Friction Point
She can fix anything with a wrench, but he’s the only one who can tune up her heart.
Wilhelmina 'Billie' Jensen is the toughest mechanic in Ironwood Creek, carrying the weight of her father’s legacy and a mountain of debt. She lives by a simple code: machines are reliable, people aren't. But when a rare 1969 Boss 429 Mustang breaks down on her watch, she finds herself stuck with Emmett Rhodes, a man who knows more about romantic metaphors than manifold gaskets and whose 'indoor cat' energy is a direct threat to her solitude.
Emmett is hiding a massive secret: he's actually E.R. Sterling, a celebrity romance author fleeing a delusional stalker who shattered his sense of safety. While waiting for a custom part to be machined, he settles into Billie's loft, tackling her 'mental load' by organizing her shop and preparing gourmet meals. As the 'Black Cat' mechanic and her 'Golden Retriever' author grow closer, Emmett realizes Billie is the muse he’s been writing about for a decade, while Billie discovers that accepting help isn't a sign of weakness.
When the threats from Emmett’s past escalate from anonymous notes to physical sabotage of Billie’s garage, the stakes turn lethal. In a high-stakes confrontation where her mechanical competence is the ultimate weapon, Billie and Emmett must decide if their connection is just a temporary breakdown or a permanent upgrade. It’s a story of service, strength, and finding the courage to let someone else take the wheel.
The Blurb
Wilhelmina 'Billie' Jensen is the toughest mechanic in Ironwood Creek, carrying the weight of her father’s legacy and a mountain of debt. She lives by a simple code: machines are reliable, people aren't. But when a rare 1969 Boss 429 Mustang breaks down on her watch, she finds herself stuck with Emmett Rhodes, a man who knows more about romantic metaphors than manifold gaskets and whose 'indoor cat' energy is a direct threat to her solitude.
Emmett is hiding a massive secret: he's actually E.R. Sterling, a celebrity romance author fleeing a delusional stalker who shattered his sense of safety. While waiting for a custom part to be machined, he settles into Billie's loft, tackling her 'mental load' by organizing her shop and preparing gourmet meals. As the 'Black Cat' mechanic and her 'Golden Retriever' author grow closer, Emmett realizes Billie is the muse he’s been writing about for a decade, while Billie discovers that accepting help isn't a sign of weakness.
When the threats from Emmett’s past escalate from anonymous notes to physical sabotage of Billie’s garage, the stakes turn lethal. In a high-stakes confrontation where her mechanical competence is the ultimate weapon, Billie and Emmett must decide if their connection is just a temporary breakdown or a permanent upgrade. It’s a story of service, strength, and finding the courage to let someone else take the wheel.