“Oh?”
“Um-hmm. I’m going to be more open-minded about people and possibilities. I’m turning a new leaf.”
“That’s awesome, Pres.” Her smile softened, moving from teasing to pride. “I like this new version of you.”
“I like it, too.”
I drove straight to the car dealership, and like they’d promised, they had the paperwork waiting for me. I signed on the dotted line, and a half an hour later, I was sitting behind the wheel of my new car.
It wasn’t anything special. Just something that would get me from point A to point B, but it was mine and I was proud to have it. With a smile on my face, I left the van at the dealership and drove over to check out the car Lila Kate had found.
We pulled into the smaller used lot on the edge of town, and Lila Kate’s eyes lit up as she pointed to the off-white Rogue parked out front. It was freshly washed and practically gleaming. I’d barely killed the engine when she opened the door and rushed over to it.
When I walked up, she smiled and said, “It’s so pretty.”
She was right. It was pretty, and the price couldn’t have been better. It seemed to be perfect. Almost too perfect. Suspiciously so. I walked around it, checking for anything that might catch my eye, and I couldn’t deny that it looked pretty good.
The tires looked to be in good shape, and the paint seemed to be in good shape. I was checking out the rear when the salesman walked up. He looked like he was in his late forties, and his hair was slicked back like it hadn’t moved since the early 2000s.
He was all smiles as he greeted us, “Hello there, ladies. I’m Daniel.”
“Hey, Daniel. I think I spoke with you earlier,” Lila Kate replied. “I’m Lila, and this is my sister, Presley.”
“Nice to meet you both.” He placed his hand on the Rogue as he said, “You have good taste. She’s a good one.”
“How long have you had her?”
“Just a week or so,” he answered smoothly.
“And it’s just one owner?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“No accidents?”
His smile never faltered as he answered, “None that are listed on the Carfax.”
“Mind if I see that report?”
“Sure thing. Just let me run back inside and grab it.”
“Thanks.”
He turned and started back inside. Once he was out of earshot, Lila Kate stepped over to me and said, “I could ask Smitty to come by and look it over for us. Just to be safe.”
“I’ll get Luke.” I already had my phone in my hand, messaging him when I said, “He’ll be able to tell us if it’s really as good as it looks.”
“Good idea.”
Seconds later, the salesman returned and offered me the Carfax. I looked it over for a moment, but I didn’t see any red flags. They’d done all the typical maintenance, and there was no sign of any accidents or repairs. “It looks good.”
“So, you girls ready for me to draw up the paperwork?”
His smile tightened when I said, “Um, not just yet. I have a friend who’s going to come and check it out. Maybe give it a test drive.”
“I see. Well, that’s good. Just let me know how I can be of help.”
The words had barely left his mouth when Luke’s bike rumbled into the lot like it owned the place. He parked and pulled off his helmet, and when I saw his disheveled hair and sexy smirk, it was all I could do to keep my knees from giving out on me.
