Prepared for that, all I said in response was, “Remember Rachel?”
He blanched in response, then turned red and turned around. While walking away he called out, “Fine, stay clocked in and log your miles. Make a schedule for the others too.” Then he slammed the door to his office behind him.
Rachel wasstrike onefor Paul. This woman made a complaint about Paul’s…proximity a couple summers back. Billy said Paul would only get two strikes.
That event on my mind, I looked up toward our waiting room and saw Taylor looking right at me with a giant smile on her face. I gave her a thumbs up and walked away, past Patrick and Darren, both working on a local delivery van, and back to Miss Tina’s car.
Taylor
I was pissed when my dad told me he wanted me to try at least a year of teaching before he’d give me a position in his company. Something aboutat least pretending to use my degree. It was literally a waste of everyone’s time.
I refused to put in applications, so imagine my surprise when my dad called me into his office to give me thegood news.
“Your Aunt Jill got you a TA job in Briar Ridge where she works. You’ll stay at the rental she has there that’s already furnished.” I went to interrupt, but he bulldozed right over me. “You will do this, and you will do this well. If you do not, do not expect a job. If you can’t manage a bunch of little brats, there’s no way you can manage the stress this job has in store for you. Let’s call this a stress test.”
I clamped my lips shut at that.
The day I moved to the budget version of Stars Hollow was the day I met Carter Stewart, aka my Dean. He was like my dream guy all wrapped up in a delicious greased up salt and pepper package. When he swooped in to help me with the creep, Paul, I literallyswooned.
I knew then and there, he was going to be mine for the duration of my exile from humanity. We were basically a hallmark movie in the making.
While creepy Paul tried to convince me to let him give me a ride, I was insisting on a rental. But once Carter stepped in, I was ready to do whatever it took to get a ride from him. In every sense of the word.
“Taylor, come on over here and let’s chat about your car.” Paul said from the entrance of the waiting room, and suddenly, there’s Carter, like he couldn’t keep away while I was talking to another man. I tried to catch his eye, but he was busy staring at Paul’s paper.
Paul rolled his eyes and got out a pen and started making notes on it. Carter nodded his head.
“Yes, Carter?” That made him look at me, finally.
Pretty, pretty man.
Paul cleared his throat and handed me the messy list of car things. Like I was supposed to know what it was.I could ask Carter to explain it to me.
“This is everything I see that needs help on your car. I suggest you let us go ahead and get this done as quickly as possible, it is not safe to drive as is.”
Carter nodded like he agreed, but then he pulled out his phone. Paul looked at me so I reluctantly looked away from Carter again. Paul rolled his eyes, so my eyes drifted back to their preferred target.
“I’ll need your number for rides, Carter.” I said with my lower voice. Men react to this voice.
“Sure.” He said, not even looking up from his phone. “What’s your number?”
I rattled it off to him and watched as he never looked up. Then a notification popped up on my own phone, obviously in my hand.
Unknown
it’s Carter, from Billy’s Auto Services. Here’s my number for pickup calls.
Perfect.
Then, his phone rang and a gorgeous smile spread across his face as he answered. “Hey spitfire, how’s my perfect fiancé today.” He said while walking away fromme.
No fucking way. I was not going to be stuck in this shit town with that man unavailable to me. He was my silver linings, and I refused to give that up for some stupid, small town fiancé. After a quick mental calculation, I looked back to creepy Paul, who was already looking at me.
“So Paul,” I purred. “Tell me a little about your man, Carter. What’s his fiancé like?” He looked exactly as men do when I put on my charm until I brought up the fiancé. He scowled.
“She’s a bitch. They’re perfect together, honestly. Becky tells him to jump and he asks how high.” There was more to their story, but I had a name to bring to Aunt Jill and a possible dynamic to toy with.
One last look at Carter’s retreating figure, and I thought that maybe this could be a good year after all.
