Free Blindsided - A Stepbrother Romance Novel by Kylie Walker Page A

happy. After she showered and dressed in a t-shirt and jeans she found Luke in the kitchen.
    “Hey kid, you ready to tackle that engine.”
    She poured herself a cup of coffee and tried to wipe the goofy smile she knew she had on her face off. “I’m ready,” she said.
    Luke raised an eyebrow and smiled. “You look like you’re ready, and happy. Things went well with this new crew your friend recommended?”
    Still trying to suppress the smile without much luck she said, “Yeah, it went really well.” That was all she was willing to say at the moment and Luke didn’t pry any further, all he said was,
    “Good. You want some breakfast before we get started?”
    “Nah, I’m not much for breakfast.”
    Luke stood up. “Me neither, something else we have in common.” As she followed him out the back door toward the shop she asked him,
    “Is Aaron working today?”
    “No, he’s sleeping in. He’s been doing really well though. He gets along with the guys and they say he’s picking it up fast.”
    “That’s great. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him this weekend. I was wondering if you might have any more positions open in that parts store.”
    “For you?”
    “Yeah, I’ve never had a real job. I worked with my friend Troy for the last few years. But I would do a good job for you.”
    “I don’t doubt that you would. Sure, I can find a position for you if that’s what you want.”
    “It is. I appreciate everything you’re doing for us but I’d like to at least feel like I’m contributing something.”
    He smiled. “Okay, I’ll take you by the store in the morning when I drop Aaron off.” As he was lifting up the rolling door on the shop he said, “Can I ask you a question?”
    “Sure.” Sam was looking at the sight in front of her and practically salivating. The walls were covered in color photos of classic and race cars and there were three stalls each with its own hydraulic lift, air compressor and a toolbox that took up the entire back wall. She imagined what she and Troy could have done with a set-up like this. She realized Luke was watching her and she tore her attention from the tools and equipment and said, “You wanted to ask me something?”
    “I was just wondering, you and Aaron are so close, how is it that he doesn’t know more about cars?”
    She had tried to get him interested over the years without any luck. “He just never had any interest in them, but I think it was mostly because he was just always looking for somewhere else to go but home. Even the garage or next door at Troy’s house was too close for him.”
    Luke winced. “I’m not going to win any father of the year awards for sure, but I can’t even wrap my head around hurting any child…much less your own.”
    “Darren is a monster and the more drugs he put in his system, the more twisted he became. He never deserved to be a father and Aaron deserved so much better. He’s really a good kid…or at least he wants to be.”
    “I can see that. I also see that he’s damned lucky to have you.”

CHAPTER 10
     
     
     
     
    Sam wasn’t used to praise and not very good at handling it. She cleared her throat and mumbled a “Thanks,” before asking, “You want me to back the trailer in here?” The Mustang was still on the trailer and the trailer was still hooked up to Luke’s big Ford F-250. He grabbed a set of keys off the wall and handed them to her. There were more than several other sets of keys so she asked, “What are all the rest of these keys for?”
    “The cars in the back.” Sam looked around, confused. She hadn’t seen another building, although this one didn’t look quite as large from in here as it did outside. “Those out front are waiting their turn to get restored. I don’t have the kind of time or energy I used to do so it takes me a lot longer these days to fully restore one of them. Once they’re finished I park them in the back until I’m ready to show them or sell them or