Page 91 of Dr. Stone
“No, no,” he laughed. “I wanted to ask if you’d bring him along? When I introduce you to my family and their friends, I want them to see everything and every reason I want and need you in my life.”
“Good grief,” I leaned my elbow on the door and brought my hand to my forehead. “I’m so sorry for this, but I was already introduced to them…when I was with Titus.”
“Don’t worry about that,” he said. “Hawk will be there, too, and since you both parted ways as friends, that shouldn’t be awkward. But if you’re worried about what others might say, then don’t. Titus would never allow anyone to say anything negative about you. It’s just the kind of man he is.”
I inhaled deeply and nodded. “Okay, then. I’d be delighted to go with you. When is it?”
“Next weekend when I have Saturday off from work,” he answered. “Does that work for you?”
“My parents are taking Brandon next weekend,” I said. “Ordinarily, they wouldn’t mind me shuffling weekends, and Iknow you said you want everyone to meet him, but maybe it should wait for a less formal setting? It might be easier for me to navigate this for the first time without a one-year-old hanging on me.”
He nodded. “I completely understand,” he agreed. “I would love my guy there, but perhaps you’re right. It would be much easier on him and younotto force the kid into an exhausting evening of lavish bullshit. He should enjoy his grandparents for the weekend instead of a bunch of strangers.”
“I love that you are so thoughtful when it comes to him,” I said. “Really, I do.”
He grinned. “Well, then you’ll love what I have planned for today for him…and you, and of course, for me too. Now, I want you to know it’s yours, if you’ll take it. The reason I’m gifting this to you, and covering all the extra expenses, is to show you what you mean to me, not just as my girlfriend, but as the person who’s transformed me into someone I barely recognize.” He kissed my hand again and smiled. “I used to be stuck in a lonely, empty life, and if, for some reason, I fuck all this up by not living up to your boyfriend standards, I want you to know there are no strings attached to this gift. It’s simply my way of saying thank you. That’s all.”
“Damn, I almost feel like I need to sign a disclaimer from the way you’re talking about this gift. What did you do, buy me a new house?” I chuckled.
Then we turned into the luxury Porsche dealership in Beverly Hills.
“Oh, shit,” was my first and only response as I sat suddenly tense and not knowing what the fuck to think about thisgift.
“Like I was saying before…” he paused, parked, and placed his hand over the seat rest. “There are no strings. I did this so we didn’t have to borrow Jake and Ash’s Range Rover anymore. Weneed an extra seat now that you’re allowing me to join in on all the fun with you and Brandon.”
I didn’t know what to say while Jace’s eyes roamed my face for something.
“It’s not an SUV. I didn’t think you’d be up for that since you drive a 911 Carrera,” he chuckled while my shock was subsiding.
“Afterthislittle gift you’re giving me, Dr. Stone of the Stone family old-money fund, we really need to establish a ten-dollar spending limit for the broke jokers in the relationship.”
He smiled, leaned over, and kissed my forehead. “What you do for me is worth more than a stupid car.”
His lips captured mine in a delicious, consuming kiss I’d been craving since the last time we were together. My God, this man had the pedal to the floor with us now—and in a four-door Porsche, no less. Hell, I couldn’t even imagine what kind of over-the-top gifts Titus would’ve thrown at me if I’d stayed with him.
We walked in, and the air and atmosphere reminded me of when I walked into a dealership like this with my parents, and they bought me my car. It smelled like oiled leather and money. From the white marble floors and glass walls to the sleek espresso area in the corner, everything gleamed in powerful beauty.
I froze and instinctively clung to Jace’s arm, and it wasn’t because I was facing a brand-new Porsche with a bow and my name on it.
Fucking Jonathan,I thought while my Stomach dropped.
He leaned on the counter like he owned the goddamn place wearing a gray button-down shirt, black slacks, and a gold watch gleaming under the lights. His beard was neatly trimmed, hair cut short and styled sleekly…definitely not the work of your local budget barber.
This bastard used to sell used Nissans behind a strip mall in Van Nuys, acting like he was some kind of savior for handingpeople the keys. He’d come home every night, crack a beer, and talk big about promises that never meant a damn thing. Now the bastard looked like he was swimming in money. But I knew this fucker, and he was just a greasy used car salesman at best.
“What are the fucking odds?” I whispered.
“What’s that?” Jace said a moment before we were interrupted when the bastard walked up to us.
“My ex, Brandon’s dad,” I muttered.
Before I could sayget me the fuck out of here, the asshole was marching toward us.
Fuck.
“Andie?” he said with surprise. His smile was the same, at least, perfect and practiced, “Wow. Seriously, it’s been?—”
“I believe the vehicle I ordered should be here,” Jace interrupted, feeling my instant tension in reaction to Jonathan’s voice. Jace’s voice was low and protective, easily warning off this dickhead.
