Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 122206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Ina burst into tears, tears that I knew were of joy.
“I love ye too, Dante. I love ye so much that it scares me. I’ve never felt as safe and secure as I do when I’m with you. I’ve never been as happy either. I love you so much, sweetie.”
My body shuddered as relief swept through me.
“So much for me rules,” my father hollered, but there was laughter in his voice. “I’d welcome ye to the family, honey girl, but you’re already part of it.”
We both turned, and once again, everyone was crowded around the doorway smiling widely at us. Bronagh had a phone in her hand this time, and I smiled just as a flash went off. This was one moment I didn’t mind being documented.
“D’ye nosy feckers mind?” I cocked a brow, a grin playing on my lips. “I’m tryin’ to steal a few kisses from my love.”
Ina laughed against my chest as I hugged her tightly amid the cheers and clapping coming from two big families that seemed to happily blend into one.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Ina
* * *
One month later …
* * *
Things had been a dream for the past month.
Dante and I were together. We were a proud couple disgustingly in love who couldn’t get enough of one another. Since the threatening email I received from Finn followed by Gavin’s run-in with his Russian buddies, things had been quiet. It was horribly unsettling. Like at any moment everything could turn to shit, and things would change for the worst. I didn’t share my thoughts with Dante because there was no need. I was worrying over something that likely held no merit. Still, I couldn’t get rid of that voice in the back of my head that repeated one thing.
My Flower.
That poxy email was driving me insane. Closing my eyes, I forced the negative thoughts of my past from my mind and focused on the positives of my new life. I had been at my job for two whole wonderful months, Dante and I had just marked our first month together as a couple, and everything was simply blissful. Lingering on what-ifs held no real purpose, so when the phone rang, I welcomed the distraction.
“Collins Auto Repair, this is Ina.”
“Hiya, I’m just makin’ an enquiry about prices for services and parts ye provide.”
“Of course,” I said. “What would ye like to know, sir?”
“How much is your premium air for tyres, and what brands of indicator fluids d’ye carry?”
Instantly, I was stumped.
I had never been asked these questions before, and it bothered me that I didn’t have a ready answer for the potential client. I prided myself on learning everything about the garage. I knew just about every part that made up the vehicles we had in and out of the hangar, and I even knew different brands and part sizes off the top of my head, but these items stumped me. A rapid search of the garage’s inventory made my stomach drop. We had no indicator fluid in stock. There wasn’t even a category for it. I worried that I had dropped the ball somehow.
“Um, I’m not at all sure,” I admitted. “Let me check. One moment, please, sir.”
“Take your time.”
I put the phone to my shoulder, then leaned forward and hollered, “Lads, is the air that we use for our tyres premium or basic? A customer wants to know. Oh, and indicator fluid, where do I order that from? We have none in stock.”
Seconds passed by before laughter erupted from the hangar. I frowned as I got to my feet, rounded my desk, and headed onto the garage floor. Dante, JJ, Harley, Gavin, Ryder, and Damien were all laughing at me. Oisín and Rían Nolan, too. They were our new mechanics who were recently hired on and joined our work family. They were brothers, of course. They were close in age, somewhere in their late thirties. They were both happily married with kids, and most importantly, they enjoyed stopping by my desk every so often for a cup of tea. Our other new mechanic, Edana McDermott, the first female mechanic to grace C.A.R. had her hand over her mouth. She was the only one who tried to be subtle about her obvious amusement.
“What’s so funny?” I quizzed. “Can someone answer me? I’ve a man on the phone who wants to know.”
“Someone rang and asked ye about premium air and indicator fluid?”
I looked at JJ. “Yeah,” I said. “He’s on the phone right now, so can one of you please give me the answer to his questions?”
“Specs.” Dante removed his black rubber gloves and tossed them in the bin. “There’s no such thing as premium air for tyres or indicator fluid, indicators use bulbs, not a liquid … That’s likely a kid on the phone, and he’s takin’ the piss outta ye.”