by Jillian Neal
“Em, if you don’t like them then we’ll find something you do like. Sam will love you; how could he not?”
His mind went back to Marlisa Wretchkinsides that morning at Emily’s try-outs. For Emily to have made the comment about Marlisa’s looks meant that the energy Emily felt from Marlisa was hateful, but it also must have also felt impenetrable. Emily sensed that Marlisa disliked her so much that Emily’s comment wouldn’t hurt her feelings. She’d hoped it would just get her to back off. Marlisa was trying out as an Enforcer, Rainer recalled. Their energy did, often times, feel impenetrable.
Rainer pulled into the small lot outside Sam’s shop, and smiled. Sam definitely had a flair for the dramatic, and there were several cars, under sheets, parked in the open shop and out in the lot.
Sam was dressed in his usual coveralls. He was wiping his hands on a dirty rag as he sauntered to Rainer’s car. Rainer emerged, and gave Sam a grin as he moved quickly to open Emily’s door.
“Well if it ain’t the stud, and Missis Stud,” Sam made a dramatic bow to Emily, which made her giggle.
“You sure you want to marry this fool?” Sam teased as he shook Rainer’s hand, and winked at Emily. She giggled and nodded readily.
“Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you; although, I will say he’s got a darn sight better taste in women than he do in cars.” Sam gestured to the Mustang. “This why we had to have red, Rain man?” he pointed to Emily’s hair.
“You know it.” Rainer offered as Sam laughed. “So what’d you find, old man?”
Sam feigned offense. “Old? Baby boy, I ain’t old! I’m a classic!” He strutted momentarily before continuing. “And you know what that means, Rain man?” Rainer raised his eyebrows. “Means I just have to be ridden low and slow,” he winked at Emily as she continued to giggle.
“Watch it, Sam,” Rainer ordered, which brought on more laughter. Sam seemed delighted that he’d finally gotten to Rainer.
“All right, all right” He held up his hands in defeat. “So, I think you’ll appreciate the fine craftsmanship which I have acquired for you and your lady, Rain man.”
“Well, let’s see it, then.”
“That how he talk to you, Miss Emily?” Sam huffed as she continued to laugh. “He don’t treat you right, you know I’ll get after his skinny white butt with an iron.” He picked up a tire iron threateningly as Rainer joined Emily’s laughter.
“All right,” Sam moved to one of the covered cars. “So, Rain man says, ‘put her in something real, real safe, Sam.’ So I do as I’m told.” Sam pulled the cover off of a brand-new tan Volvo XC-60 SUV. Emily studied the car, but Rainer studied her. He watched as she nodded.
“It’s really safe?”
“Baby girl, this is as safe as they come, but don’t you worry. Sam gots you lots to choose from.” Emily smiled as Sam moved to the next car. Rainer could tell the Volvo didn’t do much for her.
“So, Sam found something just as safe, maybe a little sportier, smoother ride, right Mrs. Rain man?” Emily nodded anxiously as Sam pulled the covers off of the next two cars, simultaneously.
He revealed a navy blue Audi A6, and a red Beamer 5-series. Rainer chuckled; she liked the Beamer. His heart swelled as he put his arm around her, and kissed the side of her head. Sam moved on and laughed at Rainer.
“But, then, Rain man says, ‘if you find something we can’t live without, we’ll look at that, too. So, I picked these up just for Rainer’s girl to try out.”
First he pulled the cover off of a brand-new, loaded, cherry- red Hummer H3X. Rainer moaned as Emily laughed and rolled her eyes.
“And then,” Sam strutted to the final car, with a goading smirk, “Sam struck gold.” He pulled the cover off of a brand-new, bright white, Porsche Cayman. Rainer’s mouth fell open as he moved towards the Porsche.
“Sam, man, if I wasn’t already engaged, I’d propose to you right now.”
“Hey...” Emily feigned offense.
Sam waggled his eyebrows, and threw Rainer the keys.
“Rainer, you are not buying me a Porsche.”
Rainer laughed as he opened the passenger side door. “Maybe not, baby, but I sure as hell am taking you for a ride in it.” She shook her head, but then seated herself in the car.
