On the Corner of Heartache and Hopeful--MIC Read Online Free

from yesterday?”
    “Yes. He came by
last night and apologized. Then he asked me to dinner.”
    Abe frowned.
“You sure that’s a good idea?”
    “Why wouldn’t it
be?”
    “He was pretty
pissed off yesterday. You gonna be okay?”
    “For heaven’s
sake, Abe. It’s just dinner. Besides he’s Ester’s grandson and not some
stranger I met online.”
    “Still, you be
safe tonight.”
    Mic rolled her
eyes. “Yes, Dad ,” she mocked. “Now, go home. That’s an order.”
    He gave a teasing
salute. “See you tomorrow.”
    “Yeah,
tomorrow.”
    Alone, Mic tried
to refocus on the ledger numbers, but they kept running together, much like her
thoughts since Scott’s visit last night. His wolfish smile when he’d asked her
dinner fuzzed her brain to the point where she couldn’t concentrate. It was the
same smile from high school, only then it was directed at the likes of Jaci
Turner. But last night, that smile had been for her, and her alone. After he
left, she came to an important decision, and for once the decision had nothing
to do with the garage or her employees. It was strictly about her, Michaela.
    The echoing
knock on the garage door caused her pulse to rocket and a cold sweat to bubble
on her skin. She took a deep breath and, with as much calm as she could muster,
pushed away from the desk and stood. She smoothed the front of her sleeveless
peach dress then retrieved the matching jacket from the back of her chair.
Another knock sounded, a bit louder this time. Rusty nails harpooned her stomach.
    Perhaps this was
all a colossal mistake. She wasn’t good at this dating thing, having rarely
indulged in the practice. Maybe she should just hide in her office until Scott
gave up and went away.
    No . Her
father had not raised a quitter. She was going through with this date,
with her decision. Period. She squared her shoulders and exited her office.
    Her low heels
clicked in rhythm across the cement floor. Just as she reached the garage door,
there was a third knock. This one sounded like a fist banging on wood. She
inhaled one last breath for courage, pressed a hand to her insides to keep them
inside, then pulled open the door.
    Scott’s handsome
expression, clouded with irritation, gave him the look of a predatory wolf. His
gaze took in her hair, long and loose, draped over her left shoulder so she
could work at her desk, then swept down her body.
    Every inch of
her skin tingled, like the bubbles from a freshly poured soda pop. Her nipples
hardened as the apex of her legs hummed. At her shoes, his eyes made the return
journey, stopping at her hips, her breasts, once more her hair.
    Under the
intense scrutiny, Mic tried not to squirm, but her stomach contracted to the
point where she wondered how she managed to stand still. To distract herself,
she took the time to appraise his appearance as well, finding nothing lacking.
The golden sweater emphasized his broad shoulders while the Dockers slacks
highlighted his slim hips. With his hair slightly wind-blown, he looked too
handsome for words. Even the fatigue lines around his mouth and eyes had
lessened.
    When Scott met
her stare, she forced down the rock of nervousness. “Hi.”
    “Yeah.” He shook
his head. “I mean, hi.”
    This time his
eyes roamed her face and she worried that maybe she didn’t look as good as Abe
had made her feel. Her hopes for the evening crumbled at the possibility.
“Should we go?”
    Scott snapped
upright, recovering with a wide smile. “Absolutely.”
    He waited as she
locked the door then took her elbow and led her to a Kelly green sports car.
“Wow. A Porsche.” She slid onto the posh passenger seat. “This is a first for
me.”
    “And me,” he
said. “With the short notice in getting to Tatum, I didn’t care what kind of
car Avis gave me so long as it had four tires, a steering wheel and went fast.
Think it’s too chilly to have the top down?”
    “Not right now,
but maybe later.”
    He started the
motor. It purred