by Lauren Dane
Julie said, “Probably. But five dozen. That’s close enough.”
“Sixty and eleven billion? Not so close if you meant tacos or people, but roses? Yeah, that’s close enough.”
Her sister handed PJ two cards. “I think it’s safe to say these are from Asa. But open the cards before I pass out from not knowing.”
“I’m really glad you don’t overstate things or exaggerate.”
“Me too. God, what a drag that would be.” Julie motioned to the cards. “Open.”
They were in Asa’s handwriting, which made her smile. He’d gone into the florist to do this himself that morning. “How lucky am I?”
She opened the card he’d marked with a 1 in the lower right corner.
My wild rose, you’re going to wow everyone tonight. I love you, Asa.
She read it to herself before she tucked it back in the envelope. “They’re from Asa.”
“No lie.”
The second card said, There’s some language of flowers stuff that says what color roses mean what things. So I got you all the colors of roses they had because you’re everything.
Julie poked her arm. “Oh my god, you’re blushing and you look a little sniffly. What does it say?”
“I can’t. He’d… It’s so sweet and lovely, but I don’t want to expose him like that.”
Julie hugged her. “Really? I love that. Yay to that.”
Before she went back to get changed, PJ headed into the kitchen, pulling out smaller containers and spreading flowers all over her apartment, letting herself be happy about them and the lovely things he’d written.
“He frowns a lot. How does he make it hot? It’s like a weird superpower,” Julie said as PJ stepped into the red dress she’d decided to wear because she wanted to tuck red roses in her hair and the color was so similar.
PJ met her sister’s gaze in the mirror. “I know. Zip me, please.” Julie zipped and hooked the back of her dress.
“You’re not going to protest that he’s just misunderstood?”
PJ rolled her eyes and then trimmed some of the red roses to tuck into her hair. “He totally frowns a lot. He’s grumpy. But it’s adorable. Which must mean I love him. He ranges around being all grrr and Hey you kids get off my lawn all while he races cars and bikes he built or restored and has a piercing in his ween.”
They both dissolved into giggles. “I’m never going to be able to look at him again without blushing.”
“Whatever. Where is Asa?” PJ looked at her watch.
“Call him. I’m going to run over to Shawn’s to pick him up. I’ll see you soon. Love you.”
PJ hugged her sister back. “Love you too. See you guys soon.”
It wasn’t more than five minutes later when Asa rolled up in a sleek black Jag. A paint job she’d finished not too very long ago.
He added to the wow factor when he stepped out wearing a suit and looking so ridiculously gorgeous she pressed her hand to her throat. At dinner with her parents he’d worn a tie and dress pants. But this. Shew. Gunmetal-gray suit with a dark blue shirt and a dark tie. Hair tied back. Intense gaze. Damn. He was hers.
She took in the long prowl of a walk as he headed up the steps and paused, looking her over slowly before he let himself reach her.
There she was, the lamp from her place backlighting her like an angel. If angels wore snug red dresses and roses in their hair.
He bent to brush his lips against her neck. “You look fucking delicious.”
Just a few weeks before, he’d complimented her on a red blouse she’d been wearing. It had looked so pretty against the pale porcelain of her skin with those delightful freckles.
She’d been wearing red more often ever since. Including the auburn streaks throughout her golden-blond hair.
PJ did it because he liked it.
“Thank you.” She smoothed down the front of his shirt and the tie. “I’ve never seen you in a suit before. I’m fully in support of you doing this again. I want to rumple you and muss you and lick you up and down like an ice cream cone.”
Desire tugged him closer to her. Always. “My favorite.”
“Going to keep me on my toes tonight, huh?”
He brought her to him, closing that small space left keeping them apart. After a breath, he led and they began to sway through the living room. She felt so good, the bounty of her body in his arms where she fit just right. “Only if that’s where I need you so I can fuck you deeper.”
She blinked up at him, her smile easy. Not at all weirded out by the stuff he said. “Romantical. Speaking of that, thank you for the roses and the cards. I love you.”
“I love you too.” He kissed her and stepped back before he got any harder.
“Are we waiting on Audra and Tom?”
As usual. Asa was used to what he called Duke-time. Which meant you had to add fifteen minutes to any time Duke said he’d be somewhere. But Audra was a thousand times worse. He had no idea how PJ could handle it on a regular basis.
“They’re going to meet us there. As will Julie and Shawn. No reason to hang around here getting agitated as you wait for people who are perpetually late.”
He snorted. “It’s a little chilly out. Do you want a coat or something?”
She paused to grab a wrap and turn off all the lights.
“Where’s your overnight bag?”
She pointed to the bag she used when she stayed over and he hefted it, holding the door for her and then waiting as she locked up.
“Why are you driving this? Did you get the client to loan it to you?” she asked as he tossed the duffel in the trunk and then opened her door.
“I’m the client.”
He closed her door and went around to the driver’s side.
PJ blinked, sure she’d heard him wrong. “What do you mean you’re the client? I met the client. He looked at my tits for the entire exchange. I charged him extra for that!”
