Page 68 of Phillip

Draping his arm around her, Phillip pulled Ashley close and kissed the top of her head. “No more exes.”

“Is it that simple?”

“Of course. You’re mine, and that makes me yours.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

“Easy.” Phillip signaled for the transport crew to back the donation car from Mr. Paget off the flatbed truck. The ground crew moved quickly to secure it to rollers then move the ’55 Mercedes-Benz 300CL Gullwing onto the raised platform for the car show’s center stage. Once the car was in place, Phillip gave a thumbs-up. “Perfect.”

Footsteps echoed behind him, and Phillip turned.

“That’s right. A million dollars of classic, lightweight German perfection.” Robert Paget ambled toward them with a grand smile. Next to him was his son Sean.

Inwardly, Phillip groaned, but he kept his focus on the roadster as the ground crew positioned it and opened its iconic doors, hinged along the roof. When he was certain he had his cool, Phillip greeted the older Paget.

“She’s a beauty, isn’t she?” Robert clapped his hands together, appreciating the car. “I can’t say it won’t hurt to see this one go, but she was an investment.” He stopped next to Phillip, and they shook hands before continuing. “And this one will pay off nicely, with the bonus of a fat tax relief. You can’t beat that. Can you?”

“No, sir. You can’t,” Phillip agreed as he greeted Sean with the same nod that Sean had given him. They had avoided phone calls and meetings since the incident at the restaurant, and Phillip had never been so happy for the existence of text messages and emails.

Robert gestured between them. “I’m glad to see you two work together so well. Charity was never something I spent enough time on, and it means a great deal to see my boy lifting that weight.”

Sean remained close-lipped but offered an amicable nod of agreement. Phillip wasn’t so sure that he was able to maintain that level of composure.

Robert turned back to his car. “Now that she’s here, I’m ready to sign her off of my hands. Show me the forms, and then I have to run.”

With little small talk, Phillip led them to the main building. He and Ashley had commandeered a meeting room and turned it into their nerve center for the final day before and after the auction. But she was nowhere to be seen. A Post-It note was stuck to his screen with Ashley’s script.Bitsy called. I’m headed to meet her and Mary Beth. Be back in an hour. Or maybe three. Who knows?She signed off with a heart and the letter A.

Perhaps Bitsy had some kind of magic ability to show up and interrupt when needed. Either way, Ashley’s disappearance worked well with Sean’s unexpected arrival.

Phillip removed a folder and presented it to Robert with a pen. He pulled out the form inside the folder and read the acknowledgment of delivery, requiring that they both sign. He removed a Montblanc pen from his jacket pocket and signed with a quick scrawl. Phillip used his pen to countersign.

“Check that box. Everything on my end is done.” Robert clapped a hand on Phillip’s back. “Don’t forget to ask me to participate again next year.”

Wow, things had changed in the course of a few weeks, from Robert wanting nothing to do with him to volunteering for next year already. All Phillip could do was nod. “Yes, sir.”

As the father gestured to his son, Sean said, “I need a few minutes with Phillip. You don’t have to wait. I can find my own ride.”

Tension ticked deep within Phillip. The unreadable man seemed ready to make a move, and Phillip wanted to see what would come of it.

After a quick back-and-forth, Robert departed. The echo of his loafers drifted away before Sean and Phillip turned to face each other. The anticipation forced the hairs on the back of his neck to stand up.

He noticed how Sean’s jaw ticked and how the corners of his mouth tightened.

The room crackled with competition and anger. Soon they would collide unless Phillip broke the tension. He refused to react to his adrenaline or to Sean. Not waiting for Sean to make a move, Phillip dove into the conversation. “About Montgomery’s.” He shifted, forcing himself to maintain complete control. “You picked up the tab.”

Sean nodded. “I didn’t need to stick around after Ashley left with you.”

Phillip’s molars ground as he recalled Sean’s accusation about Graham and Claire that had set off the events. Right now, that was all Phillip could focus on, not giving a damn about how long they’d been gone or what Sean might assume.

“I was out of line,” Sean admitted then cleared his throat. “I tend to view people as a mean to an end. Maybe you can relate. The family business is the only life I know.”

“No, I cannot.”

Sean pursed his lips. “Well, that makes two of you, because neither can Ashley.”

Phillip didn’t move, waiting for Sean to explain what he meant or get the hell out.

“But,” Sean started, “Agatha Cartwright is another story.”

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