Blind Date with a Billionaire Biker (Blind Date Disasters Book 3)

by Evangeline Kelly

  “I’ll tell him no.”

  “What if he wants to know why?”

  She grinned. “Aren’t you the nosy one?”

  “Can you blame me? You just told me you’re going to say no to Cass. Women don’t say no to him.”

  She frowned. “Why not?”

  “Because he’s Cass.”

  “I have no problem saying no.”

  I put my arm around her shoulders and drew her in. “That’s my girl.”

  “Am I your girl now?”

  “You were my girl the first time I set eyes on you.”

  Chapter 14

  Tizzy

  “Grandpa, I have a question for you.” We’d come straight home from church and were making sandwiches in the kitchen for lunch.

  “What would you like to know?” he asked, swiping mayonnaise on a slice of bread.

  I hesitated, wanting to choose my words wisely. “Do you think it’s a sin for a woman to wear pants?”

  He jerked back, clearly surprised by my inquiry. “Why would you think it’s a sin?”

  “Well, at my church we’re not allowed to wear pants.”

  “I didn’t realize that. I noticed you haven’t worn any since you came, but I assumed that was just a preference.”

  “I’ve always wanted to wear pants, but it was never acceptable.”

  “You mean when you attend the service?”

  “I mean ever. We’re not supposed to wear them during the week or at church.”

  He drummed his fingers on the kitchen counter, his brows pinching together. “Does your church teach that it’s a sin?”

  “I don’t know if they said it in those exact words, but it’s certainly implied.” I brought my meal to the table and sat down.

  Grandpa joined me a couple of seconds later, pausing to take a bite of his sandwich. He ran a hand over his salt and pepper beard, thinking. “Sometimes people create rules that aren’t in the Bible because it makes them feel like they’re pleasing God in some way. It’s as if they think they can earn their salvation, so they devise a list of extra-Biblical commands they have to follow. That’s called legalism, and legalism never brings you closer to God. If anything, it pushes you away from Him.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The Lord looks at our heart, and He wants us to pursue Him out of love, not duty. Look, it’s like this.” He shifted in his chair, looking me straight in the eye. “Your parents wanted you to marry Peter, and you were going to do it out of a sense of duty, but your heart wasn’t in it.”

  “Right…”

  “But if you find someone one day who you want to be with more than any other man, and you marry him because your heart is completely devoted…that’s love. God wants us to serve Him out of love.”

  “Okay, I see your point.”

  “Tizzy, if there’s anything you’re not sure about, take it to the scriptures. If the Bible doesn’t say one way or the other, then you can do whatever you want as long as you do it from a heart of love. There are always Biblical principles to follow, and we want to be wise, but in the end, God gives us freedom in those gray areas.”

  I nodded slowly. “No one’s ever said that to me before, but it makes sense.”

  After lunch, we sat on the front porch and Grandpa told stories about his childhood. He’d done some pretty funny things as a kid, and we laughed together as he unraveled each story.

  He’d grown up in a loving home with parents that were both supportive and kind. His parents had prayed desperately for a child, and they were elated when they learned his mom was pregnant, but they hadn’t been able to have a second child.

  “When they found out I’d gotten Emilia pregnant,” he said, “it devastated them. She didn’t feel ready to care for a child and insisted adoption was the only answer. My parents wanted to raise the baby, but Emilia thought it would be too painful to know where her child was and not have contact. She said she couldn’t handle it. I didn’t want to give our baby up for adoption, but I was young and immature, so I went along with it because I loved Emilia and didn’t want her to suffer. I’ve always regretted that decision.”

  It was hard to picture what life might be like if Grandpa had raised Mom on his own. Maybe she wouldn’t have been as strict as she was now, but then again, she loved her adoptive parents and said she would never trade them for anything. They were the ones who’d invested their lives in her. And I loved Grandma and Grandpa Miller with all my heart. They’d always been kind to me. They were both in heaven now, and I missed them so much. Grandpa Carl wasn’t a replacement—he was more like an addition. An addition that God had brought at just the right time.