“You put a scratch on her, Rainer, I’ll shoot you, boy.”
“I put a scratch on her, Sam, I’ll shoot myself.” Sam laughed as he watched Rainer push the button to start the car.
Rainer put the Porsche through its paces, and moaned occasionally as he drove. Emily continued to shake her head.
“Uh, aren’t I the one who’s supposed to be picking out the car?”
“You wanna drive, sweetheart?” Rainer offered, but she shook her head vehemently. “Do you like it?”
“About how much do these cost?”
Rainer grimaced. He glanced over at her and tried to decide exactly how honest he should be. Changing her tune seemed like his best option.
“If you like this, Em, it’s more than worth the money.”
“Uh huh, how much, Rainer?”
“Well, I mean, none of them are cheap, baby.”
“Yes, I know that, but how much is this car, Rainer?”
He mumbled the answer.
“Uh, didn’t quite catch that.”
“Around eighty thousand, but it’s more than worth the money.”
“Absolutely not!”
“Aww, Em.”
“No,” she huffed furiously. With a sigh, Rainer drove the Porsche for another few minutes, and then made his way back to the shop.
“Just so you know, I may cry,” he teased as Emily continued to shake her head. “You know Vindico’s motorcycle cost almost twice that.”
“I do not care how much Vindico’s motorcycle cost.”
“And what did we think of that, stud?” Sam drawled as Rainer opened the door.
“Smooth, but no dice; she says it’s too expensive.”
“Smart girl,” Sam winked at Emily as she emerged.
“It is too much.”
Sam met Rainer’s gaze.
“Get her what she wants, Rain man, not what you want her to have.”
“I know, I know,” Rainer sighed. He gestured to the BMW. “Wanna drive it?” he offered Emily. She bit her lip, but he could see the excitement in her eyes as she gave a hesitant nod. Sam handed her the keys.
“What if I have a wreck?” she panicked.
“You won’t, I’ll be right there with you.” Rainer forgot about the Porsche in light of her fear. She drew a steadying breath and nodded as Sam held the driver’s side door open for her.
She drove the car painfully slowly for several miles. Rainer ordered himself not to comment as he watched her.
“Why don’t you take it down a few exits, and then bring it back.” he suggested as they neared the interstate on ramp.
“Is that ok?” panic perforated her tone. Rainer nodded.
“He’s got my Mustang; he knows we’ll be back, sweetheart.”
She pressed the pedal harder. “I can see everything really well,” she commented. Rainer checked her mirrors and pointed out a few of the nicer features of the Beamer.
“So, you like it?”
She nodded, “Yeah, but I like the red SUV with the H on the back, too.”
Rainer chuckled. “That’s a Hummer, baby, very safe, very nice. You can drive it when we get back.” He wondered if she might prefer the Hummer, which offered her more visibility.
She sighed as she turned back to go the direction they’d just come from. The longer she drove the more she seemed to relax.
“It’s the next left,” he soothed as she began frantically trying to remember how to get back to the shop. She pulled the Beamer in, and Sam smiled.
“So, what’d we think?”
“I like it.”
“Well, that’s music to my ears, then, Mrs. Rain man. Any others you want to take for a spin?”
“I kind of like that one,” she pointe
d to the Hummer and bit her lip.
“Now, Sam don’t sell cars to pretty ladies and they sugar daddies, if they just kind of like them. I wants you to love that car almost as much as you love Rain man.”
Rainer watched Emily laugh with Sam. His heart picked up pace.
“Ok, baby girl, here are the keys.” Sam made a dramatic bow and held the keys out in his hand. Emily shook her head, and took them from him with a wry grin. Rainer held the door open for her and watched her as she climbed up.
“Nice view,” he husked. He watched her crimson blush work from her neck to her cheeks.
Emily giggled and sassed, “You mean the car?”
“Nope,” he flirted shamelessly, while he stared unabashedly at her backside as he helped her up in the Hummer.
“Rain man,” Sam drawled as Rainer raised his eyebrows expectantly. “No trying out the back seat, ‘til you butter Sam’s bread, and for that,” he gestured his head to the Hummer “fry me some bacon.”
