Slow Ride (11 page)

“Fine,” she clipped and watched his head jerk up, not caring when his eyes narrowed
on her, ”Oh, and I ordered some K-cups. For the coffee machine.”

“Whatever. Just don’t turn this place into a Starbucks. I need people to work here,
not socialize.”

Kyla looked around at the garage. “I’ll do my best to keep the socializing to a minimum.”
She didn’t even attempt to hide the sarcasm in her voice.

“Kyla.”

She waved him off and was already marching toward the office. “Fix the freaking cars,
Cooper. I got things to do.”

She banged through the door and stuck the sandwich in the fridge, having lost any
semblance of her appetite.

• • •

On her second day at the garage, Kyla was still annoyed with Cooper, having done everything
she could to avoid the motel on her day off, so she wouldn’t run into him.

She could tell when she came into the office Thursday that he was annoyed by this.
But she didn’t go in the garage and apologize. He was the one who got mad for no reason
and acted like it was her fault Jackson had come on to her.

Whatever.

She put her bag under the desk and looked up as Phil wandered in.

“You tell Cooper you’re putting that up?” He nodded to the flat screen TV still in
the box that Kyla had found.

“He’s going to freak out if the guys are in here watching TV and drinking fancy coffee
instead of working.” He had an amused look in his eyes. “See, I’m the laid-back one
here. Cooper is a bit more serious, likes to be in control. Which I can understand,
since he invested all his money into it when he bought it. He’s built a great business,
though the record store could use some magic. That was his dad’s, so I doubt he will
ever let that go, despite most people getting their music online these days.”

Kyla pushed the box out further into the room while he chatted and, box cutter in
hand, started carefully opening it, pulling out manuals and wires as she went. She
was only half listening, but her head popped up, her eyes catching Phil. “I still
can’t wrap my head around him owning a record store. It just seems not Cooper-like
to me.”

Phil sidled over and took the box from her, easily lifting the television out on a
small table nearby. “Be right back.” He disappeared into the shop, but soon returned
with some tools and a bag. “This goes with the television. It mounts it on the wall
there so it’s out of the way. Least the cable he pays for won’t be wasted now.” He
went to work and continued talking, Kyla leaning back against the front counter. “As
for the store, like I said, it’s been in the family forever. His dad opened it in
the late seventies or early eighties. He was friends with Steve. They each bought
the neighboring buildings and did their thing, and then when Cooper was back from
college and setting up shop, he bought the garage from the prior owner who was retiring.
Problem is Coop just doesn’t have the time to market the music store or do anything
else with it, really.” He turned his head to look at her over his shoulder while screwing
in a bracket one handed.

Kyla fidgeted, the toe of her shoe kicking at the ground. “The store could be so much
more than what it is. Kids love hanging out there and he has all those musical instruments.
He could add lessons, some more modern merchandise, t-shirts of bands and other products
like that, gift cards for iTunes and whatnot.”

He grunted. “I don’t think Cooper can carry a tune, let alone teach a kid how to play
do-re-me on the piano. The musical gene skipped our boy.” He went back to working
on the television. “Those are good ideas though, you should let him know. Maybe he
could find someone to give lessons and do all that other stuff.”

“Maybe. I could help out, too. I went to college on a music scholarship.”

Phil arched a brow, “Really? You went to one those fancy-ass music schools in New
York City or something where all the ballerinas and piano geniuses go?” He grinned
at what she assumed was her blushing, “So what kind, that classical and new age stuff,
huh?”

She bobbed her head to the side and she stared a minute. “No, I wasn’t ever that good.
As for what I play, I like everything. I basically stick to music where the lyrics
kick ass just as much as the notes. It could be anything from rock and roll, punk
rock, alternative, or rap—as long as it’s good quality, I like it. For example, last
night I was listening to Johnny Cash and then some Alicia Keys. See, eclectic.” She
flashed him a smile

A deep, rumbling laugh bounced around the office. “Definitely got some good taste
then darlin’. Cash is a classic and Keys, she’s just plain hot. Love her voice. You
need to meet my mom and sister. They are all about music, sing in church and everything.”
He had his back turned to her as he finished putting the bracket up, and turned to
pick up the TV. “My mom raised the lot of us. Well, not Cooper. Cooper and his dad
moved here from Portland when Coop was ten. He lived with his dad until college and
then, after his dad passed, Mom unofficially adopted him. She made him stay here during
breaks and stuff. She said he wasn’t old enough to leave the nest and our nest was
his until he was ready to fly. He just had to follow her one rule.”