  “But God is sovereign over all those types of things,” Grandpa said. “I can’t go back, but it sure is a blessing to be sitting here with you after all these years.”

  A car drove up, and I instantly knew it was Vera and Aaron…er, Moose—I was still getting used to calling some of them by their nicknames. Vera had called earlier in the week to see if I would like to grab coffee with her sometime, and I told her that would be great. We’d decided on Sunday afternoon, and she had said they’d pick me up at two o’clock.

  After everyone chatted for a while, we drove to a place at the Valencia Mall in Santa Clarita. Grandpa had insisted Moose tag along for safety reasons, in case there was a problem, but we all agreed that wasn’t much of a probability. If Harry didn’t know where I was by now, it was unlikely he would find me. No one knew of my connection to Carl Mitchell, and we planned to keep it that way until this whole thing blew over.

  We picked up our coffees and strolled through the outdoor mall area with Moose trailing behind—out of earshot—but he said he would always have eyes on us.

  “I’m so glad you were free to do this,” Vera said. “I’ve been wanting the chance to get to know you better. From the sound of things, coming to California must be a pretty big change for you.”

  “Thanks for inviting me, and, yes, it has been. Sometimes I feel like this is all a dream, and I’ll wake up in my bed in Pennsylvania.” Voicing the words out loud made my stomach clench. My life was in upheaval, but that didn’t mean I wanted it to return to the way it had been. “Staying with Grandpa has been a blessing. Just being able to get to know him…”

  “He’s thrilled. That man is going to have a hard time saying goodbye when you return home.”

  “Me too.” A wave of emotion washed through me at the thought. I felt myself growing closer to him every day. “Hopefully, we can stay in touch.”

  “I’m sure you’ll visit now and then.”

  “I hope so.” But the reality was that I probably wouldn’t. Mom had been against me coming, and she had only relented because of the threat to my life. Once things went back to normal and my parents found another match for me, it was doubtful they would be supportive of a second trip to California.

  “How do you like working at Bailey Mechanics?”

  I smiled. “It’s fun. Delia has been really great, and I’m learning a lot. My first paycheck has been burning a hole in my pocket.”

  Vera lifted her eyebrows. “Is it now?” She grinned like the Cheshire cat. “We’ll have to do something about that. Any ideas on how you’d like to spend it? We’re at a mall, so there are plenty of stores to peruse.”

  “Well…” I glanced away, feeling my face warm under her gaze. “I was hoping you could help me pick out some jeans to wear.”

  “Sure, I can definitely help you with that. Sometimes it’s difficult to find the perfect fit, but that’s why it’s good to have a friend around to give you their opinion.”

  “Is it? I wouldn’t know. This will be my first.”

  She stopped short and gaped at me, her curly hair flowing in the breeze. “You’ve never had a pair of jeans?”

  I halted my steps and looked at her with embarrassment. “Never.”

  She smoothed out her expression as if trying to hide the shock. “Is that because your parents raised you with conservative va
lues?”

  I nodded. “My church discourages women from wearing pants. Skirts and dresses are considered the only acceptable clothing.”

  “But what about when it gets cold?”

  “We wear leggings or tights underneath.”

  “But that can’t be warm enough during the winter months.”

  “Well, when it’s really cold we’re told to stay in the home—but we have long coats and such for when we have to go out.”

  “Oh, honey. I knew you had a strict upbringing, but I guess I didn’t realize how stringent it was.”

  I let out a breath and sighed. “Yeah. It can be harsh at times.”

  “Are you sure you feel okay buying jeans? I don’t want to be the person who upsets your conscience.”

  I smiled at her as we passed several clothing stores. “I’m okay with it. Grandpa and I talked earlier, and I have to say, I agree with him that it’s not wrong.”

  “Alrighty, then. I know the perfect place.”

