Kathryn walked into the repair shop after parking her car in the bay. Her blue sedan has needed a paint job for a while, and she was glad her appointment had finally arrived. She was a little early, true, but the shop was open and the bay empty so she assumed no one would mind. She walked through the front door, the bell jangling merrily.
Kathryn was a short, heavyset woman in her early thirties. She was dressed for work, in a sharp gray skirted suit. The skirt was A-line, flattering her larger shape, with a nice fitted blazer that accentuated her hourglass shape. She was wearing sensible dark navy pumps with a fairly low heel. Her blond hair was in a knot at the back of her head, and behind the glasses she wore her eyes were a sky-blue.
No one was behind the desk. After waiting a few minutes, she decided to poke her head into the main workshop area, separated from the bay area by a partition wall.
"Hello?" she called out. She had to speak loudly over the music blaring. There was no response, so she walked into the room and around the large, black truck parked in the shop, and spotted a man elbow-deep under the hood. He spotted her, looking surprised, and stood up.
He was short as well, just a few inches taller than her. He was dressed in a blue worksuit, with sleeves rolled up to his elbows showing off his impressive biceps. His dark hair was in a stylish faux hawk, spiked in the center, and he had piercing green eyes. Around the edge of his eyes were 3 blue star tattoos. The whole effect threw her off balance. He was gorgeous!
The man lowered the radio volume and began wiping his grease-streaked hands on a towel.
He walked over to Kathryn and reached out his now ungreased hand to shake hers.
"My apologies ma'am, I thought no one would be showing up until 9:30. I must have misread the appointment book."
Kathryn blushed. "Er, no, actually, I'm early," she said. "I'm your 9:30, Kathryn." I know it's only quarter of, I got out of my meeting early and I figured I'd just drive down." Kathryn felt her heart beating almost unnaturally loud. He was so handsome.
"Ah," he said. "Well, I can get started, of course, but my assistant won't be here until 9:30 so it will be a somewhat slow process until then."
"It's fine," Kathryn said. "Really, I'm very early. I can go get a cup of coffee until then."
"No need," the man said. "I have plenty of coffee here, you're welcome to sit with me."
"Oh, I don't want to be a bother," Kathryn said.
"It's no bother," he said, and poured her a cup. "Cream and sugar?"
"Please," she responded. She decided it would be much more enjoyable to spend the time with such an attractive man.
He handed her a mug, and she thanked him. She took a sip of her coffee and the man went back under the truck hood.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Gary," he replied.
"What are you working on?"
"Oh, just messing with my truck engine," Gary said. "I bought this as a junker and I've almost got it running the way I want."
She looked at the truck. It hardly looked like a junker to her. The paint looked brand new, a testament to the good job they must do on detailing. She told him as much, and Gary chuckled.
"The benefits of working on one's own vehicles," he said. "I've replaced the interior, and just finished pulling out the old engine and putting in this diesel one. That way it won't be bad on gas."
Kathryn sipped her coffee again. She was impressed with his technical know-how. She could check her oil, and change a tire. But her car knowledge pretty much stopped there. She told him as much.
"It's a beautiful machine," she said.
"Maybe you'd like to take a ride?" he asked, his torso still buried in the hood.
Kathryn smiled. "But I barely know you," she said.
"Well, that can change quickly," he responded. "Can you hand me that wrench I left on the stool?"
Kathryn looked over and saw it. She grabbed it and handed it to him. He looked up at her as she handed it to him, and he smiled. His teeth were pearly-white, and his smile was dazzling. Her heart skipped a beat.
Maybe it would be fun to take a ride in his truck. He was a stranger to her for now...but it didn't need to stay that way. In some ways it would be daring. Dangerous. A strange man she just met! It was an exciting thought. She laughed at herself a little, but didn't answer.
He pulled his head out and looked at her. "Well?" he asked.
"I...don't know," she answered lamely.
"C'mon, let's give her a spin," Gary said. "I'm done replacing this and I'd like to test her out." He walked over to the passenger door, opening it up. He smiled at her.
Wait, he meant NOW? Kathryn was nervous, but didn't want to be rude. She walked over and looked up. The truck was a beast, how could she get in? She grasped the handle to hoist herself up. Just as she was getting into the seat, she felt his hand on her backside!
She jumped right into the seat, startled. Before she could say anything, he shut her door and walked around the truck to his side and got in. She knew it was probably innocent, he was just steadying her...right?
