Always My Girl (The Shaughnessy Brothers)

by Samantha Chase

  “We got back last night, and I was driving through town and saw your car outside and figured I’d stop by and see the new shop. I haven’t been in here since before you opened.”

  “Yeah, I know, and it was really starting to piss me off,” Quinn teased.

  Aidan looked around the shop and then spotted the two cars, his eyes going wide. “Holy crap,” he said with a hint of awe. “Is that…? Are those…?”

  Quinn stepped up beside him and placed an arm around his brother’s shoulder with a friendly pat. “Yup. You are looking at a 1969 Chevy Camaro and an amazing 1960 Corvette.”

  Aidan simply stared at the cars for a long moment before turning toward Quinn. “Am I allowed to touch them?”

  A loud laugh escaped before Quinn could help himself. “Dude, you can even sit in them.”

  “Seriously? That’s allowed?” he asked even as he walked toward the Corvette. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of these up close. How’d you get your hands on one?”

  “They belong to a buddy of mine I used to race with. He’s a collector, and he’s had these two cars in storage for a while and finally decided he wanted to go ahead and restore them.”

  Aidan gingerly opened the car door and sat down. And sighed. “Oh man…this is incredible. It almost seems a shame to do anything to it.”

  Quinn chuckled. “Yeah, I used to think of it like that too, but Jake wants to be able to take them out once in a while. Personally, I’m all for it. Cars are meant to be driven and enjoyed—not just looked at.”

  “So what are you going to do to them?”

  Walking around each of the cars, Quinn allowed himself to get a little lost in the details. “Both of their engines are in fair condition, so we’re going to take them out, clean them, and replace whatever needs replacing. The Camaro has a fair amount of rust, so we’re going to be sanding the body down and setting it right and then repainting. New tires for each of them. Replacing the vinyl on the interior of the Corvette and the entire backseat in the Camaro.”

  “Damn. That’s a lot of work, Quinn.”

  “And that’s only the half of it.”

  “No!” Aidan cried, climbing from the car and walking over to the other.

  Quinn nodded. “There’s a lot to it. Each car will almost be completely pulled apart then and put back together to make sure everything is pristine—the wiring, the fuel system, the exhaust…everything.”

  “What’s your timeline on something like this?”

  “It’s not a quick turnaround if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  Aidan shook his head. “No, I’m serious. You’ve never done the restoration around here, close to home, so I have no idea.”

  “At minimum? You’re looking at a thousand hours per car at least. And that’s if there aren’t any surprises, complications, or mishaps. The average car collector—if he was doing it on his own—could take up to two years to complete a job like this on one car.”

  “Holy crap.”

  Quinn nodded again. “Exactly. I’m going to go a little in between and figure about fifteen hundred man hours per car.”

  Aidan chuckled. “Good thing your friend isn’t in a rush.”

  “That’s the beauty of working with a fellow car enthusiast. They know the importance of doing things right. If he gives me the time now, he’ll get all the time he wants out of the car when I’m done.”

  Aidan stopped and thought for a moment. “You said this guy’s name is Jake?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You mean Jake Tanner? The Jake Tanner?”

  Quinn rolled his eyes. “Yes, Jake Tanner. Why? Got a man crush on him?”

  Aidan let out a bark of laughter. “Cute, but no. I just remember he was an amazing driver. I used to follow him when you were racing.”

  “Oh yeah? Then you know that I ranked higher,” Quinn said a bit defensively.

  “Easy there, baby girl. No one’s saying he was better than you. I was merely pointing out that I was a fan.”

  “Yeah, well…you were supposed to be cheering for me. Not following and cheering other racers.”

  Aidan ran a hand gently over the Camaro’s hood. “Insecure much? What’s going on in this family? First Riley, now you?”

