Page 74 of A Stop in Time
Reluctance blankets his movements, but Daniel steps back. I ignore his outstretched hands and slide off the car without assistance.
Rushing to hike up my underwear and jeans before stamping my feet back in my boots, I lace them so fast, one might think I’m competing in some sort of contest.
I smooth a hand over my hair, hoping I don’t look like I’ve been mauled. My eyes catch on his unmistakable arousal pressing against the fabric of his pants, and he tugs at the hem of his untucked shirt to try and cover it.
“Just makin’ it worse the more you look at it.”
I jerk my eyes up only to clash with green ones holding the barest trace of humor. An edginess takes hold of me, and I scramble out of his way to greet the client now parking behind Daniel’s Chevelle and mash a smile on my face.
Hayden steps from his truck and scans Daniel’s car with a frown before ambling toward me with his trademark boyish smile.
“Mornin’, Mac.”
“Morning. What can I do for you today?”
“I was wonderin’ if you had any seventeen-inch rims handy. Buddy of mine needs one.”
“I just might. Let me run back and check for you.”
I can tell the instant Daniel steps into view behind me because a flare of curiosity crosses Hayden’s features. “Sorry, man. I didn’t mean to interrupt another customer.”
“Not another—”
“It’s fine,” I interrupt Daniel with a sharp, quelling look over my shoulder before returning my attention to Hayden. “He’s all set.”
Daniel edges closer to me and Hayden’s easy smile dims. Oh, for fuck’s sake. “I’ll head back and see what I can find.”
“Sounds good. Thanks, Mac.”
“No problem.”
I spin around and raise my brows at Daniel. “You’re all set, Mr. Madrano.”
It appears to take a great effort to draw his eyes off Hayden, but when he does, I almost regret it. Because his razor-sharp stare also holds a blistering heat, lips framed by scruff that abraded my most intimate parts.
Those tense lines bracketing his mouth, however, attest to his resentment at being interrupted. My body might be on the same page, but my brain is grateful for Hayden’s unexpected arrival.
Whatever strange sorcery Daniel Madrano has over me is far too potent and powerful.
I brush past him but hesitate for a split second. With a hushed, only for his ears, “Be nice,” I head out back to find a rim for Hayden and hope like hell Daniel honors my request.
32
DANIEL
“Be nice.”
Nice is overrated. I could’ve had her coming all over my cock if this fucker hadn’t decided to show up.
“Need a rim for your friend, huh?”
He tosses his head, and I’m sure it’s an attempt to flip his annoying-ass blond hair off his face. It only flops right back. Who the fuck cuts their hair like that if it’s constantly going to be in their eyes? Some dumb shit right there. “Yeah.”
A friend. Sure.
Tense silence suspends between us. “What kind of vehicle does your friend have?”
Blondie frowns at me like I’m speaking a foreign language. “What?”