Prologue

One thing became the sole driving force in Brady Black''s existence. Sex. Anytime. Anywhere. With any girl he came in contact with. It was a hard road he took and there seemed to be no escape. Plunging himself into mind-numbing existence. All of it, all the drinking all the women all the drugs, have everything to do with HER. The one that twisted his heart in a thousand different ways until it was broken. Now no one would get to him again. He would let no one inside to turn good into pure hell.

Chloe Lane had nothing her entire life. Nothing except for men who worshipped her for her body. She knew how to use sex to get what she wanted and that was just what she intended to do. Growing up in foster care left a scar on her heart. She was never going to let anyone in again. No one was ever going to have the opportunity to cut her down again.

What happens when these two brittle hearts meet? Disaster or passion? The fates will decide.

Chapter 1

He took a slow steady drag of the addictive white cylinder, the smoke burning his eyes and filling his lungs. All at once, he seemed to relax. The first cigarette of the day always had this effect on him and was partly why he didn't quit. Sure, it was a dirty habit but his life was full of them. He considered it a modest crutch compared to the other things he had partaken in since she left him. The all weekend alcohol binges, the occasional joint and of course the meaningless sex. Night after night, no commitments just hot, exhausting sex. Blondes, brunettes……hell, even redheads as long as they were willing. No strings attached had become his personal mantra.

It was easier this way. Never was he going to let anyone get that close to him ever again. He had put himself out there, and for what? To walk in on his best friend and fiancéé spread out on his bed going at it, the blinds open for all to see. What kind of life was that? How could he even have thought for one second that he was in love. He didn't need to be disrespected like that. So as soon as they were dressed, he showed them the door. Not even giving them a chance to explain. What could they possibly say? It didn't matter now. He had a new life and he wasn't going to get caught up in the myth that is love, ever again.

Numbly, he crushed the glowing red ashes into and empty beer bottle on his coffee table. Man, he needed to clean up. Checking his reflection in the mirror, he almost shuddered. What had he become? "See Brady, this is what love does to you," he said to himself. Grabbing his leather jacket and helmet, he locked the door and headed for his motorcycle.

He sped away, the vibrations of the powerful machine shaking his legs. He pulled in front of his pride and joy. There in big, bold letters ""Brady's Auto Shop."" He had borrowed the money from his father and had finally finished paying him off. All his dreams were before him, it was truly the only thing he cared for anymore. It was all his. He smiled to himself as he opened the garage door and turned on the florescent sign that said ""Open."" He was his own man.

After boarding school, there was no way he could go home. Especially after he had dropped out of college. He could practically see his father's opinion of him sinking even lower when he told him. He'd always thought that Brady was a failure and for some reason Brady wanted to prove him right. Until now. Now, he had this shop; and he devoted all his time and energy to it. Sometimes he even slept there when he was too tired to make it back home and he couldn't find another needy girl to screw.

Brady took off his jacket and put on his overalls. He went straight into the shop and started working under one of the cars in for service. He loved working with his hands on the cars. It was the only time he didn't have to think. He could just be. No interruptions, except for a few customers that he would have to attend to, if his secretary was at lunch and the rest of the guys weren't around.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Things were going to be different here. She could feel it. So things hadn't worked out with her mother. So she couldn't get into Julliard the first time. They said she could reapply in six months, and that's just what she intended to do.

She flipped on the radio and started to sing along, missing every three words. Finally the chorus hit and she knew all the words, then it was back to guessing. She switched stations looking for something a little more classical instead of the same practically manufactured pop crap. She tapped her hands on the steering wheel impatiently. She had hit every red light on the way to her new job. Now she was going to be late. Great first impression, Chloe, really great.

Finally fed up with the lack of choices on the radio, she decided to put a tape in. Accidentally, the tape fell. She took her eyes of the road and searched the floor mat. She felt the car suddenly stop with great force. When she looked up, she realized why. Great. When it rains, it pours. She got out of the car and wafted the blue smoke away from her front hood. She popped it open and examined the engine mindlessly. What the fuck did she know about cars?

"Hey you need some help there?"

Great. Another asshole trying to get into my pants. Chloe looked up and gave her best fake smile. "Gee, that would be really nice of you."

The middle aged balding man blushed at her sweetness and took it as sincerity. "I could call a tow truck for you."

