Chapter 175 Chapter 175
“Good to know.” Careful to not touch or hit anything, she climbed in and sat in the seat. It was more comfortable than most furniture she’d sat in. She inhaled, and smelled like sweaty man boots, she noted.
Blair leaned in, “okay,” he flipped a switch and did something with a shifter, “when I say, just push that in and turn the key.”
Kobie noted where he pointed. “Okay.”
“Once we get it running properly, we’ll take it out in the field and you can play with it.”
She looked to where he pointed. The field looked like it had been dug, dragged, and buried hundreds of times. Did she want to play with this monster machine? “Okay, but I accept no blame if I break something.”
“There is nothing you can do that one of us hasn’t already done, trust me.” He winked and then ducked back out of the cab and swung up to stand and lean over the huge motor that was open.
“Okay, start it.” He said loud enough she heard.
She did and felt a little exhilarated when the machine was vibrating with the power of the motor. Keeping her hand on the key, she watched Blair as he leaned down in, almost dangling his body in the motor. She held her breath and watched him reach in and do something to it. She wouldn’t even look under the hood of a car with it running and he was sticking his face and hands in a huge motor. Forcing herself to breathe, she hoped this was going to be an easy fix, so she didn’t have to worry about him losing pieces of his body.
It may not have been the most intelligent move he’d made, confining the both of them in the small cab of the rig. She smelled fucking amazing. Like, he had to keep his mouth away from her so he wouldn’t take a bite, kind of amazing. Each time she laughed, it made his cat side want to yowl in victory, that their mate was happy.
Kobie growled low in her throat when the rig hesitated in a deeper rut in the thoroughly dug-up field. He watched the look of determination appear on her face and his heartbeat kicked up a few notches. She was perfect.
“So,” he leaned down closer and adjusted the throttle, so the tracks would dig in, “when I can arrange it,” she paused and gave him her complete focus. Those eyes. Fuck. “I thought we could go do something—together.” So much for the smooth Blair that was seemingly a thing of the past.
She grinned slowly, her eyes lighting up, and it hit him in the gut or more groin. “Are you asking me out on a date?”
Blair grinned, “yeah. Some time without work, escape, or two clans present.”
Kobie laughed softly, “is that even a thing? Asking your mate for a date.”
Blair leaned back away from her before he grabbed her and did something stupid and uncivilized. “I fucking hope it is.” He snorted, “I don’t plan on a marking, and then that’s it, we’re stuck in a daily grind deal.”
She didn’t mask the surprised look on her face fast enough. Her dark eyes locked with his. “Good and yes, some time with just the two of us would be great.”
Blair nodded slowly, “I’ll figure out how and when.” He winked at her, “now get this rig out of this hole or I’ll have to call Jake to pull us.”
Her eyes went wide, “we’re not doing that.” She looked at the dash and pointed, “this one? Give it power, but not too much?”
He nodded.
With a determined expression, she leaned forward in the seat and maneuvered the rig, so it turned to gain better traction. Grinning at her expression, he turned to see the dirt kicking out beneath the tracks and spotted Noah running toward them, waving his hand. “Something’s wrong.” Blair reached over and throttled down the engine and shut off the rig. Opening the door, he hopped down and looked all around them. Nothing seemed out of place here.
“You need to get over to the house,” Noah called out.
Kobie climbed down and stood beside Blair.
“What’s going on?” Blair started toward him, a hundred different scenarios going through his mind. Had Tomas sent more? Was Jay okay? If Daisie fell out of a tree, he was going to freak out…
“Jake called, it’s one of the girls,” Noah stopped and took a deep breath to settle his breathing.
Blair’s heart thudded in his chest.
Noah waved his hand beside his head, “the one with the red streaks...”
“Nichelle.” Blair supplied quickly.
Noah nodded, “her first shift.”
“Shit.” Blair turned to look at Kobie, then held out his hand. They started jogging toward the shop. “Get two of the guys over there to run the perimeter, in case she runs wild.” All he could think of was Kelsey’s first shift. He’d never been so worried and scared, but proud all at the same time. How had he not sensed it this morning when he’d seen her? He scowled as he opened the door for Kobie to get in. Nichelle had been quiet and keeping to herself a lot the last few days. Blair assumed it was because her uncle was coming back and not in good shape. Still, someone should have noticed and told him.
“It’s exhilarating and nerve-wracking each time,” Kobie said in a tense voice.
Blair only nodded; first shifts were always intense.
“It’s too bad none of her family is here for her.”
Blair eased off on the gas to keep the truck from drifting across the road as he turned out onto it. Reaching over, he squeezed her hand. “She’s got the rest of us.”
She was quiet until they pulled into the drive. “Maybe one of the older women will help.”