RideofHerLife by Anne Rainey Page B

snug jean shorts showed off the slender, tanned length of her legs. So damn pretty. He looked to his right and saw one of his employees checking her out. Bryan, the new guy. Kyle eyed him until he took the hint and went back to work.
    Bringing his attention back to the conversation, Kyle said, “Just one vice, huh?”
    Lily choked on a sip and peeked up at him. “Well, there are the chocolate cookies I have stashed in my linen closet.”
    Kyle laughed and moved to step behind the counter. After finishing off the last of the cold liquid, he tossed the empty can in the trash and went to work. “Okay, let’s talk about your car. From what I can see it’s not really too bad. The worst of the damage was done to the back bumper and left quarter panel. A few dents along the driver’s side door, but nothing we can’t fix.” He typed up a quick estimate and printed it out. He slid it across the counter for her to look over. “This is rough. I’ll know more once I get my hands on her.”
    She put her can down and looked at the quote. Her eyebrows shot up. “That’s it? Really?”
    Kyle didn’t think she needed to know he was cutting her a break. It was his business if he wanted to do the labor for free. One of the perks of owning his own shop. No boss to bitch at him when he decided to cut a customer a break. “Well, like I said, it’s a rough estimate, but yeah, it shouldn’t vary too much from that figure.”
    She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and shook her head. “How can you possibly stay afloat?”
    “Actually, Lily, I’ve seen you around town and I sort of feel like I know you.” Kyle shrugged. “So, let’s just say I don’t mind helping out a friend and leave it at that.”
    “It’s a small town,” she said, her voice soft, low. “I’ve seen you around too. You drive by my house sometimes.”
    Ah, the little brunette had noticed. Interesting. “Yeah, you live a few blocks from here. It’s on my way home.” Not completely untrue. It was on his way home—if he wanted to take the long route.
    “Oh, I see.”
    She looked disappointed. Had she been hoping for a different answer? “What do you say, Lily?”
    Lily looked down at the estimate, then back up at him. “I didn’t really plan to leave her here. I thought I’d need to check out a few places before I made a decision.”
    The thought of another shop coming anywhere near Lily’s car didn’t sit right with Kyle. Which, of course, made no sense at all. Drumming his fingers on the scarred countertop, he said, “You’d trust some stranger with your baby?”
    One side of her mouth kicked up into a sideways grin. Damned if it didn’t have his cock straining against the fly of his jeans too. “I hate to break it to you, Kyle, but you’re a stranger.”
    “True. For now. You can trust me though. I’ll take real good care of her.”
    She squinted at him, as if trying to decipher whether he told the truth. “Would you?”
    He held up a hand and pledged, “She’ll be as pretty as new once I’m finished. You have my word.”
    Several seconds drifted by before she nodded. “I believe you. You have a good reputation around here. That’s why I came to you first.”
    Kyle leaned across the counter, needing to get closer to all that sexy femininity. He inhaled her spicy scent. It reminded him of the beach. Sizzling hot, with just a hint of something this side of wicked. “Is that the only reason you came to me?”
    A delicate little blush stole over her cheeks. It was the prettiest sight he’d seen in a long time. “No, it’s not the only reason,” she answered quietly.
    Now they were getting somewhere. Kyle went for broke. “Maybe I could give you a ride home then. You know, where we can talk more about this reason of yours.”
    “You’re assuming I’m leaving my car with you.” She arched a brow and pointed a finger at him. “I didn’t actually decide yet.”
    Kyle stayed silent, waiting for her to choose.
    “How long will