“What rule is that?” Kyla was enjoying this conversation with Phil for several reasons.
Not only was she learning more about Cooper, but she was also becoming friends with
Phil, who was a really nice guy.

He stepped down from the bench he’d been standing on, his eyes meeting hers. “No back
talk. Anything else she’d talk it out with you. But back talk earned you a possible
smack upside the head, then silent treatment until you smartened up to apologize.
Her silent treatment is the worst. I’m telling you, the worst criminal in the world
would break when she pulls that out.” He shuddered. “Glad my torture is amusing,”
he teased her as she laughed. “Sounds like my mom. If my brothers or I messed up,
she just gave us a look and walked away, not saying a word. That look and her silence
were enough to have us trying to make it right.”

Phil grunted. “See, moms are clever like that. It must be built in female DNA or something.
My woman, Sheena, does it too. She does it to me so I know she will pull it with our
kids. Hope they are fast learners.” He nodded in her direction as he pulled a wire
from behind the desk, running it along the ground behind the bench seats. “You’ll
probably be like that, too, I bet, being a woman.”

“Doubt it,” she said, her voice just barely audible, her nose scrunching up. Kyla
had no expectations of ever having kids. “Anyway, thanks for doing this for me.”

Phil opened his mouth but thankfully shut it at the change in subject, ”No problem.
It will be good for downtime, though there isn’t a lot of that here. Not for us mechanics
anyway. Just remember, Coop’s going to be all moody about it. Flash him a smile, or
flash him anything really, and he’ll get over it.” She ducked her head as Phil winked
at her, “Hey by the way, July fourth , my mom has a huge picnic over at her house.
Food, friends, family, football, all the guys and their families come.”

“ July fourth? Well, I don’t have any plans, and I assume I will be stuck here unless
I win the lottery to get my car fixed. But, I don’t really know anyone.”

She heard a chuckle from the doorway and saw Cooper standing there. He jerked his
chin towards Phil, “Yo, Phil, the television, huh?”

Kyla interrupted, taking a step away from the counter and toward him. “Cooper, it’s
more for the customers when they’re waiting for their cars. Or for whoever is working
out front, if it’s quiet. I like to have background noise, and I’ll make sure the
guys aren’t sitting around not working. I promise. Cross my heart.” Her finger traced
an X over her heart.

Cooper lifted his eyes to hers, his tone gruff. “Work starts to suffer, I’m going
to cut the cable. Got it, Phil?” Although he was asking the man, his eyes stayed on
Kyla.

“Got it, man. Won’t see me in here on my ass—I got enough on my plate with the cruisers
AFPD keeps busting up. I swear those fucks can’t drive worth a lick.” He shook his
head. “Anyway, I’ll be sure to tell the boys. Oh, guess what? Kyla is coming to the
Fourth of July picnic at Mom’s. Good way for her to meet some more of the folks around
here. The good ones anyway.”

Kyla saw Cooper’s jaw clench. “I mean, I don’t want to intrude,” she said hastily.
“Like I said, I don’t really know anyone here, and it sounds like a family thing.”

“No, that’s a good idea, all the guys will be there and some of their women and kids.
It will be good for you to get to know who might be coming in and out of the shop.
Besides, it’s weeks away. By then you’ll know a lot more people. I’ll pick you up
at one, so pencil me in.”

She stared at him, her mouth agape, but before she could respond, Phil stood up and
slapped his big arm around her shoulders.

“Good, Mom will like that. She likes to meet new folks and you’re good folk. I can
tell.” His eyes crinkled and he tapped her on the head as he passed. Phil was just
a big teddy bear.

“Yeah, well, we’ll see.” She busied herself at the desk and then grabbed for her purse.
“Don’t you two have some cars to fix?” She waved her hands at the door. “Shoo.”

“Told ya, Phil. Slave driver.”

Phil barked out a laugh as he disappeared into the garage and it was Cooper who caught
Kyla’s eyes.

“Kyla, we good?”

