by Shannyn Leah
“Dad, what kind of name is Charlie for the Impala? Maybe Chastity or Chelsea. But Charlie? No.”
“Olivia named him.”
“Him?” Maybe the kid wasn’t as smart as everyone gave her credit for.
“To Olivia the car’s a ‘he’.”
Dax tossed the envelopes back on the desk. “Well, get at it. What are you doing in here when you have a date with Charlie?”
“Inviting my son to come work on the Impala.”
“Dad, someone has to work around here.”
Rowdy stood then and waved a hand at Dax. “Horse shit. You’re going to stew in here for the next hour over Ross.”
“Ross? Who’s Ross?”
Rowdy rolled his eyes. “The newbie.”
Dax sliced his hand through the air. “No more newbies.”
His dad stepped around the desk. He was identical to Dax in height, mass, dark eyes, crooked nose and angle of mouth. No one could deny the father and son similarities. As Dax aged, the resemblance had amplified further. However, two things had changed with his dad’s age. His once dark hair was now silver and the stern, tough, no tolerance attitude he’d instilled in Dax had fallen into a soft, gentler nature.
It had happened the moment Ava had stepped into the old man’s life—seven years ago to be exact. Rowdy had been attending a conference in another town when he’d met Ava. She’d been in her early twenties at the time, alone with no family—her family had died during a house fire—and pregnant. Rowdy had offered her a room in his house until she got back on her feet. However, a couple months had turned into years and it didn’t look like that arrangement would change anytime in the near future. Ava had stepped into the daughter role Rowdy never had and Olivia the granddaughter he’d always wanted.
Whatever. Dax sure as hell didn’t plan on having kids, so at least that expectation had been lifted from his shoulders. However, when the two girls had become a part of Rowdy’s life, they’d become a part of his too. Supper at his dad’s soon changed from swearing and shop talk to tea parties and school events.
He looked back at his dad now and crossed his arms over his shoulders, waiting for a new reprimand.
“You know, son, there was a time when you were a newbie.”
“And you fired me more times than I can count.”
“You learned from your mistakes and my punishment. Just like Ross will learn from Stone.”
Dax had learned more than car lessons from his dad. He’d learned strength, fearlessness and that his feelings were better off buried than exposed. The latter lesson being the best one his father had ever taught him. Even if Rowdy had grown soft over the years, Dax knew better than to follow those foolish footsteps.
“Grandpa!” Olivia barreled into Dax’s office and ran straight into Rowdy’s arms. Today, she’d swapped her dress and tights for jeans and a plain T-shirt. A braid down her back gathered her hair together to keep it from dipping into liquids or catching on equipment. Rowdy lifted her and smacked a kiss on her cheek.
Dax heard Ava’s voice before he saw her, the sweet sound causing the stomach flip he hated so much. Damn woman had an uncanny effect on him that even night after night with spicy redheads couldn’t reduce. He needed one night with Ava, to rid his speculation of what her luscious lips would taste like and how her body would feel pressed up against his. Just one night.
He heard Ava warning Olivia not to go into Dax’s office, but she was a little too late. Carrying a pink and purple knapsack, Ava stopped in the doorway.
Her shapely eyebrows furrowed at her daughter’s disobedience. “Olivia, I told you not to interrupt.” She pushed her fingers through her thick, ash-blonde hair. The curls bounced down her shoulders in silky waves. Dax wanted to touch the locks of hair to discover if they were as soft as he assumed. More than that, he wanted to kiss her frown away and suck on her pouty bottom lip.
Damn it.
“I’m sorry, Dax.” Mesmerizing blue eyes, like the swirling waves of water on a windy day, met his in a sincere apology. Those same eyes exuded kindness—that’s who she was. If a neighbour needed a cup of sugar they could depend on Ava’s welcoming smile and if some clumsy little twit of a student needed a job, she’d go out on a limb for him.
“She just gets so excited about working on Charlie.”
And, damn, he liked how natural her goodness came to her. What he didn’t appreciate were the lustful feelings he had while in her presence because he damn well knew there would be no one-night between them. So he stomped them down like his dad had taught him.
“This isn’t a playground,” Dax barked, making his way around his desk. He needed the split-second away from her stare to regain his composure. When he turned back, Rowdy had set Olivia on her feet and they were headed toward the door.
“Don’t worry about it.” Rowdy said.
“We were in the middle of a meeting.” Dax placed his flat palms on the wood surface, eyes firmly planted on his father.
Ava reached for her daughter’s hand. “It’s okay. Take your time and we’ll wait in your office,” she said to Rowdy.
