It's About Time (Blossom Peak #4)(64)

It’ll be interesting, all right.





Chapter 19





Elliot



Clues & Curses


“How’s the air?” I ask as I pull out of Dilynne’s driveway and cruise down her street, wishing my parents didn’t live so close so we’d have more time to talk.

She reaches up and tucks her hair behind her ears. “It’s good. Thank you.”

“You really do look gorgeous, Dilynne.” I want her to know that. When I first saw her just now, she stole the fucking breath from my lungs.

Dilynne in overalls with a bandana on her head and grease smudged on her face is hot. But Dilynne in a dress and heels with her hair falling around her face, dark makeup making her eyes even more striking?

She’s a fucking siren, and I can’t look away.

Not sure I even want to at this point.

The other night in her garage, something shifted between us. She opened up to me about why Motorlux is such a big deal for her, and after finding out that Vinnie is already messing with her mind, this protective switch inside of me flipped.

I looked up the model of the Porsche she’s restoring after I left, and it’s rare—there are fewer than 8,000 of them in the world, and most aren’t even in decent enough condition to restore anymore.

When I realized that, it became clear that Dilynne doesn’t make decisions without careful consideration. Every choice this woman makes has a purpose, which means that even though she’s helping me deter Tori, she also agreed to this because she knew it would help her more than she initially realized.

So now, I just want to make sure I hold up my end of the bargain.

Tonight is our first time really performing our roles in front of people, which is making me more nervous than I care to admit.

But getting to touch her without overthinking it?

Yeah, I might be a little too excited about that detail.

“So, is there anything I should know before we get there?” Dilynne asks, breaking through my thoughts.

I adjust my grip on the steering wheel. “Well, my mom’s name is Theresa.”

“I know your mom’s name, Elliot.”

“Just giving you a friendly reminder. She has a Pomeranian named Mitsy that is basically her favorite child.”

“More than you? I thought boys were supposed to be their mom’s most precious babies?”

I chuckle. “I mean, my mom certainly is proud of me, but this dog is the baby now.”

Dilynne nods. “I see.”

“ The dog will be on her lap while we eat. She’ll feed it from the table…”

Dilynne’s lips curl up. “That’s a bit much, don’t you think?”

“My dad lets it slide, so it happens.”

“And what if he said it couldn’t?”

I glance over at Dilynne. “Then my mom would obey.”

Dilynne’s face transforms into a look of disgust. “Um, not that you need to worry about it, since this is fake, but the fuck if you would ever tell me to obey you.”

“Trust me, I’m aware. But I’m not interested in a partner who doesn’t have a backbone.”

“Huh.”

I drift my gaze over to her again. “What was that for?”

“Not sure Tori is the type of woman I would have described that way, but you were engaged to her.”

I look straight ahead again. “That’s part of the appeal, Dilynne.”

“You—you want to get engaged again? Like go through with the wedding part one more time?”

I blow out a breath. “Yes…maybe? Fuck, I don’t know.” The more time has passed, the more I realized that the idea of finding someone to spend my life with isn’t something I want to give up on entirely. The problem is just finding the right person, which is what feels like the lost cause.

She places her hand on my thigh. “You’ll know if you find the right person. That’s what I keep telling myself.”

Our eyes meet for a brief second before I focus back on the road and she retracts her hand.

“You haven’t seriously dated anyone since Vinnie, huh?” I ask.

“Nope. Friends with benefits only.”

“ I see.” The words come out clipped. The thought of another man benefiting with Dilynne sends my pulse spiking.

I can feel her eyes boring into me. “I’m a grown ass woman who can sleep with whoever she pleases.”

“I agree. It’s just…”

I hate the idea of you with another man.

And a few months ago, I wouldn’t have thought twice about that.

Now, all I can think about is how the tension between us could translate to our sexual chemistry. And how I’d bet money it would be explosive.

“We’re getting off topic,” Dilynne cuts through my thoughts. “Go back to what to expect.”

Grateful to her for letting me off the hook, even though she probably doesn’t even realize that she did, I grip the steering wheel with both hands now, noting that we will be at my parents’ house in less than five minutes. “My parents have a butler.”

“I’m sorry. What?”

“And a professional chef. And a housekeeper. So don’t be alarmed if there are people walking through the house dressed like service staff.”