It's About Time (Blossom Peak #4)(35)

Elliot clears his throat. “It’s true, Tori. You left me, remember? And Dilynne was there to pick up the pieces.”

I waggle my eyebrows. “Lucky me.” Resting my left hand on Elliot’s shoulder, I nearly encase him in my arms now, which is harder than I thought because the man has broad shoulders and is several inches taller than me, but I make do.

Tori’s eyes land on my left hand as a smirk appears on her lips. “Then where is your ring?”

Elliot snaps his gaze to mine over my shoulder, silently cursing me, I’m sure.

But I keep my cool. “I work on cars for a living, Tori. I can’t wear jewelry, at least the traditional kind. That’s how you lose a finger in my industry.”

“She has a silicone band,” Elliot adds.

“And I left it at the shop,” I continue, smiling up at him. “Sorry, honey. I just forgot to put it on after I cleaned up last night.”

He tips my chin up with his free hand, smiling down at me. “You’re just not used to wearing a ring yet. Give it time.”

Elliot’s green eyes are penetrating mine, and there’s a sincerity in them right now that almost feels real.

It’s fake, Dilynne. He’s just slipping into his role, remember? And hey…he’s not as bad of an actor as you thought he might be.

I roll my lips between my teeth. “Sorry if tha t hurt you.”

His thumb drags along my jaw, sending a rush of electricity down my neck to my nipples. Jesus, it’s been far too long since I’ve gotten laid if a simple touch like that is making my body react. “Don’t apologize.”

Tori clears her throat, breaking our moment. “This can’t be for real.”

My eyes snap over to her. “I can mount him right in front of you if that will help.”

Elliot removes my hand from the inside of his shirt, but keeps me close, wrapping his arm around my waist. “It’s real, Tori. Did you think I would just sit around and wait for you to come back? You fucking walked out on our wedding…”

Before she can respond, Elliot’s dad walks by the open office door at that very moment. “Elliot, I need…” His words die on his tongue as he takes in the way Elliot and I are standing. I make sure to spin my bra around on my finger again for an added effect.

I’m already having way too much fun with this.

“What the hell is this?” he bellows, stepping in front of Tori and practically forcing Elliot and I to retreat further into his office.

“You know Dilynne, Dad.”

Henry Thorne’s eyes dip down to my bra and then take in Elliot’s appearance. “Paying for sex now, Elliot? I didn’t think you were that desperate.”

I feel myself rearing my fist back, but Elliot steps in front of me. “You’d better watch how you speak to my fiancée.”

Henry’s eyes widen as his head falls forward, as if he didn’t hear his son correctly. “Your—your what?”

Tori huffs from behind him. “Yeah, that’s what I said. You never mentioned that Elliot was involved with someone, Henry.”

Elliot’s dad turns over his shoulder to look at Tori. “This is news to me.” Then he spins back to face us. “You are engaged to her?”

I c an feel my nerves start to build, but I refuse to let this man attempt to degrade me any further. Stepping forward, I toss my bra behind me and hold out my hand toward him. “Dilynne Clark. Pretty sure we’ve met half a dozen times, and I’ve done every tire rotation and oil change on every car that you own.”

Recognition dawns on his face. “You’re the one that owns the car shop.”

“Custom auto restoration and repair, sir. But yes.” My hand is still outstretched, but he seems to be completely unimpressed by my civil gesture.

Elliot clears his throat. “Dad, you’ve known Henley and Dilynne since they were kids. It’s not that far-fetched that we would start to care about each other at some point.”

Tori laughs behind her hand. “Um, it actually is considering how you used to tell me how irritating this woman is.”

I lean to the side so I can see Tori behind Elliot’s dad. “All that irritation turned into insane sexual chemistry, FYI.”

Henry holds his hand up. “That’s enough. Elliot? A word in my office.”

“I’m busy.”

Henry’s eyes land on mine before he looks back at his son. “You have ten minutes.”

Henry takes off, but not before I call out to him, “Nice to see you again too, Mr. Thorne!”

Tori snarls at me and then follows Elliot’s dad down the hall. Elliot moves to shut the door again, resting his back against it. “Spinning your bra around? Really?”

“I thought it really helped sell the thing.”

He pinches the bridge of his nose. “This isn’t a fucking joke, Dilynne.”

“ Duh, Elliot. I’m aware.”

He lifts his eyes to mine. “I don’t think you do.” Pushing himself off of the door, he takes a few steps toward me. “This isn’t a fucking game. What you did today was…”

I narrow my eyes at him as he towers over me. “I took the lead, which is more than I can say for you.”

“Did I not play along?”