  She took me to a store with clothes geared toward young adults. Moose found a seat at the front and waited for us while we looked around. There were so many styles and colors that I felt a little overwhelmed with all the choices. Thankfully, Vera started choosing things off the rack and then led me to the changing room.

  “You go on in and try this first outfit on. If it fits okay, come out and I’ll tell you what I think.”

  I did that with about fifteen different outfits. Most of it seemed too trendy for me, and I especially wasn’t a fan of the ripped pants look. I had simpler tastes and didn’t want anything too flashy or overly bright. I was about to give up when I tried the last pair of jeans on. The color was a dark blue, and the fit was snug but not too tight. Best of all, the price was affordable.

  I walked out of the changing room with them on as well as a red blouse that tapered around the waist but wasn’t too formfitting. The color was eye-catching but not obnoxious. “What do you think?”

  Vera’s entire face lit up. “This is perfect. It’s complimentary without being improper in any way. Dex is going to love you in this.”

  I jerked back, my mouth dropping open in surprise. “Why do you bring Dex up?” I had never mentioned him to her, so I didn’t understand why she would say that.

  Her eyes twinkled as she fluffed out her hair in front of the full-length mirror outside of the changing stations. “Moose told me about the competition between Dex and Cass at the shop. He thought you were interested in Cass, but I said Cass was probably just a friend. I saw the way you look at Dex, and I just knew.”

  My face heated like it was on fire because my little secret was no longer a secret. Maybe it never had been.

  Thankfully, the store was pretty dead, so no one was in the vicinity. “I’m not sure what to do about Dex. When all of this has ended, I’ll go back to Pennsylvania and whatever connection we have will be over. I probably shouldn’t let anything more happen between us.” A feeling of despair washed through me, knowing that was for the best, but I wanted so much more than I was allowed to have. It always seemed like what I wished for…what I truly desired…was out of reach.

  “Who says you have to go back to Pennsylvania?”

  “I just have to. My parents—”

  “Will get over it if you decide to stay.” She licked her lips and hesitated as if wanting to say the right thing. “You’re an adult, Tizzy. Your parents have been running your life for the past…how many years?”

  “Twenty-two.”

  “I’m sure they have plans for you, but that doesn’t mean you have to fall in line like you’re still seventeen years old.”

  “But I’ve always been taught that it’s important to honor your father and mother by obeying them. That’s one of the ten commandments after all.”

  “Yes, but you’re no longer a child. You can still honor them, but you don’t have to be a slave to their every whim.”

  It felt like she’d lifted a weight off my shoulders, but at the same time, the very idea of defying them made my entire body tremble. “But what if they disown me?”

  “Do you really think they’ll do that if you don’t come home?”

  I lifted a shoulder. “Maybe. I don’t know. I never tested the limits much.”

  “Well, maybe it’s time you do.” She sighed. “I’m not telling you what to do one way or the other. Ask God to show you what He wants you to do.”

  I nodded slowly and thought about it more. “Thanks, Vera. I needed to hear that.”

  She gave me a quick hug and a peck on the cheek. “You’re going to be fine little Tizzy.”

  When I got home, I went straight to my room and hung my new pair of jeans and blouse in the closet. I opened my chest of drawer and took out all of my head bands. I threw them in the trash and smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. It was only a small thing, but it was time to grow up.

  ***

  Two weeks passed, and Dex and I had lunch together every day at work. A couple of times we brought sack lunches and ate in the lunchroom with Delia and Grandpa, but on the other days, Dex took me out. True to his word, he took me to places where I was able to try out ethnic cuisine. We had Thai, Peruvian, Mediterranean, Cuban, and there was even this one place that offered North African tacos, a fusion of different cultures. I was looking forward to seeing what else the world had to offer.

  There wasn’t an understanding between us except that I was “his girl,” and that was a rather loose term. Neither of us talked about what that meant or brought up anything that would lead to a discussion on commitment. I’d thought a lot about my aversion to being with a man who had a history of drug use, however small, and my thoughts hadn’t exactly changed on the matter, but I was drawn to Dex more and more every day. I knew I needed to figure out what I wanted…and soon.

