Zero to Sixty

by Marie Harte

  He’d seen her slip the dog some of that Angus beef. He’d have to talk to her about that, because puppies didn’t need to get too used to people food. Spoiling the mutt wouldn’t help his training any. And speaking of Cookie…

  He glanced at the puppy curled in his dog bed under the table. Good. One problem solved. Sam grabbed a cup of crappy coffee, shut the break room door, then hustled back to an engine repair. Buried under the hood, he hummed along to some CCR and finished in no time. After testing the car, he parked it out by the others awaiting pick up. Once back inside, he checked the list and saw a Dodge Ram waiting on him.

  Silence in the garage alerted him something had happened. He glanced up and saw Lou, Foley, and Johnny had circled him. Shit.

  “What?” he snarled, waiting for it.

  Foley answered, sounding way too low-key. “So I was telling the guys about how I’d made you look bad in front of your new girlfriend Friday night. How you’d probably lost the only shot you’ll ever have at a decent chick.”

  “’Cause my sisters and cousins are totally off-limits,” Lou reminded him. The guy had a bazillion female relations, all hot. Not easy to keep himself free from the Cortez connection, especially since one of Lou’s sisters kept texting him. But now Sam had Ivy.

  “I felt terrible all night, you asshole,” Foley growled. “Cyn was on me for messing things up for you too. Even if you are a slob, she said I shouldn’t call you on it in front of your girl.”

  His girl. Sam’s heart raced. He could get laid, no problem. But a meaningful connection with a woman had eluded him. Until Ivy.

  Foley’s snarl turned into a grin, proving the guy could, indeed, act as well as Sam. “Except I know for a fact I didn’t screw anything up. You spent all weekend with her when you weren’t mooning over her with my mom.”

  “Don’t even try denying it,” Johnny added, gleeful and aggravating, as only Johnny could be. “I’ve never seen you this happy before. And humming to the radio? Wow. My man Sam must be in love. Can you believe it?”

  Sam felt his cheeks heat. “Not in love, asshole. Ivy and I are dating is all.”

  Foley raised a brow. “Is all? That’s everything for you, Sam. Rumor has it you have a date this week—at Mom’s.”

  “Yeah?” Johnny positively salivated. “Taking her to meet the parents? Aw, Sam. That’s so great.” The gushing made Sam want to vomit.

  “Why don’t you and your girlfriends”—Sam nodded at the guys—“chat in the break room? Some of us have work to do.”

  “Well, see, there’s a dog in the break room,” Lou said, all apologies. “And I’m afraid of dogs.” Bullshit. The guy played with his sister’s pit bulls. “Where did he come from, anyway?”

  Foley boomed, “I’ll answer that one, Lou. You see, Cookie—that’s the puppy in the break room—is Ivy’s dog. Apparently, he’s also Sam’s dog, because they’re sharing him.”

  “Joint custody.” Lou nodded, thoughtful. “I see. So Sam and his girlfriend co-own a dog. Together. You bringing her to Del’s wedding?”

  Flustered, Sam hurried to checkmark the Dodge and get moving, away from the inquisition. “Look, dickheads, I have work to do, and I—”

  “Why is there a dog in here?” Liam asked in a loud voice. Barking followed.

  Sam closed his eyes, counted to five, then swore under his breath. “That’s the dog I told you I was bringing today,” he said through gritted teeth. “You fucking okayed him being here, remember, old man?”

  “Fifty cents, Hamilton!” Del always arrived at the worst possible moment. “For the ‘dickhead’ and ‘fucking’ I just heard.”

  “Actually it’s more like seventy-five,” Johnny added to be helpful. “You missed an ‘asshole’ earlier.”

  Del nodded. “Thanks.” The suck up. “So what’s this about your date to the wedding, Sam? Do I know her? She work at your dad’s?” she asked Johnny.

  “She’s not a stripper,” Sam snapped as he took three quarters out of his pocket and handed them to Del. “Ivy’s cool, okay? It’s no big deal. We’re dating. Maybe if you fu…”—he looked at Del and changed fuckers to—“fun-loving guys had your own lives, mine wouldn’t be so interesting.”

  “No, no.” Liam carried Cookie closer. The puppy licked his face, not a worried bone is his wriggly body. Like Del, Liam projected that safe-place aura. “You’re fascinating lately, Sam. Del, look at this little cutie. Ain’t he adorable?”

