It turned out to be not one hot mechanic,but two.
The class was taught outside the Ginter Park Recreation Center,and when Lori pulled into the lot,hers was one of only three cars.The others were parked together at the far end,a hard-body Jeep and an F-150 pickup truck.The pickup’s tailgate was down;a man sat on it,his legs dangling over the edge.Another guy stood beside him,tall and lanky,dressed head to toe in faded denim.
Lori pulled into a spot close enough that she could pretend she wasn’t looking for them if it turned out they weren’t running the class.She dawdled a moment or two,checking her phone,tucking her purse under her seat,waiting for someone else to arrive.Finally another car drove up,a brand new VW Beetle,and two teenage girls climbed out,all flowing blonde hair and long legs in short shorts.Lori felt a pang of envy and glanced over at the two men,sure they were drooling over the jailbait.
To her surprise,they were still lost in their conversation,interested only in each other.
Nowshe noticed the tall one’s hand resting easily on the seated guy’s hip,and the unusual closeness between them.So it’s like that,she thought,exiting her own car.Cool.Too bad,though,because they really arepretty cute.
Still,though,she was glad she didn’t have to choose.Like you even had half a chance,her mind whispered,but she ignored it.
The teenagers were already clustered near the truck,checking their phones and gossiping.Lori planted herself far enough away to appear to be part of the class but not lumped into their social group,and glanced over at the mechanics.To her surprise,the seated one was looking her way.
She gave him a quick smile.“Hey.”
Those gray-green eyes warmed as he returned her smile.“Are you here for the auto class,hon?”
Maybe she’d read him wrong.Taking a step closer to the truck,she cocked her head flirtatiously.“I came because I heard there was going to be free beer.”
That earned her a laugh,and a smirk from his friend.The teenage girls giggled and rolled their eyes,but Lori ignored them.Sliding off the tailgate,the guy held out a hand for her to shake.“I’m Brandt.”
“I like that,it’s unusual.”Lori liked his grip,strong and sure.He held her hand a bit longer than necessary,but she didn’t bother to let go first.“Do you spell it with a D or a T?”
His friend spoke up for the first time since she’d approached.“Both.”His voice was deeper than Brandt’s and gravelly,a bedroom voice if Lori ever heard one.“He just wants to be contrary,can’t go by his first name like everyone else.”
She smiled past Brandt at his friend.Up close,she couldn’t decide which one was more her type,Brandt with his all-American good looks or this rugged cowboy with long hair that fell in waves around his face.“And what do yougo by?”
One finger touched his forehead,as if tipping an imaginary hat.“Jack Rowe,at your service,ma’am.And you are…?”
It was the hat-tip that set her giggling like one of the teens,who had drifted away to take selfies.Doing her best despite her jeans and T-shirt,she curtseyed and said,“Lori Callahan.I’d say something witty,but I can’t think of anything,sorry.The line about the beer was really all I had.”
Jack glanced over at the teenagers.“Well,this class is only going to last about an hour,so if you want to join Brandt and me afterwards for something to drink,you’re more than welcome.”
“Yeah,”Brandt said,“that’d be great.You should come.What’d do you say?Free beer.”
Lori winked at him.“So what,is this like a date,or something?Which one of you is asking me out?”
Jack and Brandt shared an amused look.“Do you really want to pick just one of us?”