Page 45 of Runaway Road (Runaway 1)

That was no joke. Another reason all Londyn had gotten last night was a chaste kiss good night. It was too damn hot to get worked up.

The worst of the summer heat had descended on Summers and would stick around until September. The days would be sticky, the nights muggy and thick. I needed to find time to tell Wyatt about Londyn and fast, because the rock wasn’t going to be enjoyable again until fall. My back porch was much more comfortable—so was my bed.

“Tony?” I glanced around the empty shop. We were done with jobs for the day. “I think I’m going to spend the rest of the day in my office. You should take the afternoon off.”

“Yeah?” He swiped up his gallon of water from the tool bench. “Think I’ll take you up on that.”

“Good. Have a nice weekend.” I waved as he headed for the door.

“You too, Brooks.”

I retreated to the office, sinking down in the chair and enjoying the slightly cooler air. The ceiling vent blew air into my face.

I closed my eyes, giving myself ten minutes to cool down and work up the gumption to open my laptop. But I didn’t get ten minutes. I only got three before a rap came at the door. My eyes shot open to a beautiful sight.

Londyn leaned against the doorframe with a smile. A pair of denim shorts left most of her legs bare. Her green tank top dipped dangerously low in a scoop around her neck, the color bringing out the darker greens in her eyes. “Did I interrupt nap time?”

I waved her into the room toward the chair in the corner. “It’s the heat. I needed a breather.”

“Seriously.” She fanned her face. “Someone turned up the dial because it’s miserable.”

“To what do I owe the pleasure?”

She relaxed deeper into the chair. “I’m bored. It’s too hot to walk around town and I couldn’t stay cramped up in my motel room any longer.”

Londyn was growing restless. Soon, she’d be gone. “Got a call from the body shop today. They’re starting on your car first thing Monday. Should be done by Friday at the latest.”

“A week.” She sighed.

“Is that too long? I can ask if they can hurry it.” Maybe if I asked Mack, he’d be willing to work the weekend for some extra cash.

“No.” She toyed with the frayed hem of her shorts. “I was just thinking it was too soon.”

“It is too soon.” I grinned. If she wasn’t in a hurry, maybe I could convince her to stay through next weekend too.

“Mind if I hang out here for a while?” she asked. “I promise to ask you a bunch of questions and distract you from getting any work done.”

“Well, when you put it like that . . .”

“I’m kidding. Give me ten to cool down and then I’ll get out

of your hair.”

“Nah. Stay as long as you want.” Nothing I needed to do today was urgent. It could all wait until the weekend. Or next week. Or the week after that. I’d probably want the extra work after Londyn left town anyway. It would be a nice distraction.

She sank even deeper, resting her head on the back of the leather chair. “What does a sexy mechanic do on a hot Friday afternoon in West Virginia?”

“Sexy?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Definitely sexy.”

I chuckled. “Well, if that mechanic has a stack of bills to pay and invoices to send, he spends it in the office. If he’s not in the mood to work and doesn’t have a car to fix, he’s out on the lake in his boat.”

Londyn sat up straight. “You have a boat?”

“I do.”

“Hmm. Interesting.” She tapped her chin. “I happen to like boats.”