Page 39 of Final Goodbye
“Glad you asked. I’d never let you go looking for a car alone. The dealers here would walk all over a pretty girl like you.” I hadn’t even thought of that. Car dealers were fucking assholes sometimes. They assumed because you’re a girl, you’ll back down and they could get every penny you’re worth.
“It’s settled then.” Even though we only had plans to look at cars, the idea of being alone with him without this bar between us had me eager. We had only been together alone a few times. And it seemed that each time, our sexual attraction for each other took over. This time, I wanted to take the opportunity to learn more about him. Maybe dig back into the conversation we were having about Myles.
If the moments we talked tonight at the bar had any indication of the kind of person he was, I needed to know more.
I grabbed a glass from the top of the stack beside me and began filling it with water. “Here, drink this.” I set the glass of ice-cold water down in front of him.
“What’s this for?” His eyebrow arched in confusion.
“Better sober up so you can drive home and be on your A-game for tomorrow,” I spoke in a flirty tone, but the twinge in my chest told me it was deeper than that.
As a bartender, I’d always make sure my customers didn’t get out of hand with their drinking. We had taxi cabs on speed dial. But given the recent events of my dad’s hit and run, I was more sensitive to people getting behind the wheel with alcohol in their system. I trusted Declan and was aware I’d only served him a couple of drinks, but I cared for him. The last thing I wanted was to lose someone else I cared about due to an accident.
“Thanks for looking out for me, baby girl.” He didn’t question the water again. Instead, he set his unfinished beer in front of me, indicating he was done with it and drank the water. The sincere look on his face told me he could read me like a book.
He had a knack for that.
All the extra shifts I’d worked paid off when I counted five-grand I could put toward a car. I wanted to spend it on something that was reliable in any kind of weather and not an old piece of junk that would break down on me the second I bought it. I knew I’d have to take on a car payment, but at least I had a decent down payment. This was all a step in the right direction of starting over here in Colorado.
We walked up rows and rows of vehicles. There didn’t seem to be too many options. If we wanted more, we’d have to drive into the city for specific dealerships. But this privately-owned, used car lot would have to do. I was never too particular when itcame to the car I drove, I just knew I didn’t want anything too big and clunky.
“I like this Subaru.” After walking all around this place, I think I found the one. My hand grazed the shiny blue paint as I pictured myself gripping the wheel, driving around town.
“It’s fitting. Blue is definitely your color,” Declan said, confirming my thoughts. Blue had always been my favorite color. With a smile on my face, we walked back toward the sales office, and I let him take the reins on this one.
“If you get him to knock down the price a bit, I’ll buy you lunch after this?” I extended the offer.
“That’s cute, but I’d never let you buy me lunch, Paige. I’m here to look after you, remember?” He opened the door to the office for me and my cheeks warmed. I walked in ahead of him as he held the door, trying my best to hide the fact that he made me anxious.
“Hey, man, nice to meet you. We’d love to take that blue Subaru off your lot.” Declan shook the man’s hand; John is what his badge said.
“Glad you like it. It’s a great vehicle. Who are we shopping for today?” John said, looking between the two of us.
“It’s for me. I just moved back here, and I need something sensible to get around in,” I chimed in. I didn’t miss the way Declan looked at me when I mentioned moving back here. It just kind of slipped out, after all.
“A Subaru is the way to go. Here in Colorado, if you’re not driving a Ford F-150, you’re most likely driving around in one of those,” John said as he pointed out to the lot full of Subarus. “Very reliable vehicle. The functional flexibility of it is what sells these vehicles most. One minute you’re camping out of it and the next you’re driving it around town.” John chuckled.
“Sounds great. Let’s talk about price then,” Declan added.
“The sticker price is firm. Not much we can do about that, unfortunately.” There it was, the moment we knew was coming and exactly the reason Declan was here with me. I planned to sit back and watch him get to work.
“What do you say we talk about it a bit more, John? Everyone knows there is always a little bit of negotiating that can happen.” He came off kind but also puffed his chest like he wasn’t going to take this guy’s shit.
“Maybe we step into my office. I can run some numbers and see what we can come up with?” he responded hesitantly.
Looks like Declan was putting the pressure on and making this guy feel a bit intimidated. I felt that way every time I was around him, like I couldn’t possibly say no to the man. All he had to do was flash me that smile of his and turn on that serious, manly tone and I was done for.
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed when John finally agreed to bring the price down. I was so lost in thought, I tuned everything out.
Before I knew it, papers were signed, keys were in hand, and I had the first car I ever bought myself in my entire adult life. It may have taken me a while to make such a big girl purchase, but I couldn’t have done it without Declan’s help. If I came here alone today, John most likely would have gotten that sticker price from me, but Declan got me a discounted price, just like he promised.
Now I needed to convince him to let me buy him lunch, it was the least I could do.
“No fuckingway are you buying my lunch,” I grumbled.
“Fine, I’ll get mine then and you can get yours,” she argued back, sitting with her arms crossed and her credit card out. I loved the sassy side of her. The way she folded her arms made my eyes drift to her chest that was pressed up and I thought back to the night my mouth was all over those tits. I shook my head, refusing to get another boner in public with this woman, and leaned toward her, opening my mouth to speak up.
“Paige, if you ever think I will be caught going Dutch, then you’re insane. It’s a small town and I refuse to let people spread rumors saying I’m cheap and don’t pay for a woman’s meal. Especially when we’re supposed to make it believable that we are a couple.” I took her credit card and put it in my wallet to give back to her later.
