Shifting Gears Read Online Free PDF Page B

reaching out and grabbing him, and his confusion was replaced by a jolt of arousal that came from the sensation of being somehow connected to her at a level deeper than just pie.
    It felt electric and hot and almost desperate.
    He desperately tamped down the images of her spread out atop one of the race cars at the garage, naked and moaning—not just because it was ridiculously cliché, but because if she really was qualified and wanted the job, he was going to have to get better at keeping it in check at all times. May as well start practicing now, just in case.
    He shifted a bit so that he could face her, and as he moved, his knee grazed her thigh.
    Damn. He was going to need a lot more practice.
    â€œ Do you have experience with managing a garage?” He tried to keep the skepticism out of his voice, but this was Annabelle. The few times Dad had asked her if she wanted to help out with a car, instead of just sitting there watching, she’d looked like a deer in headlights and refused. Besides, it was a rough business. The guys could be tough to take sometimes.
    Hell, not just the guys. At times, Kerri was the crudest of them all. And he had nothing against women mechanics, even if he’d met only one in his career. It was more that he couldn’t see Annabelle in an environment like that.
    Look at her. She put on makeup and heels just to come next door.
    But she nodded. “Yes, um … I did some things at Donnie’s garage…”
    She started to trail off, but then Mom cleared her throat in that stern way of hers that had always preceded a reprimand when they were kids, and Annabelle straightened her shoulders and said in a much clearer voice, “I ran it, actually, and acted as head mechanic. Full time. For five years. For two years before it, I was part-time, since I was still teaching.”
    What?
    Grady blinked. And then blinked some more. In fact, he was so surprised that pretty much all he could do was blink at her. Well, no … wait. The blinking stopped.
    Now he was just kind of staring, entranced by that pink flush climbing up her neck and into her cheeks. He had to hand it to her. Despite her blush, she held her ground and didn’t pull her gaze away from his for a second.
    It was getting a little awkward, actually—now both of them were staring at one another. What he wouldn’t give to go back to that goddamn blinking. Too much longer and this would turn into a staring showdown.
    Fuck.
    He looked away.
    â€œWell, that’s settled, then!” Mom chirped. “When should she start, Grady?”
    Wait. What? He hadn’t even interviewed—
    But he took one look at Mom’s face and wisely kept his protests to himself. He wasn’t going to gainsay his mother in front of company.
    He pitched his voice in Annabelle’s direction. “I don’t know if my mom told you, but I’m working on something else now and transitioning out of the racing side. Everyone has a race this weekend, so the whole team is kinda busy, but if you’re free next Monday, come in around eight in the morning and we can talk a little more before any final decisions are made.”
    Her eyes went wide. “Yes, I am. I mean, I’m free and I’ll be there. I just—I don’t know what to say.” She sounded breathless. Excited.
    It was getting him excited … in a way he shouldn’t be feeling. If she did get the job, they’d be together nearly every day, seeing as how he was still sharing the garage with Hart Racing….
    He ignored the warning bells clanging in his mind and rose. “No need to say anything.” He picked up his now-empty plate and putting it in the sink. “I’d better be going, though. Someone’s coming in at ten for a crew chief interview.” He nodded toward Annabelle. “Thanks for the pie.”
    But she stood up, too. “I really should leave, too. I’ve imposed long