Read Combustion for Free Online Page A

hadn’t noticed him? Leaving the broken watch where it lay, he walked over to her. He had just about reached her shoulder when she looked up, her face immediately coloring, possibly from her surprise at his proximity.
    Her hand was small and warm in his, and when he kissed it, he felt her fingers tighten almost imperceptibly. What could he make of that? Standing, he didn’t release her hand right away, enjoying the flush that had now crept down across her collarbones. “Miss Astrid Bailey. A pleasure to have you in my shop.” He probably should have stopped there, as propriety required, but he had to add, “Especially since everything about me offends you.”
    He was rewarded by the deepening of her blush and her averted eyes. “Ah. Yes.” Her gaze fell on their still-joined hands, and she tugged her fingers from his. “I should apologize, Mr. Rutledge. I’ve been told I sometimes speak without thinking.” That wasn’t exactly an apology, though, and when she met his eyes again, she didn’t look altogether contrite.
    â€œSo is that what brings you into my shop today? Apologizing for your reprehensible manners last night?” When her gaze hardened, he smiled a bit. Here, in his own domain, it was fun to tease her. “I kid, of course. Regardless, I must confess, I’m surprised to see you here.”
    â€œYes, well, I was out in the neighborhood, and I decided to stop in and see the competition.” Her thin smile bespoke of untold secrets.
    Eli raised his eyebrows. “So I’m competition? If I recall correctly, you were somewhat evasive about your own inventions last night.”
    With a shrug, Astrid looked back down at the display of watches, running her fingers across the black velvet tablecloth. “It’s nothing that would concern you. I sell products primarily for women.”
    He took her hand off the tablecloth and examined it. “But you’re not just an inventor. You’re a machinist.”
    Her surprise was unmistakable, and she looked down at their joined hands. “How did you know that?”
    â€œYour hand has a slight and wonderful aroma of engine grease, and there’s a tiny bit under this fingernail.”
    For the second time in a few minutes, she drew her hand out of his again. She seemed confused about what to do with her hands, and eventually folded her arms.
    The mystery of her business intrigued Eli. “So you invent machines for women? Like home goods?” He glanced at the back of his shop, where he displayed his own selection of handiworks and home goods. This would explain why she saw him as a competitor.
    Astrid raised one eyebrow. “Home goods? Do you think we never get out of the kitchen?”
    â€œWhat other kind of machines for women are there?”
    Looking skyward, she shook her head slightly in disbelief. “Never mind. You wouldn’t understand.”
    His sudden frustration stemmed less from not knowing, and more from the idea that she wouldn’t tell him. “Where’s your shop?”
    â€œI work from my flat. You know, on contract.”
    Eli leaned against the wall and thrust his hands into his pockets. “I have to confess, Miss Astrid Bailey, I’m intrigued by a woman machinist. I’ve never met one.”
    â€œWell, you can’t say that anymore. You know one now.” Her cheeky grin challenged him.
    â€œAnd a lovely one, at that.” Perhaps he was being too forward, but he couldn’t mistake the chemistry between them. He enjoyed this sort of harmless flirtation, as long as it didn’t get too out of hand.
    She blinked at him, clearly nonplussed, and changed the subject, picking up a watch off the table and looking it over. “I see you have your little World’s Fair sign up in the window. That must be nice.”
    Not that he’d wanted to hang up the sign, of course, but he had a reputation to protect. Everyone was