I’d take a guess and say he is around thirty, and he is rocking it. Oh yes … rocking it.

“Well,” he says, his voice a low, thick husk, “you going to help me, angel, or are you going to stand there and give yourself wet panties checking me out.”

My eyes snap up and I splutter, “My panties are not w-w-w-wet.”

I’m stammering. Someone kill me.

He gives me a lazy, half grin. “That so?”

Oh boy.

“What can I do for you?” I say, trying to steady my shaky voice.

A dimple appears in his cheek. Well, now I have wet panties. “I’m here to see a dude named Quinn. Heard he’s running this,” he glances around, “old fucked-up place. Get him for me, will you, love?”

Oh. He. Did. Not.

My back snaps straight and all my attraction for him flies out the window. He just insulted my garage, and worse, he insulted me. I hate being called love, and more than that, I hate arrogant men that assume that it must be a man running the place, because it couldn’t possibly be a woman. I study him and then grin. “Of course, I’ll just go and fetch…” I trail off and run my fingers down my cleavage. “Him.”

His eyes drop to my fingers hovering over the swells of my breasts, and I want to slap him.

Tazen who?

Asshole.

“You do that.”

I turn and with a grin, I untie my coveralls, pull them up over my shoulders, wipe any emotion off my face and turn back to him with my hand extended. “Hi there, I’m Quinn. How may I help you today?”

He blinks.

Then he narrows his eyes.

Then he bursts out laughing.

“Right, good one.”

I don’t smile and I watch as his eyes travel to the name embroidered onto my coveralls. Then they widen and he mutters, “Fuck.”

“Yes, that would be an appropriate word,” I point out. “Now, what exactly brings you into my garage, Tazen Watts? I’m sure people like you have plenty of better things to do than come into my old, fucked-up garage. Right?”

His eyes skim over my face and my skin prickles. “People like me, angel?”

He did not say angel in the loving kind of way this time.

“Yes, people like you. I understand my little space isn’t up to standards for a man like you, but you’re here and obviously you have a reason. I want to know what that reason is. The fact that you came in here, and insulted me by insulting my garage and assuming that I was a man has already pissed me off, so make it quick, will you? I have no time for sexist pigs.”

Now his brows shoot up. “Sexist?”

I lean in close. “Yes, sexist.”

“You have a name that can be read wrong, it’s hardly being sexist.”

He has a point.

I say nothing.

“Why are you here?”

He crosses his arms and it takes all my strength not to stare at the bulging muscles that pop out from that very movement. “I’ve heard this joint is for sale. I’m interested.”

Say what?

My body flinches and my eyes widen as I let his words sink in. For sale? No. He must have it wrong.

“I think you’ve misunderstood, Mr. Watts. This place isn’t for sale.”

“Tazen,” he says, his voice a low growl. “My name is Tazen, angel. Mr. Watts makes me feel, well, old.” His eyes drop to my lips. “And I can assure you that I’m far, far from old.”

I shiver, but manage to force out my next words.

“My place isn’t for sale, Tazen.”

His teeth flash as he smiles over my use of his name. I hold his eyes, my glare not wavering.

“You really are a tiny thing, aren’t you? This place is adequately named, wouldn’t you say so, Pixie?”

My blood boils.

“Don’t ever,” I growl, stepping closer, “call me that again.”

“I wonder,” he says, lifting his perfect freaking hand and scratching his chin. “How well you really run this place? I mean, obviously you’re not doing a good job … from what I’ve heard.”

I’m going to lose my shit in about three point five seconds.

“Tell me why the hell you’re assuming my business is for sale?”

“Your business?” he says, raising his brows. “I thought it belonged to Robert Peterson and you’re just filling in?”

“It does,” I say through gritted teeth. “But right now, he’s out of action so I’m running it. I’m his daughter.”

His eyes flicker over me, and I shift uneasily. “Well, it would appear you’re in some trouble then, wouldn’t it?”

“Hey,” Jace says, stepping into the office and up to my side. “Back off.”

Tazen gives him a bored expression, as if he’s no more than an annoying fly buzzing around in his space, then turns back to me. I get in before he can.

“You have your wires crossed, it is not for sale. Now, can you please leave?”

He looks up to the front door, then back to me again. “You’re in a prime position here, investors are piling up to take over this garage. It might be a shit heap but with a bit of money poured into it, it could be amazing. I have money and there are a hell of a lot of car enthusiasts around this area. Not to mention some of the biggest races around the world come here every year—it’s a gold mine and therefore a perfect location to open another shop of mine.”

A lump forms in my throat but I keep it together, saying dryly, “It is my garage and until that changes, you’re on my property and I want you to leave.”

He shrugs. “I’ll leave, but it won’t be for long. I’m making an offer on this place this afternoon.”

“This is my home,” I whisper, angrily.

His eyes soften slightly.

“And I’m sorry for that, but business is business, Quinn.”

“Are we done here?” I mutter.

His eyes grow dark and I swallow down the lump forming in my throat. “We’re done for now.”

“Go to hell.”

He smiles at my sass, flashing those killer dimples. Damn him for being beautiful. “Angel, hell is for the weak. And if there’s one thing I am not, it’s weak.”

This guy is pissing me off.

“Leave.”

He gives me a lazy, lopsided grin that makes my heart pound.

“Afternoon, Pixie.”

With that, he turns and strides out. When he’s gone, I turn to Jace, who is watching him go. “Was that,” he swallows with wide eyes, “Tazen Watts?”

“Yes,” I mutter. “It certainly was.”

“Tazen Watts…” he breathes. “Holy fuck. He is only the best custom car builder … ever.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“You should have gone over and just held him, at least for a few seconds. He’s a god. You love his show.”

“I loved his show. Now I want to stab him.”

Jace turns to me, biting his lip to stop the laughter. I point a finger at him. “Don’t. I have to call the bank. If he’s right, we’re in trouble.”

His face falls.

“Jesus, Quinn.”

“Yeah,” I whisper, staring out the door.

If we lose this garage, we lose everything.

CHAPTER TWO

“Yes, but,” I try but the lady on the phone cuts me off once again.

“Miss Peterson, you’re four months behind in payments and unless you can provide these funds in the next thirty days then we have no other option but to foreclose on the garage.”

God, I knew we were behind, but I must have miscalculated, because I didn’t realize we were this far behind.

“My father is sick,” I cry, frustrated.

“If you can provide documentation from a doctor, then we may be able to extend the time frame.”

That won’t happen, it won’t because he isn’t sick … he’s an alcoholic. Dammit. Damn him!

“Please,” I beg. “This is my life…”

“I’m sorry, Miss Peterson, but this is my job and I’m unable to bend the rules.”

“I understand,” I whisper, feeling my chest building with pressure. “H-how much is it that we need to get back up to date?”

“Twenty-two thousand.”

Twenty-two thousand dollars.

I’m going to vomit.

“Okay,” I say, my voice breaking.

“I wish you the best of luck.”