Chapter 29
Dilynne
It All Comes Down to This
“Well, we can’t wait to see everyone’s reactions to the Porsche tomorrow, Miss Clark,” the reporter says, reaching out to shake my hand. “Best of luck to you.”
I stand from my chair and nod at him. “I appreciate that. Thanks.” Hopping down from the stage, I head right over to Elliot standing off to the side, his smirk in full effect.
“You’re a natural,” he says before pushing a strand of my hair behind my ear. I decided to wear it down for the interviews today, but also maybe I wanted to show my appreciation for him in that small way.
God, I’m wearing my hair down for a man. My, how the tides have turned.
“Yeah, well once you’ve done a few of these, they become pretty routine.”
“Are you hungry?” Elliot asks as his own stomach growls.
I dip my eyes down his torso and back up. “Not as hungry as you, apparently.”
He laughs, takes my hand in his, and leads me to the exit of the exhibit hall room where all the press conference interviews were conducted today. “My stomach has been talking to me for about the last hour.”
“Sorry the interviews ran behind. They always do.”
He glances back at me while holding the door open for me to step through. “It’s not your fault. Don’t apologize. This entire week is about you anyway, not my stomach.”
“Good to know I take precedence over your appetite.”
He smirks at me over his shoulder before opening the passenger door of our rental SUV and helping me inside.
We arrived in Monterey, California late last night since I wanted to get some rest before the event kicked off today.
Elliot let me sleep as late as we could before he fucked me this morning to ease my nerves, and then we drove over to the Monterey Jet Center where the entire Motorlux event will take place this week.
My nerves were on high alert this morning, but once I got through my first interview, I slid right into my role as the expert, eager to show off my car and all of the work I poured into Betty over the past year.
Elliot pulls up to a sports bar and leads me inside. “This was the only place nearby that has onion rings.”
“And how do you know that?” I ask, peering up at him.
“I did some research while you were doing your interviews.”
“You—you found a place that serves onion rings just in case I wanted some?”
Cupping the side of my face, he leans down and softly kisses my lips. “Yes. Now, let’s eat.”
Still stunned by his gesture, I trail after him as he speaks to the hostess and then follow them through the restaurant to a round booth. Once we’re settled and our waitress drops off our beers, Elliot lifts his to me, offering a toast.
“To you and the culmination of your hard work.”
“Thank you.”
We clink glasses, take a drink, and then look back at each other. “So, how are you feeling after today?”
“Pretty good. There was definitely interest in the Porsche, but I knew there would be. The car is rare. However, there are a few other vehicles that I think are going to give me some competition.” My eyes find the table as I debate the other entries I saw today.
“Which ones?”
“Well, there’s…” I pause and look over at him. “Are you sure you want to hear about this?”
He blinks at me. “Yes. I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t interested.”
“I know, it’s just…well, you’re not going to know half of what I’m talking about.”
“I don’t give a shit. It matters to you, it’s what we’re here for, and the only way I’m going to be better equipped for the next one is by learning more about it.”
“Th—the next one?”
“If you think this is the only car show I’m ever going to with you, you’re sadly mistaken, Dilynne.”
My eyes remain locked on his as my heart beats wildly in my chest. Elliot is telling me in many ways that he’s invested, and I still feel like I need to keep my guard up.
What the hell is wrong with me? Why can’t I just trust him and let myself fall?
“Um, okay then,” I say, fighting to contain my hesitations. “So, the cars I think are my biggest competition are the Corvette C3, the Lamborghini Miura, and the Aston Martin DB5.”
“You forgot to include the Rolls-Royce Phantom V,” a voice says to my left, and that’s when I turn to find Vinnie standing right at the edge of our booth.
My pulse spikes, but not with nerves. No, it’s irritation that has helped me avoid him all day, and of course now is when he decides to invade my space.
I lean back in the booth and grab my beer, bringing it to my lips. “I didn’t misspeak.”
He chuckles under his breath. “Then your confidence is misplaced, I’m afraid.”
“And your presence is misplaced, so if I were you, I’d keep walking,” Elliot interjects, straightening his posture beside me.
Vinnie darts his eyes between me and Elliot. “So this is the fiancé, huh?” he asks.
Elliot slides from the booth before I can stop him.
When he stands, he towers over Vinnie by at least four inches.
