Racing Hearts (Hollows Garage Book 3)

I spent half of the next morning baking brownies and enjoying the peace that came with an entire kitchen to myself.

It was so calm, relaxing even, and I didn’t have to worry about people barging in and making me feel uncomfortable or unwelcome. It happened so much back home that I ended up never leaving my room unless I had to. Most of the cooking I did ended up only being at my grandpa’s house.

By the time I was done, I had another feeling nagging at me.

I wanted to see Jax.

So much for wanting to keep my distance.

“What am I supposed to do about that?” I asked, looking at Riot.

He whined and kept looking at me.

“Yeah, I know it’s dumb. Why would I want to see Jax already? We live together.”

At Jax’s name, Riot perked up.

“Don’t even tell me that he got to you, too?”

He came over, tapping me with his nose. His universal way of telling me that he wanted something.

“Fine. We’ll go walk these down there and then we are coming back immediately.”

At the word “walk,” Riot ran to the door, waiting as I wrapped up the brownies before clipping him up and heading out.

I knew the garage was down the street. Jax had shown me the location on his phone the other day, but it would take me a while to walk there.

I spent the time talking to Riot, giving him a long list of reasons why we weren’t going to stay with Jax any longer than necessary. By the time I turned into the garage parking lot, I was pretty confident in my reasons I was giving to Riot.

That was until I saw Jax.

He was standing next to a car, talking with Kye, and my mouth watered at the sight.

I saw him leave every day, but this was a whole different experience. His button-up shirt hung open, sweat coating him, the tattoos on his chest on full display. The always-happy sunshine boy looked dangerously hot.

It only got worse when he looked over and saw me, his face lighting up like it was Christmas. I groaned. “This was a terrible idea. We shouldn’t have come down here.”

Riot didn’t seem to care, though, pulling me harder to get to Jax. He immediately crouched down, hugging Riot.

Up close, he only looked better, and I was trying not to stare, but it was too hard to look away from him. His hat was hiding his dark hair, and when he looked up at me, I was immediately caught up in bright blue eyes and the dimpled smile on his face.

“What are you two doing here?” Jax asked, getting up as Riot ran to Kye next. I was surprised when Kye sat down, letting Riot roll into his lap.

“Carly?” Jax asked, trying to get my attention.

“Oh. I was bored and made these. I thought you all might like them.”

He looked in the container and smiled again.

“Might? Pretty sure they will be gone in a few minutes.”

I hated that it made me smile. They all seemed to love what I made, and it kept making me feel so good, so special.

It felt like being around Jax was bringing out too much softness too often. I needed to remember that this was temporary and these people would not be in my life long. I was going to be on my own again soon.

“Alright, I’m going to head back now.”

“You just got here. Why leave so soon?” He stepped closer, flashing a smile. “Plus, we just got lunch. Come on.”

“But I didn’t get food, so it would be better if I just head back.”

Before I could argue more, he threw an arm around me, pulling me further into the garage. I sucked in a deep breath at his touch. I didn’t know that him touching me should have any effect at all, but it definitely shouldn’t have this much of an effect every time.

“I’ll share. I don’t mind.”

“Do you ever?”

That made him laugh. “No, not with anyone here.”

“Ugh, you are so happy and nice. You’re like the sun.”

“Really hot and hard for you to get close to without melting for me?”

“I should have said that you’re like sunshine. Blinding, and happy, and warm. And I prefer cold, rainy days.”

“And you’re like the moon.”

“Dark and mysterious?” I asked, holding in my laugh.

“No, well yes, but I meant my sunshine-like personality seems to rub off on you. You suddenly can’t stop smiling back at me.”

“Okay. Calm down sunshine,” I said. “I’m smiling because you’re ridiculous, not because of some sun beam science.”

“Aww, you’re calling me sunshine now? Does this mean I get to call you moon?”

“Jax,” I warned.

“Yes, moon?”

“Knock it off.”

“You said you didn’t like grouch. What am I supposed to call you?”

“Carly?”

“Boring,” he said, opening the office door and pulling me inside.

My mouth dropped open. “You can’t say that my name is boring.”

He only laughed. “I meant calling you by your name is boring when I have a thousand other things I’d rather use.”

“Carly!” Scout yelled. “You missed us!”

She was sitting back on the couch, a smile on her face, and already smacking the spot next to her.

Jax pulled me back with a scowl. “She’s sitting over here with me.”

“You live with her, Jax. You can’t take all the time with her during the day, too.”

I could feel the shock on my face showing as my eyebrows shot up.

“I’m sharing my sandwich with her, so unless you want to share yours, she’s with me.”

“It’s already half gone, so that’s a hard pass,” she said, grinning as she took a big bite.

“That’s what I thought.” Jax sat back, motioning for me to come sit next to him. “Will you relax a bit?” he whispered. “You look like you might start swinging at one of us.”

“Sorry, old habits. Garages haven’t always been the most fun places for me.”

The door swung open, Fox, Kye, and Ransom walking in, spreading out, and grabbing food. I tried not to stiffen as they filled the room, but I couldn’t help it. Jax knocked my arm, smirking as he pulled food out of the bag.

“Hey Carly,” Fox said, sitting down across from us. “How is living with Jax? Driving you up the wall yet?”

I laughed. “I think I’m the one driving him up the wall. I’m a little more messy than him.”

They all laughed, poking fun at Jax. “I think everyone is. Not ready to move to another couch yet?” Kye asked.

“Not a chance,” Jax said. “I’ll have you all know, she calls me sunshine now so she must like me a little.” He smiled hard at me. “You don’t have to admit it. I know living with me is amazing.”

“You know, you say those cocky things and it makes me want to go to someone else’s place.”

