Four Play: A Collection of Novellas Read Free Page B

Slowly—and I believed somewhat deliberately—he eased the stick back in to get the proper measurement.
    I could imagine the smirk on his face when he was doing it.
    I clenched my thighs together, cursing them for betraying me. Whatever his intentions, I was two minutes away from dry-humping my cup holder.
    I tried to keep my expression neutral as he came to my window.
    “Your oil is filled to the line there. See it?” he asked, looking me dead in the eyes.
    “Yep.” I smiled and quickly went for my purse to find my cash card.
    “But we have a problem.”
    I slouched and my heart picked up tempo. “Problem?”
    “Your radiator fluid was overfilled when you came in today.”
    “What does that mean?”
    A corner of his mouth perked up as he wiped the sweat from his brow. “It means I’m going to have to get you back in here soon. You’ll be driving one very stressed out car, and the last thing you need to worry about is her exploding from all the tension.” He leaned in and rested his arms on the edge of my open window. “Would you like to set up a time…” he eyed me up and down, “for me to flush out your fluid?”
    I bit my tongue and tried to keep a terse line with my mouth. From nowhere, my sultry voice echoed in my own ears. “How much is that?”
    For fuck’s sake! What’s going on with me? What just happened to my voice?
    “One hundred and twenty,” he responded, and looked back at the computer.
    I was satisfied he was no longer invading the shrinking bubble that was my personal space, but I also wanted a reason to invite him back into it.
    “I can’t afford that right now. Is my car really going to explode?” I asked nervously, thankful that my tone was much more innocent than flirty.
    “Nah,” he laughed. “I was giving you shit. You’ll be fine.”
    I sighed in relief and handed Nolan my card. He handed me a clipboard and had me sign the slip.
    “Anything else we can do for you today, Jack?”
    I shook my head and tugged at my bottom lip. “No thanks.”
    He kept his eyes on my lips a little longer than he should have.
    I drove away completely thrilled with the idea that perhaps—just perhaps—Nolan March was starting to think I wasn’t just another one of the guys.
     
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 4
     
    Just after my slow and gradual lube encounter with Nolan, I drove to the café to meet Wanda. She was already sitting in our regular booth when I arrived.
    I plopped down into the seat and exhaled.
    “Jack?”
    I pulled my stare away from the moving trees outside the window and looked at her. “Huh?” I asked, still dazed.
    “I asked you a question.”
    “You did? Sorry, I’m a little distracted right now. What was your question?” I shook my head to clear my thoughts. “Do you think I’m pretty?” I asked abruptly.
    “What?” She scratched her forehead and narrowed her eyes. “What does you being pretty have to do with the lineup?” She shook her head. “What are we going to do about Lilah? We only have a few games left in the season, and if we want to make it to Nationals, we’re going to have to be smart—”
    “Sorry.” I pulled a sheet of paper from my purse. “I’ve already started mapping it out. Here, I think this could work.”
    Wanda looked over my notes and suggested lineup for Saturday’s games. She squinted and read it over thoroughly.
    The server brought me a cup of coffee and slice of apple pie—my usual order—and I nodded my approval.
    “What would make you think to pull the right-fielder to first base, and put Jessy at shortstop? Seems a bit risky for the amount that’s riding on the game,” Wanda said.
    I shrugged. “Paula has been asking me all season to play first base. I think she might just have something to prove. And even though Jessy won’t see as much action at shortstop as she used to, the girl is five-foot eleven and can field any ball that comes within a ten-foot radius—no matter how hard and fast the ball is