Page 22 of Come Take Me Now

“I’m fine,” I snap. My Saab in the far bay catches my eye. “You know what, man? Figure out how much I owe you for my car. I’m going to pick it up sometime this week. Maybe Dad can get it running.”

Mick sighs. “You don’t have to do that.”

“No, I do because, for all I know, you could be intentionally fucking up my car to milk my wallet.” From the way his face changes, I know I offended him, but I can no longer trust him.

“E, what the hell? I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“Figure out what the fuck I owe you,” I repeat. I flick my wrist to check the time, but I already know I’m on schedule. “I have to go. I’m getting dinner with Tilly.”

“I’m genuinely scared for her.”

I roll my eyes. “Unlike your bros or whatever the fuck, I’m not going to hurt her.”

“No, you will. Because everything you touch turns to shit,” Mick hisses.

He’s always been like this—jealous. Only ever knowing half the story.

“If I wasn’t about to go on a date, I’d beat the pulp out of you just like when we were kids.” I turn toward the open garage door. “But I have bigger fish to fry. And leave Tilly alone. She doesn’t need you.”

I unlock the doors to the truck and jump in, starting the engine with the press of a button. It’s only five minutes to the restaurant. Napa’s a small town—a little too small for my current liking. Mick’s another problem to watch. I crack my neck to ease the tension in my shoulders and throw the truck into gear.

A problem for another time.

I need to be the version of myself she deserves. Her car is parked there already, not that I thought she’d stand me up. I’m glad to see she doesn’t run fashionably late or reschedule at the last minute. Those are ideal qualities. I’d never drop the ball on her if we had plans, and I could’ve checked the app to see if she was nearby. Something in my gut told me she would be.

As I back my truck into a spot near her car, I notice she’s standing in front of the restaurant in flared jeans and a high-neckline tank top to show off her delicate yet toned arms. Those damn jeans make her legs look a mile long. I can’t wait to be between them again. I’m sure she expects me to invite her back to my place afterward, but not yet.

“Hey, you,” I greet her. She smiles wide and bites her lip. “You look gorgeous.” Her wavy, effortless hair hangs past her waist, gently shifting with the breeze. Her face is done up with just enough makeup to accentuate her features without overpowering them.

“Thank you. I like the polo,” she replies. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and press a kiss to her temple. Her hair smells floral, and breathing in the scent sends blood straight to my groin. The self-control is wearing thin fast.

“Thanks for meeting me early. I have to meet with a vendor for drinks afterward.”

Tilly shrugs. “It’s okay. Glad we could do this. Are you, um, driving your truck to the meeting?” she asks. Her hazel eyes flicker toward my truck.

Fuck.

“Oh, yeah. It’s cool. This vendor has worked with us for years,” I smooth over, and she nods.

So, she pays more attention to detail than I thought… good to know.

I can’t slip up around her—can’t fuck this up.

They seat us on their covered patio, where misters lightly spray water to cool the air. It’s quiet this early on a Monday night, but after another day in the AC, the warmth is a pleasant change. We put in drink orders—I opt for water since I do have a meeting after this that will involve alcohol, and she orders a simple iced tea. It’s a relief that she doesn’t seem like the drink-and-drive type so far. She doesn’t know the roads around here like I do. It’s in her best interest to stay unimpaired, not that I would let her drive if she wasn’t able.

“How was work?” she asks, glancing up from the menu splayed in front of her.

“The usual. Busy. Getting pulled in every direction…” I trail off.

“That sounds stressful,” she says.

“It is, but it’s part of the job. How are your brakes?”

She grins. “Much better. Thank you again. Some of these roads are so steep and curvy.”

I nod. “They are. Definitely be careful, especially at night. Up where your dad lives, there’s no lighting.”

Her doe eyes enlarge. “How do you know that?”