Page 30 of Beyond Expectations

I stopped peeling at the bottle label and looked up at him.

“Dad, you cannot tell Roman about that.”

“My lips are sealed.”

I rolled my eyes as his face danced with amusement.

“So, we had a drink, and he told me about himself and his work. He then asked about me and P&A. His driver drove me home, and that was it. Then, a few days later, he comes storming into the office, making out that I had been avoiding him, acting as if I’d been giving him mixed signals.”

“Have you?”

“Um…”

I could feel the warmth spread across my cheeks, and my hands returned to peeling the label. My mind battled with coming up with the correct answer.

“Do you like him?”

“Yes… but… there is no point in even considering anything with him.”

“Why? He’s obviously fond of you and has good taste in cars.”

My dad’s chuckle was so infectious that I couldn’t help but giggle.

“But we’re worlds apart. His brother is an asshole, and technically he’s a client.”

“Honey, to me, it sounds like you’re making excuses. First, you wouldn’t be dating his brother, you’d be dating him. Secondly, if you’re judging him based on his family’s background, doesn’t that make you just as superficial? And as it’s his father’s company, isn’t it technically his dad that’s your client?”

My dad might only have been a mechanic, but he could have easily become a lawyer. Boy, could he argue a case as good as the next guy.

“Legally, would there be any implications of you being involved with him? Would there be a conflict of interest?” he queried.

“No. I looked up the legalities and, as you said, his father is technically my client, so there wouldn’t be a breach or conflict.”

Dipping my chin into my chest, I wanted to hide my embarrassment that I’d already looked up something I was trying to pass as a reason for considering something with Rhett. I didn’t have to look up to know he was smiling at me. I could hear it in his voice.

“Serena, why don’t you just give the boy a chance? What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Yeah, I guess,” I muttered, as I mulled over every apprehension in my head.

After depositing his empty glass in the sink, he kissed me on the head.

“Just think about what I said. Goodnight, baby girl.”

“I will. Night, Daddy.”

Not long after, as I climbed into bed, my dad’s advice ran through my head. Maybe I should give him a shot. Jeez, I knew I’d been wanting to fuck him since the moment I saw him in the garage. But that was something I didn’t need to share with my dad.

So, as I let my body relax and succumb to sleep, I decided that the next time I saw Rhett back in the city, I’d at least have a drink with him.

***

The weather was hot and humid—pretty much the worst combination for my hair.

I swore to God, even though I was only a two-hour drive away from Manhattan, being in Franklin Park surrounded by hills and mountains on days like today, where it was over eighty-six degrees and overcast, and knowing the heavens could open at any moment, made me feel like I was trapped in a greenhouse.

I could hear Dad out back working on a gorgeous Ford Mustang, singing his favorite Stevie Wonder tune. I decided to keep myself busy by waxing and cleaning the cars ready for pickup.

As much as I loved Stevie Wonder, it was my turn to take control of the garage’s sound system. Roman typically dominated the playlist, but not today. Soon, one of my favorite songs blared out of the speakers.

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