or anyone, knew what actually happened, she hadn’t found out about it. That night was a total blank for her.
The quiet little squeeze around her heart that always happened when she thought of Tank…Kaitlyn hadn’t felt it. In fact, it had been days since she had thought of him at all. Not since Nate appeared in her truck door offering her religion.
Speaking of religion, the day after tomorrow she was supposed to be in church. With Nate. A smile hovered on her lips. She’d been on plenty of dates. But never one to church. She’d never even set foot in a church, except when her dad got married to Karen.
Her heart dipped at the thought of Karen. Her dad had texted earlier, while she was at the pull, that they would be in the hospital over the weekend. He’d mentioned that they were really missing the boys. But her dad would never ask her to ride out to Pittsburgh with them; he knew how busy she was dealing with his trucks. Sunday was the only day that she might even have time, and not if she kept her end of the bargain and went to church with Nate. Ugh.
And she wanted to pull the transmission out of her truck and get started on replacing the clutch. Man. She lay down, her head on the spot where Nate’s had rested, her body fitting much more comfortably on the couch length. One thing she knew for certain: she couldn’t wait to see him tomorrow.
9
Kaitlyn was attracted to him.
Nate’s left arm burned with the strain, but he continued to hold to the tree branch doing one arm pullups. The fire that burned up his arm rivaled the one in his gut. He’d been fighting his own attraction, and now it was doubly hard. Being with Kaitlyn would be possible if he’d forget the problem genes he’d been born with and simply go with his heart.
Maybe she’d earned the reputation she had, but something told him that she would turn it around if she could. Problem was, once one got a reputation, it was hard to shed. A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. He should know; here he was dressing like a professor, trying to act like a electronic geek just to fool everyone, including himself, into thinking he wasn’t a professional fighter anymore.
He grunted. He could understand her, but that still didn’t mean she was for him.
She was all wrong. He wanted sweet. He needed sweet. Easy-going. Even-tempered and steady. Not a wrench-wielding, stubborn firebrand.
Sweat dripped off his nose as he hung from the tree branch pulling his outstretched legs up and down. He felt the burn in his gut and pushed himself harder. Push through it.
They weren’t the slightest bit compatible. She thought she was tough—she was—and she thought he was weak and pliable. Which wasn’t true, but she couldn’t be faulted for the assumption, because that’s exactly what he’d wanted everyone to think. A person can’t walk around looking like a fighter and not get drawn into fights. And in order to achieve the life he wanted, the number one thing he had to do was to stop fighting.
His phone buzzed with a text. Without breaking the up and down rhythm of his legs, he unhooked his phone. A text from Dale, his buddy and part-time agent.
Last fight in two weeks. Check out the venue. Big publicity. Nice odds.
One last fight. He already had his new persona in place. This fight would give him the money he needed to buy his secluded acreage in the woods. For one second, he allowed himself to think about the years he’d sent money home to his mother in Michigan. Eve had cared for her; Nate had provided for them. Of course, his brothers had pitched in, too. But Nate never felt like he’d done enough to make up for what his dad had done. After all, his scars were covered, but Eve’s were on her face for the world to see.
He switched back to pullups. His stomach, his arms, his legs, his whole body burned. But not bad enough. Anticipation curled through his veins. More.
Dale’s next text included an address in Pittsburgh. Nate checked the time—10:00 AM—then clipped his phone back on his belt, still pulling his body up and down. He’d be ready. Anticipation rocked through his body. Strategy, defense, feeling his body react instinctively, even the pain…he loved it all. Excited shivers twitched along his neck, and he longed to check out the venue, picture the fight, and build on his strategy using location. He couldn’t go tomorrow, too much garage work to do. Sunday—he smiled—Sunday Kaitlyn owed him an hour in the pew. But he bet that Kaitlyn’s parents would love to see their boys.
The burn in his arm included his entire shoulder area. A couple more pullups, then he dropped to the ground, unhooked his phone, and sent a quick ‘OK’ back to Dale. He was unable to keep the smile off his face. But worry churned in his gut; as much as he loved fighting, this needed to be his last. He made up his mind: Sunday he was taking a trip to Pittsburgh. With Kaitlyn and her brothers.
~*~
Kaitlyn held a screaming, wet, and judging by the smell, dirty, Gary.
Nate walked into the kitchen with a box of doughnuts.
She could kiss him for his thoughtfulness. But after her confession of the night before, she decided she’d better not say so. “Sleep in much?”
Nate looked at the truck-shaped clock on the wall as Bobby, still dressed in his dump truck PJs, ran and grabbed Nate around the waist as if he hadn’t seen him in days rather than hours. “It’s not quite six.”
At least that’s what Kaitlyn’s meager lip-reading skills told her he’d said. She was irritated at herself for finding him attractive last night, and even more irritated at her stupid heart, which had started trembling in her chest when he walked in just now, still looking like a skinny teenager playing dress up in his daddy’s business suit. Except for those wide shoulders. There’s more to life than shoulders, you idiot.
