Exclusive: Mechanics of Love by Meka James Cover Reveal

About Mechanics of Love:

It’s the person she least expected who provides a much-needed tune up of her life…

For Dr. Irene Johnson-Moore perception is everything. After living most of her life behind facades built from other people’s expectations, she’s ready for a change. At least that’s what she tells herself. But old habits die hard. And when her car breaks down, forcing her to deal with the town mechanic—a woman whose bluntness always irked Irene—her resolve is instantly put to the test.

Remi Martin prides herself on being unapologetically honest. Brutally so at times. No good ever came from pretending to be someone or something she’s not.

When she responds to a call from a stranded motorist, she never imagined she’d be towing the self-proclaimed “town princess” into her world. Irene Johnson embodies everything Remi tries to avoid, yet she can’t seem to shake her one-time adversary.

However, the more time they spend together, the more feelings begin to idle under the surface. But before their relationship can rev to life, they must release their preconceived notions or things could come to a screeching halt.

Frolic-Exclusive Excerpt:

I checked my mirror before pulling back onto the road. Irene huffed loudly, but her attitude didn’t bother me. She’d be fine for the twenty-minute ride.

The few minutes of blessed silence didn’t last nearly long enough. “Wait. You said shop? As in yours? You can’t fix my car.”

I cut my eyes over at her briefly. I actually could fix her car. Ten years I’d spent in Atlanta working at the luxury vehicle shop. I’d made it up the ranks to lead mechanic before dad had gotten sick and I’d had to return to Madison. Not many people in town drove high end cars, but I’d outfitted the place so I could handle all repairs since I had my certification. It was the biggest, and really only real improvement I’d done to Martin Autobody.

“If you want to have it taken to a dealership, you’ll have to figure that out on your own. You get fifteen miles of complimentary towing.”

“That seems like a scam. You’re driving me further away from an authorized repair place and then I have to pay? What sense does that make?”

I came to the stop in the middle of the road and turned to face her. “It would only be a scam if I was the one suggesting taking you out of the way. I’m not. If you want me to drive you to Savannah instead, I will do that. You get your fifteen then it’s two bucks a mile for everything over. Plus, a fifty-dollar convenience fee for my return trip.”

“What the hell? That’s highway robbery.”

“I don’t make the rules. You can take it or leave it. But you’re eating into my day, and I have actual customers waiting on me to fix their cars. Madison or Savannah?”

“Fine. Madison. But I can’t believe you wouldn’t offer me some sort of friend discount.”

We were in a brief stare down as I processed her statement. Slowly I tilted my head to the side and frowned. “When have we ever been friends?”

She twisted her lips to the side and turned away. We didn’t speak for the rest of the trip. Once we got back to my shop, I backed the truck up so that I could unload her car into one of the parking spaces. A small puddle of black liquid ran down the surface of the bed. She had a fairly substantial oil leak. Because there was some still coming out, she might not have engine damage. However, I wouldn’t know for sure unless I checked under the hood and that was something I doubted she’d let me do. 

“Hey, Boss. Need me to clear out a bay for ya?” Devon yelled from the garage door. 

“Nah, the lady wants to take it elsewhere, we were just the rescue.”

Irene pulled a large leather bag from the passenger side. I had no doubt it probably cost as much if not more than the shoes she’d been so concerned about. She ran a hand across her butt, attempting to look behind her. “Do I have any stains?”

I glanced down at her ass, and I may or may not have admired it for longer than necessary. “Nope, looks good.”

Her lips turned up in a smile. The first pleasant expression to grace her face. “Thanks.”

I untied the top of my overalls and slid my arms in before zipping it up. “My pleasure.”

“Do you mean it?”

I grabbed the paperwork from the truck and chose to ignore her question. “Just need your signature here and here.” I pointed at the two places on the paper. “You can wait inside if you want until whoever comes to retrieve you. And there are paper towels you can put on the chair to save your ass from any other potential dirt.” I turned and headed toward my building when I heard her quick stomps gaining on me. 

“Good to know you’re concerned,” she commented after falling into step with me.

“About?”

“My ass.”

I laughed. “You’re concerned. I’m simply being accommodating.”