REBEL, a New Adult Romance Novel (The Rebel Series) by Elle Casey Page A

attention snaps back to Mick at the word jail.   “Seriously?”   This family is way more complicated than I gave them credit for.
    “Yeah.   He’s pure trouble.   That’s why we’re behind with the work right now.”
    “What’d he do?” I ask at a near whisper.   If he says ‘murdered someone’ I’m so quitting this job.
    “Got in a fight.”
    “Oh.   Well, that’s not so bad.   Lots of guys fight.”   Stupid roosters that they are.
    “Yeah, but not all of them fight cops.”
    “Oh.   That is a problem, isn’t it.”
    “Like I said, he’s trouble.   When he gets back you should just stay away.”
    “I’m not attracted to jail birds, so no problem there.”
    Mick smiles.   “That’s what they all say, until they meet him.”
    I fold my arms.   “So Rebel’s all workaholicky and your brother’s pure trouble … what does that make you?”
    He grabs the door to leave.   “Me?”   The grin is totally contagious.   “They call me Hellion.” And with that he steps outside and leaves me alone in the office with my greasy hair, dirty clothes, and exhausted brain.
    “You leaving?” Rebel asks from the opposite doorway, distracting me from following Mick out and asking him just how he earned that nickname.
    “Yes, it’s after five.   Is that okay?”   I’m nervous all of a sudden.   I want to lick my lips but worry that I’ll look like a crazed druggie or like I’m making a sexy move on him.   Sexy is the last thing I feel like I can be right now.
    “Yeah.”   He turns to walk away.
    “Rebel?”   I have no idea what I’m going to say.   I just don’t want him to leave for some reason.   I’m a glutton for punishment, I guess.
    “Mmm?”   He doesn’t turn all the way around, but I get a profile shot that’s enough to make my heart skip a beat.
    Dammit, his back is so frigging wide!   And now that I’ve seen him walking around shirtless half the time, I know exactly what’s under that stupid mechanic suit of his. Dammit, dammit, dammit.   Good thing he’s such a jerk most of the time.   It’s helping to keep my sexy thoughts to a bare minimum.   Unfortunately, I think that’s only going to work when I’m around him.   As soon as he’s far away and I’ve forgotten the assholey parts of his personality, I know I’m going to start picturing his chest and face again.
    “Thanks,” I say, feeling like a fool.   “Thanks for giving me this job.”
    He faces front and walks away.   “Don’t screw it up,” is the last thing I hear before the sound of clanking tools takes over the silence again.
    “Yeah, right,” I say, slamming the door behind me and walking out to my car.   “Don’t screw it up.   Don’t screw it up.   How about you not screwing things up?   How about you not being a jerk for once, how about that?”   I’m fumbling with my keys when I realize I’m not alone out in the parking lot.
    I sigh heavily and look up.   “You heard me again, didn’t you?   What are you, a vampire?   How do you do that?”
    “What time will you be in tomorrow?” Rebel asks from the doorway.
    I’m completely lost, so I give up trying to get into my car.   “I don’t get you.”
    He says nothing, of course, so I continue.
    “I mean, you say hardly anything at all to me all day, and when you do finally talk, it’s like you ration your words because you only have a certain amount of them you can speak in a day, and then you sneak up behind me to ask me stupid questions, like you actually want to talk to me and that’s all you can come up with to talk about.   If you want to chat, just chat!   Open your mouth and talk to me!   I promise I won’t bite.”
    I want to die when his expression doesn’t change.   “I need to know if you’ll be in here before I’m in. I have a delivery to make.   Here’s a key.”   He walks forward with his hand outstretched.
    My face is on fire again.   I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve