Page 38 of The Perfect Putt

“It was nice meeting you, Ellie. Hope to see you around in the future.”

“Same to you,” she replies.

“All right, Red, let’s get you home to rest,” I say, cutting off any parting words they might have. It wouldn’t surprise me if Shaw tried to say something at the last minute in order to make my life difficult after he leaves tomorrow.

Thankfully, no one says anything except that they hope she feels better soon. She refuses to let me carry her again, instead opting to lean against me as I walk her out. She gasps when she sees we’re walking toward the Bronco.

“I’ve been wanting to ride in this one since I started here,” she says, making me smile.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” I ask her as I help her in the front seat.

“Because you don’t even let it leave Coastal Cove city limits. I didn’t think you’d want your assistant driving it.”

“None of my past assistants could, but if you want to, you can.”

She beams at me and it steals my breath. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing her smile like this. I’ve seen her smirk plenty, but this genuine of a smile is rare.

“You’re not as awful and pretentious as I thought you were.”

I snort. “Thanks, Red, I’m glad I’ve proven you wrong.”

She laughs as I shut the door and walk around to the driver’s side. When I get in, she’s admiring the tan interior. Or at least I thought she was, until I see her scrunched up face.

“What is it? Did you decide I’m awful after all?”

She rolls her eyes. “I should hate you because of how expensive this had to be. I bet you could buy at least two cottages in my neighborhood for how much this cost.”

I drive out of my garage, pressing a button attached to my keys to close it behind me. “I don’t know about two houses, maybe one and a quarter, considering inflation.”

I can feel the look she’s giving me.

“You’re terrible.”

“Would a terrible person let you drive my one and a quarter cottages priced car?”

“A decent person would, so I suppose you’ve moved from terrible to decent,” she says, sounding like she’s stating a fact.

“And how does one go from being decent to say, great?”

I take a turn onto the road that will lead us to Wave Way.

“That’s a big leap. You’re skipping over pretty nice and good.” Amusement laces her tone. When I look over at her, I see the white of her smile in the dark.

“I’m not interested in anything less than great.”

She hums. “Sounds like you.” There’s nothing mocking in her tone, and it fills me with a sense of pride that she sees me as someone who chases excellence.

“So?” I prod, curious where this conversation will take us.

“To be great, you’d give me the car.”

A surprised laugh bursts out of me. “That’s never going to happen.”

“Well, then you’ll never be great,” she says the way someone in a department store would say sorry, I just work here.

“There’s no alternate path?”

“Nope.” She pops the ‘p’.

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