Joy Ride
The universe must want to test me somehow.
But then, I wrap my hand around the neck of the Pappy Van Winkle, taking it from her. I remind myself this is not a test because I don’t even fucking like her. I take a long, thirsty drink, and I can taste her lipstick.
Jesus Christ. I can taste her motherfucking lipstick.
This isn’t a test. It’s a goddamn pop quiz I’m thoroughly unprepared for. Because her lipstick is unexpectedly delicious. I set the bottle back in its holder as the car slows at a light.
“Is this how it’s going to be for the next two hours?” she asks.
“You mean are we going to go to battle with a bottle of bourbon?”
“Yes. Because I will go toe-to-toe with you.”
I scoff, giving her a doubtful look. “Sweetheart, you’d never last. I’m twice your weight.”
“But I’m three times as tough.”
“You’re a fucking piece of work. Would you prefer to one-up me by showing up at a client’s house at the same time?” I smack my forehead. “Oh wait. You already did that.”
She crosses her arms. “You think you’re the only game in town, don’t you?”
“No. But I’d like to know what kind of game you’re playing.”
She jerks her body away, giving me a you-must-be-crazy look. “When did it happen, Max?”
“When did what happen, Henley?”
“When did you go certifiably insane? Was it right after I left you, or a few years later?”
I sigh heavily, wishing I hadn’t walked right into that one. I turn to face her. “Look, I think it’s bullshit and suspicious to see you at her house.”
She twirls her finger in a circle by her ear. “And I think that’s paranoid and cuckoo. I can’t believe you think I’m playing a game because Livvy Sweetwater ordered a rush job on a custom car from me. I’m fast, I’m furious, and I’m awesome at souping up Corvettes. Deal with it, Summers.”
I laugh as I rub my hand over the back of my neck. “Ah, that’s the Henley I remember. Always quick with a fiery comeback.”
“What did you expect but a true answer? You’re ridiculous if you think having the same client means I’m out to steal your business.”
She rolls her eyes and drags a hand through her chestnut brown hair. Stupidly, I follow her gesture, wondering for a moment what her hair feels like.
Like straw.
Her hair feels like straw.
Her lips taste like wilted lettuce.
Her breath smells like a dog’s.
Shit, I like dogs.
But, I remind myself, I don’t want to kiss dogs, and I definitely don’t want to kiss Henley.
“I think it’s fucking fishy,” I say.
“Look, Summers. Here’s the deal. You were the king of the car business when I worked under you.”
Under you.
Don’t plant those images in my head.
My dick flirts with treason once more.
“Still the king,” I point out.
“And now there’s a queen in town. You’re going to have to deal with the fact that you have some serious competition. I make hotter sports cars than you do. You might be a god at restoring a Rolls, or making an Aston sing, and I’m sure your neon-blue souped-up Ferrari is the baddest ride ever.”
I cock my head. “How’d you know I did that car in blue?”
“I looked you up. You think it’s easy being a woman in this business? It’s not. I need to stay ten steps ahead, and I do it by knowing the business cold. I researched you, studied you, and understood you when I came back to town. You do an amazing job on nearly everything.” I can’t help it—I straighten my shoulders a bit from the compliment, loving it, even from her. “But I happen to be amazing at making sports cars, and Livvy wanted one for her wild niece, so she called this wild girl.” Henley punctuates her speech by tapping her chest.
“Wild,” I say, deadpan. “That sounds right, considering how you got a little wild with a client’s car the last time we worked together, doing things he didn’t ask for.”
The look on her face tells me she’s taken aback. “I thought it was what he wanted,” she says with less intensity and more . . . worry. “I told you that.”
I shake my head. I won’t give in to her. “You did what you wanted. Plain and simple. You nearly cost me business.”
“You nearly cost me a career.”
I fix her with a you’ve-got-to-be-kidding stare. “Your career seems just fine. Speaking of, what’s the name of this shop you opened?”
“I don’t have my own shop yet. I’m the lead builder at John Smith Rides.”
I groan. That name again. First, Sam dates a mechanic there. Now, Henley is on the fucking payroll of my rival, too.
I grab the bottle, and once more I don’t bother with a glass. Nope. I might as well drink the whole thing down. This woman is going to be a thorn in my side.
After fifteen minutes of uncomfortable silence while the car rolls along the highway, Henley turns to me. “How about we try to make this ride enjoyable?”
“Let bygones be bygones? Or did you want to play cards?”
“How about charades?”
I’m walking into something dangerous. But I do it anyway. “What kind of charades?”
“It’s a question I’m asking.”
“All right. Have at it.”
She adopts a perky little smile then leans forward, popping her butt off the seat. I remind myself that it’s not a perfect ass she possesses. Like her straw hair and rubbery lips, her butt is flat and boring, not a round, heart-shaped dream ass ripe for spanking. She waggles a pretend object in her hand, almost as if she’s cleaning. Dusting, perhaps. Next, she clasps her hand to her mouth in a Betty Boop move. “Oops,” she mouths.
“You’re allowed to do that in charades?”
She doesn’t answer. She sits back down on the seat and grabs her phone from a small purse. She points to me and shrugs as if she’s asking a question.
“Did I?” I suggest.
She nods then opens her palm a few times as if she’s grabbing something.
“Grab?”
She shakes her head.
“Get?”
She taps her nose.
“Did I get . . .?”
Henley does the dusting again then points to her phone.
Yep. Walked into it and then some. I drag a hand over my face and shake my head. “No, I did not get the maid’s number. I wouldn’t do that to a client.”
“But she was hot, right?”
I turn and stare at her. “Why are you asking?”
“She was a babe. It’s a fact. I was just curious if you got her number since she sure seemed to like you, too.”
I point to the guy behind the glass. “You want Peter’s number?”
“I don’t know. Do you think he likes piña coladas and making love in the rain?”
For a flash second, a burst of wildfire curls through my veins. It feels like white-hot jealousy. Which is ridiculous since she’s not making love to Peter.
Or me, for that matter, obviously.
I fight off the envy with a full dose of sarcasm. “Have you ever noticed you never have a good pair of headphones when you need them?”
She huffs. “Message received. I’ll just shut up and read a book.” She reaches for her phone on the seat, but accidentally knocks it to the floor of the car. I lean down to pick it up, and when I hand it to her I see her playlist.