A Nanny For The Mechanic Read online

  A Nanny For The Mechanic

  Cass Kincaid

  Published by Cass Kincaid, 2019.

  Copyright © 2019 by Cass Kincaid

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information and retrieval systems, without the written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to locales, events, or actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

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  Chapter One

  Gray

  Man, shit just keeps getting better and better. Gray couldn’t catch a break. Or, at least that’s how it felt. He tossed the wrench in his hand down onto the concrete floor of the garage, the clatter of it giving him a moment’s satisfaction. He was just fucking lucky he’d thrown the wrench instead of the cellphone in his other hand.

  “Fine,” he grunted into the phone, still pressed to his ear. “I’ll figure it out.” Hell knows I always do. He hung up despite being able to hear the apologetic woman on the other end still blabbering on and saying she was sorry.

  She could be as sorry as she wanted, but that didn’t change the facts—Gray no longer had a babysitter for his five-year-old daughter, Allie, and he needed to get shit straightened out.

  Fast.

  “Talking on the phone at work,” a gruff voice said from behind him. “How professional.”

  Gray turned. He was filthy dirty from replacing the wheel bearings in the front end of the Corolla in front of him, black smudges lining his chiseled, stubbled cheekbones and coating his hands. He smelled like an oil can and had just received a crushing blow from the daycare centre Allie had been attending for the past six months.

  He didn’t need his dad’s shit today.

  “It was the daycare,” he said. His father whirled around, eyes wide. “Calm down,” Gray added. “Allie’s fine.” Damn, he wished his dad cared about him half as much as he cared about his granddaughter. “But they’re doing renovations to the building beginning next week, so Allie won’t have a babysitter for a few months.”

  As soon as his father registered that Allie was okay, his eyes narrowed again. Gray was never sure whether his stare was simple distaste for him, or unabashed hatred. “Your mother will look after her, Gray.”

  Not a chance. Gray knew his mom would gladly spend every waking minute with her granddaughter, but Gray had vowed when Allie was born that he would not be one of those grown sons who relied on their parents to help raise their grandkids. No way. They could go on outings together, have sleepovers and whatever kind of fun stuff they wanted, but Gray would not have his own mother fulfilling the role of daily babysitter while he worked away under his father’s thumb. That was a hard enough pill to swallow without his mom bailing him out, too.

  “No need,” Gray said dismissively. “I’ve got it under control.”

  Gray’s father scoffed. “Oh, please. You’ve never had things under control in your life.” His dad was in his mid fifties, with graying hair at his temples and scattered throughout his closely-cropped beard. He’d run Radden Automotive since his own father had handed over the reins almost twenty-five years ago. Gray, being thirty-one and well past the age his father was when he took on the responsibility of a business as well as a family, had been a disappointment in Bart Radden’s eyes since the first time he’d been brought home under the influence of alcohol at the tender age of seventeen. While Gray had partied hard during high school and college, he’d never had trouble with the law since.

  That didn’t mean a thing to his father, though. In his eyes, Gray had made a mistake, and that was all that was needed for him to be a mistake.

  The best thing that ever happened to Gray was Allie. She hadn’t been planned, and her mother hadn’t stuck around since she and Gray hadn’t actually been in a solid relationship when she’d gotten pregnant, but Gray convinced her to keep the baby—his baby—and though they’d tried to raise Allie together in the first year of her life, Allie’s mother had wanted more in life than a family in a small town.

  He let her go, relinquishing her parental rights to him and never looking back. He vowed to be the best father he could, and he’d spent the past four years doing just that. Even if it meant working for his own father, constantly being reminded that the garage and family business could be his if he would just get his shit together.

  Gray thought he was doing pretty good in that regard. Bart Radden obviously saw things differently, though.

  “I said I’ll figure it out, Dad.” It was hard to keep the edge from his voice when the man was being so fucking difficult to get along with.

  “Going to let the girlfriend we’re not allowed to meet be the one to babysit Allie instead?” It was a dig at him, just as his father intended it to be, but be damned if Gray wasn’t going to use it to his advantage.

  “I’m going to talk to her about it tonight.” Noncommittal, a good answer. Mostly because Gray had lied through his teeth when he’d told his father two weeks ago that he was seeing someone. At the time, the lie was purely to get his old man off his back about how Allie needed a steady, solid family environment, and how she needed a mother figure, not just a fuck-up of a father to lead her down the wrong path.

  Okay, it wasn’t exactly what he’d said, but that’s how Gray took it. Either way, the less-than-motivational lecture he got led him to tell Bart that he had been seeing someone for a while. It was his own chance at a dig in his father’s direction, knowing it would drive the man crazy that his son was in a relationship and he had yet to introduce her to him.

  Like he didn’t matter, for once. Bart Radden didn’t like it when the tables were turned.

  “I hope you know what you’re doing, kid.” His father levelled his gaze at him sternly. “This isn’t just your life you’re playing with anymore. You’ve got Allie to think about, and if you want any chance at taking over the garage, you’re going to have to show me you understand what stability is.”