“Elliot Thorne,” he says, his voice low, his jaw tight, and his stance solid, making me clench my thighs together because watching him intimidate my ex might just be one of the hottest things he’s done.
“I remember you,” he says. “You’re one of her brother’s friends, right?”
“That’s right.”
He huffs out a laugh. “I see.” He turns back to me. “Probably best you found someone who didn’t know their way around cars this time around, huh?”
“Well, finding someone who did the last time worked out so well for me…” I chide.
Vinnie moves his eyes up and down Elliot’s torso. “Well, I can tell he hasn’t helped you get here, so…”
“She doesn’t need my fucking help,” Elliot cuts him off. “In fact, she did this entire restoration on her own, which is more than I can say for you, isn’t that right? What unsuspecting individual are you going to throw under the bus this time around, Vinnie?”
Vinnie takes a step closer to Elliot, attempting to get in his face. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”
Elliot grins. “Oh, I know enough.”
The waitress clears her throat behind the two of them, which allows me to release the breath I was holding. “Excuse me, but uh…I have your onion rings.”
“I was just leaving anyway,” Vinnie mutters before giving me one last look of disgust and walking away.
The waitress sets down our food. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, just an old friend,” I say as I keep my eyes on Elliot’s back.
“Okay. Well, I’ll be back with the rest of your food shortly,” she says before walking away.
Elliot doesn’t take his seat again until he’s sure that Vinnie is out of sight. But when he does, he reaches over and pulls me into his chest. “Are you okay?”
I don’t bother responding. Smashing my mouth to his, I nearly mount him in the booth. He holds me close to him as I twirl my tongue against his, thanking him in the only way I can articulate right now.
When we part, we’re both nearly breathless. “Fuck, Dilynne.”
“That was really hot,” I say before fixing my hair and picking up my beer, eager for another drink.
Elliot laughs beside me. “Good to know that standing up to your ex makes you horny.”
“Most definitely,” I say just as Elliot’s smile falls. “Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah. Just…thinking.”
“About?”
He shakes his head. “It’s nothing.”
Setting my beer back down and reaching for one of the piping hot onion rings, I say, “You know you can talk to me, Elliot.”
“I know. It’s just…not important right now.”
“Well, it seems like it is if your mood can change that fast.”
“I’m fine, Dilynne,” he grates out, avoiding my gaze.
“Okay…”
“Let’s just eat, all right?”
I nod, taking a bite of my onion ring, but inside I’m so confused. How can we go from nearly stripping each other naked in this booth to him shutting me out?
“Why won’t you just tell me? What are you hiding?”
“I’m not hiding anything from you. I promise, I will tell you, but not now, okay? This week is about you, not me. What matters right now is being here to support you.”
He’s putting me first, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t be there for him too.
My confidence from earlier has evaporated in one interaction, and it just serves as a reminder of why I’m hesitant to jump all in.
There’s something else I’m missing. And I hate being in the dark.
***
“Oh my God, you guys are really here!” The octave of my voice is off the charts as I run across the floor of the exhibit hall to Laney, my brother, and the rest of my friends.
Her arms wrap around me tightly. “I told you that we wouldn’t miss it. And look who we found on our way inside,” she says, pointing to Carol and Nick standing behind the group.
“So proud of you, sweetheart,” Nick says, reaching for me and kissing me on the temple.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“This place is insane,” Carol adds, scouring the room. “I didn’t realize there were so many car enthusiasts in the world.”
“I felt the same way yesterday,” Elliot chimes in from beside me. “And our girl has had quite the crowd around her already this morning.”
The public car show has been open for less than an hour, and several collectors have already been intrigued by Betty.
One guy has returned to ask me questions three times, which could be a good sign, or it means he’s skeptical of my abilities.
But the biggest compliment I’ve received is the color I chose for the car—gun metal gray.
It was a risk, but I think it’s paid off.
Either way, I’m proud of the Porsche and the attention she’s already received.
But in the back of my mind, I keep wondering what’s going on in Elliot’s head that he’s not telling me.
When we got back from dinner last night, I tried to ask him about it again, and he brushed me off once more. Told me that nothing concerning him is worth stealing my focus. Little does he know that wondering what he’s not telling me is doing just that.
Elodie comes up to me now, shaking my shoulders. “You’re famous around here, Dilynne!”
I laugh at her. “Not so sure about that, but…”
“No, we heard several people talking about you on the way inside,” a girl standing next to her says.