Sporting (Unleashed Romance #3) - Kylie Gilmore Page 0,68

date. I never believed love could happen so quickly, until now.

Slowly but surely, I convince Sloane of my sincerity, and our future has hope until I bring her into my modeling world. Problem is, she doesn’t fit. And when my career takes off, it’s clear that I can’t pursue the big dream and my dream girl. If only love was as simple as that first thunderbolt.

Excerpt

Sloane

“Hey, Sloane,” a masculine voice calls.

I turn and freeze. What’s Caleb doing here?

He’s at the entrance of an empty bay. This time he’s sporting a lumberjack look straight from an outdoor adventure company. Red and black plaid flannel jacket open to a gray turtleneck with dark jeans and hiking boots. I wonder if he takes home complete looks from his modeling gigs. Two days ago, he worked a biker look. I have to admit, lumberjack looks good on him too.

He steps inside the bay, all six feet plus muscled inches of him.

I suddenly don’t know what to do with my hands, so I shove them into the pockets of my blue coveralls. I have the urge to check a mirror in case there’s grease smudged on my face but I resist. I’m at work, and this is how I look at work. My hair’s tied back in a low ponytail, no makeup, coveralls, and black steel-toed work boots.

He stops right in front of me, a hint of a smile playing around his lips. Up close, his hazel eyes are green with gold flecks framed by thick lashes. No wonder the camera loves him. “Hi, Sloane.”

Did I forget to acknowledge his hey before? I was just so surprised to see him here after our unexpected encounter on Saturday night.

“Hi,” I say, sounding like a robot. Flirty, I am not.

“Hi.” His hazel eyes hold a hint of amusement.

I rock back on my heels. Is something funny? Cuz I don’t get it. “How can I help you?”

“I need my car inspected.” He gestures to his silver Fiat 124 Spider. It’s a two-seater convertible, a fun drive. He takes good care of his car. It’s pristine, which isn’t easy with all the rock salt and snow on the road in late November in this part of New York. My own car is less fun. I drive a Subaru Impreza with manual transmission because when your job is to fix cars you want a break on your own car. My car will go the long haul. I do appreciate a fun ride though.

“Sure, let me see when we have available,” I say.

I move to the short counter with the laptop that has our appointment system. Max raises his brows as I pass by him, giving me a knowing look. My cheeks heat. I filled him in earlier on the strange encounter with Caleb on Saturday night. I’ve known Max forever. He’s three years older than me and started working here part-time in high school. He’s only here in the winter now, picking up shifts when his landscaping business is slow. He’s also handsome—tousled brown hair, blue eyes, full beard. Truth? Back in my teen years I had a monster crush on him. I know him too well as a friend now to dwell on silly unrequited crushes. Anyway, Max thought it was funny that I didn’t let Caleb buy me a drink. In my defense, I already had a drink and wasn’t entirely sure why Caleb was asking so many questions.

The fact that Caleb showed up here today could mean something significant, or it could just mean he needs his car inspected. I have no clue which it is.

Caleb joins me, watching as I click over to the appointment schedule. “So what made you move back to Summerdale? I thought you were a math teacher up in Hartford.” That’s in Connecticut, a little more than an hour’s drive from here.

I give him a sideways glance, surprised he knows that much about me. Maybe Dad blabs to the customers. “I decided teaching isn’t for me. I’m working here while I look for another kind of job. Something where I can use my math degree.” I hate lying like this, but Dad’s close enough to overhear, so I can’t admit I haven’t done a thing to find a new job. Everything I want is right here.

“Well, you look like you’re in your natural element,” Caleb says.

“She’s not staying!” Dad puts in before lumbering to the back of the shop for a tool. Dad’s in his fifties, a big teddy bear of a