  My future was up in the air, and Dex seemed to understand that. Even though we never formalized anything, Cass got the hint and backed off. I felt a little bad because I enjoyed his company, but he didn’t seem overly heart broken about it. Just the other day, I’d seen a woman stop by to take him out to lunch, so I figured he was fine.

  As Grandpa and I drove home Friday after work, he told me the club would be coming by that evening to barbeque and sit around the fire pit. I was looking forward to it. Call me crazy, but I was starting to grow attached to Grandpa’s friends.

  “Will Vera be there?” I asked.

  “I believe so.” Grandpa changed lanes to get on the 14 Freeway.

  “Maybe I’ll put on my new jeans and blouse tonight.” I’d wanted to wear the outfit all week but hadn’t had the courage, which was stupid, and I knew that. Who needed courage to put on a nice outfit? Apparently, I did.

  “I think that’s a great idea.”

  Later that evening everyone arrived on their bikes and loitered in the front yard, talking and laughing as they usually did. Moose showed up on his motorcycle with Vera close behind on a motorcycle that had three wheels. It was bright pink with two wheels in the front and one in the back. I ran up to her just as she was parking it.

  “I didn’t know you rode one of these.”

  She grinned. “Cute, isn’t it? It’s called a trike. That extra wheel makes it sturdier, so I feel more comfortable on the road.” She gave me a once-over. “You look amazing little Tizzy. Those jeans fit perfectly.” She glanced around. “Has Dex seen you?”

  “Not yet. He’s still in the guesthouse.”

  “How do you feel?”

  “A bit nervous.” I ran my hands along the sides of my outer thighs and peered up at her sheepishly. “The jeans are comfortable and all but...”

  “You’re not used to dressing this way.”

  “Exactly.”

  “It’ll become second nature before you know it.”

  I bit down on my bottom lip and glanced away. “It feels like I’m betraying my parents.”

  “At some point you have to stand on your own two feet.”

  I nodded. “You’re right. I know that.
” But the thought of their disapproving eyes, and the horror on their faces if they were to see me like this… I shuddered.

  “Come on, everyone,” Grandpa said, waving for all to follow him. “Let’s head to the back.”

  We all instantly obeyed. Grandpa had this commanding voice that was both fearsome and kind. The men looked up to him—I could tell.

  Vera and I walked around the side of the house with the others. Grandpa was just setting up the grill, and I was about to join him when I sensed the air shifting, and I knew—I just knew Dex was nearby. The men moved aside as he parted the crowd, striding towards me with a focused intensity that sent shivers up my spine.

  Just as Grandpa could be fearsome, Dex could be terrifying if you didn’t know him. I’d thought that about him the first time I’d seen him during that strike. His broad shoulders, strong jaw, eyes that could see right into your soul and pierce you from within… It made one think twice about ever crossing him.

  All my nerve endings snapped to attention like a soldier saluting her commanding officer. Not that he treated me as if I had to answer to him, but his presence filled me with a nervous energy I didn’t know how to describe. We stared at each other as he moved in my direction, and my stomach felt each and every step.

  When he finally stood in front of me, his eyes crinkled just the slightest bit at the corners as if he wanted to smile, but the rest of his face hadn’t caught up yet. “Tizzy. You look…” He didn’t finish, but he glanced at me appreciatively, eyelashes lowering just enough to make me feel it in my gut, but not enough to give me the impression he was checking me out in a lewd manner.

  “I look…”

  “Good. You look really good.” His tone was lower, huskier.

  My breath hitched, and I didn’t have a response—not when those gray eyes were on my face, examining every inch as if I meant something to him.

  Did I, though? Was I important to him? Or was I just a distraction? “Vera helped me pick these out.” I stepped back, self-conscious all of a sudden.

  “She did a good job. They suit you.”