Hard to Break

“One more car, Tazen.”

Tazen studies him. “Fine, one more car but then you’re going to stay the fuck away from me, we clear?”

“As crystal.” Murray smiles.

The other two men with him are standing, crossing their arms and smiling, but neither of them has spoken. They start chatting about normal things again, so I figure it’s my time to act casual and walk out. I take a deep breath and walk out as if I don’t know they’re there.

“Hey,” Tazen yells.

I jerk and turn around, acting surprised he’s still here. “Oh, you’re still here. Sorry, I didn’t realize.”

He studies me, but I keep my face blank. I let my eyes scan over the guys who are now watching me, and make sure I look surprised they’re here.

“Ah, I didn’t realize you had company. I’m just heading out.”

“Who’s your girl, Taz?” Murray asks, letting his eyes travel over my tight blouse and short black skirt.

Ugh.

“Eyes up here,” I snap. “Unless you don’t cherish your balls, that is.”

Murray jerks in surprise and the other men burst out laughing. When his eyes meet mine, I smile coldly. Tazen closes his eyes and runs his hands through his hair.

“You have a sassy one here,” Murray says to Tazen, even though his eyes are on me.

“Yeah,” Tazen grunts. “You could say that.”

“And,” Murray narrows his eyes. “I’ve seen her before.”

“That’s because this is my garage,” I point out.

“Fuck me,” Tazen groans. “Not this shit again.”

“He stole it from me, but it was mine for a long time.”

Murray nods. “Yeah, been here before. You a mechanic?”

“Yes,” I say.

“Not anymore,” Tazen says. “She’s a receptionist now.”

I shoot him a glare. “Tazen here has a hard time dealing with the fact that a woman can pull spa

Murray grins. “Well, it seems you two have a good lot of tension to go through. I’ll let you get back to it.” He turns to Tazen. “I’ll tell Shey you said hello.”

“Don’t,” Tazen mutters. “I’d rather lick the pavement than have that girl think I am thinking about her.”

Murray’s eyes flick to me. “I wonder what she’ll think of your new girl here.”

“She isn’t my girl, and if you tell Shey she is, our deal is off.”

Why would it be such an issue if he told this Sheye

Murray laughs. “Yeah, I’m hearing you. Later.”

With that, he takes his guys and leaves. When he’s gone, I turn to Tazen who looks kind of edgy about the whole thing. His body is tight and his jaw is twitching. Interesting.

“Who is Shey?” I ask, not using her full name.

Tazen narrows his eyes. “None of your business.”

“Why? Is she your secret wife?”

He grunts, and grabs the hem of his shirt, lifting it up and over his head. I stop thinking, speaking and breathing as I take in his incredible body. God. I could see that piece of perfection every day for the rest of my life and never, ever get bored of it. He’s beautiful, masculine and so fucking muscled I want to drop to my knees and lick every single one.

“Eyes up here,” he mutters. “Unless you don’t cherish your vagina, that is?”

I can’t help it, I burst out laughing. It was so unexpected that I can’t contain my reaction. Tazen’s eyes soften as he studies me laughing freely. I gather myself but I can’t wipe the smile off my face. “I do cherish my vagina, so I’ll be sure to keep my eyes above your shoulders from now on.”

“Good.” He grins, devastating and to die for. Then he strides towards me and I suck in a breath as he leans down so our lips are close. “Your pussy deserves to be cherished, angel.”

With that, he steps past me and disappears into the showers at the back of the garage. My legs wobble as I stand, swallowing over and over. He is getting to me and … I can’t deny it. I like it. I like it a hell of a lot. I shouldn’t, but I do and a huge part of me is tired of pretending I don’t. It’s taking all my strength not to go in there and rip my clothes off and get into the shower with him.

Instead, I turn and walk out of the garage.

Dammit.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“How’s it going?” Jace asks, throwing himself onto my bed.

It’s only been a day since my realization that my feelings for Tazen aren’t going away. “It’s … challenging.” I sigh, dropping down next to him. “Tazen certainly isn’t going to make my life easy, but then I’m not making his easy so I guess we’re even.”

Jace grunts and rolls to his side, propping himself up on an elbow. “Are you sure you really want to do this?”

I frown at him. “We’ve been over this, of course I do.”

“You’re good at what you do, you’re not meant to be a receptionist. There’re jobs around, mechanic jobs.”

“But not in my garage.”

He smiles sympathetically. “It was your garage, honey. You’re hanging onto something you can’t have control over anymore.”

I sigh. “I know, Jace, but I’m … I just can’t leave.”

His face grows serious. “This has nothing to do with him and the little fling you two had?”

“One kiss is hardly a fling,” I mutter.

“Qui

“Attraction or not,” I say, shifting to my side too. “He isn’t interested and we’ve both made it clear it won’t ever happen.”

“That’s not what I see.”

“Well, you’d be wrong, Jace. I’m working for him, and right now it’s bringing money in.”

“Qui

“Yes,” I say, looking into his eyes. “And my father is an alcoholic. He ran us dry, Jace. The bills took a massive portion of that. It won’t last forever and I don’t want to get stuck when it runs out.”

He nods. “I understand.”

“Qui

The sound of my dad’s pained cry jerks me off the bed. Jace gets up behind me. Dad was out when Jace came to hang with me, but he must be home and by the sounds of it he isn’t doing so well. I rush out of the room and down the hall, skidding to a halt when I see my father hanging off the kitchen counter, barely holding on. He’s covered in vomit, his shirt is torn and he has grazed and bleeding knees. He obviously fell a few times.

My shoulders slump and I turn to Jace. “You should go.”

Jace stares at my father, the expression on his face a little broken and a lot horrified.

“Qui

“Jace, just go.”

He snaps out of it. “No, no way.”

He strides towards my dad before I can, and hauls him up straight. “Right, Robbo, takin’ you to the shower.”

“Jace?” Dad mumbles, blinking up at him.

“Yeah, it’s me. Come on.”

“Jace,” I say but he gives me a hard look.

“No, Qui

He nods towards the front door and I turn to see a pile of vomit on the floor. Great. Jace disappears into the bathroom with Dad, and I gather up my disinfectant and bucket, then I get to work scrubbing the carpet. My phone rings midway through. I push to my feet with a weary sigh and wash my hands, then I pull it out of my pocket and am surprised to see Tazen’s number on my screen.

Why is he calling me?

I press the green button and put it to my ear. “What?”

“That’s not a nice way to speak to your boss, Qui

I sigh. “I’m not in the mood right now, Tazen. Why are you calling?”

He’s silent for a minute. “Everything okay?”

“Don’t pretend you care. What. Do. You. Want?”

“I can’t find my recent projects folder.”

“You’re in the garage?” I ask, surprised.

He laughs softly. “I don’t stop working, angel.”

“Right,” I mumble.

“Qui

“Tazen, hang on.”