Free Teasing Annie: The Temptation Saga: Book Two by Helen Hardt

your car out of the shop? If not, I can have someone pick you up.”
    God, no.
    “I have my Bug back, but thanks.”
    “Too bad. I’m sure Dallas would have been glad to bring you.” Dusty’s tone was teasing.
    “I’m not so sure.”
    “He chauffeured you around all last weekend, and he didn’t seem to have any complaints.”
    “He was just being gentlemanly,” Annie said, trying to think of a way to end this conversation. Quickly. “Besides, I haven’t seen him since Sunday.”
    “Really?” Dusty’s voice registered surprise. “I could have sworn you two hit it off.”
    “Apparently not.” She rolled her eyes. She didn’t want to be rude. Dusty had been her first friend in Bakersville, and she didn’t want to offend her, but— “I’m sorry. I need to go.”
    “Okay. We’ll see you at four on Saturday.”
    “Yeah, I’ll be there. Thanks, Dusty. Bye.” She had never been so glad to hit end.
    Oddly, her afternoon turned out to be free. No animal emergencies, no appointments, no walk-ins. She took the time to walk around and familiarize herself with her new home town. When she walked by the auto repair shop, she waved to Joe.
    “How you doin’, Dr. D?” he called.
    “Call me Annie. And I’m good, thanks.”
    “How’s your Bug runnin’?”
    “Great.” She continued walking.
    “Hey, Annie. Wait a minute.” He left the car he was working on and walked toward her, rubbing his greasy hands on a red cloth.
    “Yeah? What is it?”
    “Where’re you off to?”
    “Kind of taking the afternoon off,” she said. “I haven’t had the chance to wander around since I got here.”
    “I’m due for a break. Can I buy you a coffee?”
    Annie regarded the mechanic. Clad in blue coveralls and covered in black, he was still handsome, with searing blue eyes and silky chestnut hair pulled back in a low ponytail. Was he asking her out? Or was he just being friendly?
    She smiled to herself. What did it matter? “Sure, Joe, that’d be fine.”
    “Cool.” Cool? Man, he couldn’t be more than twenty-two. “Give me two minutes. I’ll wash up and be right with you.”
    Annie was admiring a vintage Corvette when Joe sidled out. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw him. Levis sagging at just the right spot on lean hips, broad shoulders clad in a Ralph Lauren polo. Hardly the clothes for a little town in the west. He had combed his hair and re-secured it behind his neck.
    “You ready?” he asked.
    “Yeah. Sure.” She ran her fingers over the blue sports car’s sleekness. “Whose car is this, Joe?”
    He grinned at her. His lips weren’t as full and shapely as Dallas’s, but they were darn nice nonetheless. “It’s mine.”
    “No kidding?”
    “Yeah. I work on her in my spare time. You wanna go for a ride?”
    “Don’t you have to get back to work?”
    “Nah. It’s a slow afternoon. And Brady’s there for anyone who walks in.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “It’s called Joe’s for a reason, Annie. It’s my business, so I can come and go as I please. That’s the way I like it.”
    His business. Maybe he was older than she thought. “Can I ask you a question?”
    “Sure enough.”
    “How old are you?”
    “Thirty-one.”
    Her eyes widened. “Wow. I’d have thought you were much younger.”
    “Why? How old are you? Wait. Let me guess.” He eyed her up and down, his sizzling gaze heating her body. “I’d say about twenty-seven?”
    Annie burst out laughing.
    “Did I say something humorous?” Joe asked, his eyes confused.
    “Not at all, Joe.” She linked her arm through his. “You just made my day is all. I’d love that ride now.”
    “I’d have guessed even younger,” he said, opening the passenger door of the Corvette, “but I knew you’d have to be at least twenty-five when you finished vet school.”
    Smart, too.
    “It’s only two blocks to Rena’s,” he said, sliding into the driver’s seat next to her. “We’ll have a coffee, and then I’ll take you on