Single and Searching by Rita Herron Read Free Book Online

if that's what it took.
    * * *
    Casey blinked back tears and searched for her keys. Making a hasty exit was important, and here she was locked out of the car! She peeked inside but couldn't see the keys.
    "Drat!" What if she'd left them in the restaurant? There was no way she'd go back inside for them. Hiking up her dress, she dropped to the ground and crawled under the car to get the spare one Brick kept taped underneath.
    Gabe stopped in the parking lot and sighed when he saw Casey. He was going to have to get down on his hands and knees. Come to think of it, it was the second time in two days she had him on his knees and not the way he wanted.
    But there was no other way to talk to Casey. She was lying on her back underneath the car, her shoes thrown aside, her dress hiked up, and she was definitely wearing a garter belt!
    He could see the lacy edge peeking out from the hem of her dress.
    What the hell was she doing sprawled underneath the car?
    His first instinct was to stand in front of her so no one else could see up her dress. His next instinct was to drag her out.
    "Casey?" Gabe stooped down and peered underneath, trying to avoid letting his eyes linger on Casey's legs.
    Casey arched her neck, glared at him and scooted further underneath the car.
    "Go away!"
    Gabe shook his head, half at Casey, half at himself. He wasn't giving up that easily.
    Then he unbuttoned his sleeves, pushed them up and squatted beside the car. "Casey, please come out and talk to me."
    "I said, go away!" Casey's muffled shout almost made him laugh, but the quiver in her voice quickly stifled that impulse. Was she crying?
    Damn. If she wouldn't come out, he'd have to crawl under there with her. He had to talk to her.
    He dropped to the ground, lay down and scooted underneath the car beside her. He wished he hadn't. The scent of peaches bombarded his senses, and the tears that streamed down Casey's face made his gut clench. He reached out in an attempt to wipe away the moisture, but she brushed at the tears with the back of her hand, smearing a line of grease along her jaw.
    "I told you to go away."
    Gabe ignored her icy tone. "I'm not getting up until you do." He'd dealt with criminals before. He could deal with a woman scorned. "By the way, what are we doing under here?"
    Casey fixed him with a stare that could freeze fire.
    Maybe he couldn't deal with her.
    "I know what I'm doing here, but I have no idea why you're here."
    "If you're hiding out, it won't work?"
    "Of course I'm not hiding out. That would be pretty stupid. Oh, yeah, but that's right. Brainless me might do that."
    "Listen, I'm sorry—"
    Casey threw up a hand. "I don't want to hear it. I'm getting the key and leaving."
    "You put your key under the car?"
    Casey elbowed him, catching him in the groin.
    "Ouch!"
    "It's an extra one," Casey muttered. "I locked the other one inside. And don't you dare say a word."
    Gabe dangled the keys in front of her, and Casey fumed. Then he tried to move, but bumped his head on the engine and moaned.
    "Listen, Casey, be fair about this and hear me out. I'm sorry. It's just... you look so different than last night."
    "So do you, you lying snake. In fact, I think I liked you better as the dimwitted plumber."
    "Dimwitted? You thought I was dimwitted?"
    Casey nodded and snatched the keys from his hand. "Yes." You stuttered when you came in." She heaved a disgusted sight. "I guess it was all an act, so I'd believe you were the plumber. What I can't figure out is how you knew I needed one."
    "I didn't. I mean I came to take you out, then..." Gabe clamped his lips together, realizing he'd just stuck his foot in his mouth.
    Casey's eyes widened in understanding. Fury practically oozed from her mouth. "I see. You came to take me out dressed like a bum, then you saw me and decided I wasn't attractive enough for you! That's just like a man. You want a combination Suzy Homemaker sex slave."
    Casey began scooting out from beneath the car, but he grabbed her arm