She stopped trying to wash a bottle with one hand long enough to give Nate her worst glare. The one that sent large, hard-living, truck-driving men with grippy hands running for cover.
Nate set the doughnuts on the table and strode closer.
“He’s wet, he’s dirty, he’s hungry, and I can’t find a stinking bottle!”
Without breaking eye cont
act, Nate opened the cupboard beside her head and pulled out a clean one. One that he must have washed and put away last night after he took the boys on his date, fed them, brought them home, and put them to bed. The guy must have been born with all the woman genes that she lacked.
Opening the microwave, Nate got the milk that she’d warmed and soon had a bottle for Gary. He handed it to her, but when she went to take it from him, he held on. She met his clear green gaze.
“Thanks,” she said begrudgingly and tugged on the bottle.
Bobby rattled on in the background, something about helping with the truck work, but Kaitlyn didn’t listen. Her heart beat in her throat, and if she hadn’t already been next to the sink, she would have stepped back from the potency of Nate’s gaze.
He jerked his head in acknowledgement, and the moment passed. “I’ll take Bobby up and change him. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got about forty texts on my phone from drivers letting me know what needs fixed on their trucks.” He nodded at the door. “There’s trucks lined up outside the garage, and I’ve got some sitting at Tank’s. It’s going to be a heck of a day.”
“It’s already been a heck of a day.” Kaitlyn put the bottle in Gary’s mouth, and his cries stopped immediately.
Nate threw a look over his shoulder at Bobby who had a mouthful of doughnut. He lowered his voice. “I thought that Bobby might like to go see his parents tomorrow.”
Kaitlyn raised an eyebrow and propped a hip on the sink. “Thought I was paying off my bet?”
“I’ll take a raincheck. Or we can find a church in Pittsburgh.”
Kaitlyn shrugged, although a spur of nervous energy shot through her. “Whatever.”
Nate gave her a look that said he knew she was quaking in her work boots.
“Hope you’re not planning on working in that get-up.” She indicated his long-sleeved button up and pressed dress pants.
“Nah. Brought along a pair of Tank’s coveralls.” He turned and stepped to the table. “Want a doughnut before Bobby eats them all?”
“Any blueberry?” she joked. It was chocolate all the way.
Nate gave her a look that said he didn’t believe her. “I thought you’d be a chocolate kind of girl.” He picked up a double chocolate glazed.
Her salivary glands started to tremble in anticipation.
“You might be right.” She reached out. “Thanks.”
“I know there’s a lot to get done, but I thought if we worked hard, we’d be able to take tomorrow for the boys.”
Kaitlyn nodded. Then it hit her. “But this isn’t your family, your concern. You don’t have to give up your day off.”
Nate shrugged as he reached around her to grab a rag to wipe Bobby’s hands. “I kind of like you guys.” He wrung the rag out. “I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want to.”
“Hmm.”
Nate left the kitchen with Bobby bouncing behind.
Kaitlyn stared at nothing while Gary chugged his bottle. She couldn’t figure Nate out. Didn’t know anyone else like him. He didn’t fit into any of her preconceived ideas of men. The contradictions in his character drew her and made her want to get closer.
Gary sucked down the last of the milk and gurgled.
Kaitlyn smiled down at him, wiping a white dribble off his chin. “Why am I interested in a man who is so obviously wrong for me?” She hadn’t meant to speak aloud, but Gary just laughed at her.
Kaitlyn pushed off from the sink. Maybe he wasn’t exactly what she thought he was. Or more likely, maybe she wasn’t who or what she used to be. “People change. Right, Gary?”
Gary grinned, showing toothless gums, and his wet, sticky hand grabbed at her chin.
Kaitlyn smiled back. What she wouldn’t give to be that innocent again.
~*~
“Hold that bolt tight.” Kaitlyn lay under the front end of a rig, twisting the nut tight on a bolt on the bumper. “Next.” She moved her wrench to the next nut. Nate, hunkered down in front of the truck with Gary snuggled in a carrier he’d found in the front closet, held the next bolt with his own wrench while Kaitlyn twisted as hard as she could. “That’s good.” She rolled the creeper out. “Hopefully it will be a while before Carter smacks another deer.”
“Yeah. Hopefully, it will be a while before you smack another garage.”
Kaitlyn whipped the creeper around the front steer tire. “What?”
Nate shrugged, his shoulders looking incredibly broad with the tiny baby snuggled against his chest. “Just saying.” His grin was boyish and teasing.
“Will I hear about that for the rest of my life?” Kaitlyn asked in mock outrage. She was flirting. She even batted her eyes.
“You know, a deer, I get that. A garage? It’s not like it jumped out in front of you.” Nate walked to the toolbox and put his wrenches in the proper drawers.
