Racing Hearts (Hollows Garage Book 3)

I hated that I had to hesitate so much to help her, but I know what we went through with Slaughter and I couldn’t make that decision for everyone. I hated it even more to learn that Slaughter was almost related to her, and after her for a good reason. We all knew him well enough to know that he had a one track mind and when he made someone an enemy, he would go after them until he got the outcome that he wanted. It’s what he did to us when he thought we were stealing his cars, and now Carly was his enemy.

I couldn’t imagine living with someone like that or having to deal with the people and problems that he brought around. I knew each one of us here got ourselves into some trouble in the past, but it was nothing compared to the things Slaughter and his group were still doing. After he got arrested for everything with us, all we’ve heard is that things spiraled even further out of control for him. He was also kicked out of the weekly races for betting too high on races and never paying for them. When someone is that low, they usually get desperate.

I looked her over. Her shoulders were pinned back tight, and while she didn’t look upset exactly, she didn’t look comfortable still. Which I guess shouldn’t be surprising considering an hour ago she thought she was going to be dealing with a room full of Slaughter-like guys.

She smiled at something Scout said and then looked at me, her eyebrows furrowing as she noticed me watching her. It was hard not to, though. To say she was pretty was an understatement. Her dark hair was wound up in a bun and her head tipped up, high and proud as she looked back to the table, but her green eyes kept darting back to me until I finally looked away.

I could not keep thinking about how good she looked. I was going to get twenty steps ahead of myself and I needed to remember that I did not want to go down the road of a relationship with the wrong person again. And Slaughter’s step-daughter? That was definitely the wrong person.

After eating and cleaning up, everyone filed out, telling Carly thank you over and over.

“It really was amazing food. Do you always cook stuff like that?” I asked, carrying more trays to the kitchen.

“Not so much anymore. Can you believe that Slaughter doesn’t have a very refined palette? He says that sauce was the worst thing he’s ever eaten. I believe his words were something along the lines of ‘I would rather eat Riot than eat that food.’”

“He must be dining at the best restaurants in the state then, because I can’t imagine where I’ve had better food than that.” I put another dish in the sink and turned to her. The freckles across her nose and cheeks moved as her lips turned up. Between the angry scowl and how uncomfortable she has been since I met her, it was nice to see that she was smiling a little easier now.

It wasn’t as nice to realize how much I liked it, and wanted to keep making it happen more.

“Also, that’s disgusting that he even made a joke about that,” I added, trying to hide the fact that I had been staring at her lips for way too long.

“I agree. And that’s really nice of you to say about the food. It was really nice of all of you to say such great things about it. My grandpa was the only one who ever seemed to like my food, but he’s older now and a little…out of it, so he might think any food is fine dining.”

“Well, based on him thinking it’s delicious, I would say he is not that out of it.”

She laughed, but didn’t say anything more about him.

“Are you really working on being a chef, then?” I asked, trying to help her finish the last of the clean-up in the kitchen, even though she kept trying to push me away.

“I mean, I’ve never really thought I would get the chance to work on it honestly, but that would be the dream.”

“What were your plans, then? Just drive until you see a ‘Help Wanted’ sign and sleep in your truck?”

“Yeah? I mean, I can hopefully get a hotel room after I start getting paychecks, but before that? Yes, I would have to stay in my truck until I made more money.”

“What are you going to be doing with Riot while you’re at this job? He can’t sit in the truck all day. And I assume affording a doggy day care would get expensive fast.”

Her eyebrows shot up as she looked down. “I don’t know how I didn’t think about that. I’d been so worried about just getting out and getting on my feet that I didn’t think about Riot during the day. I’ll add that to my never-ending list to figure out.”

I wanted to offer more help, but I didn’t actually know what help I could offer. She still seemed on-edge around me, and not happy about the arrangement with staying here. There wasn’t much more I could think to do.

We finished cleaning up, and I knew we were both exhausted.

“For tonight, no running away anywhere. Just get some sleep.”

She only nodded as she flopped back onto the couch and threw the covers over herself. Riot didn’t hesitate to jump up and lay down at her feet.

“Your dog is spoiled,” I said, making sure my tone was light. I really didn’t have a problem with him, but I was quickly realizing that she seemed to love this dog more than anything else.

