Page 61 of Tide and Seek
“Yes.”Max accepted the BMW keys.“It wasn’t our fault, though.I’m not sure if your office told you, but we were involved in a road-rage incident.”
“They did.I’m just glad you two are okay,” Reggie said.“Road-rage incidents are getting scarier and scarier.Seems like people think they have the right to kill someone because they don’t like the way they drive.”
“It’s terrifying, and as you well know, I never wanted the Hummer.”Max gave a guilty laugh.“But I suspect we owe our lives to that monstrosity.”
“You might be right.”Reggie watched as the tow-truck driver hooked the winch cables to the Hummer.
Max examined the BMW and nodded.“Now that’s more like it.”The replacement car was everything the Hummer wasn’t: sleek and understated, its black paint reflecting the morning light like polished obsidian.It sat quietly in the driveway, elegant and unassuming, the kind of car that whispered, rather than shouted, “look at me.”
“I’m sorry about the earlier mix-up, but I’m glad we could make it right,” Reggie said, holding out his iPad.“I just need your signature, Mr.Thornton, to confirm the vehicle exchange.”
Max signed quickly, still admiring the new ride.The tow-truck driver had the Hummer loaded in no time.
“When you return home next Thursday, just leave the BMW locked in your driveway with the keys inside, and I’ll swing by to pick it up.We do offer airport pickup at LAX, but I believe you mentioned you’d hired a car service for your return flight?”Reggie asked, swiping screens.
“I did.”Max nodded.
Reggie leaned closer.“When you get home, I’d be ever so grateful if you’d leave a review on Yelp, Mr.Thornton.Word of mouth and positive customer experiences are how we’ve grown so quickly.”
“Er…” Max hesitated.Odds were he’d never written a Yelp review in his life.“Well, Reggie, it would be my pleasure.You’ve been extremely pleasant and accommodating, even when I wasn’t particularly gracious.”
Surprised but pleased by how magnanimous he was being toward Reggie, I gave him an approving smile.
Reggie beamed.“Awesome, Mr.Thornton.I can’t thank you enough.”
“Think nothing of it,” Max said, then murmured to me, “I’m sure I can coerce Girdy into writing a glowing review.”
Now there’s the Max I know.
I had to stifle a laugh.
“Well, you gentlemen have a good day,” Reggie said, heading to the tow-truck’s passenger-side door.“And remember, if you visit again, don’t forget Tippity Top Car Rentals would love your return business.”
“We’ll certainly keep you in mind,” Max said.
We watched the tow truck pull away, and I slipped an arm around Max’s waist.“Now that we’ve got wheels again,” I said, smiling, “are you ready for some culture and good food?”
Max sighed, holding up the BMW keys.“I’m so ready, I’ll even drive.You just sit back and let your rich boyfriend spoil you rotten today.”
“Deal.”I didn’t say a peep about Max spending money on me.It bothered him when I fixated on that stuff, and I wanted this day to be perfect.
Max moved to the BMW and opened the passenger-side door.“Have a seat, Sheriff.You can ride shotgun.”
“Why thanks, pardner.”I slid into the car with a self-conscious laugh.I wasn’t used to guys opening my door for me.
Looking elated, he closed the door and hurried around to the driver’s side.“Ahh, it’s so nice not to have to scale a mountain just to get in my car.”
“Yeah, this is a nice ride.”I smoothed a hand over the black leather dash.“Way more your style.”
“I shall always be grateful to that hideous Hummer for saving our lives, but I can’t say I’m sorry to see it go.”He started the car, grinning as the engine hummed.“Just listen to that baby purr.”
I couldn’t help laughing.“You’re in heaven right now, aren’t you?”
“You know I am.”He smirked.“Okay, I say we hit the Getty first, and then lunch at Geoffrey’s.”
“Absolutely.”He looked so happy it made me happy, too.
He pulled up to the security gate and waited for it to open, then eased onto the main road.“After yesterday’s excitement, I’m looking forward to a quiet, civilized day.”
