It's About Time (Blossom Peak #4)(104)

“Pretty good. There was definitely interest in the Porsche, but I knew there would be. The car is rare. However, there are a few other vehicles that I think are going to give me some competition.” My eyes find the table as I debate the other entries I saw today.

“Which ones?”

“Well, there’s…” I pause and look over at him. “Are you sure you want to hear about this?”

He blinks at me. “Yes. I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t interested.”

“I know, it’s just…well, you’re not going to know half of what I’m talking about.”

“I don’t give a shit. It matters to you, it’s what we’re here for, and the only way I’m going to be better equipped for the next one is by learning more about it.”

“Th—the next one?”

“If you think this is the only car show I’m ever going to with you, you’re sadly mistaken, Dilynne.”

My eyes remain locked on his as my heart beats wildly in my chest. Elliot is telling me in many ways that he’s invested, and I still feel like I need to keep my guard up.

What the hell is wrong with me? Why can’t I just trust him and let myself fall?

“Um, okay then,” I say, fighting to contain my hesitations. “So, the cars I think are my biggest competition are the Corvette C3, the Lamborghini Miura, and the Aston Martin DB5.”

“You forgot to include the Rolls-Royce Phantom V,” a voice says to my left, and that’s when I turn to find Vinnie standing right at the edge of our booth.

My pulse spikes, but not with nerves. No, it’s irritation that has helped me avoid him all day, and of course now is when he decides to invade my space.

I lean back in the booth and grab my beer, bringing it to my lips. “I didn’t misspeak.”

He chuckles under his breath. “Then your confidence is misplaced, I’m afraid.”

“And your presence is misplaced, so if I were you, I’d keep walking,” Elliot interjects, straightening his posture beside me.

Vinnie darts his eyes between me and Elliot. “So this is the fiancé, huh?” he asks.

Elliot slides from the booth before I can stop him. When he stands, he towers over Vinnie by at least four inches. “Elliot Thorne,” he says, his voice low, his jaw tight, and his stance solid, making me clench my thighs together because watching him intimidate my ex might just be one of the hottest things he’s done.

“I remember you,” he says. “You’re one of her brother’s friends, right?”

“That’s right.”

He huffs out a laugh. “I see.” He turns back to me. “Probably best you found someone who didn’t know their way around cars this time around, huh?”

“Well, finding someone who did the last time worked out so well for me …” I chide.

Vinnie moves his eyes up and down Elliot’s torso. “Well, I can tell he hasn’t helped you get here, so…”

“She doesn’t need my fucking help,” Elliot cuts him off. “In fact, she did this entire restoration on her own, which is more than I can say for you, isn’t that right? What unsuspecting individual are you going to throw under the bus this time around, Vinnie?”

Vinnie takes a step closer to Elliot, attempting to get in his face. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”

Elliot grins. “Oh, I know enough.”

The waitress clears her throat behind the two of them, which allows me to release the breath I was holding. “Excuse me, but uh…I have your onion rings.”

“I was just leaving anyway,” Vinnie mutters before giving me one last look of disgust and walking away.

The waitress sets down our food. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, just an old friend,” I say as I keep my eyes on Elliot’s back.

“Okay. Well, I’ll be back with the rest of your food shortly,” she says before walking away.

Elliot doesn’t take his seat again until he’s sure that Vinnie is out of sight. But when he does, he reaches over and pulls me into his chest. “Are you okay?”

I don’t bother responding. Smashing my mouth to his, I nearly mount him in the booth. He holds me close to him as I twirl my tongue against his, thanking him in the only way I can articulate right now.

When we part, we’re both nearly breathless. “Fuck, Dilynne.”

“That was really hot,” I say before fixing my hair and picking up my beer, eager for another drink.

Elliot laughs beside me. “Good to know that standing up to your ex makes you horny.”

“ Most definitely,” I say just as Elliot’s smile falls. “Hey, you okay?”

“Yeah. Just…thinking.”

“About?”

He shakes his head. “It’s nothing.”

Setting my beer back down and reaching for one of the piping hot onion rings, I say, “You know you can talk to me, Elliot.”

“I know. It’s just…not important right now.”

“Well, it seems like it is if your mood can change that fast.”

“I’m fine, Dilynne,” he grates out, avoiding my gaze.

“Okay…”