  The guys left Sam to lavish affection on the dog. Thank God. Sam didn’t like being the center of attention unless his activities involved fists, bone, and/or blood. Fights he could handle. Discussing his personal life? No way.

  Del returned after petting the little guy. “You keeping him here permanently?”

  “Nope. Just watching him this afternoon while Ivy gets him a crate for her office.”

  “She coming to the wedding?” Del asked again.

  “I don’t know.” Why all this concern about the damn wedding? Didn’t Del have more important things to do, like Eileen with her centerpieces?

  “Ask her.”

  “Why?”

  “Jesus, Sam. It’s not a big deal. Why so suspicious? It’s not like we have designs on your woman. Except for maybe Lou. You’ll need to watch that one, because he’s hot even if he is obnoxious.”

  “Del, baby. Does McCauley know what a gem he has in you?” Lou crooned, his hand over his heart. “You use love words like obnoxious with him too?”

  Del chuckled. “Haven’t been using too many words lately, if you know what I mean. Been busy making Colin a baby brother.”

  “You’re pregnant?” Liam asked, his eyes wide.

  “Nah. Just practicing.”

  Liam groaned. “I’ll put the dog back. Poor little guy shouldn’t be hearing this kind of talk.”

  Sam cringed, not wanting to imagine Del or her fiancé naked. Del, maybe. McCauley? He felt ill. “No…kidding.” He’d been about to say no shit, but Sam only had another quarter left. “Is this a garage or a nail salon?” He made sure to include Del in the insult, and she took it, by the dark blush on her cheeks. “Can we stop all the wedding and kissy talk? Let’s work on cars. Or can’t you get your nails dirty anymore, boss?” he asked Del.

  She had the grace to look shamefaced. “I know.” She closed her eyes and clenched handfuls of her hair. “Ever since I’ve been engaged to Mike, it’s like I’m losing my mojo. In the garage,” she added hastily with a glare at Johnny.

  The smart-ass had his mouth open but wisely refrained from adding anything sarcastic.

  Del released her hair, and even mussed, it looked stylish on her. A Goth-meets-punk look in her ash-blond braids and twists. “Okay, I swear. No more wedding, feelings, or baby talk.” She grimaced. “And to prove I’m serious about us being a garage, you can swear for the rest of the day.”

  The guys gave a solid cheer.

  Del handed his quarters back. “Take ’em. You’ll probably need them tomorrow when we go back to the ROP.” The Rattle of Oppression—great, even she was calling it that now.

  “Fuck, yeah,” he said, testing her.

  She grimaced. “You have no idea how much I miss the f-word, but don’t tell Mike.”

  He did his best not to laugh. “No problem. Mike and I won’t be chatting at our next lunch date till…never.”

  “Shut up.” She turned and strode back into her office, slamming the door behind her.

  Everyone stood staring at each other, probably not sure how to handle this newfound freedom. Then Del opened the door back up and yelled, “And bring your damn girlfriend to the wedding, jackass,” at Sam before slamming it again.

  Liam sighed. “Ah, now there’s my girl. Thanks for bringing her back, Sam. Oh, and make sure Ivy’s at the wedding. I want to meet this paragon who can handle you.”

  “That’s about right,”
Foley taunted. “’Cause sure as shit Sam has no idea how to handle her. Ivy is great.”

  Sam wanted to argue, but he couldn’t. Foley had spoken the truth, all right. “Can you shut up and get some work done, princess? Or does Cyn have your balls all the time?”

  Foley scowled, but Lou and Johnny high-fived.

  “Oh, that was a good one.” Johnny nodded.

  Lou agreed. “And so spot-on.”

  Foley turned on Lou. “You want to throw down, Cortez? How about you tell us about the flower chick who won’t give you the time of day? I hear she ran from the office the minute she laid eyes on your ugly face. What’s wrong? Losing your touch?”

  Everyone turned to Lou, who looked as if he planned on launching himself at Foley.

  “Now, now, fellas.” Liam stepped in, the ultimate peacemaker with those fists of steel. “We all know Lou can get any woman he wants.” Lou calmed down. “Except for this woman with flowers,” Liam added with a smirk. “What’s the story, Casanova? She’s got to be gay, right?”