Asa burst out laughing. “I’m going to pop Henry the next time I see him. Asshole. I’m sorry he was a jerk, but it makes me laugh that you charged him extra for being a dick.”
“I charged you extra. Why did you do that?”
“Because I wanted something that would be extra work and thus would be expensive and I knew you’d try to do it for your materials or some shit, so I wanted you to do a job like you would for any other client. Henry—he’s an army friend too—might have been an ass to you, but this paint job is fantastic and worth every penny.”
“You didn’t have to have some elaborate scheme. You could have just asked.”
“You’re mad that I wanted you to charge me a real rate instead of the guy-who-makes-me-come-hard rate?”
“I have the right to make that choice if I want to.”
“But I don’t want you to. I don’t want price breaks. When we were first starting out, I remember how hard it was. How close to the margins we were. I didn’t want to put you in a place where you felt you had to take a hit. I can afford it. And you just boosted the value. People will see it tonight too. I’ll have it sold within the month, most likely.”
He just—ugh! PJ worked to keep her voice level. “I counted to ten. Then I had to go to thirty. I appreciate that you thought of me and my business like that. And I know you can afford it. I would have charged you materials and time and that would have been my choice. You made that choice for me, and that’s not cool. I’m usually fine with your need to control stuff. But this is not an area of my life I’ll cede to anyone. Whether I give you a price break or not isn’t about what you want. Don’t you see? This is connected to that other stuff about control and trust. This is my stuff. My choice to make or not. My skills are mine, my time is mine, who I work with and for what rates is mine. You’re not my keeper. I want to be with you, not live through you.”
He blew out a breath. “I just didn’t want you giving me a break you couldn’t afford.”
“I appreciate that you wanted to help me.” She reached out to squeeze his hand. “I
love that you want to protect me and keep me from harm. Talk to me, don’t think for me, and we’ll be good. It’s not up to you to decide my pricing. That’s my business. My choice. This going-around-me stuff, it is not cool.”
“Okay. I see what you mean. I’m sorry. I’ll do my best not to do it again.”
“Your best is pretty awesome.”
He used valet so they could get out close to the front doors, not wanting her to have to walk the mile through parking lots. He was a very nice man.
“I’ve been to what seems an incalculable number of trade shows in my life. My first was while I was still an infant. But this is better. This is totally cool.”
Asa nodded, taking PJ’s hand. “Absolutely. Better than cool. This is fantastic.”
She walked along at his side, nerves jittering. He paused, pulling her out of the crowd and standing very close. “Penelope Jean, you are really good at what you do. That’s why your stuff is here on someone else’s dime, dig?”
She nodded. “I know. I do!”
Her mouth firmed and it took all his control not to kiss her as she got rid of the briefest frown.
“I know I do good work.” This time he knew she believed it.
“There you are.” His PJ was confident and strong. She knew she had talent. It was part of the reason people hired her. Her confidence was alluring.
“Next year I hope to have my own booth. With or without Colman.”
“Do it,” Asa challenged.
“I will. Speaking of that, where are you guys?”
“Restoration and custom work is across the hall from where your cars are. Let’s go look at that first and then we can see what’s going on over at the Twisted Steel booth.”
“Debauchery, most likely.”
He bent to kiss her, his mouth against the curve of her cheek. “You’re perfect. I’m proud of you.”
She clutched the front of his jacket, swaying a little. “Thank you. I love you.” Her voice didn’t get just a little thinner in the middle this time, her nervousness under control.
Right there in front of all those people in the exhibition hall, Asa blushed. “Fuck yeah.” He turned her and they headed out into the main part of the large hall.
The cars with her paint were being featured by an auction house, so it wasn’t too far away, just across a wide aisle where the edge of the Twisted Steel booth was. She could be over there to answer questions and network but also come his way to take a break.
He looked at the map in her hand. “Blue. So west. Go up here and hang a left.”
“I’m relieved I don’t have to set anything up this year. This time I can scope it out to see the lay of the land. Then when it comes time to set up next year I’ll know what to expect.”
PJ couldn’t help the gigantic grin she got at the sight of her work. Most people wouldn’t say, Oh my god, that paint! They’d think the entire car was fantastic and would hopefully think Cargrand Auctions was putting out only the very best.
It’d be the people who dealt with the auction house whose opinions would be so important. The shops like Twisted Steel were steady profit for her. But if she could do more with other types of businesses, with dealerships and the individual clients who wanted something extra special, she’d be growing her business just right.
And the truth was, if she went back to Colman and had the infrastructure of a billing department, the bays, and the industrial equipment for bigger jobs instead of having to rent that space herself, that would be a huge plus.
She already had offers to come on at other major paint shops. While flattering, she wanted to make it on her own.
“I have no idea how you managed to get this red so cherry.” Asa looked closely.
She’d never reveal in public just how many tries it had taken to get that tone. “I’m just glad I liked chemistry. These lights really do make it pop.”
“The metallic in that racing green, though. Yes, Penelope Jean, this is magic.”
It’d been a risk. Racing green was a classic, traditional color and it appealed to a certain kind of customer. But the metallic was so subtle it managed to remain traditional while having just a smidge of rock star in it too.
