Page 129 of Rags to Royals

“Yep, this is the car I’m supposedly fixing for Professor Dean Brady,” I say, unzipping my coveralls.

“Oh, this is going to be fun.” His hands go to my waist, and he lifts me onto the hood.

“I’ve never had sex on such a nice car,” I say, my fingers on his shirt buttons.

He stops sliding my coveralls down. “But youhavehad sexona car before?”

“One of the guys I dated in New Orleans was a mechanic at the same shop as me and we?—”

He covers my mouth with his hand. But his eyes are sparkling. “Witch,” he says affectionately. “Have you ever been turned over the hood of a car andspanked?”

I shake my head quickly and I knowmyeyes are sparkling with excitement now too.

Chapter 27

Cian

“I’m glad your first day went well,” Ruby says from the other end of the island where she’s chopping vegetables for the salad.

“Thanks,” I tell her. “Now that Scarlett has met the Landry boys she can probably tell you that it’s no surprise why I get along with teenagers just fine.”

Ruby and Scarlett both laugh.

“The Landrys are all so great,” Scarlett tells her sister. “We had the best time.” She bends to take the casserole pan out of the oven. “You would like them so much.”

Ruby grins at me behind Scarlett’s back. “Yes, you’ve mentioned that.”

Yes, she has. In different ways. About five times while we’ve been making dinner.

I love it.

I’m so fucking happy that she’s happy. I knew that’s what I wanted, but until now, seeing it and hearing it happening, I’m not sure I realized how it would affect me.

Things feel like they’re on the right track. This is working. We have eleven and a half days left of our nineteen days and things are going great.

“Well, this is a shit show!”

We all turn toward the back door where Mariah just came in.

Or maybe not.

“What’s a shit show?” Scarlett asks, frowning and crossing the floor to Mariah.

“Having him as a teacher,” Mariah says, pointing at me.

Yeah…not.

I haven’t seen her since fifth period. Her history class.

After stopping by the garage, Scarlett and I had come home—yes, I’m aware that I’m thinking of Scarlett’s house as home—and taken the last of Diane’s casseroles out of the freezer and put it in the oven for dinner.

Ruby was here and we’ve been filling her in on the weekend’s activities, including telling her about Scarlett Park and the foundation.

Ruby’s very interested and impressed and I have to admit that having her approval feels almost as good as having my own siblings and grandfather congratulating me. I’ve spent so much time admiring the people in my life and the things they do that I hadn’t realized how incredible it would feel to have that admiration in return.

I’ve been flying high since Friday when Scarlett and I landed in New Orleans.

Everything about the weekend was perfect and I am one hundred percent madly in love with her.

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