The old man shooed her away from Olivia. “He doesn’t like the newbie. Thinks he’s king shit and has never made a mistake in his life.”
Ava’s pleasant face dropped. First, she sent Rowdy a scolding look for his language choice in front of Olivia and then she looked back at Dax. “Did something happen with Ross?”
“Yeah, something happened. He ripped Stow’s bike apart without labeling it. Do you know what that means?” Of course she didn’t know what that meant. “It means—”
“Someone’s going to have to label all the parts before they’re painted,” Olivia said. “And more than likely they won’t all make it back into the bike. Way to go, Mom.”
Rowdy’s chesty laugh filled the room. “Nice kid.” He looked back at Dax. “Smart ass—” He stopped and looked at a disapproving Ava. “Smart aleck there reversed old man Caliendo’s car into the front end of the mayor’s car when he was Ross’s age.”
He’d been fired for that. “This isn’t about me.”
“It never is. Can you imagine me trying to explain those two smashed vehicles to the richest arch-enemies in Willow Valley?” Rowdy shook his head, but his smile revealed how the memory amused him. Back then, Rowdy would have torn a strip out of both of them if they’d talked back to him. Not anymore.
“Come on, kid,” his father said to Olivia. “Let’s go say hi to Charlie.”
“Okay. Bye, Mommy. Bye, Dax!” Olivia chattered Rowdy’s ear off as they made their way out the door. Dax could hear her voice as it trailed down the hall. He still didn’t know why his dad was stretching out the restoration of the Impala or why he’d decided to restore it in the first place. His dad had locked it away after his mother died and hadn’t pulled it out until Olivia had wanted a project. But why the Impala? Why bring back painful memories instead of choosing one of the many other cars they bought and flipped?
Ava stepped into his office now, shutting the door behind her.
Dax pulled his eyes away from her tight rear end as she turned back to him. “Is Ross not working out? I know your dad underplays everything so just be upfront with me. Do I move him over to Otto’s Garage?”
“Otto’s is a dive.” Dax didn’t actually have an issue with the town’s local repair garage. He’d even sent customers there when they’d accidentally stumbled into his shop thinking they repaired mufflers or gas lines. But, right now, his irritability had taken over and his mouth followed.
Ava narrowed her eyes on him, folding her silky smooth arms under her chest and pushing her breasts up to peek through the open space of her button-up blouse. “There’s no need for insults.” Her teacher’s tone brought a whole different fantasy world into his head. If only he’d had sexy, hot teachers like her when he’d been regularly sent to detention: big breasts, firm ass and one hell of a curvy body. He certainly wouldn’t have skipped detention then.
“It’s fine,” he
snarled. “Dad and Stone are dealing with him. If he screws up, it’s on them.”
Dax sat down, dismissing her. He moved the mouse to activate the computer screen, feigning work. Her intoxicating perfume made it impossible to concentrate on anything, though. And now his office was doomed to smell like her for the rest of the evening.
Fabulous.
“Dax?” She’d moved directly beside him and he felt her warmth radiate near his arm. “Rowdy says you haven’t gone back to the hospital for a follow up on your shoulder.” She set the princess-patterned bag on his desk before he could reply, not that he needed to answer her. They both knew he hadn’t gone back to see the doctor. He hated hospitals. A couple weeks back on their way back to the station after dousing a farm fire, the new guy had driven off the road and flipped the fire truck on its side, sending all five of the men to the hospital. Had the ambulance driver not given him a choice, he wouldn’t have gone in the first place.
Big deal. Firefighters got muscle sprains all the time. Although his shoulder was being a pain and not healing. He should have gone for the follow up, but he could scrounge up a thousand excuses to hold it off, too.
Ava unzipped Olivia’s knapsack and pulled out a container of gel. “Let me see your shoulder.” Her teacher’s tone again. Damn woman.
“Ava—”
“I didn’t ask. Take off your shirt, Dax.”
He leaned back in his chair to get a better look at her. He put on his famously seductive grin and tapered his eyes. “I’ve been trying to get you out of your shirt for years and you think you can come into my office and, after one demand, think I’m going to just strip for you? Do you think I’m that easy?”
Her lips curved upwards. “You are that easy.”
“Take yours off,” he retorted.
Her jaw tightened, as did the grip on the jar in her hands. Humor swept away, her eyes didn’t waver from his, and he watched desire heat up in them. The attraction between them resonated around the four walls of his office and he knew sex with her would be mind-blowing. Except, he’d never sleep with her. He couldn’t. As much as he teased and flirted, at the end of the day, they didn’t mix. Hot and cold. Water and fire. Besides, his dad would whoop him good and serve him up for dinner if it ever went that far.