“The only person here who lives alone is Kye since Scout has her boyfriend there more than she doesn’t, and I would bet money that I’m better to live with than him,” Jax said.

I rolled my eyes and looked him over. “And by the way, I do not call you sunshine now. I said it one time.”

“One time was enough. I’ll never forget it.”

“Are you sharing your food, or should I get back to the apartment?” I rolled my eyes as he leaned into me, his lips only inches from my ear.

“Brat,” he whispered the word softly, the heat tickling my ear and sending a shiver down my spine. “Here you go.” He slid half of his sandwich to me before leaning back and taking a bite of his own.

“Ohhh, my favorite nickname so far,” I said quietly with a laugh.

He choked, coughing, as he set his head down on the edge of the table. “Fuck, Carly,” he said, so quiet that only I could hear. “I don’t know if you know what you’re doing and you like it, or you’re just that oblivious,” he said, taking a deep breath before raising his head.

“You good?” Fox said, eyebrows up as he looked us over.

“Oh, I’m great. Never better. Not rethinking my entire life at all.”

Fox laughed and looked at Jax. “Hey, do you remember all the times you gave me shit when Ash was around?”

“Yes,” Jax said as his face fell.

“Payback’s a bitch,” he said, smiling as he grabbed a brownie. “And these are amazing, Carly. Thanks for bringing them. Hey now that you’re down here, do you want to look over your truck?”

“Actually, yeah, that would be —”

“Alright, knock it off,” Jax said, cutting me off. “I was already going to show it to her after we were done.”

“Am I missing something?” I asked, looking between them, my brain immediately assuming this was all some sort of trick.

“All you’re missing is two guys who want to constantly taunt and piss each other off,” Scout said. “Don’t take any of it personally, and don’t even be surprised when fights break out between them. Boys,” she said, shaking her head.

I was surprised when that put me at ease. Obviously, I was missing something, but based on Scout’s reaction, it wasn’t about me and was more about them.

I had been the brunt of so many jokes that now I felt defensive at the slightest hint of it. I ate in silence as they all talked about cars and racing, and was surprised that it only calmed me down, not annoyed me further.

“Come on,” Jax said, finishing and getting up. “Let’s go before that fight does break out. Fox.”

“Oh, need me to come with you? Yeah, of course.”

“Sit down or I’ll make you,” Jax said, his hard stare making Fox sit back down with a smirk.

“Fine, fine. But you deserve every second.”

Jax pushed me out the door and back into the garage.

“What was that about?” I asked, following him around tool boxes and cars.

“That’s Fox being an ass. I do deserve it, though. I was an ass to him when Ashton started coming around.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

He turned, eyebrows furrowing. “I guess that answers my earlier question about obliviousness. Are you sure you want to see your truck? It’s in pieces.”

I groaned as he brought me along the side of it. “But it can be fixed?”

“Definitely.”

“Then yes, I want to see it.”

He grabbed my hand, pulling me to the front of the truck to look under the hood.

“There’s nothing there.”

“I pulled the engine out. It’s behind you.” I turned to see it on a stand, more pieces torn off of it.

“And you really think you can fix this in two weeks?”

“Yes. I know what I’m doing, Carly. I promise I’m not just tearing it apart for fun.”

“No, I know. I mean, I trust that you know what you’re doing. This just seems like a lot of work. Like a lot of work.”

I glanced back at him, looking just as good as he did when I walked in, shirt still open, showing off that beautiful tattoo and slick set of abs. And this guy was doing all of this for me?

“It is a lot of work, but it will be fine. Seriously, I can handle it. You look like you’re freaking out.”

“I believe you, but like I said, this is a lot. Why are you doing this?”

“Because you need your truck?”

“It’s not that simple, Jax. This looks like a huge job. This is not a good exchange for getting some food made for you.”

“Says who?”

“Me?”

“Well, no offense, but your opinion on this particular subject doesn’t matter to me. I like the company and the food. It’s a fair trade to me.”

“I have family members that I’ve known my entire life that wouldn’t even be this nice to me. I don’t know why anyone would think I’m worth doing all this for when you don’t even know me.”

“So? I have family members that don’t care if I’m dead or alive. I also met people in my life that do care if I am or not,” he said, waving his hand around the garage. “It’s not any reflection on me, or on you, in this case. You have had some shit people in your life and I decided I didn’t want to be one of them. Simple as that.”

“But it’s never that simple.”

“I get your hesitation. Seriously, I do, but it really is that simple this time. Promise.”

“Do you…want help?”

His smile grew. “You want to help me work on it?”

“Not particularly, but you did help me cook, so it would be fair.”

“I’m going to take you up on that, but not today. I still have to get a customer’s car done today, so the truck has to wait.”

“Then I think I should head back to the apartment,” I said, not liking any of the emotions bubbling up inside me.

He only smiled. “Alright, run away. Riot is still in the office. Don’t forget him before you flee.”

“I’m not –”

He stopped me. “It’s okay. I don’t need any explanation as long as you’re running to the apartment, not away from it.”

I nodded, heading right to the office for Riot and then right out the door. I’m glad he didn’t ask for any explanation, because I didn’t have one.

I was halfway out the garage bay door when he caught up to me.

“Want me to walk you back?”

“No. I’m alright. I’ll see you in a bit.”

“Alright. Call me if you need anything.”

I nodded again and took off, not looking back as I rounded the corner of the garage and hit the sidewalk. The only thing I needed was to stop thinking about him. I wasn’t going to be running from the apartment, not today, but I did need to run away from these emotions. Jax brought out too many of them, each interaction with him making me feel more in minutes than I’ve felt in months.

I needed to run to the apartment where I could catch my breath and find a way to hide all of these emotions away forever.