It's About Time (Blossom Peak #4)(52)

“Let’s just say I hope that my work speaks for itself, eliminating any doubt that I belong here just as much as any man.”

When the interview is over, Tony stands from his chair, shaking his head. “I have to say, it’s been a long time since I’ve been impressed by someone in this industry.”

My eyes widen. “Really?”

He nods. “Yes. Dilynne, you’re not only witty and easy to talk to, but you have a fire in you that’s missing from some of these other gearheads. You understand the industry, but don’t lose sight of what got you here in the first place.”

“Which is?”

“A love for cars,” he says, matter-of-factly.

“Honestly, I probably love the cars too much, Tony.”

That makes him laugh. “Nothing wrong with that. I’m excited to see the Porsche, and I do hope that you blow everyone else out of the water at the auction. But like you said, even if you don’t, you should still be extremely proud of what you’ve accomplished in your thirty short years. Which, I hate to break it to you, still makes you a kid in my eyes.” With a wink, he moves to the next set, leaving me grinning to myself.

“Damn. A compliment from Tony Franklin. You must have shown him some extra attention, huh?”

The hair on the back of my neck stands up as I turn around slowly and come face to face with the man I wanted to avoid today more than anything. Sadly, the universe had other plans.

Straightening my spine, I swallow the lump in my throat and narrow my eyes at my ex. “Tony isn’t a man to be persuaded by anything other than know-how and intelligent conversation.”

Vin nie’s eyes dip down to my silk top and then back up. “Well, it definitely wasn’t your cleavage that caught his eye, so what’s your angle now, Dil?”

I take a step closer to him and lower my voice, keeping the bite in my tone, though. “If you’re not careful, my foot might find your ball sack and kick it all the way up to your chest so you can find out if cleavage might work for you.”

Vinnie tosses his head back with laughter. “I can see you haven’t changed at all.”

I stand up straight again. “Yeah, ditto, Vin.”

He scratches the side of his face as his eyes dance all over my body. “I’ve gotta say, I was surprised to see your name on the list of competitors this year.”

“And why is that?”

“I just figured you’d be smarter than to enter a competition you can’t win. I thought you learned that last time.”

“Well, I can’t be that smart. I dated you for far too long, after all.”

He takes a step closer, leaning down until his lips line up with my ear. I have to fight the urge to push him away because he’s eliciting a nauseating response in my stomach, and I’d hate to vomit on the stage I just dominated.

Vinnie Delatorre makes me feel nothing but regret in this moment, thank God. But I hate the way that I instantly brace myself for what’s coming. It’s not that I think he’ll hurt me physically.

No. Mental warfare was always more Vinnie’s style.

“You look good, Dil.”

“Sorry I can’t say the same to you.”

His nose touches the shell of my ear, so I retract, putting a few more inches of space between us. “You seem different. What’s changed?”

My eyes find his and that’s when I decide to lay the groundwork for Motorlux in four weeks. “I’m finally being fucked the way I need and deserve. My fiancé knows what he’s doing in the bedroom, which is more than I can say for some of my former lovers.”

Vinnie’s eyes narrow, but a smirk slowly spreads across his lips. “Fiancé, huh? Please don’t tell me you found another guy in the industry who has been duped by your sweet ass.”

“The only person who was duped in our relationship was me, Vinnie. And trust me, I learned my lesson. No more dipping my pen in the company ink, if you catch my drift.”

He takes a step back, assessing me slowly. “So, what does your fiancé do?”

“He’s a lawyer.”

He scoffs. “Really? You’re with a man in a suit?”

“I am. And he isn’t threatened by my job, which is more than I can say for some people.”

Vinnie’s smirk falls. “Well, I assume he’ll be at Motorlux then?”

“ He will.”

“Good. Can’t wait to meet him.”

He moves to walk away, but waves at me over his shoulder. “See you in a few weeks, Dilynne. Can’t wait to see your Porsche. I hope you’ve brought your A-game.”

I watch him leave and when he’s fully out of view, only then does the tension begin to drain from my body.

“Shit,” I mutter to myself, turning and heading in the other direction, toward the exit near where my Camaro is parked outside.

Once I’m safely in the driver’s seat and I’ve cranked the engine, I peel out of the parking lot and find the highway, headed back to Blossom Peak as fast as I can manage.

But my blood is still boiling.

“Fuck him,” I grate out. Not even music could help me calm down right now as I replay our conversation, the one that was several years in the making.

And yet again, I feel like I’m right back where I was five years ago, taking every word of his to heart as if it’s gospel.