Under The Hood

by Juanita Kees

  “We also have drinks at the pub on a Friday night after work. You’re welcome to join us.”

  “You’re big into team building then?”

  “Aren’t you?” she challenged.

  Scott shrugged. “I guess … but it doesn’t always work.”

  “No, it doesn’t. But I don’t give up easily. Sometimes hard work takes a little longer, but perseverance pays off in the end.”

  He studied her for a long moment before opening the door. “My office … 1.30pm. Don’t be late.”

  “Yes, boss.”

  TJ stood outside the office door and checked the urge to run a comb through her unruly hair and wipe the grease off her face. She had no need to impress the great Scott Devin, even if he had earned brownie points during Marty’s rescue. He was still a pompous arse and as long as she continued to think of him as one, she could tame that squishy feeling in her stomach that stirred every time she saw him.

  For goodness sake, what was wrong with her? She spent forty hours a week surrounded by males who had all tried to flirt with her or convince her to go out with them on a date. Never mix business with pleasure. It always ended badly. It was the reason she treated them all like big brothers, keeping to safety in numbers by going out with them in a group and never anywhere else but the pub on a Friday.

  None of them had sparked the instantaneous reaction that Scott Devin had. Perhaps it was those dark, brooding looks. Or those dark blue eyes that seemed to look into her soul and see the things she kept hidden from the world.

  Focus, she thought as the butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Focus on the project and the lives of the four boys at stake. So far, Scott had been introduced to only two. TJ knocked on the door and waited for him to answer before entering.

  “Come in, TJ. Take a seat while I finish these off.”

  TJ sat and watched his big, strong hand flick the pen through graceful swirls as he signed off on the stack of invoices the admin department had left on his desk. She remembered its warmth as it had touched hers in the ute earlier. The strength she’d felt when they’d touched her shoulders. The iron band his arms had formed around her waist, his strength at her back. Could she trust that strength to be there for her program kids? Or would they be let down again? She was tired from shouldering the responsibility single-handedly, but she couldn’t let them down. On edge, she stood up and began to pace. With a sigh, Scott tossed the pen on the pile of invoices.

  “For God’s sake, sit down and stop pacing!”

  “Can’t. I’m not used to sitting in an office chair.”

  His answer was to recline in his chair and place his hands behind his head. The white shirt stretched across the broad chest, strained at the buttons. TJ looked away. She felt his eyes on her as she turned to the window to look across and up to the hills. She’d rather be up there under Bruce’s bonnet, tinkering with his grey motor than caged up in an office with a man whose growl matched a Tassie Devil’s and probably had a bite to match.

  “What’s on your mind, Tiger?” His voice rippled up her spine.

  “The program.”

  “Is it always the program with you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it’s more important than profit. Those boys’ lives are worth so much more.”

  “Do you think I’m going to can the program?”

  “After what you saw today? And when you get a good look at the cost? Yes.”

  Scott sat up in the chair and turned it towards the window. She turned to lean her hips against the window sill. Sunlight shot fire through her hair as she loosened it from the rubber band. He watched her twist the rubber band around her fingers as her hair fell forward around her shoulders. Conscious of his gaze moving from her hands up to her hair, she quickly gathered it together, twisted it back into a pony tail and secured it. She shoved her hands into her pockets and crossed her booted feet.

  “Why would I do that?”

  She shrugged. “The previous owner, Mal Malone, always felt the money we got from the program could be put to better use. He didn’t think it should be wasted on rehabilitating juvenile delinquents.”

  “I’m not Mal Malone.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  Scott stood up and walked closer. “I’ve looked at the contracts. I’ve also looked at the cost of the program versus the grant money we get for running it. There’s a big discrepancy.”

  TJ felt her heart sink. It always came down to money. She stared at her boots so he couldn’t see the hurt in her eyes. “I wouldn’t know; but I do know that not a penny of the grant was spent on the program.”