“He deserves it more than any of us. He was Slaughter’s dog before he came to live with us. He left him outside in all types of weather. I know he hit him. He’s got scars all over him. They have healed now and get hidden in the hair, but there are plenty. When they moved in, he just attached himself to me, and me to him. Then I found out how much he didn’t like Slaughter and he came to be my little protector. He deserves to be spoiled and will live out the rest of his days like that.”

I looked over at Riot, who seemed to know that we were talking about him based on his head swiveling back and forth between us.

I had noticed faint lines on him, but hadn’t asked about them yet. “Fuck that guy,” I mumbled as I walked to the fridge and grabbed a piece of cheese. “If he kept you safe, then he does deserve it.”

I handed him the slice, and he seemed pleased to chomp away at it before flopping back down.

“Get some sleep and we will get everything else figured out tomorrow.” I stopped at the door to my bedroom. “Come get me if you need anything.”

“I won’t,” she yelled as I laid down.

“But if you do.”

It was barely two minutes later when I heard a light tap come from my door, and my heart leapt, making me hit my own chest with a cough to shut it up before my imagination got away from me.

“Hey Jax?”

“Yes?”

She stuck her head inside the door. Her long, dark hair fell, and her green eyes locked on me.

“I kind of packed in a hurry and didn’t really think through my options. I usually like to sleep in big T-shirts but can’t seem to find any.” She let her voice die out, apparently hoping I would get the hint.

“And?”

“And I was wondering if you have one I could borrow.”

“I have a whole closet,” I said with a small laugh before getting up and walking over to open the closet door. “Take your pick.”

“No. I’m not choosing. Just one you don’t care about.”

“I assume a well-worn one?” I ran a hand over all the shirts, wondering which she would choose, trying to ignore the thrill running through me that she was taking one of mine.

Girls always seemed to want to take a guy’s clothes, and I never liked it. They’d somehow always choose the ones I actually wore and didn’t want to give up, but this time, I actually wanted her to have one I liked. One that she liked. It was obvious that she preferred…darker things. Not only were the shirts I’d seen her in so far funny, but they were definitely in the dark humor category. And I couldn’t miss the little pink Ghostface and skeleton hand keychains on her keys.

“Preferably, but I won’t be picky.”

“I got a shirt one time that reminded me of the garage that I think you’ll like. It suddenly reminds me of you more. It’s been a favorite, so well-worn, and probably smells like me, which we both know is why you’re really here for one of mine.”

“It is not!”

“It’s okay. I smell like heaven. It will be our secret.”

“Jax,” she warned as I pulled out the shirt. The playfully threatening tone made me smile, hoping this meant that she was a bit more comfortable around me.

It was a headless skeleton man riding a horse, a pumpkin head in his hand. A woman sat on the back with a pair of witchy heels and a smile on her face as though she was happy to be taken by the headless skeleton. It always made me laugh. The top read Fall Head Over Heels in Hollow Town with a haunted house and headstones were in the background.

Her mouth dropped open as she looked it over.

“Okay, I actually do love it. Like that might be my new favorite shirt.”

“Look at that. I already know your taste.”

“Lucky guess,” she said with a scowl. “Just for being so cocky. I’m keeping this now.”

“Good,” I whispered, leaning down to her. “Just let me know if you need me to wear it a time or two. Make it smell like me again.”

She stormed out fast, huffing about that never happening, and I waited until it was quiet before going back to bed.

I didn’t care if I didn’t get any sleep now. I was too excited to wake up and see her wearing that tomorrow.

INSTEAD OF WAKING up to thoughts of Carly, I woke up to a hundred pound Rottweiler laying on top of me like I was a dog bed. He was dead weight as I opened my eyes and rolled to my side, making him roll off of me. He didn’t seem to mind, spreading out on his back next to me on the bed with his head resting on the pillow.

“Carly? Are you up?” I groaned quietly, pushing Riot off the rest of the way and sitting up. “Wow. You’re a bed hog.”

The living room was quiet as I walked out until Riot ran up behind me, jumping right on top of Carly.

“I was trying to keep quiet, but it looks like he had a wake up call for you, too,” I said as he licked her face and crawled on top of her.

“Too?”

“Oh yeah,” I said, making coffee. “I apparently got some Rottweiler cuddles last night. He snuck in at some point.”

“That spoiled part includes him liking a nice big bed to sleep in. Not a couch. I would like to add myself to that list, too,” she said, stretching and laughing as Riot licked her cheek.

When she sat up, I could see she was wearing the shirt, the no bra look leaving little to the imagination, but mine seemed alive and well because even looking away, I couldn’t stop picturing what was underneath.

I tried to stop the thoughts, but it was inevitable. I hadn’t been with anyone in months and that seemed to be getting to me. Or maybe it was just her.

“If the couch is really that bad, we can share my bed,” I said, the image of waking up next to her a little too vivid. “Coffee?”

“Yes, please, to the coffee. I bought my creamer when we went to the store.”

I grabbed the pumpkin creamer from the fridge.

“What in the awful drink is this?”

She frowned as she looked at me. “That is the most delicious creamer in the world. Don’t be stingy.”

I poured the cups but didn’t hide my head shake.

“Try it before you judge it.”

I poured some in my cup and walked over, handing her a full mug.

“Thanks. Also not a chance to sharing a bed. Good try, though. And for a guy who claims he’s not a murderer, you sure do bring it up a lot.”

“I don’t know how else to convince you to not be scared of me. And I meant for comfort, not because I’m trying to sleep with you,” I said, noticing how she looked away immediately. “Also, if you are counting yourself so spoiled that you don’t want to sleep on a couch, how are you planning for you two to sleep in your truck?”

“Good point. Although, that would be the only option, so I guess we would both just have to suck it up and deal with it for a while. Just like I have to suck it up staying here for a while.”

“I’m not that bad, I promise.”

“Really?” she said, her eyebrows jumping up. “Weren’t you on the side of me not staying? I’m pretty sure the only reason I’m here is because of Scout and Kye.”

My chest tightened, making me wince. “I’m sorry. It really had nothing to do with you. I promise. I just can’t ask the crew to do something like that without knowing the risk. There’s not a lot I wouldn’t do to help someone, but putting any of my friends in danger, especially without them knowing, isn’t something I’m willing to do.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it to sound so harsh. Sometimes my words sound a lot more bitchy than I mean for them to,” she said, her lips pursed as she looked down at her cup.

“It’s alright, I can take some harsh criticism,” I said, grinning at her sudden shyness. “But I really want you to know it had nothing to do with you.”

“I get that. I don’t exactly like this arrangement of relying on you for a place to stay and to fix my truck. I would prefer if we worked something out that I could pay you back.”

“Pay me back for fixing the truck or the staying here?”

“Both. Do you want me to pay you for rent or something? And your time working on the truck?”

“Yeah, I was thinking about that. You said you didn’t want to owe me anything and lucky for you, I don’t sleep much these days, so I came up with a solution last night.”

Those green eyes moved back to me and all I could think about was how bad I wanted them on me like that all the time.

“Which is?”

“We trade. I use my skills to fix your truck, and in exchange, you use your skills to cook.”

It was pretty clear from the sudden arch of her eyebrows that she wasn’t sold on the idea.

“I can’t expect that me cooking is a fair trade for me barging into your life and taking over your apartment with my giant Rottweiler.”

“Fixing your truck comes easy to me. Cooking does not. I assume it does to you, though. And I like good food more than most things, so I think it would be fair.”

“What about rent? And how much would all the parts be?”

“I don’t have a rent. We own the place, and I’ll let you know on the parts, but I’ll be doing things the right way, not the cheap way. There is no point in you breaking down again.”

“So what about payments for that, then? You give me the parts bill after you’re done and I’ll make sure it’s all paid back.”

“Fine with me, but don’t stress yourself about it. And again, I want to emphasize that the cooking is the exciting part to me. Sandwiches, pastas, more of what you made last night, desserts. All of it. Money is definitely second to that.”

“So, I will basically be your personal chef for the next two weeks, and you let us live here, safe and unbothered?”

“Yes,” I said. “Personal chef for your personal mechanic.”

“And you’re sure?”

“One hundred percent sure.”

“Well, my options are limited. Not even limited, they are nonexistent, so I guess we have a deal. I will be paying you back for all of this with interest.”

I rolled my eyes and leaned my head back on the couch. “Deal. Now onto the real problem, why didn’t you text me yesterday? I was planning to send you pictures of the truck. I figured you would be worried about it.”

“That’s the real problem?” she asked, giving me that look of disbelief again. “And it’s because I don’t have a phone.”

“How do you not have a phone?” I asked, sipping the coffee that was surprisingly delicious.