  “I’m not insecure. I just didn’t realize you followed anyone else in racing other than me. And as for Riley, who knows? I’m sure it’s hard for him. There are new bands coming out every day. There’s constant competition and he’s having to prove himself on a daily basis. Anyone would get freaked out from time to time if they had to live like that.”

  “I guess.” Stepping away from the car, Aidan sighed. “Where were cars like this when we were kids?”

  “Out of our price range.”

  “Oh yeah. That’s right.” Aidan laughed and then straightened and looked at his brother. “So things are going well?”

  “Absolutely. I didn’t think I’d enjoy sticking around town for so long, but it’s really not so bad.”

  “I never understood your need to move around so much.”

  “Yeah, well, you’re a homebody. No one else in the family is, other than Dad.”

  A small shrug was Aidan’s only reply.

  “And now that I’ve got these babies here, I’ll be around even longer,” Quinn continued. “I promised Jake I’d be the one to do the bulk of the work.”

  “Is that smart for you? I mean, you have other shops to manage.”

  “It’s not a big deal. I have a great team of mechanics and managers. I’ll still go and spend some time at each of them, just not the extended amount I was doing before.”

  “You’ve done other restorations before. Why is this one such a big deal?”

  “The other cars weren’t nearly as impressive as these—at least not to me. I’ve done cars from the thirties and onward, but the muscle cars? Those are my favorites. And to have two of them here?” He sighed dramatically. “It’s almost enough to give me a hard-on.”

  “Grow up.”

  Then Quinn’s teasing grin faded. “If I get these cars right, besides making a boatload of money on them, it will go a long way in cementing my name in the industry. There are still a lot of people who think this is just a hobby for me and that I don’t take it seriously. I really need to get everyone to see how I love what I do and I’m good at it.”

  Aidan nodded. “I get it. And you’ll get there, Quinn. You do great work and it’s going to speak volumes.”

  “I don’t know. So many things have come easily to me, and this is the first time in my life I’m having to really prove myself. Car restoration isn’t a quick turnaround. It’s not like racing or baseball, where I could have a good season and make the news. I just…I didn’t think it would be so hard.”

  “It’s not a bad thing, you know. Having to work a little harder. Makes you appreciate it all the more.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m not getting any younger.”

  Aidan laughed. “Or prettier.”

  “Shut up,” Quinn said and walked over to the cooler he kept in the corner and grabbed a couple bottles of soda, handing one to Aidan. “Anyway…what about you? How’s married life?”

  Aidan broke out in a sappy grin. “Loving it.”

  “Figures.” He was about to say more when his cell phone rang. He motioned to his brother to give him a minute before answering it. He listened intently and then said, “Sounds good. See you in a few minutes.”

  “Everything okay?” Aidan asked.

  “Yeah, but you may want to take a minute and prepare yourself.”

  “Oh, really? Why is that?”

  “Because that was Jake and he’s on his way here.”

  “What?” Aidan cried. “Now?”

  Quinn rolled his eyes. “Yup, so you better go fix your hair and make yourself pretty.”

  “Screw
you.”

  But as Aidan walked off, all Quinn could do was laugh.

  * * *

  Clearly, Anna was a glutton for punishment. She had just finished showing a house and was on her way home. This particular route took her past Quinn’s shop. She hadn’t seen or talked to him since the wedding and…well…she missed him. It wasn’t unusual for them to go a week without seeing or talking to one another, but right now she just really wanted to see him.

  Pulling into the parking lot, she noticed Aidan’s car and smiled. It was on her mind to give Zoe a call and now she knew for certain they were back from their honeymoon.

  Waving to one of the mechanics, she was immediately told—without asking—that Quinn was over in the restoration building. It was separate from the main shop, out back with its own office and setup. She knew why Quinn set it up that way, and she was excited because if he was back there, it meant he had some new cars to restore. She was almost giddy at the thought of what kind they might be.

  Letting herself in, she immediately heard the loud male laughter and knew both Quinn and Aidan were there. A minute later, she heard a voice she’d never heard before. As she stepped into the bay area, Aidan spotted her first.

