Goddammit.

Sitting up, she pulled her knees to her chest. She hadn’t had the dream in months, had hoped it had stopped altogether. She’d suffered night terrors after her parents died in a house fire. Another reason she hadn’t lasted long with any of the foster families she got placed with. No one liked to be woken in the middle of the night by a kid screaming hysterically.

Grabbing her phone, she checked the time. Crap. She’d slept in. Shoving back the covers, she scrambled out of bed and stripped on her way to the bathroom. The warm water pouring over her in the shower helped to ease her stiff muscles. After she dried off, she threw on a pair of shorts and a tank, pulled on socks, and stuffed her feet in her boots. Then she grabbed an apple off the counter and clomped down the stairs to the garage.

Her phone beeped in her pocked on her way down, and she hated the flutter of anticipation when she checked to see who the text was from. Rusty.

Wake the hell up.

She shoved the phone back in her pocket and tried not to think about the amount of times she’d checked the blasted thing yesterday.

Deacon hadn’t called the day after her midnight dash, like he said he would. Nor did they have their clothing-optional night in. But she had received a few quick text messages to say he was busy. She wasn’t buying it, though. More like he was pissed off that she’d pulled another runner.

What if he’d decided she was too much trouble? She hadn’t exactly made this easy on him. What if he’d decided to end it and found someone else to be his date? Someone like Candice, for example. She’d bet every cent she had, which wasn’t a hell of a lot, that Candice wouldn’t turn him down. She’d plant her ass in Deke’s bed, in that flashy apartment, and wouldn’t leave until she was prized out with a crowbar.

She shut those thoughts down quickly. That wasn’t the issue here.

If he reneged, would he go ahead and put the garage up for sale right away?

When she walked into the workshop, Piper was in her office and Rusty, already in coveralls, had her head under the hood of Mr. Cannon’s 1968 Dodge Charger.

She looked up, and a grin spread across her face. “Look what the cat dragged in.”

“I know.” Alex held up her hands. “I slept in.”

“Yeah?” Concern creased her friend’s brow. “Trouble sleeping?”

“Something like that.”

Rusty put down her socket wrench and straightened, rubbing the grease from her hands on the ass of her coveralls. “The dream?”

Alex shrugged, not wanting to get into it, not wanting to worry her friends, and definitely not wanting to dwell on the reason she thought she’d started having them again.

Rusty walked over and gave her a quick hug. “You think this is about your date the other night? You like this guy?”

The woman was too damn perceptive for her own good. She’d always been able to read her like a book. “Nah, it’s nothing serious. You know me.”

Rusty stared at her for several seconds, her intense gaze so much like her brother’s in that moment it made her squirm. “Okay. If you say so. But you know I’m here if you need to vent, right?”

“Just try to stop me.”

Rusty’s stunning grin returned, then her eyes lifted to something over Alex’s shoulder. They widened. “Holy shit.”

“What?” Alex spun around in time to see a 1970 Dodge Super Bee 426 Hemi Flashback pull up in front of their garage.

Purple.

Her knees actually went weak. This was the car. The car of her dreams. Instead of actors or singers on her walls when she’d been growing up, she’d had a poster of this car—well, not on her walls, because she wasn’t allowed, but the picture had gone to every one of her foster homes with her.

Super Bees were only in production for four years, so there weren’t that many on the road. She’d never thought she’d get to see one up close. Whoever owned it had to have some serious cake.

The door opened and Jarrod Prescott stepped out, all flashy suit and smooth good looks. His gaze landed on her, and his lips quirked up at the side, followed by a knowing wink. She slammed her unhinged jaw shut.

“You know that guy? Sheee-it. Is that the guy you’re messing with?” Rusty hissed in her ear.

“Um…”

“Hot…the guy’s not bad, either.” She snorted. “No wonder you’re going out with him—he drives your freakin’ dream car.”

Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God.

“Just, ah…give me a minute.” She speed walked over to Jarrod before Rusty had a chance to interrogate him. But Rusty had already peeled off, heading to the office to get Piper. Dammit.

Jarrod slid his hands in his pockets and smiled down at her. “Alex.”

“Yeah, hey. Look, I ah…I need your help. You’re gonna think this is nuts, but I’m going to need you to pretend we’re going out.”

His brow scrunched. “Pardon?”

“I know this seems weird, and I know I’m asking a lot. But Deacon’s sisters are my best friends, and they don’t know me and him are…that we’re seeing each other. But they know I’m seeing someone. Rusty got the wrong idea when you pulled in, so if you could just help me out, I’ll owe you,” she blurted in one breath.

The excuse-me-while-I-call-in-the-special-doctor expression had disappeared and been replaced by amusement. “Pretend? That we’re dating?”

Jesus. Humiliation heated her from head to toe. “Um, yeah.”

One of his hands came up and slid around the back of her neck, and he tugged her closer. “I find method acting makes for a more realistic performance.”

The office door flew open, Rusty and Piper emerging, sights set. “They’re coming.”

He let go of her neck and slung his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his side. She had no choice but to plaster a ridiculous grin on her face.

“Nice car,” Rusty said when she stopped in front of them and extended her hand. “Rusty West. This is my sister, Piper.” Piper took his hand as well and smiled in that sweet, open way of hers.

“Jarrod Prescott. Nice to finally meet you both. Alex’s told me so much about you.” He smiled down at her, then glanced back at her friends.

Alex tilted her head toward the garage. “You two have stuff to do, right? Don’t let us pull you from your work.”

Piper narrowed her eyes. “I’m sure we can spare a few minutes.”

Crap.

“Do you have plans with our girl?” Rusty asked.

“Actually, I came to talk to Alex about doing some restoration work for me. I have a couple cars that need rebuilding, and she told me you could fit me in.”

The wary looks vanished, along with their desire to interrogate Jarrod. Alex was pretty sure she could see the dollar signs flash above their heads.

Piper grinned, giving her best Vanna White impersonation, and motioned back to the workshop. “Please, step into my office.”

Good God.

They all traipsed into the workshop, Jarrod keeping her plastered to his side the entire time. And if he’d had his way, she would have spent the entire meeting in his lap.

By the time they finished discussing Jarrod’s cars and what he wanted done, it was close to lunchtime. As they stepped out of the small office, he took Alex’s hand and tugged her close, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. He was enjoying this whole role-play thing a bit too damn much.

Rusty and Piper stayed in the office, but she could see them pretending not to look when he led her over to the Super Bee.

“Thanks for doing this, Jarrod. You helped me out of a tricky spot. And for bringing the work our way. You won’t be disappointed.”

“I wouldn’t have brought them here if I thought otherwise.” He brushed his thumb across her jaw. “And I’ll play your lover anytime, though the real thing would be far more enjoyable, I can assure you. If your situation with Deacon changes, give me a call.” He slipped a card from his breast pocket and slid it into her hand.