“I mean, I did, but I didn’t bring it with me when I left. I didn’t want them to have any way to contact me.”

I shook my head, surprised I hadn’t asked sooner.

“Smart move. Although, I can’t believe you were out on that road with no phone, too. I can see who is going out today, and they can stop to grab you a new one.”

“That’s not even a little necessary for you to do,” she said, eyes wide. “I really can’t afford anything like that right now anyway, especially now that I’m going to owe you all this money for staying here, and the parts.”

“You also shouldn’t go without a phone, especially when you leave.”

“But you aren’t responsible for that. I’ll get one later. You don’t have to go out of your way to be so nice.”

“Listen, I’m going to be nice to you. I’m probably going to be super fucking nice. Might even be really sweet sometimes. I’m going to make sure you have everything you need right now, and for when you head out on your own after the truck is done. I’m plenty comfortable with money. Whatever payments you want to make to me have no due date, so we are just going to make sure you have what you need. You might as well stop fighting it.”

She rolled her eyes and leaned back. “I’m seeing that it might be a losing battle. It’s really nice of you, but I don’t want me owing you even more hanging over my head.”

“Is it your birthday soon or something? You can consider it a gift from all of us. Ash just texted me back. She will be going out to the track today and can pick one up for you while she’s out. Problem solved.”

“Why are you so determined to be nice now? Last night you wanted me gone.”

“Because it’s who I am. I’m not going to sit back and watch you struggle if I have solutions. And before you start thinking I’m being weird, I would do it for anyone. I was hesitant at first for everyone else, if they’re okay with you here, and they are, then we’re good. You’ll get the help you need.”

“Hence, stopping in the middle of the night to help me and look over my truck.”

“Exactly.”

I leaned back, sipping my coffee and smiling at her. In seconds, she was scowling hard at me and I couldn’t stop smiling. The scowl was cute, especially when that second came where she couldn’t help herself anymore and a smile broke on her face.

“Do you have something else to say?” she asked. Her lips were pushing tighter and tighter as I sat quietly watching her.

“No.” I lied. There was a lot I wanted to say, but I couldn’t decide what was the right and wrong thing to say. I wanted to tell her to stop overthinking all of this, but I knew the words wouldn’t change her mind. I wanted to tell her that it would all work out. I wanted to tell her how much I was already enjoying her being here, but I couldn’t imagine she would believe it. Most of all, I was tempted to tell her how pretty she looked, but I assumed that might scare her all the way out of the apartment.

“Then why are you looking at me like that?” Her words were so clipped as she crossed her arms, shrinking back into the couch further.

“Such a temper,” I said, shaking my head, not hiding my smile and watching as her scowl deepened.

“I don’t have a temper.”

“No?”

She looked away fast. “No. You’re just….You keep smirking at me and it’s annoying.”

“So no smiling at you, noted.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“It’s alright. I’ll stop,” I said, still smiling. “I mean, I’ll try to stop. Aside from the crew, I haven’t really had anyone to talk to in the morning before work. It’s fun.”

“You are very happy in the mornings.”

“It’s all this delicious coffee. Which makes me wonder why you are not. Is the couch that uncomfortable?”

“No. Not at all. It’s completely fine. I’m just not a morning person.”

“I can see that. That’s alright, I still enjoy the company, but I do have to get ready for work. I have this new customer that is demanding I finish her truck immediately.”

“I am not. Do you want breakfast?” she asked with a soft laugh, making me stop in my tracks.

“You make breakfast too?”

“I mean, yeah? Isn’t that the agreement? I cook while you fix my truck? I feel like adding breakfast to that is fair.”

“Then hell yes, I want breakfast. You mean to tell me I’m going to eat something other than coffee and a Pop-Tart? I could kiss you right now.”

She rolled her eyes. “Maybe I was just going to warm up Pop-Tarts.”

I laughed, heading into my room. “A warm Pop-Tart? Not a cold one? I’m still thrilled,” I said, wishing I stayed out there to see the scowl cross her face.

It seemed like she was more comfortable now, but it still felt like she was waiting for me to get angry or change my mind about her staying. I had been hesitant at first, but the idea was settling with me now. The disarray of the apartment, and my life, wasn’t as bad as I assumed it would be, and honestly, someone here to talk to all the time was nice.

I was already looking forward to tomorrow morning.