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My car did, she said acerbically. Although I may join her shortly.
Jay chuckled. Well, we don t want that. He rolled his sleeves and picked up the ratchet
and another socket.
I don t need your help.
Okay. Jay shrugged and snapped the socket onto the ratchet. Then I ll just sit back and
watch. He set the tool down on the lip of the fender.
No. Blaina let out a strangled growl. I don t want you here. There. She d said it. True,
part of her wanted him there, but that was the tired, sore, weak part of her which still pined for
him in the middle of the night, and during the day, and all those lonely hours in between. She d
gotten pretty good at ignoring it.
www.samhainpublishing.com 217
Ashleigh Raine
Rather than continue to study her car, Jay s gaze washed over her. Although he didn t reach
out to touch her, he might as well have. Her flesh reacted all the same, goose bumps rising along
the path of his distant caress. Concern, desire and love were evident in the way he looked at her.
As though she were the only thing in the room. The only thing that mattered.
He frowned when his gaze landed on her right arm, and before she could raise the man
basher menacingly, he d crossed to her side and cradled her elbow. His touch generated the spark
she d feared earlier, but rather than ignite her gasoline-soaked T-shirt, it fanned the flames within
her.
God, Blaina. I m so sorry. Gentle fingers traced from her elbow to wrist then down to her
fingertips before letting go.
Hiding the way her body reacted to his touch, she crossed her arms over her chest. I ve
been hurt worse.
Not by me.
And just when she was starting to like him again. Damn arrogant bastard. I beg to differ,
she said sarcastically. Now if you re done making yourself feel better, you can put the flowers
in that big black vase over there on your way out. Using the man basher she pointed toward the
forty-four gallon trash can.
Without a word, Jay walked out of the garage. Blaina hadn t realized her heart could still
hurt because of him, but watching him leave without a fight stung more than she d expected.
Taking a deep breath, and inhaling enough gasoline fumes to get her high, Blaina leaned
under the hood and went back to work&
Only to jump back out again when Jay reentered the garage. He held her garden hose in one
hand and was filling her trash can with water.
Blaina stared, gape-mouthed. Wh-what are you doing, Jay? she sputtered.
Putting water in your vase.
Oh my God. You re crazy.
Jay s lips quirked, but he didn t say anything. When her trash can was full, he turned off the
water, gathered the flowers from the cowl and settled them into the vase . Stepping back, he
admired his handiwork. Not bad. He nodded.
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Driven to Distraction
Head spinning from the fumes, Jay and the day from hell, Blaina stomped toward her lunatic
ex-lover. Okay, cut the crap, Jay. What do you want?
You, he said calmly.
Argh! she replied, not so calmly.
So, can I take that as a yes, I want to be with you, too, Jay ? He smiled.
She shoved the man basher against his chest and pushed him away. Did you think you
could come here and be all cute and funny and I d just forgive you and hop back into your bed?
No, babe, I didn t. You re too strong for that.
If he was trying to confuse the hell out of her, it was working. Then why are you here?
Because there s nowhere else I d rather be.
Her broken heart banged restlessly against her ribcage, trying to launch itself at Jay. But she
couldn t hide her suspicions. Until when, Jay? The timing on this is just a little too suspect.
Shooting wraps and you can be with me now? Feeling weary and exhausted and more than a
little vulnerable, she shook her head. No. I told you before that won t work for me. I m tired of
feeling like I m not good enough for you.
Not good enough for me? Surprise and shock registered on Jay s face. Blaina, babe, you
are too good for me. I m just hoping I can spend a lifetime convincing you that I m worth taking
a chance on.
And how many more chances am I supposed to give you? Blaina lowered onto a step stool
and rested her elbows on her knees. The next time something bad happens, are you gonna climb
in your car and drive out of my life again?
He fished his keys out of his pocket and knelt in front of her. Taking her damaged hand in
his she still held the man basher in her other one he carefully dropped the keys into her palm
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