"That would be really great, but I don't have any money." She leaned over, as if adjusting the strap on her stilettos, to give him the full cleavage shot. This oughta make the perv help me out, Chloe smiled to herself.

"No problem, Miss. I could help you out with that."

"That is just so nice of you...eh……"

"Oh, the name's Bill." He extended his hand and took hold of Chloe's. "And your name is?"

"Oh, Chloe," she said, batting her eye lashes. Can I have my hand back, you sweaty pig? she thought.

The tow truck came and Chloe found herself sandwiched between two muscular, tattooed mechanics. They spoke with tough New York accents but had sort of gentleman-like manners. Although one kept his eyes firmly planted on her exposed knee from her short mini skirt. Whoever said you can't go far on looks alone. Chloe was used to getting what she wanted, and she wasn't afraid to use her sexuality to get it. She was more or less a tease but was far from innocent.

They pulled up to ""Brady's Auto Shop."" One of the men helped Chloe out of the high truck and pointed her in the direction of the office. "There's where you'll want to go, Miss."

Chloe winked at that man and curled her lips, mouthing ""Thank you.""

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Brady wrapped his grease stained overalls around his body, leaving his torso clad in a wife beater, decorated with dirt. He was just finishing an oil change when he heard the bell at the front desk go off. Then again. here the hell was everyone? What the fuck was he paying people for if he had to deal everything himself?

Chloe looked at her watch. "Great. There goes that job.""

"Jared, would you fuckin' get that?"

"Yeah, I'm on it,"" a short brunette, twenty-something called out, zipping up his fly and walking out of the restroom. Damn, Jared thought, as he eyeballed the gorgeous woman before him.

Chloe stood there waiting. Finally, someone came to help her.

"How can I help you?"

Chloe gave him her million-dollar smile as she prepared to sucker him into doing the job for free. "See, my car……" She motioned to her ''94 blue Honda. "It's not working."

"Okay, so just leave it here and we'll have an estimate by the end of the day."

"See, here's the thing. I don't really have the money to pay for it."

Jared just stared at her, more from the fact that her breasts were practically on the table than her statement. "Well, let me see what I can do."

"Thanks." She pulled his shirt and read his name tag. "Jared." She practically purred it into his ear, causing him to almost trip over some tires. Chloe watched him walk away and smiled to herself. This is going to be easier than I thought.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Brady, man, you gotta come and see this chick!"

"What the fuck are you babbling about?"

"There's this chick out there, and she is fuckin' hot!"

"Is that so?" Brady said, with some interest. He looked around the corner and saw Chloe. She was too busy reapplying her lipstick to notice the two men checking her out. Brady gave her the once over. She's got legs that won't quit and a tight ass. Shit, she's stacked too, Brady thought, tilting his head to get a better view.

"She's a'ight," Brady said, putting on a cool front.

"More than that. Shit, I'm getting hard just looking at her, and those lips……God, imagine what she could do with those lips."

"K, could you like, control your hormones? What are you, like, in 7th grade? Why is she still here anyway?"

"Oh, yeah."" As if suddenly remembering, Jared went on to try to explain her predicament.

"I don't give free rides." A devilish grin spread across his face. "Well, I do; but I doubt she'd wanna go round for round with me right here in this dirty garage. Tell her we're sorry, but we can't help her."

"But...."

"Just go tell her. I've got work to do. And where the hell is that secretary of mine anyway? Why isn't she dealing with this?"

"She quit."

"She what?"

"Quit. She told you last week, man."

Brady thought back. Even though he couldn't quite recall, he was sure it was true. He was in his own little world half the time anyway. "Great. I'll have to take an ad out tomorrow."

Jared went back to tell Chloe there was nothing he could do for her, that his boss didn't do anything for free. Chloe was annoyed but had a plan. "Maybe if I talk to this boss of yours...we'd be able to work something out."

Jared showed Chloe to the garage and left. "He should be working on one of the cars. Just go right in, but I gotta warn you I don't think he will change his mind."