“It was the cow’s fault.”
“Um, yeah. Personal responsibility, Kaitlyn. Own it.”
“I have never had anyone insult my driving before in my life.” Kaitlyn stood, using her foot to move the creeper over to the wall.
“If the shoe fits and all that.” Nate gently patted Gary through the sling. “I’m driving to Pittsburgh, by the way.” Kaitlyn’s brows shot up. “That way I can be sure we’ll not try to construct our own entrance into the hospital.”
Kaitlyn walked over to stand in front of him, her finger out and pointed at him. Her mouth opened, but before she could let him have it, Bobby bounced by. “Are you done? Are you ready to move it? You said I could ride next time you drove one out of the garage!” He skipped around and stopped, looking up at her expectantly. “Huh, Kaitlyn? Are you ready?”
Nate quirked a brow at her while she gave him her best your-punishment-has-been-delayed-not-cancelled look.
“Sure am, Bobby. Come on.” She started toward the passenger side to open the door for him. “Last truck today. I’m bringing it in Unit 102 to weld the fifth wheel. It’s about due for an oil change.” She couldn’t believe how much work they’d gotten accomplished and it was only—she glanced at her watch—three ‘o clock. Wow. She’d never worked with anyone as well as she worked with Nate.
By the time Kaitlyn had 102 shut off in the garage, Nate had the oil catcher out along with the filter wrench. He had put Gary down. Although Nate had to be about the same height as Tank, Nate’s slim body swam in Tank’s overalls, making him look like a little boy playing dress-up in his dad’s work clothes.
Still, a comfortably warm feeling of companionship swam through Kaitlyn as she climbed down and began to unwind the hoses on the welder. Nate was easy and affable to work with. The fact that she was a woman didn’t seem to bring out a competitive streak, or possessive instincts, or even the need to make lewd comments. It’d be easy to get used to working with him. They made a great team.
“I’ll be turning this torch on,” she told Bobby. ”You go see what you can do to help Nate. Stand at the front of the truck.”
“But I want to watch you!”
A refusal sprang automatically to Kaitlyn’s lips, but then she remembered the old welding helmet. Reaching for it, she placed it on Bobby’s head. “You have to wear this.”
He pushed it up. “But I can’t see anything!”
“If you want to be back here, you have to wear it. Otherwise, go to Nate.”
“Why?”
Remembering how patient Nate had been with him, Kaitlyn bit back the irritated retort that sprang to her lips. “You know how you can’t stare at the sun? Even when it’s setting and not so bright that you can’t stand to look at it?”
“Yeah?”
“This welding arc is like that. If you stare at it without protection on your eyes,” she tapped his helmet with her finger, “it can burn your eyes and make you blind.”
“I’ll put it on when it starts to hurt.”
“Your eyes don’t have pain sensors, so you won’t feel it. And it’s not like a broken arm that will heal. Once you’re blind, there’s
nothing you can do to fix it.”
“Oh.”
“So wear the helmet. You want to be able to drive someday, don’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“Good boy.” Kaitlyn grinned at him. Just before she dropped her helmet, she noticed a dark blue pickup pulling up outside the open garage door. Dusty. What could he want? She glanced at Bobby, making sure he had his helmet down, then turned the oxygen on. Less than five minutes later the block that held the fifth wheel steady while it provided support for the frameless dump was welded fast. Kaitlyn turned the torch off with a pop.
Dusty’s raised voice echoed around the garage.
Bobby jerked his helmet off and ran toward the open garage door.
Kaitlyn didn’t reprimand him for throwing his expensive helmet on the floor—hers landed right beside his as she hurried toward the ruckus.
“So, the wimpy-weakling is still slinking around the joint?” Dusty stood a good half-foot shorter than Nate, but within arms’ reach.
Although Nate looked wary, Kaitlyn couldn’t see any fear. He should be afraid. Dusty had been a bare-knuckle boxing champion several years running.
“Bobby, come here.” Kaitlyn held her arm out for Bobby who had stopped about ten feet from the men. “Dusty, knock it off.”
Dusty glanced over his shoulder. “Ah, yes. Still fighting the coward’s battles.” He spit on the floor and turned back to face Nate. “What’s so special about this loser that you get all defensive for him? He can’t possibly be man enough for you.” He gave Kaitlyn a slow wink. “I know everything you like.”
She certainly didn’t want to pursue that topic. “What do you want, Dusty?”
“Thought the little preacher boy and I could have a friendly round or two.”
Nate, who hadn’t said a word that Kaitlyn had heard, shifted his gaze from Dusty’s face to Bobby who was staring with rapt fascination and who, for once, was completely still. He looked back at Dusty. “No, thank you.”
“‘No thank you’ he says,” Dusty mocked in falsetto.
“If you want parts, get them. Otherwise, go.” Kaitlyn took a step forward, holding onto Bobby’s shoulder.
Turbocharged Page 8