  “Anna!” He walked toward her, his arms open wide. “How are you?” He hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. “Have you spoken to Zoe yet? I know she was dying to tell you all about the trip.”

  She hugged him back. “As soon as I saw your car, I made a mental note to give her a call when I get home.” She stepped back and smiled. “Was it wonderful?”

  His grin was the only answer she needed.

  “So what brings you here?” he asked.

  “I was driving by and thought I’d stop in and say hello.” Aidan was looking at her a little funny until Anna started to squirm. “What? What’s wrong?” She looked down at her outfit and wondered if she’d spilled something on herself.

  “I still can’t get used to seeing you in career-woman mode. I miss the girl in the blue jeans who makes the world’s greatest burgers.”

  Anna blushed. “I’m still the same girl, Aidan,” she said shyly. “But sometimes a girl has to grow up.” She was saved from saying anything else when Quinn walked over with a guy she didn’t recognize.

  “Hey, Anna,” Quinn said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  “Hey,” she said, forcing her own smile while checking out the attractive guy standing beside him. Without waiting for an introduction, she held her hand out. “Hi, I’m Anna. I’m a friend of Aidan and Quinn’s.”

  Mr. Tall, Dark, and Muscular gave her a sexy smile and took her hand in his. “Nice to meet you. I’m Jake. Also a friend of Quinn’s.”

  “Really?” she said, her smile growing until her cheeks hurt. “Then how come we haven’t met before?”

  Jake stepped in closer, shouldering Quinn out of the way. “I have no idea. I used to race cars with Quinn. We met on the circuit.” He still hadn’t let go of her hand. “Do you follow racing, Anna?”

  For a minute she almost wanted to pinch herself. Here was an incredibly attractive man—almost too good-looking for his own good—practically flirting with her, and she hadn’t had to lift a finger. Aidan was grinning and Quinn looked ready to spit nails. It was almost as if she had scripted the moment herself!

  “Oh, I follow all kinds of sports, Jake.” She quickly racked her brain for racing stats until she remembered something about Jake’s. “You used to drive a Chevy, right? Number thirty-four?”

  His smile grew and his grip on her hand tightened before his thumb began to stroke her wrist. “That’s right, darlin’,” he drawled. “I had a lot of good luck with that car.” Then he leaned in close. “And in Quinn’s last season, I beat him by twenty points.”

  “It was two, Jake,” Quinn corrected. “Two. Not twenty. Every time you tell that story, you embellish.”

  Jake stepped back and finally released Anna’s hand. “So what is a lovely woman like you doing in a dirty garage like this?” he asked.

  Before she could answer, Quinn spoke. “Dude, what the hell? It’s a brand-new shop and it’s just Anna. She’s been in my shops before.”

  Anna shot him an annoyed look. “Oh, I don’t mind coming to the shop. It’s not a big deal. A little engine grease and some exhaust fumes don’t bother me. I actually do some work on my own car.”

  “Since when?” Quinn demanded.

  She ignored him and focused on Jake. “Of course, I don’t drive anything like these cars.” Looking over at the classic cars, she sighed. “Those are real beauties. Whoever owns them is really lucky.”

  Quinn groaned, Aidan chuckled, and Jake stepped forward and wrapped his arm around Anna’s shoulders. “It just so happens I own them.”

  “No!” she cried.

  He nodded. “I sure do.” Then he led her over to them, leaving Quinn and Aidan behind.

  It took a full minute before Quinn could find his voice. “What the hell just happened here?”

  Aidan was practically wiping tears from his eyes from laughter. “I think your friend just swooped in here and swept Anna off her feet.”

  “No,” Quinn said firmly, defiantly. “No way. Anna doesn’t go for that type.”

  “What? The tall, dark, good-looking, and successful type?” Aidan teased.

