Chapter 4 ~ Hannah

When I walk into the shop, Sheila comes almost running towards me and I have to step back before our bodies collide. She’s a nice woman, mid-thirties with dyed blonde hair, grey eyes and a kind smile. She has been working with us since my dad started the garage a long time ago, so she’s kind of part of the family. I remember how she used to look after me when my parents went out. She liked to give me candies before going to bed without my parents knowing, but at the end I couldn’t sleep because of the sugar rush and mum always found out. That didn’t stop Sheila from giving me candies again the next time. That is why she’s a special person for me but since mum died, I haven’t been so close to her as I used to be and I know she’s trying to get to me again, but I just can’t.

“Woah, what happened?” I ask her showing her my palms so she can’t get any closer.

“Someone is waiting for you!” She tells me in a hurry and I look at her confused.

“Can’t anyone else see what that person wants?” I question starting to walk again and passing next to her.

“Nope,” Sheila replies shaking her head. “He has asked to see you. He refuses to see anyone else.”

“He?” I ponder furrowing my eyebrows very confused. “Who are you talking about, Sheila?” I ask her stopping for a second to look at her. “I’m not exactly an employee here.”

“I told him that, but he said you helped him before and he only wants you to see his car.”

A cold shiver goes down my spine. I have a bad feeling about this, a really, terrible, horrendous feeling about this. Something tells me that this is not going to be a pleasant surprise.

“Please, Sheila, tell me it is not the same bloke from yesterday. Please, tell me this day is going to start as a good one,” I practically beg and she smiles apologetically. “No!” I complain like a little kid throwing a tantrum.

“But he seems so nice and I bet he’s here for you and not his car,” she says wiggling her eyebrows and I just groan. I sound like a dying animal. Maybe I should go back home and skip today.

“Tell him I’m ill and that I can’t make it today,” I tell her ready to turn around and rush home, but a deep and raspy voice stops me.

“Too late, I saw you already.”

Damn it!

“You have seen nothing, I’m leaving. I’m not in the mood to deal with you right now. I fixed your car yesterday, there’s nothing else I can do and if you were neglectful again and hurt the Range Rover, there’re more capable people here than me. I suggest you go to them,” I say not even bothering with turning around to meet his eyes. I don’t have the need to see his green orbs smiling cheekily at me.

“It’s another car and I’m sure you’d love to see it,” he says and his voice is tempting, very tempting. Plus, there’s the thing that he has brought another car and if he already has a Range Rover and he is an international popstar, the odds that this car is equally amazing are in his favour.

Groaning like a dying bear again, I swing around slowly and when we are face to face, he’s smiling sheepishly with his hands on his back trying to look innocent. But he’s not. He has come here just to annoy me, I can see that.

“Okay, show me your car and I’ll see what I can do,” I give in and his smile grows wider. I hear Sheila squealing under her breath. She’s probably making up a whole romance novel in her mind out of this situation.

“Hi,” he says instead of leading me to his car and I want to roll my eyes. I’m not sure yet but he just gets on my nerves so easily. “You look lovely today,” he adds and this time I can’t help myself, I roll my eyes.

“Your car,” I remind him and he doesn’t seem discouraged by my reaction. On the contrary, he seems amused.

Weird bloke this one.

He finally starts walking and I follow him putting a lot of distance between us, careful to slow down my speed when he tries to catch up waiting for me. Every time I give him a killer look, he smiles like I’m just a bloody clown. Seriously, what is his problem? This one is mental.

I stop wondering what is wrong with Harry when I see his car and I have to control myself to not let my jaw hit the floor. Bloody hell. First the Range Rover and now an Audi Couple R8. I think my ovaries have just exploded.

Oh God… my dad has marked me forever with his obsession over cars. I’m just like him now!

“You like it?” He asks and I can’t speak. It’s beautiful, it’s perfect and my hands itch to touch it and see it inside. Oh, I feel like drooling to see the engine.

Seriously, I need to think like a girl when I’m in the shop. I mentally sound like any of the other lads here in the garage. Savannah would slap me if she could hear my thoughts in this moment.

“Being an international popstar has its perks, huh?” I comment as offhandedly as I can walking over to the car to appreciate it better. It’s beautiful and I can see he takes care of it. “Why have you brought it here?” I ask looking at him for a few seconds before focusing on the Audi again.

