Page 26 of It's About Time
“Garnet Valley? They couldn’t find a supplier closer to them? I mean, you’re almost three hours away.”
“I know, but I’m one of only two suppliers that carries the size they need, and the other guy couldn’t get them fast enough.” Gene smiles proudly. “Don’t worry, I’m charging a fat delivery fee.”
“Good for you,” I say as I hand him back the clipboard. Then I nod to his truck. “You got my special order on there too, right?”
Gene grins. “You know I’d never let you down, especially when it comes to that Porsche. You getting nervous about Motorlux?”
“I don’t get nervous,” I fire back, even though I’d be lying if I didn’t havesomeapprehension about the biggest car show of my career. But it’s notwhatI’m bringing to the show that I’m anxious about—it’swhoI’ll see when I get there.
“Spoken like a true badass.”
“Well, the shoe does fit.”
Gene tips his chin and then begins to walk backwards. “I’m gonna go help Vinnie with the tires.”
My pulse spikes. “Vinnie?”
“Bennie,” Gene clarifies, and thank God he does. Becausethatname is one I try to keep out of my head as much as possible. “This will only take a few minutes.”
“Take your time. I’m gonna get back to work.” As I head back into the bay that I was working in, that familiar knot in my stomach tightens when my ex pops up in my head. Vinnie Delatorre is the only man that I’ve ever been in love with, and he is the only man that can still make me doubt myself to this day.
On paper, we were a match made in heaven—both business owners in the automotive industry, had the same love for retro style, and treated cars as our first loves. When I met him at a show, he praised me for the work I had done and asked me out that night. I was young and naïve but loved the way he made me feel—talented, sexy, and valued.
Little did I know that he was just using me to get ahead in his own career.
“Dil?” Steven cuts through my thoughts as he sips on his energy drink.
“Yeah?”
“Where do you want me to put the tires for the Porsche?”
My eyes land on my project car resting safely under a sheet in the back of the shop. “Just right next to Betty.”
“I thought we settled on Tina?”
“No, Steven.Yousettled on Tina, butyou’renot the one that spends time with her when no one else is around. That girl is a Betty, through and through.”
“Betty just doesn’t seem original enough. You hear Betty, you think Boop.”
“What’s wrong with Betty Boop? She’s an icon.”
“Yeah, well, so was Tina Turner.”
“And she’s from the wrong decade, Steven. The Porsche 356 had her prime in the late 40s to mid-60s. Betty Boop seems even more appropriate then, don’t you think?”
Steven shrugs and takes another drink. “Whatever. You’re the boss.”
“Glad you’ve finally accepted that.”
“Hey, I don’t mind being bossed around by a woman. Hell, at this point in my life, I actually think I prefer it.” He waggles his eyebrows. “Especially when Chelsea does this thing with—”
I hold up a hand to stop him. “Please. I already know too much about your sex life. Let’s leave some things to the imagination, okay?”
Laney, my best friend, snorts as she walks into the shop through the open bay doors. “You’re telling Steven not to talk about sex?” When she reaches me, she holds the back of her hand to my forehead. “Are you feeling okay?”
I swat her hand away. “I’m fine. Just don’t need the reminder that everyone else is getting laid besides me.”
Steven tsks. “Aw, so that’s what’s got your panties in a bunch? Going through a dry spell?”
