Page 12 of High Velocity

Roark watched the tender smile form on Charli’s face.When she and his dad finally parted, Charli looked his way.“Hey, Roark.”

“Hey, Charli.”He took a step and leaned in for a brief, awkward hug.When he pulled back, her timid smile had returned as a touch of red painted her cheeks.“So, you gonna be Harvey’s newest mechanic?”

“That’s the plan for now.”She glanced at Harvey who winked at her.“Until I’m the new owner.”

“Say what now?”Owen asked in surprise.“Harvey, you selling your shop to our girl?”

“Keeping it in the family, wouldn’t ya say?”Harvey answered.

Roark heard the hitch in Charli’s breath and noticed her eyes shine with moisture.She walked over to him and slung an arm around his shoulder, kissing him on the cheek.

“Plenty to figure out,” Charli started, “but for now, I’m just happy to be back.I’ll have a job doing what I love, surrounded by people I love.”

“Uh, girlie, you obviously haven’t met Stewy and Tonto yet,” his dad said, earning laughter from him, his brother, and Harvey.

“Um, no.Guess I’ll find out tomorrow.”

“Hell, you can find out now since they’re here at the track tonight.”Owen let out a shrill whistle before yelling over at the next pit.“Stewy!Tonto!Get over here!”

Everyone watched as two very different men poked their heads out of the trailer and exchanged worried glances before heading over.They both said,hey boss, to Harvey before facing Owen.

Stewy, real name, Stewart Baird, was a young, pale-faced, ginger at age twenty-eight.He was lean, standing at six feet tall but still embodied the outward appearance of a child.Tonto, real name, Pacoro Ramos, was shorter at maybe five feet five inches with a stocky build at age thirty-two.For as quiet as he tended to be, he had a fun, silly side to him.Both were excellent all-around mechanics, each having their own area of expertise.For Stew, it was engines.For Pacoro, it was metal fabrication.

And both were never to be taken for granted since they possessed grit where and when it was needed.

“Wanted to introduce you to your new co-worker and future boss.Boys, meet Charli “CC” Campbell.”Dad pointed to Charli, and the men’s gazes flicked to her then Harvey then Dad again before finally settling on Charli.

“Uh, hey,” Stewy said as Pacoro said, “Hola.”Then Stewy said, “Welcome to the team.”His boyish smile was goofy as hell, but that was Stewy.

“Thanks.Looking forward to working with you starting tomorrow.You can show me how you run the shop.”

The men exchanged glances before settling back on Charli.“Yeah, sure.You betcha,” Stewy said.“You hanging out here tonight?”

“I am.”She looked at Owen then back at them.“Got lots to catch up on.”

“Cool, cool.Okay, we’ll, uh, see ya later.”

Charli nodded with a smile, and the two turned for their trailer, with Tonto saying, “Adiós.”

“Well, that was easy,” Charli said.

“They’re good guys.You’ll find most of them around here have no problem with women being in a power position.You should see them fawn over momma Glenda.”

Charli laughed.A sexy, husky laugh that had Roark’s cock taking notice.He shifted, reaching for another pop that swam in the ice chest against the side of the trailer.He held up a cherry flavored soda.“Want a drink?”he asked Charli.

She eyed the can of what he knew had always been her favorite drink, then stared at him, a surprised look on her face.“Yeah, thanks.”

He handed her the can, ensuring it didn’t slip from her grasp.Bradley then suggested they all head to the stands to watch the final race.Roark grabbed a pop for himself before they walked to their seats.His brother and father flanked Charli, as if guarding a queen.

Guess he couldn’t dispute that.The woman had a presence.Reserved yet somehow garnering respect from those who didn’t even know a thing about her.She stood close to six feet tall, putting her about four inches shorter than Roark.Still, tall for the average woman.

And, damn, her curves.A true hourglass figure with perfect breasts, slender waist, and flared hips.Fuck, he didn’t want to objectify her, but that body of hers would fuel his dreams for nights to come.He took in the details of the flowering vine winding up her left leg and the same design with different flowers on the left arm.Made him wonder if it went across her hip and torso as well, making one continuous piece.

Roark was suddenly curious about more.About the years between now and when she’d been taken away.After the gruesome death of her dad, and her mom being notified, Sherri appeared within a day, ready to spirit her daughter away.It had taken a lot of convincing from Owen to make Sherri see she needed to remain for a bit.

There’d been the funeral, the mourning, then the settling of Liam’s will.Once that was handled, Charli’s mom couldn’t get outta southern Idaho fast enough.

Roark will never forget the tears.The crying.Charli had begged his dad and mom to keep her.As if she were a stray dog found on the side of the road.Fuck, it broke his heart to see that wretched pain.Not just at the horrific loss of her father who’d been unlucky enough to get caught up in someone else’s mistake.But then to be taken away from the people she considered her family.Roark knew she loved her mom, but she hadn’t wanted to return to northern Idaho where her mom’s parents lived.Where her mom would have support.Sure, they were there for Charli as well.At least Roark hoped they’d been.But that anguish on a young girl’s face was something he’d never want to relive.