Rainer laughed heartily. “Hey, you’ve seen her.” He threw his head back to Emily. “I can’t promise you anything, old man.”
Sam guffawed.
Rainer climbed in the passenger side and pulled the door shut. He studied Emily as she turned the key. The huge motor under the hood revved to life, and she grinned. “There’s my smile.”
She put the car into drive and eased off the brake. The broad grin stayed on her face as she pulled the vehicle onto the highway.
Rainer quickly decided he should up the ante, and he pulled his phone from his pocket. He attached it to the built-in docking system, and turned on the playlist of all of Emily’s favorite songs. He cranked up the volume. Utter delight lit her face as she beamed at him.
“Ok, so I love it, but why are you so far away from me?” She pulled onto the interstate and pushed the gas harder. The Hummer took off.
“Low center of gravity. They’re a little bit wider, so they’re next to impossible to flip,” Rainer pointed out. “Like I said, very safe.”
“And how much is this one?” She looked terrified to hear the answer. Rainer slid his hand to her thigh.
“Substantially less than the Porsche. So, I take it you might like to purchase it, then?” She bit her lip hesitantly, but was unable to hide her grin, as she nodded.
Rainer moaned eagerly. “Em, I’ve been in love with you since I was like five years old, but I don’t think I have ever loved you as much as I do at this moment.”
Emily laughed, and slapped his chest playfully as he ducked away from her.
“Well,” Rainer drawled and winked at her, “if you’ll get off at the next exit, and take it back to Sam’s, then we could buy it, and then try out the back.”
“I can take it home tonight?” She sounded thrilled; it made his heart swell.
“You can take it home tonight, baby. We can bring it back later this week. I’m going to have Sam enhance a few of the safety features for you, but if you want it, then it’s yours.” He listened to her squeal. She drew a deep breath, checked her mirrors, and then moved to the lane to exit the interstate.
“I’m still kind of scared to drive.”
Rainer rubbed her leg, and tried to will confidence into her.
“I know, baby. But you’re doing great, and I will keep you safe, Em, I swear.”
“I know you will.”
She made her way back to Sam’s singing along to her favorite songs. Rainer grinned at her adoringly. After she pulled it back into the garage, Rainer threw the door open.
“All right,Sam, how much bacon do I have to fry you, old man?”
“ Mmm hmm,” Sam gave Emily a beaming grin. “I take it Mrs. Rain man offered to let you sit in the back seat, then?”
Rainer chuckled, and ran his hands over the side of the Hummer. It was a sweet ride; Emily had picked well. As Emily was still seated in the driver’s seat, Rainer grinned up at her.
“Will you pop the hood, baby?”
She fumbled with the pull for a few moments, but then the hood spring released.
Rainer pulled the hood up, secured it, and then looked over the engine as Sam joined him under the hood.
“So, what else can we do to make this thing as safe as it could possibly be?”
Sam nodded and got down to business. “Wells, you know we can enhance all the exterior and the air bag systems, we can fortify the roll cage, and the windshield and windows. Other than that, unless you want the engine upped so she can fly away, that’s all I know to do.”
“Let’s do it all, and I want the sensor added that detects any outside energy. If someone messes with this car, I want her to know immediately.”
“Somebody after her, or some’um?” Sam looked concerned, but Emily got out of the car before Rainer could explain.
“How much does this cost?”
Rainer shook his head.
“I don’t care how much it costs, sweetheart. I will do anything in the world to keep you safe.”
Sam bowed his head to Rainer in an obvious sign of pride.
“How ‘bout we do it all for fifty-five, Rain man?” Sam husked, clearly not certain if Emily was supposed to hear the price. Rainer furrowed his brow, then shook his head.
“That’s about ten short, isn’t it, Sam? Especially if we deck it out.”
Sam gave Rainer his kind smile. “I have a few friends at the dealers, and if she makes you that happy, Rain man, then I want her safe, too. So how ‘bout we call it an early wedding present.”
