Heat in the Shop

The heat in Silverton showed no mercy, and the auto shop felt like an oven. Tim worked shirtless once again, his skin glistening with sweat as he tinkered with the engine of an old sedan. His t-shirt, soaked with oil and sweat, lay discarded on the workbench—there was no point wearing it in this weather. The shop reeked of burnt metal, gasoline, and dampness, the hum of an old fan barely making a dent in the stifling air. Tim wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, leaving a black smudge on his skin, and glanced at the two motorcycles in the corner—the ones with Ghost Rider-style airbrushing. They still caught his eye, and they reminded him of Kira, sitting on one of them with her skirt riding up. Her image had burned itself into his memory, too vivid to shake off.

Conor stepped out of his office, wiping his hands on a rag, his tattoo—a snake coiled around a dagger—flashing on his forearm. He noticed Tim and grinned, his heavy gaze sweeping over his nephew. “You look a mess, kid,” he said, his voice low with a hint of mockery. “Kira stopped by earlier to pick up one of the bikes. If she saw you now, she’d probably stare.”

Tim looked up, setting down his wrench. “Kira?” he asked, wiping his hands on an old cloth. He pictured the girl with the bright anime look—high socks, short skirt, twin tails—who’d shown up at the shop a couple of days ago, a smile tugging at his lips.

Conor nodded, his expression softening as he spoke of her. “Yeah, Kira. A real sweetheart, that one. Always smiling, always up for a chat. But listen, Tim,” he lowered his voice, his tone growing serious, “her family’s complicated. Her dad’s into some shady stuff—on the edge of the law. I don’t know the details, but word is he’s tied up in smuggling. And her mom owns a strip club on the outskirts of town. They keep Kira out of their business, but still… don’t get too close. She’s a good girl, but her family’s a headache.”

Tim nodded, staring thoughtfully at the motorcycles. “Got it. Thanks for the heads-up,” he said, though a hint of curiosity crept into his voice. He thought of Kira—her vibrant style, her smile, her lightness. But his mind quickly shifted to Anna, and he couldn’t help but smile. “Actually, I wanted some advice… Anna… she’s been talking more about becoming a model. You know, photoshoots, maybe even webcam… I don’t know what to think. She’s gorgeous, that’s for sure, but…”

Conor chuckled, his brows rising, but there was no surprise in his eyes. “A model? With her looks, that’s obvious. She’s a stunner, Tim, and she’s got spirit. If she wants to, let her try. But keep an eye on her—Silverton’s a dangerous place, especially for someone like her.”

Unbeknownst to them, Kira had slipped into the shop quietly. She stood near the entrance, her shadow barely noticeable on the concrete floor. She wore her anime outfit again: a short plaid skirt, a white blouse with an open collar, high white socks, and twin tails adorned with bright hair ties. She crossed her arms, listening to their conversation, her lips curling into a slight smile. Kira was used to people talking about her family—her dad with his shady dealings, her mom with her club, a place she’d never been but had heard plenty about. It didn’t bother her; she’d long learned to distance herself from their world. Her thoughts were elsewhere: Tim has a girlfriend… and from what Conor’s saying, she’s a real beauty. A strange warmth bloomed in Kira’s chest. She wasn’t jealous—in fact, she was glad. She liked both guys and girls, and the idea of meeting Anna, this “stunner with spirit,” sparked a flicker of excitement. I wonder what she’s like… Maybe we could be friends… or even more…

Conor suddenly turned and spotted her. His face lit up with a warm smile, and he stepped toward her, arms open. “Kira! I was just talking about you,” he said, pulling her into a tight hug. She laughed, nuzzling into his shoulder, her voice bright and cheerful.

Tim, smiling, looked at her. “I’d love to hug this sweet schoolgirl too, but I’m a mess,” he said, spreading his hands, his tone playful but his eyes warm with genuine affection.

Kira couldn’t tear her eyes away from his bare torso, glistening with sweat. Her gaze traced his muscular arms, his chest, the droplets of sweat trailing down his skin. Her cheeks flushed, but she quickly composed herself and smiled, her voice turning playful. “Don’t worry, Tim, we’ll get our chance to hug… and maybe more than just hug,” she said, winking at him with a teasing edge.

Conor snorted, his brows shooting up, but he said nothing. Instead, he gave Tim a pointed look, raising a fist. “Don’t you dare hurt her, kid,” he said before turning to leave, heading off to handle some business, leaving the two of them alone.

Kira, wasting no time, pulled out her phone and handed it to Tim. “Take some pics of me on the bike, will you?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Tim took the phone, snapped a couple of shots, but frowned as he reviewed them. The cluttered shop—scattered tools, oil stains on the floor, old tires in the corner—ruined the frame.

“Let’s change the backdrop,” he suggested, scratching the back of his neck. “The shop’s a mess, it’s ruining the shot. I know a spot in the park, it’s nice there. But I need to rinse off—I’m filthy.”

Kira nodded, her smile widening. “Sure, I’ll wait,” she said, watching as Tim headed to the restroom in the far corner of the shop.

Tim stepped inside, leaving the door slightly ajar. He turned on the water, letting the cold stream run over his hands before splashing his face and chest, washing away the dirt and sweat. Water trailed down his body, leaving clean streaks on his tanned skin. Kira, unable to resist, crept closer and peeked through the gap. Her heart raced as she watched him—his wet hair, droplets sliding down his muscular back, his tense shoulders. A wave of heat surged in her chest, her breathing uneven. Did he leave the door open on purpose? The thought made her smile, her cheeks burning. Her gaze lingered on his body, and she imagined touching him, her fingers gliding over his wet skin. Her face flushed, but she couldn’t look away.

Tim’s chuckle snapped her out of her fantasy. “You’re not the only one who can tease, sweetie ,” he laughed, glancing at the peeking Kira. She smiled back at him… and didn’t leave. Tim laughed harder at that, shrugged, and went back to washing up.

Finally, Tim turned off the water, dried off with an old towel, and stepped out, pulling on a clean t-shirt. “Let’s go,” he said, nodding toward one of the bikes. Kira nodded eagerly, her twin tails bouncing as she climbed onto the bike behind him.

Tim started the engine, the motorcycle roaring to life, and they pulled out of the shop. Kira wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, pressing herself against his back, her chest brushing against him through her thin blouse. She could feel the warmth of his body, the scent of his clean skin mingling with a faint hint of gasoline, and it made her heart pound. Her short skirt rode up from the wind, exposing her thighs, and she tried to tug it down, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. But at the same time, she relished the moment—the speed, the wind in her hair, Tim’s closeness. Tim felt her warmth too, her arms around him, and it stirred a quiet thrill in him, though he tried to focus on the road. They sped toward the park, both silent, but the tension between them hung heavy in the air.

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