  Lou mumbled something and turned back to his vehicle.

  “What’s that?” Liam pestered. “She’s too blind, deaf, and dumb to know a real man like you?”

  Lou clenched his fists, considering Liam and his smirk. “Hell. Today sucks.” He stomped to the Chrysler he swore was possessed, darted back under the hood, and let loose a stream of Spanish. A few words Sam recognized as not belonging in polite conversation.

  Liam winked at him, then joined Del in the office.

  “I thought he was retired,” Lou muttered, swore some more, and started on the Spanish again.

  Sam hated to laugh, because he felt the same way Lou did—not wanting to share his personal life with the guys, even though the bastards would eventually find out the truth. But Lou had made fun of him first.

  As a peace offering, he said, “How about tonight at Ray’s? Johnny, is Lara working?”

  “Yep. I was planning to go. Darts match? I’ll even spot you ten points, Lou.”

  “What about me?” Foley asked, wiping his hands.

  “He could spot you fifty and you’d still lose by twenty,” Lou snarked, down but not out. “Fine, Johnny. I’ll take you up on that. Eight o’clock at Ray’s. And, Sam, if you’re smart, you won’t bring Ivy this time.”

  Sam flipped him off. “Asshole. I might look stupid, but there’s more under my hood than a pretty engine.”

  That got Foley laughing. Then Johnny said something about Foley’s stupidity regarding Sue and a pitcher of beer over his head—an old relationship that had not gone well—and the insults started flying.

  Finally. Things had gotten back to normal. Well, as normal as Sam having a girlfriend and Lou striking out with a chick.

  Maybe hell finally has frozen over.

  Sam gave up on the humming and started whistling. When the guys groaned and made fun of him again, he laughed and continued working, wondering if Ivy would like to do dinner Tuesday night—before he took his girl to meet the other most important woman in his life.

  Yeah, life was sweet.

  * * *

  Later that night, Sam watched Lou and Johnny going neck-and-neck for points in their no-holds-barred darts match. Ray’s still pulled in a decent crowd, but nowhere near the numbers on the weekends. The music remained low and the foot traffic slower, allowing for conversation and a decent darts battle.

  Of Goodie or Senior he saw nothing. Lucky for them.

  Lara kept coming over to flirt with Johnny, which screwed with Johnny’s concentration. They all knew it. Lou, the smart guy, ordered everything from nachos to wings to glasses—not pitchers—of beer, so Lara had to keep returning, and gave generous tips each time.

  “Kind of obvious, Lou.” Sam shook his head.

  “Hey, it’s working. Shut up.”

  Foley laughed. “He’s got a point. So you’re really taking Ivy to meet Mom, eh?”

  Sam took a few nachos and shrugged. Speaking through his food, he said, “Eileen made me.”

  “You are so disgusting. Chew and swallow, dickhead. Then talk.” Foley frowned. “You know Mom’s going to put her through the wringer. You sure you want to do that so early into the relationship?”

  The dreaded r-word, and Sam had one. His heart full, he nodded. “Might as well.” With Lou and Johnny goading each other, he leaned closer. “It’s weird, man, but I feel like I’ve known Ivy forever. She’s so cool about everything.” He paused, then admitted, “I told her about prison. About Jennifer. And she didn’t run away.”

  Foley gave him a wide grin. “I knew she was quality. Cyn likes her too. That’s a good woman, Sam. You better do right by her, because it sounds like she’s into you.”

  “I hope so.” Sam downed his beer. “I really like her. A lot. It’s—she’s different than the others.”

  Foley watched him. “Cyn was different too. Don’t believe all that bullshit about rules and dating and friggin’ feelings. It’s different for everyone. Sounds to me like you’re seriously into her.”

  Sam glanced at Lou, now poking Johnny in the chest. “I am. It’s like I don’t even see other women now.”

  “Could be that this is new and exciting. First time you get a girl, she’s hot. But it wears off over time.” Foley shrugged. “Or maybe you’re fucked up over her because a nice girl likes you.”

  Sam frowned. “It’s more than that.”

