Page 99 of Changing Lanes

“So, do you miss me already? How’s the newest nurse? Please tell me Rosie hired someone with actual experience this time.”

Rosie hired another nurse for nights but I’m not sure exactly why yet. I’m hoping it doesn’t mean my time at Sunbrook is up. I still need time. I always need time.

“Oh, she’s green. Like romaine.”

Rosie’s notorious for hiring girls fresh out of nursing school, thankfully, or else I would’ve never had the opportunity I have now.

“Hey, I gotta go,” I tell her when I spot Cruz heading toward me. With a promise to hang out this weekend, I end the call and stand to meet him. He’s covered in grease and gives me an awkward side hug.

“Thanks for bringing me food. I knew you were a keeper.”

I hide my grimace as I follow him to the back of his pickup.

“I don’t know about that.” I do know. I’m not. “It doesn’t look that busy. Did I just miss the rush?” I make a show of looking over the empty bays.

“Marc’s M.I.A. right now and Beck’s been taking off during lunch all week so we’re short staffed at the moment.” His hand reaches for my cheek but I pretend to shoo a fly away. “Beck asked me to take over the Gixxer he was working on before he left for lunch, but I’m happy to sneak away for you.”

My eyes narrow while we eat on his open tailgate. “Do you usually work on bikes?” I don’t remember seeing him working on any motorcycles when I came in with Beckett.

Cruz steals a pepperoni off my slice.

“Not really. That’s Beck’s thing but I can find my way around most undercarriages fairly well.” He nudges my shoulder in what I’m guessing is flirtation but my eyes are still glued to the gaping hole of bare cheese on my pizza.

Gross. On both counts.

What I’d like to say is, “Well, don’t let me keep you from sticking your fingers where they don’t belong. I’ll just be off now, staring at my ceiling until my shift starts.”

What I actually say is, “Cool.”

And I don’t know which response is worse. Or why I’m still here.

What am I doing?

I scan the lot again, careful to add in a “hmm” every few words out of Cruz’s mouth to keep the conversation flowing. Fortunately, the guy doesn’t need much encouragement to run like Niagara Falls and soon I spot Angela coming out of one of the office doors just inside, giving me an excuse to wrap this date up tighter than a professional athlete’s used condom—no room for negotiations here. None.

After cleaning up, we make our way over to Angela and chat while Cruz begins taking out parts that even I know shouldn’t be removed. What was Beckett thinking?

My eyes flick to the open office door.

“Heard you guys are slammed. Did everyone take off and leave you to fend for yourself?” I ask Angela as she folds some towels for the wash. She’s wearing a dark polo shirt half tucked into some khakis with her usual Aviators on the top of her head of long caramel hair. She somehow even manages to bring a beachy vibe to her work attire.

“It’s not too bad. Marc goes wherever Marc goes often enough that we know how to pick up the slack while he’s gone. Coty’s good about not biting off more than he can chew.” I raise my eyebrows looking back at her. “Well, not in business anyway.” We both laugh. “And Beckett, I’m not sure what’s going on there. I figured you would know.”

“Me? Why would I know?”

“He’s been leaving to go home for lunch every day this week. I thought you-” Confusion lines her face before her eyes catch on something over my shoulder then she looks between Cruz and the bike he’s dissecting. Louder than any of our other conversation, she asks, “Did you two enjoy your date?”

Umm. What?

“Cruz!” Beckett barks from behind me making me jump. I didn’t even hear his bike pull in. How long has he been here? “Put the fork down! It came in for new spark plugs, shitbird, you don’t need to take off the fucking tires.”

Cruz holds up both his hands to approach me with a rueful grin. “Okay. Maybe not all undercarriages are alike.”

A loud scoff sounds behind me, closer than before, and I finally chance a look over my shoulder. My neck cranes up because damn, he’s still so tall. Beckett’s narrowed eyes soften slightly as they meet mine and my breath catches in my throat. My body yearns to go to his, to touch him in some way. Any way.

“Don’t hold this against my skill set.”

Huh? Oh, Cruz is still talking to me.