He acted like he never dragged me out of a hotel room, and I made sure he knew how displeased I was. The only feeling I now had whenever he was close was murderous rage.
I needed to eat away my feelings and Rayna was just the person to help me out.
“How is it going over there, anyway? I talked to Willa last week, but she didn’t mention the garage.”
“It’s going. But what I really want to know is what you can recommend today?”
Rayna grinned at my topic change but let me get away with it. I had known her ever since Willa and I became friends. She was everything you could want in an aunt. She supported Willa without question, was nice to everyone no matter how crazy they drove her, and always had something on hand that was delicious to eat.
“I just made some lemon infinities. Want to taste one before you make up your mind? I need to know if they’re any good anyway.”
I held out my hand and nodded. “Yes please.”
She dropped a small pastry that looked like a mini figure eight into my hand. I took a bite and had to hold back the groan that wanted to escape. They were the perfect lemony, sugar goodness I needed in my life.
“They are amazing. You are a genius, Rayna. I’ll take ten. And two dozen donuts. Just mix them up, you know how the guys are; they’ll eat any flavor.” My eyes roamed the shelves, greedily drinking in the different pastries. “And maybe a few brownies. Just in case.”
Rayna grabbed a pair of tongs and started filling paper bags. “No problem.”
“Put it all on the Drake account,” I instructed. “And can you please make me a chocolate milkshake?”
She laughed and shook her head. “So, it’s one of those days.”
“I think I need to medicate myself with sugar and see where the high takes me.”
Rayna put the bags on the counter and scooped ice cream into a metal cup. She put it under a mixer and added milk and her homemade chocolate syrup.
“All right, darling girl, here you go,” she said and handed me my giant cup of diabetes.
“Thank you, Rayna, you are a lifesaver.”
“I knew it was going to be a good day when I got up this morning. Another life saved, thanks to my incredible baking skills,” she said and winked at me.
I laughed and grabbed the paper bags. “See you tomorrow.”
I drove as slow as I could, dragging the ten-minute drive out to fifteen. When I got back, I parked in the employee parking lot and after one last sip of my milkshake, I carried everything into the office.
“Finally. I’m starving,” Landon said as soon as he saw me. He relieved me of all the bags and carried them to the meeting room, which doubled as Mason and Jameson’s office and had a big enough table to fit everyone. I dumped my purse in a desk drawer and grabbed a notepad and pen and walked into mayhem.
Clay was throwing something at Darren, who was busy taking a donut from the box on the table and ignoring everyone around him. Landon was moving the box around, while shoving one donut after the other into his mouth. Music was blaring from a speaker mounted to the wall, and Mason stood in the middle of the chaos talking on the phone.
I sat down at the end of the table closest to the door. A quick escape was always a good idea, especially with Mason around. I watched the food disappear in less than five minutes and wondered where they put it all. The guys were all tall and muscular and looked like they worked out regularly, not stuffed themselves full of donuts.
“Shut up and listen,” Mason said, and everyone settled at the table. “We have a few things to go through but not much time because we’re behind on the Camaro.”
A few groans followed his announcement, but after one look from Mason it was quiet again.
“Clay, you get the Shelby. They finally brought it in, and it’s in even worse shape than they told us originally. Engine rebuild and complete paint job for that one.”
“Got it boss,” Clay said and saluted.
“Landon, how are you going with Teak’s car?”
“I’ll be done by tomorrow morning and can give Darren a hand with the Camaro.”
Mason shuffled through some papers on the table. “Yeah, that sounds good. It’s our priority right now. If anyone wants to do overtime, it’s approved until further notice. And if you finish a project, you’re on the Camaro.”
I lifted my hand and Mason’s focus shifted from the guys to me. “Stella, you want to help with the Camaro?”
I once again fought the urge to roll my eyes and folded my hands in front of me, throwing a toothy grin at him. “We need to order more paint. There is no red or black left.”
His irritation shifted to Landon. “That’s your job to make sure we are fully stocked.”
“Give me a break, man. We’ve been so busy I didn’t even have time to scratch my ass, let alone remember to order paint.”
“If you would stop using the garage as your personal fuck mobile, you wouldn’t be behind.”
“What are you talking about?” Landon asked.
“I found a pair of lace panties in my bay this morning. Spoiler alert: they weren’t mine. Now look up what we’re out of, and let Stella know.”
I felt all the anger escape me, like a deflated balloon. It hadn’t been Mason hooking up, but Landon. And Jameson was going to call Mason. I had to call Willa. Now.
Landon ignored Mason’s sharp tone and got up. “You got it, bossman.” He turned to me and smiled his boy-next-door smile at