  Thirty-one years old and still being referred to as kid. Still being reminded of the irresponsible shit he’d done as a teenager. And still having the family business held over his head, and just because his father knew damn well he wanted it. Gray would have loved to tell his arrogant father that he knew exactly what he was doing, that he had plans in motion that would help him and Allie get everything they wanted and needed in life.

  But, as it stood, Gray didn’t have a fucking clue what he was doing except keeping his head above water.

  “I told you, I’ve got it all under control,” he lied.

  Chapter Two

  Terra

  “How in hell did things go from so great, to so pitiful in the blink of an eye?” Terra knew she was being dramatic, but damn, there was no other way to say it. One second she had the perfect job—editor at one of her favorite magazine’s offices in Chicago—and the next she’s received a phone call from her boss telling her that layoffs were inevitable and unfortunately she was at the bottom of the seniority list.

  Son of a bitch.

  Terra couldn’t believe she had to trudge back to her hometown with her proverbial tail be
tween her legs. It was the last thing she wanted to do, and she’d made it known when she graduated high school and hightailed it out of there that she didn’t ever want to come back.

  But there she was. Back. And jobless. Thank God she’d been able to find an apartment, at least. It was just a granny flat in the basement of her parents’ friends’ house, but it was her own place. That was something she needed if she was going to survive this town again.

  “It’s not that bad.” Her best friend, Rina, was trying to help, but even she couldn’t hide her dismay through her mascara and long bleach-blonde bangs that failed to cover the doubt in her eyes. “It could be worse.”

  “Don’t tell me how.” Terra held her hands up. “My luck, it’ll happen as soon as you say it out loud.”

  Rina rolled her eyes. “You’re so dramatic.” But there was a hint of sympathy in her tone. Her best friend knew how hard this was on Terra. “You know, I heard yesterday that Gray Radden’s looking for a babysitter for his little girl.”

  Terra’s face screwed up in distaste. “Gray Radden. Like, cocky asshole of the year, Gray Radden?”

  “That’s the one.” Her friend chuckled.

  “No way.” Terra went to the kitchen counter and poured herself another cup of coffee. “I remember him. He’s older than us, but he went to high school with my brother, I think. The guy is a total jerk. I can’t imagine what he would be like to work for.”

  “It’d only be till the renovations are done on the daycare on Second Avenue. Maybe by then you’ll have a line on a decent job.”

  Yeah, somewhere other than here. “You’re serious.”

  Rina shrugged. “He’s stuck needing a babysitter, and you’re stuck needing a job. Besides, you’d be babysitting his daughter, not him. What’s the worst that could happen?”

  ***

  It was against Terra’s better judgment to even be standing inside the garage of Radden Automotive. She’d never had an issue with Gray Radden, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have older friends whom he’d screwed over. She remembered him as not only an obnoxious ass, but also a player. If half of her memories were even remotely accurate, he’d made his rounds when it came to the women in their town.

  “Can I help you?”

  Terra whirled around to find a tall man with a salt-and-pepper beard staring at her from behind the customer service desk. His shirt said Bart in calligraphy, but she knew who he was. Gray’s dad. He was just as well-known for his gruffness and know-it-all attitude. It seems the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

  “I’m, uh, looking for Gray?” It came out as a question, and she immediately felt ridiculous. It just showed how uncertain she was in her decision to be standing there, about to do what she was going to do.

  Bart Radden eyed her up and down. She saw the moment that recognition shone in his eyes. “You’re the Paytons’ girl, aren’t you?” A small grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Haven’t seen you around town in ages.”

  She nodded, mustering up the politest smile she could. “Terra.” She held her hand out, and Bart shook it. “I guess it has been a while.”

  “Gray is right this way,” he said. “Follow me.”

  He led her through the garage bays, and Gray was in the third one at the end, hunched over a steel contraption with bolts and grime and rust. She saw a dark tattoo peeking out from beneath the collar of his t-shirt.

  He didn’t have that back when he’d been in high school with her brother.

  “Gray, you’ve got company.” There was no mistaking the change in Bart Radden’s voice when he spoke to his son. He’d been polite with Terra, but that formality was gone.

  Gray stood and turned, and Terra had to suppress a gasp. It had been more than four years—probably closer to six if she was honest—since she’d seen the likes of Gray Radden, but time had been good to him. Gone was the clean-shaven look he’d once wore, with shaggy hair and the world wrapped around his little finger. Instead, he wore his hair cropped short, and his tanned skin and chiseled features made him look more rugged and manly than she’d expected.

  Gray Radden had grown up. Physically, anyway. So had Terra, and judging by the way Gray’s sharp sapphire gaze was roaming her body like a roadmap to heaven, he liked what he saw, too.

  “Terra?” So, he remembered her, too.

  “Hey.” She gave him a noncommittal smile, shoving her hands in her pockets. “I was just—”

  “Dad, you can leave anytime.”