Kyla sucked in a breath and hesitated as he came close to press himself to her side.

“I don’t like you avoiding me.”

Kyla sighed, “Cooper, I wasn’t avoiding you. God, I just needed some time alone. It’s
not all about you.”

His voice cut her off. “That’s the last thing you needed. When we fight, we talk it
out. There are going to be times I get pissed about something you do. And I’m sure
you’ll get pissed at something I do. When that happens don’t walk away from me and
slam the door.” He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. “I’m not trying to be
in your face all the time, I just don’t want arguments getting twisted ‘cause we let
them fester. You want to argue with me, have at it. I prefer that, than you walking
away.”

“Well, I needed to cool off, Cooper. I have a temper and I didn’t want to lose it.”
She decided then to take a chance. If Cooper wanted to talk things out, then fine,
she would. “And yesterday you really made me mad. You got pissed because someone you
don’t like thought I looked good, or whatever he was thinking. I’m not sure, I really
want to know.” She shivered before continuing. “But the point is, you said you wanted
me to entice people, then you got pissed and you took that anger out on me by being
all moody and doing exactly what you’re telling me not to do, and that’s walking away.”

Cooper’s jaw clenched. “Kyla, I said yesterday that I shouldn’t have asked you to
do that. What more can I say?”

“It’s the point of it, Cooper; that you asked me to do it in the first place. No one,
woman or man, should have to dress to impress, or in this case distract, in a sexual
way. It’s demeaning. You were basically telling me you wanted me to dress like a whore
at work.”

Cooper gritted his teeth. “I didn’t want you to dress like a whore…”

“Well, lucky me. You might be evolving then, Cooper.” she shot back.

Cooper moved quick, positioning himself in front of her in an instant. His hands moved
to her hips and he leaned down, his mouth close to hers. “Kyla, listen to me, please.
I didn’t realize what I asking. You’re right, it was wrong of me to ask that you use
your body to distract the customers. I didn’t even think of what I was asking until
I saw the way Jackson was looking at you and I thought I was going to kill him. I
shouldn’t have done it and I’m sorry I ever did.” His hand slid over her cheek and
tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Wear what you want, what you’re comfortable
in. I have no right to say, or ask you, to do otherwise and I was an idiot for thinking
I did.”

Kyla focused on his eyes, trying to gauge his sincerity. She didn’t know him well
but he didn’t seem to be blowing smoke. She leaned her forehead against his. “I accept
your apology. Thank you.”

His lips brushed her cheek. “See how easy this was? Talking it out instead of walking
away and trying to avoid me is definitely better. We good?”

Kyla rolled her eyes. What had she gotten herself into with this guy? She wasn’t about
to tell him that he was right, even though he was. She had been avoiding him, a technique
she’d learned with Frank. Having a conversation with him always meant fists flying.
But Cooper wasn’t Frank, and it was unfair to herself and to Cooper to react in the
same manner she had in the past. She’d have to work on that.

She pressed her palms to his chest and lifted on her toes to touch her lips to his,
and then she pushed him toward the door. “Whatever. Now get to work.”

Cooper shook his head and pushed through the door. “So fuckin’ cute.”

Kyla hollered after him, “I’m not cute!”

Martin looked down at the woman writhing underneath him and knew from past experience
she was close to finding her release. He thrust into her, hard, as he gripped her
hair and yanked her head back. After three more thrusts he emptied his release into
the condom and pulled out. He didn’t care that she was left panting and unfulfilled
on the mattress while he pulled on his pants.

“Martin. . .”

“Shut it, Marla. I need to go.”

“But I thought you could stay for a little while. And I need . . . I need your help,”
she whined and crawled toward him.

His lip curled, a sadistic smile on his face. He was the chief of the Ashten Falls
Police Department and the last thing he was concerned about was some whore’s pleasure.
“Marla, how many times do I have to tell you, I don’t care if you come. I got shit
to do. So get yourself off or find some other cock to do the job. I don’t have time
for this.”

Marla sat back on her heels and pouted. He had to admit the woman was gorgeous: slim,
blonde, blue eyes. As he looked at her now though, his eyes moving over her naked
body, he realized just how much she looked like the other bitch he’d had wrapped around
his finger. Until she betrayed him. He’d had her taken care of just before she blabbed
all his secrets to the feds.