  Quinn glared at him. “Are we talking her type or yours?” He shook his head in disgust. “Anna is not impressed with that kind of stuff. She’s been around drivers before and it never made a difference.”

  “I’m sure there’s a big difference between the way they treat someone they meet while on the track and off.” He nodded in Jake and Anna’s direction. “There’s no distractions here, and if you ask me, she definitely seemed…impressed.”

  Quinn shook his head. “Uh-uh. No way. She’s just being nice. There’s no way Anna would go out with a guy like Jake.”

  “How much you wanna bet?”

  Just then, Anna let out a very feminine giggle that echoed off the shop’s walls. And suddenly, Quinn wasn’t so sure about anything.

  Chapter 4

  “Look at you…all glowy.”

  “I know.”

  “How were the Mayan ruins?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “How were the beaches?”

  “Not a clue.”

  Anna sighed and threw her head back in disgust. “You know, it’s as if this were the first time you and Aidan had sex! You went to Mexico for a week, and you’re telling me you didn’t leave the room?”

  Zoe giggled. “I know it sounds crazy, but…we had our own little villa and just enjoyed staying in our cocoon.”

  “Unbelievable.”

  “Don’t be hatin’,” Zoe said, standing and going to the kitchen to get them each another drink. “The thought of playing tourist just wasn’t appealing.”

  “Okay, let’s just leave it at that. I don’t need to know all the details of what the two of you were doing in your cocoon.”

  “Don’t worry. I wasn’t going to share.”

  “Thank you.”

  Sitting back down on the sofa, Zoe curled her legs up under her. “So what about you? What’s been going on this last week? Aidan said he saw you yesterday at Quinn’s shop.”

  “Yeah, I was just driving by and decided to stop and say hello.”

  “Uh-huh. Right.”

  “What? I did!”

  Zoe gave an exaggerated wink. “Okay. I also heard there was a very good-looking race-car driver there who seemed a little smitten with you.”

  “Did Aidan honestly describe Jake as good-looking and use the word smitten?”

  “Okay, maybe I’m putting my own spin on it but the results are the same. So? Spill it! Did he ask you out?”

  Anna nodded. “Well, he wanted to take me to dinner last night but I turned him down.�
�

  “But…why? Did you already have plans?”

  “No…not exactly.”

  “Okay, now you really have to spill it. I know that look on your face. You’re up to something.”

  Anna explained her plan to get Quinn to notice her. “So you see, it’s perfect. Here’s this amazing guy and I didn’t have to do a thing!”

  “Um, I hate to point out the obvious, but the only way to make Quinn jealous because you’re out with some guy is to actually go out with said guy. You just said you didn’t.”

  “No, but I will. He called me last night just to talk, and then again today.”

  Zoe let out a little squeal. “Anna, that’s great! So when are you going out? Tonight? Where is he taking you?”

  “Yeah…um…no. We’re not going out tonight either.”

  Zoe sagged in her seat. “Okay, you’ve lost me. Why aren’t you going out with him?”

  “I don’t know. I can’t seem to get excited about saying yes. I figure with a guy like him, it’s all about the ego. He’s going to keep calling until I say yes. So maybe by next weekend, I’ll finally be able to make myself go.”

  “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea. Why would you want to go out with someone you clearly don’t have any interest in?”

  “No one else is asking me out!” she cried. “Do you think I like this? Do you think I like sitting around pining for a guy who has zero interest in me?”

  “Oh, sweetie,” Zoe began, “I know it’s hard and I’m sorry. I just don’t want to see you do something you really don’t want to just because you think it might make Quinn sit up and take notice. You know there’s no guarantee of that, right?”

  Unfortunately, Anna refused to think that way. At least she had until just that minute. “I guess I thought if I made myself into his perfect woman…”

  Reaching out, Zoe put her hand on top of Anna’s and squeezed. “If he doesn’t love you for who you are, then you need to move on. It will never work if you’re trying to be someone you’re not.”