Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 158872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 530(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 158872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 530(@300wpm)
“Hey, guys. What’s up?” I ask in a way-too-chipper tone.
Eraser stops in the open space between this bay and the one next to it. “Is this a good time?”
“No,” Griff rumbles. “But don’t let that stop you.”
Remy scowls at us. “I thought you wanted us to see the car?” he says to Griff.
Something about his tone and the question feel off. He almost seems sincere, but not quite.
“Nooo,” Griff says slowly. “I said I was bringing Molly to see the car.”
Vapor and Eraser turn and frown at Remy. Juliet rolls her eyes. Ella mouths sorry at me.
“Everything okay, Griff?” Eraser flashes a cocky grin over my head. “Why’re you using Molly as a human shield?”
Griff lets out an annoyed rumble and tightens his hold on me.
“This it?” Remy asks, gesturing to the car.
“You see any other ’71 Malibus in here?” Griff asks with a snarky edge.
The guys crowd around the car, peering inside, opening the doors, giving it a much more thorough examination than I did.
Griff squeezes the top of my arm and releases me. “Thank you,” he whispers in my ear before joining the guys to show off my gift.
Juliet shakes her head, but her lips are pressed so tight together, I think she’s fighting off laughter. “I’m so sorry,” she whispers. “Remy said we were supposed to stop by and see the car.”
I shoot a glare at my brother, but he’s not paying attention.
Ella reaches for me and smooths the back of my hair down. “Did we interrupt anything good?”
“Yeah, kinda.” I lift my eyebrows to punctuate my annoyance but they both laugh.
“Poor Molly,” Ella whispers. “Remy’s gonna cockblock her until she’s thirty.”
I snort and glance down at my dress. “I’m divine,” I mutter. “Griff’s the one who’s going to be hurting.”
Juliet holds up her hand in a please stop gesture.
“He’ll live,” Ella assures me.
“Hey, Molly!” Vapor shouts. “You have quite a few choices in colors to go with here. Any idea what you want?”
I walk over to meet him by the trunk. “I told Griff I wanted red, but now I’m thinking purple with big red stripes up the front of the hood.” I sweep my hand through the air, even though Vapor knows what I mean.
Vapor side-eyes Griff, who returns the look with a warning scowl. “Whatever she wants,” Griff says.
“Unless that offends the rules of classic restoration colors or something?” I tease, not really caring if purple and red weren’t official production colors.
“Your car. Your colors.” Vapor taps the hood. “Besides, it’s just paint.” His mouth slides into a smirk, and he glances at Griff. “I’ll add little black pinstripes, then when your cars are side by side, they’ll be perfectly color coordinated.”
“That sounds lovely.” Juliet elbows her husband in the side.
“It looks good,” Remy says to Griff. “I was worried but you’re right. It’s not in bad shape from what I can see.”
“Gee, thanks,” Griff says with a healthy dose of sarcasm. “It’s almost like I know what I’m talking about.”
We spend a few more minutes talking about the car.
“All right. It’s late,” Remy announces. “Let’s go.” His gaze lands on me. “Truck’s out front.”
“But…” I glance at Griff, but he’s staring at the ceiling with his jaw clenched tight.
Remy hits a button on the wall that lifts the big garage door. It rattles and inches upward.
Griff touches my shoulder, and I turn around. “Go ahead. I need to put some stuff away and lock up here.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” He touches his thumb to my chin and tips my head, then leans down. I eagerly meet him halfway, slamming my mouth against his.
“Thank you for the best birthday ever,” I whisper in between kisses. “I love you so much. I can’t wait to work on the car with you.”
A slow smile slips over his face, chasing away the irritation from Remy’s intrusion. He presses his forehead to mine. “Me too.”
My gaze slides to the front of the car. “Thank you for my other present.” My voice drops so only he can hear me.
“That was for me too, baby.” He grins.
“Well, I really wanted to give you a gift.” I angle my body to accidentally brush my hand against him but he captures me by the wrist.
He lifts my arm and, staring into my eyes, brushes his lips against my knuckles. The soft, gentle kiss feels like a promise that we’ll do a whole lot more in the future.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Griff
A few days after Molly’s birthday, I get a call from Diane.
“Where are we on the show, Griff? You in or out?” she says instead of a normal hello or how are you.
“I think so.” I’m ninety-nine percent sure I’m in, but I don’t want Diane to think I’m too eager. No reason to give her the idea that she has any kind of leverage over me.