Page 35 of The Millionaire's Mechanic

“It did. Sometimes. But we all got used to it. After a while, he’d calm down. He was really only difficult for a short time after he returned. After a few weeks, it usually smoothed over.”

“How did the more—'em—personal relationship start?”

She took a deep breath, staring at the ceiling. The reflection of the flames in the fireplace danced across the white surface. “You know, I don’t even remember. It was like I woke up one day, and there were suddenly all theseexpectationson his side. Eventually, I started to believe I was in the wrong if I didn’t fulfill them.”

“So, he groomed you?” Rainer’s voice held more than a little anger.

Georgia scowled. “I think I would rather younotmake it sound like I was molested by someone’s uncle. Because that happened to a girl I knew in junior high, and my situation wasnotlike that. Mack and I were only three years apart.”

“That doesn’t mean he didn’t pressure you.”

“I try not to think about it like that.” Georgia twisted around to face him. “At first, I liked being special to him…but some of what you are thinking is probably right. He didn’t want to tell Diamond or Ephraim.” She winced. “All the sneaking around made me feel bad, but he liked it.”

Mack had found it exciting. Most of her girlfriends would have, too. But Georgia had hated every minute of it.

“I’m sorry.” Rainer pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck.

“I should have done a better job of putting him off earlier,” she admitted. “But it wasn’t easy. Every time I tried to pull back, he’d get so upset.”

“I’ll bet it wasn’t easy.” There was that tone again, the one that told her if Mack were alive, he’d be eviscerated.

“He had already moved out by the time Diamond found out.”

“Diamond knew? Did Ephraim?”

“No. Diamond asked me if the affair was going anywhere. When I couldn’t say yes, she told me not to tell him.” Georgia sighed heavily. “Ephraim and Mack’s relationship had always been combative. Finding out about us would have killed Ephraim.”

“I can imagine.”

Georgia winced. She didn’t like to think about how hurt her dad would be if he ever found out, but she planned to take the secret to the grave—because itwoulddestroy Ephraim.

Fingers brushed her cheeks, and she realized Rainer was soothing her frown.

“You can see well in the dark,” she murmured.

“Better than most people, I guess,” he admitted, dropping a kiss on her forehead before urging her to ‘get it all out’.

“When did it end?” he asked.

“Well, it sort of petered out when Diamond got sick. She had cancer for a long time, but when she had to check into the hospital, we knew the end was near. I spent all of my time with her. Even Mack came around, made nice with Ephraim for her sake.”

“Were you both working at Elite by then?”

“Yes, him for years. I had been there for less than one when she passed.”

“Did Mack just let you go?” Rainer managed to not sound skeptical.

“Not exactly.” She shifted uncomfortably. “Mack seemed to think I was going to move in with him—that I was waiting for Diamond to pass to avoid hurting her. He was upset when I finally told him no, that it was me. That despite everything, I didn’t want that kind of relationship with him.”

“I don’t suppose he took it gracefully?”

She sighed, a wealth of grief in the small sound. “He started drinking a lot more. A few months later, he took one of the Elite loaner vehicles overnight. He drove it up the coast, on the Pacific highway. It was raining, and the car hydroplaned. It went over the rails into the water. When they found the vehicle, it was empty. The police couldn’t say whether he was swept out through the open window, or if he managed to get out of the car, only for the rough water to carry him out to sea.” Georgia sank into the mattress. “We had a service…buried an empty box.”

“And you blame yourself for his death.” Rainer squeezed her. “George, you can’t. He’s the one who put all those unfair expectations on you. If he were still alive, I’d kick the crap out of him for the mess he made—what he put you through.”

She groaned. “This is why I don’t tell people. They think I’m damaged because of it. But that’s not how it was.”

“You loved him. Not the way he wanted, but you loved him and didn’t want to hurt him.” His tone sounded so understanding, not a bit of judgement.

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