She grinned. “I can’t lie, I’m totally proud of that.”
They looked around at the other cars. Asa shook hands with people because it seemed like he knew everyone.
PJ gave her card to a few people and they headed over to the Twisted Steel booth, where Duke was surrounded by several women, all gazing adoringly at him.
“I don’t know how he does it,” Asa said. “Everywhere you go it’s this.”
PJ looked up to Asa and then back to Duke. “Are you kidding me? How can you not know? He’s gorgeous. Successful. Drives fast cars and motorcycles. He’s got a slow, panty-dropping drawl. What’s not to like?”
Asa frowned. “He’s not me, that’s what not to like.”
PJ patted his arm. “I like you best. Your drawls are different. But it’s impossible to ignore Duke’s attributes. Even if yours totally overshadow his.”
He appeared satisfied with that, and she wanted to kiss him for being so adorable but she resisted.
Once Duke saw Asa, he brought him over and they began talking about a rebuild of some sort. Duke’s admirers moved on once actual business started being discussed and PJ smirked.
It was fine to see women gawk at Asa. He was gawkworthy. But he was hers. So they could look their fill, but no touching. She remembered what he was like before they started seeing each other. He always had a passel of women rubbing up all over him, but as far as she could tell he never looked twice at anyone but her, so while sometimes she wanted to slap the mitts of the shop bunnies that came around, she’d had no reason to doubt his affections.
So she’d take the gawking because she had Asa, all of him, and they only got to look.
It was about an hour later when she finally caught sight of Shawn ambling her way.
He hugged her. “I just came from the other side of the hall, so I passed the cars on my way. You’re kickass.”
“Thank you.”
“Julie is right behind me. She and Mom got caught by one of Dad’s cronies.”
True to his claim, her sister, her mother, and Jay came toward them. Lenore hugged her, kissing both cheeks.
“Well done, darling.”
“She told everyone standing nearby that her daughter had painted the cars.” Julie hugged her next, followed by Jay.
“Seriously quality stuff.” Jay nodded, impressed. “I looked at their pricing sheets. You weren’t kidding about profit potential for Colman.”
“Not bad for a college dropout with a pierced face?”
He grinned, hugging her again. “I do miss arguing with you every day at work.” He leaned close to whisper to her. “We heard from the attorney. I’ll talk with you about it later, all right?”
She nodded and then looked back down the way they’d all come. “Did Dad get held up too?”
Her mother’s mouth flattened into a line and Julie sighed.
That’s when she knew he hadn’t come. She’d waited over two hours and he wasn’t going to show up.
She wanted it not to matter. Wished it didn’t hurt as bad as it did. Even after he’d said all that stuff to her, she wanted him to come see her work. Because she was his child, if for nothing else.
“He’s not here.”
Asa came up, pausing to kiss her mother and sister before putting a hand at the small of PJ’s back. “I see the Colmans are in the house. Nice to see you all. Did you get the chance to check out PJ’s work?”
His body language changed once he truly took note of her expression. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing. I’m done now. I’d like to go home.” She wanted to pull the covers up over her head.
Her mom took PJ’s hand. “He wasn’t feeling well. He wanted to come.”
PJ just looked at her mother. “Stop making excuses for him.”
Jay shoo
k his head. “PJ’s right. But we’re here. That’s what matters.”
“It does matter, yes. I’m happy you’re all here. It means a lot to me. I’ll talk to you all later. Call me about that thing, Jay.”
Her mother hugged her. “He doesn’t know how to be sorry. Don’t give up on him.”
They said their good-byes and Asa led her away.
CHAPTER
Twenty-six
Asa wasn’t sure if he should keep to the plan, but then he decided, fuck Howard Colman. PJ deserved a special dinner in her honor for this, and he’d be damned if he let that asshole hurt her any more that night.
“I’m really hungry. You want to get some dinner? Celebrate you, my wild rose?”
She smiled, but it was sad at the edges. “Sure. I’m hungry.”
He shoved all his annoyance down as far as he could. Her mother should have warned him about this so they could have prepared PJ for it rather than have her great night come crashing down around her ears because she got broadsided by it.
“You don’t have to deal with all this Eastlake traffic. We can get something closer to your house, you know.”
He rolled his eyes; even though she couldn’t see, she’d know. “You said just a few days ago that you’d been craving Serafina, and that’s where we’re going.”
“Okay then. Thank you,” she said, her voice a little less flat.
He parked and took her inside and that’s when she saw his mom and sister standing with her friends.
“Congratulations!”
PJ took in the scene with a smile on her face. “Aw, guys.”
Asa just watched, approving of how her friends hugged her, excited for her success. His mom and sister hugged her and then Asa.
“You had this planned all along?” PJ asked him in a tone that made him so fucking glad he had.
“Your mother and sister did most of it. I just suggested the venue.”
PJ didn’t have to tiptoe up because she had on such high heels, but she kissed him, cupping his face. “I won’t embarrass you too much when I tell you I know this was all your idea. I thought we established that I know that you’re all soft and warm inside for me.”