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The sound of clanking metal greeted her through the open door. Feigning a huge
smile she hoped didn t appear to be too outrageous, she poked her head round the corner.
The hammer of steel was followed by a loud grunt. Move, ye damnable piece of rusty
shite! a voice from beneath the car shouted. Another slap of the hammer drowned out
her knock on the door.
One of the cardboard boxes had been torn open. From where Kate hovered she
could see car parts and gaped in amazement at how strong Cindy really was to have
lugged it the distance she did. Adjusting to the dim light within, she saw the belly of the
car well illuminated, the electric cord draped over the two oil stained pant legs that
emerged from one side. After another short spurt of profanity, there was a crack, and in
the resulting quiet Kate cleared her throat as loudly as she could.
The legs flinched. Alex rolled out from under the car, bringing the bare light bulb
with him. He squinted at the door, the corners of his mouth turned in a questioning
scowl. Something wrong? he asked, before getting up. He kept his black eyes on her
while wiping oil and grease from his hands.
No. Not at all. I just thought I d pop out and say hello. She cleared the dry
spot forming in her throat and attempted her most amicable smile. Even as a grubby
mechanic he looked appealing. Brushing the lusty thought aside she continued, I, ah,
met your brother and his wife.
The rag flopped over his fingers smudging more oil than it removed. Oh, aye,
he said.
Kate leaned lazily on the doorframe. Nice man. So unlike you. I would never
have taken you for brothers. Not until the words left her mouth did she realize the
LOVE NOT FORGOTTEN Ellen Ashe 46
insinuating insult. Guess glib connotations were becoming a natural part of her
conversations with him. She could hear Mally confirming theories of Freudian slips,
which were subconsciously intentional. Rather than try to backpedal she glanced at the
boxes and said, Think you ll get it running?
Alex folded his arms, biceps bulging from the short sleeves of his grubby torn T-
shirt, and propped his backside against the car. A wry grin inched across his dark face.
He hadn t blinked. What game are ye playing now, Missy?
He might as well have waved a red flag in her face. What game am I playing?
Me? You re the one playing games, Mister! And I m getting sick of it. Her voice grew
from a growl to a shriek. And my name is Kate!
Alex kept smiling inanely, showing no concern for her growing insanity.
Damn, she thought. So much for diplomacy and politeness. He certainly knew
which buttons to push to get her dander up. Fingers curled, she held her breath and
counted to twenty.
Alex turned and threw the rag into the corner while reaching for a can sitting on
the hood. Tipping his chin, he gulped and wiped off the excess with the back of his hand.
Then he settled onto the board to roll under the car again without further word, as though
she was made of air.
Excuse me! she demanded.
Certainly, he answered before wheeling out of sight.
Oh no! No you don t! We need to talk and right now is as good a time as any.
An odd whirling noise from under the car was the only response.
Undaunted she continued, I understand that Mr. Campbell left a letter addressed
to me and I mean to have it.
A clank. Another sharp whirl.
Mr. MacTavish! Why are you being so rude to me? Kate could feel a heat
flush into her cheeks so stinging that kernels of corn would burst in seconds.
When the board rolled quickly out again, Kate stepped back, thinking she had
goaded him into an irritated response, but he continued to act as though he hadn t heard a
word she said. He opened the hood, bent into the engine and wrenched out something
that looked like a water hose.
In a flush of madness Kate flounced to the car. Inches away from him she could
smell the mixture of oil and sweat wafting in the muggy atmosphere. I m not leaving
until I get that letter.
The wrench in his hand shuddered to a stop and without lifting his head Alex
stared up at her. Sighing heavily, he stood up straight, wiped his palms on the sides of
his faded jeans, and pulled out a drawer containing an assortment of tools. A white
envelope appeared, folded and marked with excess grime from sharing the squalid space.
Alex held the envelope to her, but when Kate moved to take it, he snatched it out
of her reach. Kiss me first, he said.
What? Stupefied by the request her chin dropped. You re not serious?
I am. Small price to pay.
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