  “So I noticed,” he said, drily. “It seems there was a little clever accounting going on there for a while. What’ll happen to Tiny and Marty after today?”

  He stood toe to toe with her and tipped up her chin. His eyes narrowed on hers as tears shimmered. TJ cursed herself for the weakness and a mentally added another 20c to the swear jar. She tipped her head away from his hand and stepped around him, putting some distance between them. The fuzziness in her mind cleared and the butterflies in her stomach stilled. She had to stop him touching her. It was dangerous.

  “Tiny will go back to juvie and Marty will be released back into the program.”

  “Can I appeal on Tiny’s behalf?”

  She turned and frowned. “Why would you?”

  “Because he’s in breach of contract and I’d like to get my money’s worth?”

  Temper flashed in her eyes and she let the frustrations of the past months come to the fore.

  “Is that all it’s about with you? The money? What about the next line Tiny and Marty snort? It could be their last. You saw what happened out there today! Here they have someone to look out for them. Out on the street they have nothing. What about the other two gang members? The ones who sneaked off before the cops got there. Who knows where they’ll end up! They’re crying out for help and hiding behind drugs to deal with it.”

  “You can’t save them all, TJ!” The softness she’d glimpsed in him earlier was gone. The business man was back.

  “No, I can’t. But I can damn well try! You’ve been here two minutes and already you’re thinking only of the bottom line. Like all your predecessors, it’s the dollar that counts. You can’t measure children’s lives in dollars, Mr Devin. So take that grant and shove it square up your—”

  “God damn it, TJ, get off your bloody high horse!” He grabbed her wrist and dragged her against his chest. His eyes flashed on hers, his face just inches away. “Do you think I don’t care about those kids out there? Can you at least give me time to get my head around what needs to be done for them to make the program cost-effective?”

  She tugged at her hand and he pulled her closer.

  “Let me go!”

  For the life of him, he couldn’t. The intriguing mixed perfume of grease and rose-scented soap teased his senses. Instead, he placed an arm around her waist and drew her up and closer until she was on the tip of her boots and leaning into him. Hip to hip, thigh to thigh and everything in between. He couldn’t deny that she seemed to fit there as if she belonged. He’d let her get under his defences. That was a mistake. The hand that held her wrist moved to thumb a tear from her cheek.

  “I’ve made you cry.” His lips replaced his thumb as he kissed the tear track away. Her eyes fluttered closed and her throat worked furiously as they trailed to the corner of her lips.

  “Let me go,” she whispered. “Please don’t do this.”

  “I can’t,” his lips whispered against hers. “Damn you, TJ, how did you get under my skin so quickly?”

  As he bent his head to deepen the kiss, a knock hammered at the door. He swore and let her go. She pushed against his chest and was out the door in record time, without a backward glance.

  Chapter Five

  “Thank God it’s Friday!” Scott muttered, shuffling the ever growing pile of papers on his desk. It had been a very confusing week, he decided.
Ever since a red Gemini and its owner had blown their way into his life, his emotions had been on a permanent rollercoaster.

  TJ had ignored him for the rest of the week. The only contact being when the counsellor had arrived to find Marty still in hospital. They’d discussed the consequences of the boys’ actions and what could be done in terms of the program. Then she’d gone back to the workshop without a word and had avoided him since.

  That was a good thing, right? Perhaps then this inexplicable urge to hold her and kiss her senseless would go away.

  Unfortunately, he hadn’t been able to stay away from the workshop. He found an excuse to ask Tony questions or to drop money in the damn swear jar. At this rate, he’d have it filled well before Christmas, which was still six months away.

  Now though, he looked forward to a weekend at home with his parents. He hoped he wouldn’t run into TJ, given that her property bordered his parents’ place.

  Scott pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes shut. He could feel a headache brewing. Ignoring it, he pushed up out of his chair and collected his jacket and briefcase.

  His rented townhouse was cold and empty as he threw a change of clothes and toiletries into an overnight bag. He couldn’t wait until he found a place with a garden big enough for Sarge. He missed his dog and the companionship they shared.