Ava’s fingers grasped the edge of her blue and white plaid blouse and hiked the material high enough to see her naval.
Goddamit. They were in his office and the wall overlooking the shop was encased with windows.
He caught her wrist, conflicted with wanting more, all of her and not wanting any of her at all.
“Alright,” he growled, pulling her shirt back down over her denim shorts.
He stood up, ignoring what looked a hell of a lot like hurt in her eyes and yanked his own black T-shirt over his head. He balled it up, frustration invading his hands and tossed it onto his desk.
“If I’d known it was that easy to get your shirt off, I would have flashed my sprained shoulder a helluva long time ago.”
One thing was for certain, the teasing had to end. She’d never given an inch and today she’d have given a whole damn foot.
~End of Sneak Peek~
To continue reading, pick up Dax:
DAX, The Bad Boys of Willow Valley #1
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Did you love Dax the Halls (A Bad Boy Dax Christmas Novella)? Then you should read Lakeshore Secrets by Shannyn Leah!
Kate McAdams was forced six years ago to leave her beloved hometown of Willow Valley, leaving behind her family and the only man she's ever loved, Marc Caliendo. Although she has created a new life for herself away from the drama, secrets and stress of the small town, she must return upon her grandmother's death. Her return brings back wonderful memories, especially of Marc, but also horrible fears from the past. When fate throws her and Marc together once again, how can they ignore the everlasting love and desire between them? Will Kate stay and face her demons or will the deceit and secrets of the past destroy any future they may have and force her to leave again? This book can be read as a stand alone, but for more enjoyment read them in the order of the series, as all the characters appear in future books.
Note from the author: This is a small town, second chance, happily ever after with loving sweet snarky sisters and a rich billionaire hero with a fake marriage.Read the full BY THE LAKE SERIES: THE MCADAMS SISTERS BOOK 1: Lakeshore Secrets BOOK 2: Lakeshore Legend BOOK 3: Lakeshore Love BOOK 4: Lakeshore Candy BOOK 5: Lakeshore Lyrics THE CALIENDO RESORT BOOK 1: Sunset Thunder BOOK 2: Sunset Rivalry BOOK 3: Sunset Sail BOOK 4: Sunset Flare BOOK 5: Sunset Shelter
Read more at Shannyn Leah’s site.
Also by Shannyn Leah
A Cinnamon Bay Romance
Treasure of My Heart
Bad Boys of Willow Valley
Dax
Dax the Halls (A Bad Boy Dax Christmas Novella)
Stone
Duke
Holidays in Willow Valley
Battle of the Bulbs
Lexcon Time Travel
Winters Rising
Single on Valentine's Day
Can't Say No
The Caliendo Resort: : A Small-Town Beach Romance
Sunset Thunder
Sunset Rivalry
Sunset Sail
Sunset Flare
The CRD: Season One
Bang Bang on the 4th: Season One, Episode Nine
The CRD Series: Season One
The Davenports, Season One, Episode One
Lucy, Season One, Episode Two
Yaya, Season One, Episode Three
Ford, Season One, Episode Four
Gemma, Season One, Episode 5
Daisy, Season One, Episode Six
The Wedding, Season One, Episode Seven
Halloween Party: Season One, Episode 8
The Crazy Rich Davenports Box Set: Books 1-3
The Crazy Rich Davenports Box Set: Books 1-9
The McAdams Sisters: A Small-Town Romance
Lakeshore Secrets
Lakeshore Legend
Lakeshore Love
Candy Crumble
Lakeshore Candy
Lakeshore Lyrics
The McAdams Sisters Lakeshore Complete Boxed Set Series (Books 1-5, Boxed Set)
Watch for more at Shannyn Leah’s site.
About the Author
Contemporary romance author Shannyn Leah loves olives, lip gloss and reading (and writing) romance novels. Her love of words started at an early age and soon grew until, during her teenage years, she’d started writing her own novels. When her mom pushed to finally publish some of the stories, she quickly amassed two complete romance series (By The Lake and Caliendo Resort series) and, in 2016, released her first Fantasy Romance entitled The Gatekeepers (Part One of the Winters Rising series).
When she’s not writing contemporary romance books into the early hours of the morning, Shannyn can be found antiquing with her two favorite people, her momma and sister, in their picturesque London, Ontario hometown.
Shannyn would love to get to know her readers as you get to know her (just don’t send her any carrots!)
Read more at Shannyn Leah’s site.