That’s right. Used to being the alpha with women.
“Believe it or not, Sawyer Lombardi always opens doors for women, no matter their orientation.”
She walked closer to the SUV and kept her eyes on me.
“Thank you. That’s kind of you,” she said and slid into the passenger seat. I could smell her sweet and smoky shower gel and lotion. With her scent in my nostrils, I closed the door gently and walked around the front of my car.
“Careful, there’s a dip in the road coming up by the tree that has the yellow flag wrapped around it,” she said.
I covered the brake as I drove over it carefully. It hadn’t really been noticeable in my SUV.
“Or, just drive over it because you do what you want anyhow,” she mumbled under her breath.
I laughed out loud.
“Taylor, relax.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her hands go up to her head.
“You’re right. I apologize for being a difficult bitch.”
“You’re not being difficult.”
Taylor caught on that I was agreeing with her assessment of being a bitch and she laughed. I laughed along with her while I waited at the bottom of the hill for some cars to pass before pulling onto the main road.
“Actually, I want to thank you for recommending me to Michael for the promotion. It was completely unexpected, and I was floored.”
“You deserve it, Taylor. I’m not above recommending someone for something that I know they can do and do well,” I said as I pulled onto the main highway.
“Again, thank you. It means a lot to me to be given a chance to prove I’m just as good as Michael’s men.”
“You’re not just as good as them. You’re better than them, Taylor. That’s why I recommended you. Michael deserves the best, and you’re it.”
“Next to you, of course,” she teasingly said.
“Obviously,” I said in an equally teasing tone.
“Wow, the new coffee shop over there is still so busy even this late in the day,” Taylor pointed out as we drove by the new place in town. “Have you had it yet?” she asked.
“No, not yet. But my parents were there the other day and said it was good.”
“Your parents seem really kind.”
“They are.” I reached for my box of Tic-Tacs in the cupholder and handed it to Taylor. “Pour some in my hand, please,” I said.
“Do the steaks at Trevor’s Haus taste better with the hint of Tic-Tacs on your tastebuds?” she asked as she opened the box and poured two into my hand.
“No, I try not to eat these things too close to dinner.”
“You’re eating them now.”
“We have time.”
Taylor was quiet for a moment and looked out the window again. She must have registered that we’d passed the street that Trevor’s Haus was on a few minutes ago.
“I thought we were going to Trevor’s Haus so you could gloat?”
“I changed my mind.”
