Free Mz Mechanic by Ambrielle Kirk Page A

wanted and needed were two different things. She wanted his company, but what she did not need was his deceitfulness.
    Shawn was a seducer…a high achiever. And he’d do anything to obtain his goal. Even at the expense of her feelings.

Chapter Nine
    “You’ve been distant this entire afternoon,” David said, as he fell in step beside her. “Hungry? We can leave now and have dinner.”
    “It’s nothing, really.” Alexia stopped in front of table with filled with advertising brochures and pamphlets. “I didn’t get much sleep last night as I was going over opening day details. I plan to make up for it tonight.”
    It was half of the truth.
    He picked up a brochure, running his fingers over the glossy print. “Too bad. There will be sleep in our near future soon, cousin. Once we get all the knots untied and details straightened, our work should be much easier.”
    “I really want to believe that.”
    “Hey.” David nudged her in the back. “Don’t you know that guy?”
    “What guy?” She turned around and looked in all directions.
    He pointed toward a group of people huddled together. “That guy. The one standing over there by the entrance. The banker dude.”
    It didn’t take long for her to spot Shawn among them. He stood out with distinction and his smiled seemed to light a glow around him. The tailored blue collared shirt, black slacks, and dress shoes made it apparent that he was there on business.
    “Yeah.” Alexia tore her gaze away just as Shawn lifted his head in their direction. “I know him.” She turned in walked in the opposite direction, pretending to be engrossed in the products displayed on each table.
    It was David who’d solicited her attendance at this business expo. How would she have known that Shawn would be here? She hadn’t seen Shawn in over a week, and his calls were now less frequent.
    David stopped at another graphic designer’s table. “Wow, I like these.” He picked up a card and examined it.
    That was all the excitement that the business representative behind the table needed to hear. He approached them and began discusses his product line-up with David.
    Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Shawn approaching them. “Dang it,” she mumbled.
    “Alexia.” His familiar voice caressed her like a blanket.
    She spun around and met his gaze, which seemed serious.
    “Hi, Shawn.”
    His eyes moved from her to David, who was still occupied with the rep at the table. “Can I have a word with you? Alone.”
    She’d successfully avoided him for weeks. The hurt may have been gone, but she would never forget that Shawn was capable to bringing out those emotions in her. She refused to be vulnerable again.
    “What is there to have a word about?” she asked.
    “Why you’ve been avoiding me like I don’t exist? Like there was never anything between us.”
    David turned around then. “Everything okay, Alex?”
    “Yeah, everything’s okay.”
    “I thought you looked familiar,” David said to Shawn. “Shawn, right? The banker?”
    “Financial advisor, to be exact,” Shawn said. “Nice to meet you again.”
    They shook hands.
    “Nice to meet you.”
    With that, Shawn turned back to address her. “I’ve been calling you, attempting to understand why I get the silent treatment.”
    David looked back and forth from her to Shawn. Alexia didn’t want to cause a scene, let alone give everyone standing within two feet of them to observe all of her personal business. Shawn didn’t seem to care, but she did.
    “Let’s find somewhere else to talk.” Before David could object, she started off in the direction toward the door.
    Shawn fell in step beside her.
    They found an area further down the hallway that had no traffic at all.
    Alexia rested her back against the wall and crossed her arms. “What is there to talk about?”
    “You know good and well. Why the silent treatment from you?”
    “I don’t like feeling used, Shawn.” The veins in her neck tightened in