  What was TJ doing for the weekend, he wondered. Ever since he’d kissed her, he hadn’t been able to forget the taste of her lips: sweet like honey, addictive like chocolate fudge brownies. He could still smell the faint scent of roses. Her warm curves had fit so snugly to his, a perfect match. Scott gave himself a mental shake as he felt his body respond to the memory. Women were trouble, trouble he didn’t need to have again, especially at work.

  That was a lesson he’d learnt the hard way with Serena. Passionate, driven, ambitious and willing, Serena had once been warm and cuddly … until she had the promotion she wanted. A lucky escape, he thought. He had no intention of becoming involved in a personal relationship with an employee again. The consequences were never pretty.

  As the sun set behind the hills, he drove up to the front door of his parents’ home. Welcoming lights blinked in the windows. His mother stood at the bottom of the stairs that led from the wraparound veranda to the circular gravel drive.

  “Scott! You’re home!” she yelled, throwing her arms around him as soon he was out the car.

  He hugged her tightly. “Hello, Mum. Happy birthday.” The scent of roses tickled his nose again. “New perfume?”

  She nodded. “A birthday present from TJ. What a coincidence that you bought the dealership she works in, Scott! She’s coming over for dinner tonight. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Scott stiffened slightly and smiled. “Of course not.”

  Rose Devin smiled. “I heard you met Sheila. You should get TJ to introduce you to Bruce. Did she tell you that the towing company has refused to tow Sheila up here?”

  “No, she didn’t. I guess that explains why I had to push that pile of junk into the workshop tonight after a week on the driveway. I’ll let her know she can leave the car at the workshop and work on it there.” He leaned back into the car to retrieve his overnight bag. Slinging it over his shoulder and closing the car door, he asked, “Now have you got any fudge brownies?” Scott hugged his mother and tucked her under his arm as they walked toward the house.

  Rose raised a groomed eyebrow at him. Scott had never had much of a sweet tooth. “Fudge brownies? Are you coming down with something? And don’t let TJ hear you calling Sheila a pile of junk.”

  Scott laughed. “I’ve got a craving. It’s been a very long week.”

  “You’re in luck then. I actually do have some. TJ loves fudge brownies, so I made up a whole batch.”

  They entered the warm house and Rose led him to the kitchen where a fresh pot of coffee brewed on the Aga. She poured the coffee into earthenware mugs and handed him one before curling her hands around her own. “She’s a great girl, Scott. A hard worker. I worry about her out here all alone when she has those kids staying over there. Dad and I try to keep an eye out when they’re here doing chores and renovating her property.”

  “I had a firsthand look at some of the trouble the program brings on my first day. She mentioned a problem with the council and removal of asbestos.”

  “Take your dad some coffee and talk to him about it. He’s been trying to help her get through all the red tape. He’s down in the shed. Dinner will be ready soon.” Rose smiled and poured another cup. Her smile grew wider when she thought of TJ. It was going to be an interesting weekend.

  Scott and his father were strolling back from the shed at the bottom of the garden as TJ jogged up the steep drive. Her heart did a little flip at the sight of him. His dark hair was ruffled from the breeze and stubble shadowed his jaw. A navy polo was shirt tucked loosely into sinfully well-fitting jeans that hugged his hips and thighs.

  She stopped at the edge of the driveway and waited for them. Scott’s eyes collided with hers as he and Bill reached the point where the path met the driveway. TJ stepped around him to throw her arms around his father in a hug. Bill Devin returned it with equal enthusiasm. Scott felt a twinge of jealousy tighten his stomach.

  “TJ! Glad you could make it. Where’s the boy?” He kissed her forehead.

  “Marty’s still in hospital, Bill. I’m picking him up in the morning.” She released Bill from the hug and turned to Scott. “Hi.”

  “TJ.” Scott nodded.

  The air was thick with tension, and Bill looked from one to the other before saying, “Well, come on then. Let’s get up to the house. Did you need me to give you a lift to the hospital tomorrow?”

