Grounded (Grounded #1) Read Free Page A

a question. I wasn’t paying enough attention to the words to know what he asked.
    Jensen said something about grabbing a part for him and then said to me, “Oh, this is Aric.”
    I had a feeling that Aric was new to the shop because there was no way a Gobel had been around long and Jensen hadn’t felt a thing. Aric and I stared each other down. His dark eyes, the same color of his hair, remained calm. Mine didn’t.
    “What are you doing here, Gobel?” My tone was threatening, but I kept a polite smile on my face while taking a step toward him.
    “The name’s Aric Bramble and I suspect we’re here for the same reason.”
    “How did you find him?” I seethed.
    “That’s not important. I’m not your enemy.” I scoffed at his response. “Really. I’m trying to prevent a war. No biggie.”
    “What?”
    I didn’t believe him, and the muscles coming out of his grease-stained t-shirt were distracting me. What’s with these guys? Why do they have so many muscles? What happened to the awkward, lanky boys from high school? Do they all grow up, get huge and make me feel tiny?
    “Look, he’s coming back. We should talk. I’ve got an apartment on Fifth,” he said. I raised an eyebrow, wondering if he was trying to set me up. “I’m sure your Spidey-sense can find me there tomorrow, after five,” he added quickly just as Jensen rejoined us.
    After a long bout of silence, I asked, “So, what’s that?”
    Jensen looked at me like I was the dumbest blonde he’d ever seen. He drew his words out as if he was talking to a toddler. “The engine.”
    I had to giggle at the look on his face. “I know. Figured I should ask a question. I feel stupid just standing here trying not to get dirty.”
    Aric went back to work on his side of the garage while I tried to forget he was there. I’d deal with him later.
    Laughing a little, he continued working until a kid who looked more like the tall, lanky, awkward boys I went to school with showed up with the antifreeze. With the radiator filled, Jensen said he’d meet me inside after pulling around, so that’s where I headed. His dad was pretty funny in those few minutes we had alone. He had the same easygoing manner I noticed in Jensen.
    “So, how much do I owe you?” I started to open my pink crossover purse as my eyes fell back on him.
    “No charge,” Mr. Burkhardt answered, waving his hand in front of him.
    “Oh, I can’t do that.”
    “I insist. Just write down your name and phone number.” He slid an invoice across the counter and my eyebrows went up. “Just for customer records and inventory of the antifreeze.”
    I nodded. I was going to do it either way, but I didn’t want him to think I was the type to give in too easily. Now that my information was there, I hoped Jensen would use it.
    “Are you new to town or just passing through?” Mr. Burkhardt asked. I watched Jensen lean against the back counter and cross his arms while staring, annoyingly, at the back of his father’s head. Even annoyed, he looked pretty sexy.
    “Just exploring.” I smiled. “I drove until somewhere looked like a good place to stop.”
    “Well, it was nice to meet you. Hey, if you’ve got nothing to do, there’s a town picnic and fireworks display for Memorial Day,” he turned the paper to read my name, “Alyssum Bracken. That’s unique.”
    “It’s a flower,” Jensen and I answered at the same time, which brought a smile to my face.
    “Most people don’t know that,” I said. After another minute of awkwardness, I added, “Thanks again.”
    After glancing back at Jensen and his dad one more time, I left.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
     
    I went to the only apartment complex on Fifth, walking past each door slowly until the familiar prickling crept up my neck and the hair on my arms stood up the way it did whenever a Gobel came around. I pounded hard just below the cheap gold 3B hanging above a peep hole and heard, or rather felt, him coming to