  Foley clinked his glass against Sam’s empty one. “Just make sure you like her for the right reasons, and not because you think you’ll never get anyone else.” Before Sam could protest, Foley shook his head and said, “I know you, brother. You always think you’re not good enough, so you take little from women but some pussy. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but you’re a good guy, Sam. And finally, a good woman is seeing that.”

  Sam grunted, not wanting to show Foley how much his respect meant. He cleared his throat. “Yeah, well, I’m trying to do more than just sex her up. We’re, ah, holding off and talking and shit.” He snorted, remembering her pique. “She was kind of pissed about it, like she wanted me and was wondering if I wanted her back. Wanted her back? She’s fuckin’ hot as shit. Who wouldn’t want her?”

  A glance at Lou and Johnny again had him fighting a laugh. Lou had Johnny in a headlock, accusing him of cheating, while Lara tried to talk him down.

  “Should we help him?” Foley nodded at the idiots.

  “Nah. Smart-mouth should learn when to keep his lips shut. Besides, now we get to see Lara in action.”

  They watched as Lara soothed the savage Lou, allowing Johnny to free himself from that elbow of death. All while Johnny got angrier and angrier at the guy flirting with his girl. As if Lara had eyes for anyone but Johnny. And they all knew Lou would never poach a friend’s girl. Lou was a dick, but an honest dick. Sam knew the guy respected love, because his sisters, his mother, her sisters, and his grandmother had beaten respect and affection into his sorry ass from day one.

  “So what now?” Foley asked.

  “I don’t know. I’m going with what feels right. I just want Ivy to know I like her.”

  Foley watched him, a smile on his lips. “You mean before you do all the bad things to her you’re dreaming about.”

  “Yeah, that.”

  Foley laughed, and Sam joined him.

  Johnny, Lou, and Lara turned to stare at him.

  “Did gargantuan laugh, Lara?” Johnny asked.

  “I think I heard a mountain shake,” Lou added. “Was that…? Could it be…? Sam?”

  Sam flipped them off, then ordered another pitcher of beer, on him.

  Lara winked and went to fill his order, calling over her shoulder, “Be nice, Johnny.”

  “For real? Honey, he’s beating me up!” Johnny said a few choice words to Lou, who laughed them off.

  “Suck it up,�
� she called back, to which half the bar laughed.

  “Fuck all of you,” Johnny muttered, then proceeded to whip Lou’s ass at darts.

  An hour and a half later, Rena appeared, looking flustered but pretty as usual. Such a sweetheart, the girl worked her ass off. Sam knew she was close to opening her own hair salon. Hell, she did his and Foley’s hair whenever they needed a cut. He ran a hand over his head, wondering if Ivy would like him better with shorter hair. She sure seemed to love him not having a beard.

  He beckoned Rena closer and she rushed over. “Hey, Rena. How you been?”

  Rena wore a shirt that said Waitress, so he figured he’d be seeing more of her tonight, especially since Lara had left early with Johnny.

  “I’m good, sexy.” She leaned down and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He didn’t think Ivy would mind that. Everyone loved Rena.

  She jolted back. “Oh.”

  Seeing the looming shadow over him, Sam turned and saw Heller, Lou’s paint guy, at their table. The giant lurked, a dark and menacing presence. What set Sam off, though, was that Heller’s attention fastened on Rena. Sam hurried to his feet, prepared for anything.

  Heller didn’t blink, staring at Rena like a wolf out for prey.

  “Hey, Adolph, you got a problem?” Sam taunted.

  Foley sighed. “I knew we couldn’t go a whole week without someone punching you in the face.”

  Heller slowly turned his head and stared at Sam.

  Jesus. It was like looking into nothing. The guy’s blue eyes were dark, almost black, and lifeless.

  “Easy, Sam.” Lou stepped in and put a hand on Heller’s shoulder. Brave fucker. “I invited him.”

  “It’s not Adolph,” Heller said, his tone as empty as his eyes. “Just Heller.”

  “Heller, you know Foley and Sam,” Lou said by way of an introduction. “Johnny was here earlier, but he took off with Lara.”

  Heller nodded, but his gaze returned to Rena, who stood behind Sam, not moving. “Beer, bitte?”

  Sam frowned. “Huh?”

  “That means please in German, dumbass,” Foley said and yanked him back down. “Sit. No fights. Easy does it, or I’ll tell Ivy you were starting shit for no reason.”