  TJ hooked an arm through Bill’s as they walked a little ahead of Scott. “No, that’s okay. I’ve got Bruce.”

  “Aah, Bruce! Has Scott met Bruce?”

  “I think Sheila was enough for him, Bill. Bruce might just push him over the edge.” She laughed and cast a look over her shoulder and caught Scott’s glare. She frowned back at him.

  Bill chuckled. “Take him over there after dinner.”

  TJ stiffened. “I’m sure Scott has better things to do.”

  “No he doesn’t.” Bill stopped and untangled his arm from hers. “Here, talk to him about it while I go in and let Rose know that young Marty will be home tomorrow. She’ll have to get baking. That boy will eat like an elephant after a few days of hospital food.”

  TJ wanted to beg Bill to stay. She didn’t want to be alone with Scott. Not now, not ever. She hadn’t slept since the almost kiss in his office. She couldn’t make him stay out of her dreams. And dreams were dangerous. TJ started to walk towards the house. His hand at her elbow stopped her short as energy zinged up her arm and churned in her stomach.

  “Bruce?” Scott asked as she jerked her elbow out of his hand and walked on.

  “A 1953 FJ Holden Ute.”

  “Really? Where did you find one of those? Plenty of sedans around but the utes are pretty scarce.” He caught up with her easily as she negotiated the rocky pathway to the house.

  “It was Pop’s.”

  Scott sighed and stopped walking. “I’m sorry, TJ. I overstepped the boundaries in the office the other day. It won’t happen again.”

  TJ stopped, too, but didn’t look back at him. Instead she stared at the house, her back ramrod straight. She didn’t need to ask him what he meant.

  “It can’t happen again, Scott. You know as well as I do that relationships in the workplace, whether mutual or not, always end with someone having to leave. Since you’re the boss, that would be me, and I can’t afford to lose my job.” She turned to face him. Against the twilight sky, he was dark, brooding and downright sexy. She felt the pull from where she stood as her body belied her words.

  “Truce?” He held out his hand and she ignored it. He ran it through his hair instead.

  “Truce,” she agreed.

  “So do I get to meet Bruce?”

  She he
sitated. “Maybe tomorrow.” In the sunlight. It was a long walk in the dark, and the intimacy of the moonlit night that blanketed the hills would be far too dangerous.

  “Tomorrow,” he agreed as they walked into the house. “Oh, and TJ?”

  “Yep?”

  “I heard you’re having some trouble with getting Sheila towed up here?”

  “Yes. The truck won’t make the steep driveway with a load.”

  “You can leave her at the workshop and do what you need to there.”

  “Thank you.” She accepted his peace offering willingly. If it wasn’t for the pull between them, she would have hugged him, but that would be even more dangerous ground to tread.

  If there was one thing he’d missed most while he’d lived on the east coast, it was dinner with his parents. He watched now as TJ whizzed around helping Rose. She’d let down her guard, completely at home in his mother’s kitchen.

  “… And then he fired me!”

  “Scott! You didn’t!”

  Scott shrugged as TJ entertained his parents with the story of their first encounter. “Rules are rules.”

  He held TJ’s chair out for her. As she sat, her perfume drifted past his nose, setting his senses on fire once more. Silently he swore that he would never plant a rosebush in his garden again. Rules were rules, he reminded himself. It was time he remembered that and kept his distance. He moved to the opposite side of the table despite the empty chair next to her.

  “The boys declared mutiny and I was forced to give her the job back.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t need too much persuasion,” Bill said. “TJ has an impeccable record at M & M.”

  “That she does, Dad … but it was the death threats I received that swayed my decision.” He smiled lazily to take the sting out of his words. “TJ has friends with dangerous weapons close at hand. I wasn’t game to risk it.”

  “Sheila dropped her bumper on his foot, and he was running scared.” TJ handed him the basket of bread rolls and the butter knife across the table.