“General check out. I wanna make sure everything is fine, you know?” He replies and he sounds so content with himself that I have to look at him for a second time and he’s smiling like a Cheshire cat.

“Don’t you go to Audi for that?” I inquire arching my right eyebrow and he shrugs.

“I used to, but now I like this garage better and I’m thinking of bringing all my cars here from now on,” he replies offhandedly and my eyes shoot wide open.

“You’re joking, right? I know this is a great thing for the shop but your cars will be better in their specialised garages, you know. Why? You have the money to take your cars to the best place here in London. Why here?” I ask, honestly confused by his actions. If he really cares about his cars, he should take them to the best place and even though my dad’s shop is really great and we all do a good job here, it’s not the same.

“None of those places have you to look at my cars. You can’t blame me for preferring this garage,” he replies like he’s saying the most normal thing in the world.

Again, I look at him shocked. I can’t believe he’s trying to flirt with me.

“Well, if you are really coming here for me, which is absolutely stupid, that’s so not gonna work. I’m not qualified to do much in any car. Just little things. The thing I do the most here is to be the recovery girl. So I’m sorry for disappointing you, but your plan has just failed.” I walk over to the bonnet and open it to take a look. It’s beautiful, I feel like crying.

“That’s okay because even if you can’t do much about my cars, I get to see you anyways,” he says and I almost jump six feet high when I realise he’s next to me, leaning in very close.

I don’t like people getting close. I don’t like people invading my personal space and he’s doing that right now. I have to fight back the urge to push him away, so instead I just step back. He’s staring at me, his eyes boring into my very soul and for a moment I feel like all my muscles have frozen. I just can’t move. I can only look him in the eyes as well and I can feel my heartbeats in my throat.

He smiles at me, a crooked smile and I try to ignore the effect that the gesture has on me.

“What happened?” He asks leaning closer and I still can’t move. What has he done to me? Why can’t I move? “You seem a bit off. You okay?” His eyes are shining and I’m sure he knows what is happening, and he’s enjoying this moment.

He leans closer and I can’t move! This is the apocalypse! No one but my dad and Savannah have been this close to me since mum died and I don’t want this bloke a centimetre closer.

My mobile goes off and like magic, I can move again. I practically jump far away from him and look for my phone frantically in my pocket. My heart is beating fast and I’m all flustered. Thank goodness is Savannah and I want to send her a virtual hug for her perfect timing.

Turning my back to Harry, I answer her call. “Hi!” I say and I shut my eyes tightly, my voice sound like I’ve been running in a marathon. The worst part is that Harry may notice this.

“Hannah? You okay? You sound weird,” says my friend and I shut my eyes even tighter. If she noticed it over the phone, for sure Harry has too. Damn it!

“Yeah, yeah. I’m perfectly okay, glad you’re calling. Everything okay?” I ask trying to act casual. Even though, I still feel Harry at my back, his stare on me.

“Yes, I’m only calling ‘cos I wanted to know if I can stay with you tonight. Tom is taking advantage of our parents going to visit my aunt and he’s throwing a party, and you know how things get when he does that. Please, save me!” She begs and I chuckle softly.

“Sure. You’re always welcome in my house. I can show you this new song I’m working on and you may even help me,” I tell her and I hear her clap. I’m not sure how she does that considering she’s holding her phone.

“Sounds great. I’ll see you later then,” she says and I nod even though I know she can’t see me.

We hang up and I take a deep breath before turning around to face Harry again. As I expected, he’s looking at me ever so intently and I feel another shiver going down my spine. I still have my phone in my hand and I don’t dare to step closer. His stare intimidates me.

“You sing?” He asks and for some reason, it annoys me so much that he has heard my conversation with Savannah.

“It’s none of your business, now if you really want me to see if your car needs something, please go to the waiting room so I can work. You shouldn’t be here,” I remind him with a cold voice and he arches one eyebrow but at the end he raises his hands in surrender and walks away.

I finally move closer to the car again and for a second I look up and I see him looking at me over his shoulder, with that crooked smile again and a devilish sparkle in his eyes. I don’t like that. I don’t like it at all and my bad feeling gets stronger. I don’t like Harry.

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This chapter is dedicated to Cat because I loved her comment and all the things that she has told me mean the world to me. I love you, Cat. 

The ship name for these two is #Harrah

Bel, xx