  Terra’s gaze flew to Bart, who was still standing there, watching their exchange with more interest than she could comprehend. At the sound of his son’s dismissal, his expression turned hard as he glared at his son, but the older man walked away, sending furtive glances back their way as he headed back to the desk.

  “Haven’t seen you in a long time.” Gray wiped his hands with a rag that, to Terra, looked just as dirty as his hands.

  “I haven’t been back in town long,” she admitted. “I actually heard from Rina Connell that you might be needing someone to watch your daughter.”

  Gray’s eyes narrowed. “Damn.”

  “What?”

  A slow smirk crossed his face. “A pretty woman walks into my garage. I was hoping you were looking for a little fun, sweetheart. Instead, you want to be my nanny.”

  Terra’s jaw clenched, hating the humor alight in his eyes. He thought he was being funny, but all she wanted to do was kick him in the balls and tell him to go fuck himself. Her dwindling bank account wasn’t going to allow her to do that, though. “Not your nanny,” she snapped. “I want to look after your daughter. And get paid for it.” Somehow, she felt she needed to confirm that last part.

  “Paid, huh?” He grinned wider, tossing the rag down on a stack of tires behind him. “In money, or sexual favors?”

  “Look,” Terra said through gritted teeth. “Do you need—”

  “Gray.”

  Both Terra and Gray looked up to see his father storming back across the concrete floor. She couldn’t read his face, but she could read Gray’s, and he didn’t look happy for the interruption.

  “Your mother’s on the phone,” Bart announced. “She says enough is enough, and she wants to talk to you about this.”

  “About what?” Gray barked.

  “About having to meet poor Terra this way,” his father replied gruffly. “You’ve been seeing her far too long, and a chance meeting in the garage shouldn’t have been the way she was introduced.” Bart turned to Terra, his features softening. “I swear, we raised him better than that.”

  Terra’s eyes widened, but she could barely get the words out. “Oh, I’m not—”

  “She’s not angry, Dad.” Gray reached out and put his arm around Terra’s shoulders, pulling her closer to him. “We were just taking things slow. You know, like responsible adults do.”

  She snapped her gaze to him, and Gray stared down at her with a cheeky grin.

  What the fuck is going on?

  “Gray, I don’t—”

  “Shh, sweetheart.” He chuckled, squeezing her shoulder. “Dad, I’ll talk to Mom in a second. Go tell her I’ll be right there.”

  “I’m so sorry for his blatant rudeness, Terra.” Bart trudged back toward the desk, looking shocked at his son’s antics.

  He wasn’t the only one.

  Once his father was gone, Terra whirled around and practically hissed at Gray, “What the hell was that all about?”

  Immediately, Gray’s cocky grin faltered and his eyes became serious. “You want to help me out? Then help. I’ll pay you to look after Allie for me, because fuck knows that’ll make things a shit ton easier on me. But, sweetheart, you’re going to work for it. Shit just got a whole lot more complicated, but this could work to our benefit.”

  “How?” she exclaimed, pointing towards the direction his father went. “He thinks we’re a fucking couple!”

  “Temporarily,” Gray added. “Just go with it, will you? I promise, I’ll make it worth your while.
” That crooked smirk pulled at the corners of his lips. “And, I mean, if you want to be a fucking couple, we could do that, too.”

  How bad do I need this job? The words kept circling in her mind, over and over. How goddamn bad do I need this job? Finally, Terra’s eyes narrowed, her defensive walls back in place and her hysteria curbed for the time being. “You’re going to regret this, Gray Radden.”

  “I’ve made worse mistakes,” he said, shrugging.

  She turned to see Bart making his way back to them from across the garage, looking a little worse for wear. Gray’s mother was obviously giving him a hard time about the whole introduction fiasco.

  “Gray, go talk to your mother.” He pointed towards the phone hanging on the wall. “And say something to calm her down. She’s angry about this, and rightly so.”

  Before Gray could respond, Terra reached out and put an apologetic hand on Bart Radden’s forearm. “I’m so sorry you and Mrs. Radden are upset,” she said warmly, turning on the charm. “But, Gray and I...” She turned her gaze to Gray beside her, offering him the widest, most devious smile she could wear, “We just didn’t want everyone to make a big deal of it. Gray, you really should go tell your mother the truth.”

  Gray arched one eyebrow high on his forehead. “Well, damn, sweetheart, maybe we both should. Together.” He could feel it—he knew she was up to something, and that was fine. Terra wanted him to know that two could play at this game.

  “You’re right.” She nodded with a smile. “We’ll tell your mother together. I mean, it’s not every day their baby boy gets engaged in secrecy, right?”

  Chapter Three

  Gray

  The Terra Payton he remembered had been meek and mild. He distinctly recalled her desire to get the hell out of town, and she’d worked hard at the local restaurant to get the money to do it. She was younger than him, but even back then, she’d been attractive.

  Now, though? Shit, she was sexy as hell.