“Sam,” Rainer shook his head. “No, I don’t want you to cut your price for me. This is the perfect car; she loves it. You worked your ass off.” Rainer gestured back to all of the cars Emily hadn’t chosen. “At least let me pay you for it.”
Sam chuckled and shook his head. “Life ain’t all about the money, Rainer. Whole lot more things that much more valuable than money. So how about you and Miss Emily come see me more often? Let me work on the Hummer and the ‘stang, and maybe take me out to eat once in a while, and I’d say we’re more than even.”
Truly touched, Rainer nodded, and swallowed down the emotion that settled in his throat.
“You got it, Sam, anytime.”
“So, you gone let Rain man drive you home in that jalopy he calls a sports car, Miss Emily? Or you gon’ pull up in this fine automobile?” he stroked his hand down the side of the Hummer. Emily giggled, and bit her lip and pushed her hair behind her ear.
“Well, we still don’t know howmuch is all of this going to be? I don’t want you to spend a fortune on me, Rainer.”
Rainer shook his head. “Already taken care of, sweetheart. She’s all yours.” He grinned as her mouth fell open.
“But,no, you couldn’t have done that so fast. I was standing here, and you were there.” She pointed to the hood with her mouth agape.
Sam and Rainer laughed. He pulled his wallet from his pocket, and removed the check. Emily tried to see the amount as he filled it in, but he shook his head, wrote it quickly, and folded the check over. He handed it to Sam, who quickly stowed it in his coveralls.
“Rainer, tell me how much this was.”
“Uh oh, Rain man. She got the hands on the hips. You better run, boy,” Sam laughed.
Rainer kissed Emily’s cheek as he moved past her. “You ready to go, baby? We’re going to bring it back Monday night to let him start the enhancements, after we all go out for dinner.”
“Fine,” Emily quipped, “but you are telling me how much you paid for this when we get home.”
Rainer had to work hard to hold in his laughter. He cocked his jaw to the side, and pulled the keys from her hands. Her brow furrowed.
“You’re driving the Mustang home, so I can drive this, right?”
“No,” she giggled.
“Then start her up, baby. It’s Saturday night. I’m surprised the women aren’t beating down Sam’s door for a date. He is a classic.”
“Don’ you know it, baby boy,” Sam sassed as he wiped the side view mirror of Em
ily’s new Hummer with the rag he’d picked up.
“Thank you so much,” Emily threw her arms around Rainer, and then hugged Sam tightly. Sam looked truly touched as he embraced her and patted her back.
“You hold on to her tight, Rain man,” Sam helped Emily back up on to the running board and into the Hummer.
“Treasure each day, ‘cause they go by way too fast,” he reminded Rainer with a wistful look in his kind eyes.
“I will Sam; I promise.”
Rainer rolled eyes as he answered his phone for the fourth time on his drive home.
“Just tell me; I’m dying here!” Logan demanded yet again.
“She’s driving it home; we’ll be there in ten minutes, geez.”
“Ok, just tell me it’s not stupid.”
“Good-bye, Logan.”
“Come on!”
“Go play with Adeline; we’ll be home in a few.”
“Ugh, fine,” Logan huffed and hung up the phone. Rainer’s phone rang again, and he smiled.
“Was that Logan again?” Emily giggled.
“Yes,” Rainer laughed, and glanced back at her in his rear-view mirror. “You know, you look really hot driving that Hummer, Miss Haydenshire.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Oh, yeah, baby.” Rainer signaled once they’d reached the exit for McLean, and he turned towards the farm.
“Well, just wait ‘til you see what I can do in the back seat,” she teased. Rainer gave her a shuddering moan.
“And when might I get to see that?”
“Well, I mean, today has sort of been amazing, so I kind of feel like tonight should be amazing as well. Any night I get to spend with you inside of me is pretty much my idea of amazing.”
Rainer almost missed the exit. “Ok, you have to stop talking like that. I’m gonna wreck my car.”
They pulled onto the Haydenshires’ property and waited for the gates to open.
“I’m sure Logan and Connor are waiting in the yard, so I’ll see you inside, baby.”
“Rainer,” Emily called quickly.
“Hmm?”