He pulled out and she stretched, watching him walk into the bathroom, then grinned as he returned her way.

PJ handed him a beer. “Let’s finish these so we can move toward round two.”

She truly was perfect.

Chapter Seventeen

Come out to dinner with me and my friends tonight.”

PJ looked up from the stencils she’d just laid down for the first layer of flames on the hood of the ’58 Ford Fairlane she’d been working on for the last day or so.

Even after eight months of knowing him, each time she caught sight of Asa it made PJ’s breath hitch. It didn’t seem to matter that they spent at least five days a week together since that night at the Ditch a little over a month before.

He still managed to get her worked up just by looking at her. Or really, if she was being honest, he still managed to get her worked up just by looking at PJ.

Even when they were both busy they’d find the time for a meal or a cup of coffee. It gave him the opportunity to glower at her if he thought she wasn’t taking care of herself. She found the kinds of juice she liked in the fridge at Twisted Steel, and there was never a shortage of chocolate-dipped-in-dark-chocolate ice cream bars in the cooler.

He didn’t make a big deal out of it, but he did the same thing at his house. Little touches here and there that made it clear he’d been thinking of her comfort or pleasure when he was grocery shopping or whatever.

The best, most intense thing was the way he gave her all his attention, even when they were just doing something simple.

Asa didn’t pay attention to too many things. It took a great deal to get him to stop thinking about fenders and engines. Most people and topics didn’t get that full Asa-Barrons-is-listening-to-you-with-all-his-being look. It made her feel special.

And slowly but surely she’d become part of his circle. They’d watched her carefully at first, these guys who looked like hard cases but had squooshy insides and big hearts. They didn’t know what to make of her, or of the way Asa had sort of claimed her and that was that.

By that point though, most of the guys at the shop talked with her or waved at her or included her in invitations for Asa. Part of it had been cars. Their shared language¸ she supposed. Duke had been great, and even Mick had loosened up.

PJ stood tall, stretching her arms above her head to loosen the knots from being bent over the tape-and-stencil application. Plus it made her boobs stick out and she never planned to miss a perfect opportunity to remind Asa what she brought to the table.

His eyes glazed over a moment and he smiled. “Naughty.”

“Will you discipline me?” She caught her bottom lip between her teeth.

He moved very close but didn’t touch her. “Funny you should mention that. I have some new toys. You should stay over after dinner tonight.”

Her breath caught and he groaned.

“You just full-on flushed. Your pupils got big. That makes you wet, doesn’t it? Trying something new?”

She nodded, trying to ignore the fact that just behind him, just outside the bay she worked in, there was a whole crew of guys doing their jobs too.

“Are you wondering what it could be?”

She nodded again.

“Good. I’ll pick you up and we’ll head over together. Sushi okay?”

“I’ll meet you at your place. I’m going over to Audra’s tomorrow, remember?” Her friend was having her wisdom teeth pulled in the afternoon and so PJ planned to spend the night there to keep her company.

He frowned, clearly unable to understand. It always seemed to confuse him when he couldn’t get his way. As if the idea of anyone not just giving him exactly what he wanted was incomprehensible.

Amused by how adorable he was and how annoyed he’d be if he knew she was thinking about his adorableness, PJ gave him a mock pout. “We’re at work or I’d pet your beard to soothe that frown away. Sushi is great. You get to drive from your house to the restaurant. That’s good, right?”

“You do realize I know you’re managing me, right?”

She laughed. “I should hope so. You’d be very stupid if you didn’t. I have better taste than to date a stupid man. What time should I be at your place?”

“I’ll leave here at six or so. We’re supposed to meet up at seven thirty.”

“All right. I’ll see you later.”

He gave her the super-hot Asa sex face. Every dirty thing he’d done to her and imagined doing in the future seemed to broadcast over his features, and it never failed to make her hot.

His smile told her he knew it too. “Come to my place with me now. I’ll make you a sandwich. After.”

She shook her head and took a step back. “Stop it, you. I have to get the orange down so it can dry. This is work. You can molest me later.”

“I plan on it.” He turned to go and she watched his very fine ass until he’d turned the corner.

PJ had been looking down, zipping her bag after she’d dropped her keys in it. She’d knocked on Asa’s door, but when she finally straightened it wasn’t Asa there, but a woman. A really pretty young woman.

“Uh…” PJ paused and the other woman smiled.

“Sorry! I’m Asa’s sister, Courtney. Come in. He said to tell you he’d be back shortly.”

PJ went inside and dropped her things on the bench in his front hall. “I’m PJ Colman. Is everything okay?”

“Our mom. She’s been having trouble with one of her faucets. She doesn’t need it right now, but it makes her happy to know he’d come over, and he likes to be needed.”