Under the Hood: An Under the Hood Novella (Entangled Bliss) by Sally Clements Page B

give him the thumbs up, and before he’d climbed out, she had the cables off and stowed.
    “Got to run—have a good day!” She hopped into the pickup and sped out of the lot.
    Mark stood there, staring after her. She’d liked helping him. He’d seen warmth in her eyes as she took the cables from his fingers. His mouth curved into a smile.
    Being rescued is fun.

Chapter Two
    “Got a couple of minutes?” Melody Swan asked the moment Alice pushed open the large glass doors of the showroom. “There’s half an hour before opening, and we want to have a policy meeting.”
    “Sure,” Alice said.
    “Betty’s in the office.” Melody grinned and hoisted high a box of doughnuts. “Coffee’s on, and I’ve brought breakfast.”
    Alice let her gaze skim Melody’s slim frame. How was it fair that Melody treated herself to every edible treat going and didn’t put on an inch? It had been the same in college.
    “So, do you miss me?” she asked.
    “The sofa’s not the same without you,” Melody teased. “How was your weekend—are you totally settled in yet?”
    “Not only am I settled in, but this morning I met the catch .”
    Mel’s chestnut eyes widened. “Seriously?”
    Betty’s voice came from behind them as they walked into the office. “What did I miss?” She balanced a tray of steaming coffee and three plates. “Action?”
    “The haddock,” Mel replied. “He’s been spotted.”
    Alice pulled a black leather chair out from behind a desk and sat. “He drives an MGB GT. Absolutely beautiful car. I’d love to get my hands on it.”
    “And him?” Betty placed a cup before her and reached into the white box for a glazed donut. “Does he live up to the hype?”
    Alice snagged a donut too, and bit off a chunk. “Well…”
    “Give!” Mel stuck her hands on her hips and fastened Alice with her “spill it” gaze. “We need details.”
    A remembered vision of the dimple that had creased his cheek flashed into Alice’s mind, quickly followed by the memory of the answering blaze of heat that started in her belly and raced through her at the sight. “He’s pretty good looking.”
    “And we know he’s single,” Betty teased. “Maybe there’s more than a successful business in your future—”
    “Guys, seriously. He’s handsome and I gave him a jump start this morning. That’s all there is to it. Now, what else is on the agenda?”
    Betty pouted. “Can’t I even make a crack about you giving him a jump start?” Her eyebrows rose, then wiggled suggestively.
    “No.” Alice sipped her coffee. “There’s nothing more to report.”
    The others sat. Mel crossed her legs and opened the file on the desk before her. “So far, we’ve picked up a few customers, but we need to expand our reach if we’re going to make this business a success.”
    “Maybe we could have a few male clients,” Betty suggested. “After all, we’re all single, and trying to meet someone in a new town is difficult.”
    Alice licked the glaze off her fingers. In her father’s garage she’d never experienced the sort of discrimination her friends had, but she knew it existed. Women had to prove themselves equal in every aspect of their lives. But when something went wrong with their cars they had to put up with being patronized—talked down to just because they didn’t know the inner workings of an engine.
    “We agreed we’d focus on attracting female customers. We’ll have to find another way,” Mel said, sliding a brochure out of the file. “Here’s the final proof from the printer. I think we should target businesses that cater to women, leave some flyers around in places where women are likely to pick them up.”
    “Like the hairdressers,” Alice suggested.
    Mel nodded. “And I’ve been talking to an old friend who runs a local chapter of the National Association of Professional Women. They meet once a week and she’s asked us to give a presentation tomorrow night.”
    “Pretty short notice,”