Chloe prepared herself. She hiked up her skirt and tied her shirt in a knot so her midriff was showing. Of course the ensemble could not be complete without readjusting her cleavage some more. She looked around the room full of cars and working men. Her gaze fixed on one guy in particular. He was bent down looking into the hood of a car. His hair was tousled about carelessly and his skin was delectably tan. He had a muscular build. His biceps flexed as he tightened a bolt. He was looking fine. She had been standing there for over five minutes just taking him in when Brady finally looked up.

He had sensed she was there from the onslaught, but he always loved to give the ladies a show. Chloe met gazes with intense blue eyes. Not only did he have a great body, but he was hot. Chloe walked over to him in her six-inch heels. "Hi. Could you tell me where I could find Brady Black?"

"Depends."

"Depends on what?"

"It depends on what you need him for."

"Uh, I need to try to sucker him into fixing my car for free."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah. I'm Chloe, by the way." She held out her hand in a dainty fashion.

Brady wiped his hand on his pants and gently shook her hand. "Brady Black."

Chloe's jaw dropped. "You're Brady Black?"

"The one and only. Now, what's this about suckering me?"

"That's not what I meant. I was just playing with you. I just really need my car fixed. See, I was supposed to be starting a new job today when my car broke down on the way. I just moved back here; and I don't have a lot of money, so I was thinking that if you could just cut me a little break, then I could pay you back when I get a little more……uh, settled."

"Look, babe, I don't give anyone a break. Now, take your prissy ass outta here."

"Excuse me?" Chloe said, appalled.

"Sorry. What part of that didn't you get? Being stupid must really be hard. I heard it was a dying profession, so I'm always happy when someone walks in here as daft as you." He laughed to himself, figuring that would be enough for her to run out of there, maybe even in tears.

"Where do you get off? You fuckin' asshole! You don't know me. How dare you! Here you are preaching shit and I doubt if you even finished high school."

Brady was taken aback. It was rare when someone actually challenged him or called him on his arrogance. "Well, then leave."

"I can't. I need my car fixed, and I'll be damned if I let you get to me."

"Baby, I've already gotten to you. You're probably undressing me with your eyes as we speak. Not that I blame you," he added with a wink.

"You're such a pig."

"Wanna roll around in the mud with me, sweetheart?" Brady laughed, watching her get more aggravated by the second. It was the weirdest thing. For the first time in months, maybe even years, he was actually having a good time. He wasn't even high or getting a blow job, but somehow he felt good. This girl……no, woman……seemed to awaken a part of him that he thought was dead.

"You're disgusting."

"You want me."

"You're delusional."

"Am I?"

"Yes."

"Don't tell me when you walked in here you were looking me up and down for the good of your health?"

"What?...I was not...I was……" Defeated, Chloe closed some of the space between them. She purred into his ear. "Fine. You've got me...Let's get naked...Right here, right now. Then we'll really see what you've got."

Brady inhaled sharply, her warm breath washing onto his neck, sending chills down his spine. The past few months he had been with plenty of girls, so many that he didn't know half of their names. And here this practical stranger was offering him something that seemed new and alluring coming from her lips. Chloe was mildly turned on by his reaction but, for the most part, was annoyed by this holier-than-thou guy standing before her. Calling her bluff, Brady completely closed the gap between them and looked into her eyes. He bent down and whispered into her ear, "You couldn't handle it."

His hand moved onto her waist and lightly rubbed her exposed stomach. She closed her eyes as he neared her neck. Chloe backed away, embarrassed. "Told you, you couldn't handle it," he scolded.

Chloe glared at him defiantly. "I'm not leaving without getting my car fixed."

"Then you're going to be here a long while."

"Hey, I'm back." Jared walked in. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Yeah. Get lost, and take her with you," Brady said, indicating Chloe.

"Look, can't you just cut me a break? I don't have a job; but when I get one, I can pay for it."

"Hey, Brady, why don't we hire her? We need a secretary, right?"

"Absolutely not."

"Why? I can type, and I'm a real people person."

"Oh yeah, I can see that." Brady rolled his eyes.

"Look, man. This way, she gets her car, we get a secretary, and you save the money you were going to spend trying to find a replacement," Jared pleaded.

"Plus, I could attract business."

"How do you figure that?"

"Just look at her, man," Jared piped up.

"Whatever. Just stay out of my way." Brady went back to working under the hood of a car, while Jared showed Chloe around and explained her responsibilities. Brady smiled knowingly to himself. This was definitely going to be interesting.