Kara "I'll take it," I told Rick. My heart was hammering against my chest, so painfully aware of Cameron standing behind me. The look of shock on his savagely beautiful face when he saw me had only lasted a moment before it shifted to yearning, into need as his blue gaze took me in. And then his walls came up and there was nothing. Rick shook my hand, grinning widely and looking very pleased with himself. "I'll come back later," Cameron said. His voice, deep, rich, and so darkly masculine, sent ripples down my spine. It had been a little over two weeks since I last heard it... but it felt longer than that. "We're done the interview, boy. Take—" But Cameron was already halfway down the stairs. I heard Rick sigh, then he looked at me. I was still reeling, and I realized my hands had curled into fists. I deliberately and slowly uncurled them. I'm good. Just good. 101% bomb ass good. "Kara, could you get him for me?" What? My eyes shot to Rick. His were gleaming—with amusement or challenge I wasn't sure. "I need him to do something for me. That boy could move fast if he wants to, doesn't he?" He sure did. He could move real slow too if he wanted. Not that I knew anything about that. Well, not anymore. I had been thinking of what I would say to him or how I would act when I see him again. Or if I would even acknowledge his existence. I always came up with either blasting him with a cold shoulder or burn him with fire. I guess we'll find out. I spun around, ready to run to the stairs to chase after him when inspiration struck. I walked to the railing, placed my hands there. Taking a deep breath, I yelled on top of my lungs, "Hey, Bigfoot!" Everyone in the office stopped and stared up at me. Conversation halted, then began again after I wave my hands and bared my teeth in a wide toothed grin. Cameron was almost at the door when he stopped in his tracks. Slowly, he turned. And then our eyes met. If there was a pull I felt from his gaze alone I mentally squished it with my heels. "Get your ass back up here!" I yelled again. When he looked like he wasn't going to move, I added, "The boss wants you!" I left it at that. When I turned back to Rick, he was grinning from ear to ear. "Man, oh, man. You are so hired," he said. "You're going to fit just fine here." "We own an auto shop. I've been working with men all my life so I don't think you should worry about me fitting in." "Is that right? If you don't mind me asking, why do you need this job?" I didn't bat an eye. I wondered why he didn't ask me important questions like these in the interview. Actually, he didn't ask me anything at all. It was almost like I already had the job the moment he shook my hand. It was either he was desperate to fill in the position or whoever recommended me was on top of his trust list. "We're only breaking even," I told him honestly. I didn't turn when I felt a presence behind me. Cameron. What the hell? I didn't even hear him climb up the stairs. How did he do that? With his massive size, you'd think he'd be clumsy or walk with dumb, heavy footsteps. Not a chance. He moved with catlike grace and stealth. Sneaking up on me without warning. I should trip him next time. "Cam," Rick said. Cameron didn't say anything, just stood somewhere behind me, waiting. "Why don't you show Kara around the property?" My head jerked up. Is this man up to something? Does he know about me and Cameron? I couldn't see Cameron having a heart to heart talk with anyone, but what did I know? I didn't know him well enough to assume anything. In fact, I didn't know him at all. Maybe he was more open to Rick. I wondered who he was in Cameron's life. You don't want anything to do with him anymore, remember? Move on, sis. "Introduce her to the guys. Get her a hard hat," he said and grabbed his own from the desk and put it on. "Have you decided on that big project you were telling me about?" "Still thinking about it. I would need your help with it if I take it on." "Always here for you, son. Just let me know." Son? This was Cameron's dad? But their last names were different, although having different last names didn't necessarily indicate non-relation. They didn't look alike at all though, except for their height. Even then, Cameron was a tad taller. So maybe Rick just liked to call him that. What did it even matter? Ugh. What kind of bad stinking luck did I have to be working at the same place as he did? And then I remembered that time when he wasn't so reserved, he'd mentioned that he owned his business and that he also worked for a friend. Maybe that was Rick. Again, what did it even matter? Double that ugh. "Welcome to the family, Kara. Come back to the shop after your tour and talk to Deb. She'll tell you what you need to know." Rick winked at me conspiratorially—as if we both shared a secret Cameron didn't know and we were going to get him in trouble. He walked to the back of the desk and grabbed his jacket on the chair, shrugged it on. "I have to run to the site. Have fun, kiddos." Then he left. And I was alone with Cameron. I could feel his presence on my back. The air throbbed with it. There were people below us. I could hear the buzz of conversation and movement, but they felt far away. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath. Steel, baby. You are made of steel. The instant I opened my eyes, I turned to face him. The blue of his gaze felt like a sucker punch to the stomach. I had already made up my mind that it wouldn't affect me. I was so convinced that it wouldn't. I underestimated his effect. So when his focus turned on me, when that blue gaze fixed on me, it hit me unexpectedly. His dark curly hair was tied in a messy man bun—the first time I saw him wear it like that. He had a heavy five o'clock shadow on his jaw, as if he'd given up on shaving . There was a grease stain on his cheek, as if he'd been working on a vehicle. He looked rakish, a devil-may-care look about him. A man with rough edges and an angelic face. A white hard hat was tucked in his arm and a backpack slung on his shoulder. He was wearing a black muscle t-shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders, the toned muscles of his arms. It was also stained with grease. The jeans and steel-toed boots he had on weren't any better. He looked like a sexy construction worker about to be posing for a racy magazine. And he'd have all the months in the calendar.