Bad Taste in Men (Clover Park, Book 3) Contemporary Romance (The Clover Park Series) (18 page)

Shane’s mouth formed a grim line. “She must’ve talked to my dad. I never told anyone.”

“Told them what!”

“I sold the Shelby.”

“What’s a Shelby?”

He ran a hand through his hair. “It’s a car. A very expensive, highly collectible classic car. It was a ’67 Shelby Mustang GT 500 I inherited from my dad. He got it from his dad.”

Her brows scrunched in confusion. “I never saw you drive a Mustang.”

He lifted one shoulder up and down. “I kept it at my dad’s house because I didn’t want my brothers to be hurt that he gave the Shelby to me and not them. My dad gave it to me as a thank you for spending time with him. We spent a lot of time fixing it up on the weekends.”

Rachel suddenly felt shaky. She knew Shane had only recently started spending time with his dad after his dad had abandoned him as a kid. Her hand went to her mouth, and she took a step back, hitting air where the sidewalk should’ve been. Shane caught her and held her.

“Why would you do that?” she asked.

He gazed into her eyes. “I did it for you.”

“How much?” she whispered.

“How much what?”

“How much did you sell the car for?”

“I was going to sell it at auction, but the guy who owned the garage I took it to bought it from me on the spot for ninety-five thousand.”

Rachel gasped. Shane had given up this car that was worth so much money just to help her start the café? This car that had been in his family for generations? That he’d bonded with his dad over?

Omigod.

Her ears had a weird ringing to them, and she felt lightheaded. “I need to sit down.”

She sank to the ground, and he sat on the curb next to her.

“I’ll pay you back right away” she told him. “We’ll get the car back.”

“No, it’s a done deal.”

“I’ll find another investor. You’re not losing your inheritance because of me.” She gripped her hands tightly. “I’ll fix this.”

He snagged her chin and turned her to face him. “You don’t have to fix this. It’s fine.”

“Shane…what your family said back there. Were they right? You did all this just to…” She couldn’t say it, but it was there. Shane went into business with her to sleep with her. “Just tell me why you wanted to be business partners. What’s the real reason?”

His mouth formed a tight line. Rachel got the unsettling feeling that his intentions were exactly what his family had said.

“Just say it,” she said.

He ran a hand through his hair, and the humidity made it stay rumpled. She quickly smoothed it back into its usual side part, not able to deal with a rumpled, sexy look right now.

He watched her warily. “I told you, to diversify against that idiot Barry.”

“That’s the only reason? Honestly?”

He paused, finally saying, “It was a plus that it helped you out.”

“And?”

“And what?”

She stared him down. “What did you expect in return? To get me into bed?”

“You think I’m paying to sleep with you?” His voice was dangerously low, and she felt the first inkling that maybe she’d pushed him too far. “I’ve never paid for sex in my life!”

“Forget it,” she muttered. She stood and turned to go. She’d fix this and soon. She’d find another investor and pay him back all that money he’d lost. She’d make sure he got his car back.

He stepped in front of her, blocking her way. “Say what you’re thinking.”

She tried not to get turned on by the return of alpha Shane. She wasn’t going to argue with him over the money. She’d take care of it, and that was that. Still, his aggressive stance riled her up.

She raised her chin. “We’ve been friends for months, and you never kissed me, I mean,
really
kissed me until
after
we were business partners.”

One corner of his mouth quirked up. “That wasn’t why I kissed you.”

He stepped closer, and she eased back a step, trying not to look like she was running. She wasn’t. She was just preserving her personal space. He closed the gap, and she stopped, taken in by his scent, his reassuring presence, so close after keeping his distance these past weeks.

He ran a fingertip over her exposed collarbone, and she swallowed, flushing with warmth. “Think about it, Rach. Think real hard. Why did I kiss you?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. It makes no sense. We were friends. We had just signed a contract.”

His hand slid into her hair, and she thought,
I should go
, but then his mouth was near her ear, and his voice was low and silky, and she couldn’t move. Not one inch.

“Think about it tonight when you’re alone in your bed,” he said. “When you reach for Neal—”

She gasped, horrified at the mention of her vibrator. She shoved him away with both hands, face flaming. He just smiled and stayed feet planted in front of her. Why had she confided so much in Shane? He was such a good listener she’d let her mouth get away from her. Now he would use everything he knew against her. This was just one more reason why you should never hook up with your best friend.

He nodded. “Oh, yeah, I remember. Think about me tonight when you’re about to—”

“I shouldn’t have told you that,” she muttered. She exhaled sharply and stared at his chest. “Just shut up. I’m embarrassed enough just from hanging out with your family. Now you. Is that what you wanted?”

“You know what I want.”

Her head snapped up. Their eyes met for a crackling moment. He reached out, one warm hand cradling her face as he leaned slowly toward her. She forgot to breathe.
Okay, just one kiss
, she told herself. They’d get this out of their system and move on. She closed her eyes.

Then nothing.

He pulled away, and she stared at him as disappointment swamped her.

“I think we want the same thing,” he said.

Then he turned and walked back to the house. She stood there fuming, unsure whether to lash out at him or her own stupid self for wanting what she knew she couldn’t have. Shouldn’t have.

He turned, hand on the knob. “Like I said, it’s your move.”

“Aargh!” The man was simultaneously devastating in his generosity and unforgivably withholding.

Rachel turned and walked home in a daze. One thing was for certain. She would
not
be spending time with Neal tonight thinking of Shane. She wouldn’t give Shane the satisfaction of being right.

Chapter Fourteen

The next day Rachel was sitting at the front register of her store, still lost in thought, trying to figure out where she’d find another investor for the café when Barry walked in.

“Good morning!” he called cheerfully.

“Morning,” she replied.

He stopped at the counter, and his brows drew together. “Everything okay?”

She forced a smile. “Yes, sure. What can I help you with today?”

“Got any recommendations for a beach read?”

“Sure. I just got a celebrity tell-all that might be fun.” She led him to the memoir and biography section and handed him the book.

He glanced at it. “Thanks.”

She went back to the register to ring him up, still lost in a dark cloud. She couldn’t believe what Shane had sacrificed for her. Why would he do that and never say a word about it? Who does that?

“You sure you’re okay?” Barry asked.

She rubbed her forehead. “I just had a bit of a shock.”

He handed over his credit card. “Want to talk about it?”

She shook her head. “Not unless you know someone who wants to invest in my café.”

He grinned. “As a matter of fact, I do. I’ll invest.”

Her mouth dropped open in shock. “But you just opened your own shop. How could you possibly afford—”

“You didn’t think I always worked at fro-yo, did you? I had a windfall. I’ve got money invested in quite a few places.”

She stared at him, confused. “What do you mean?”

He grinned. “You know Giggle Snap?”

Giggle Snap was a social media phenomenon focused on sharing sounds—laughter, conversation, weird sound effects. “That was you?”

“Yup. I sold it to one of the big guys. Then I started the fro-yo shop just for kicks. Mom was so proud I finally did something she could enjoy.” He grinned. “So what do I get as an investor?”

She blinked. “Don’t you want to know how much?”

He looked over at the café, shrewdly taking in the place. “I’m guessing a hundred, hundred fifty grand.”

“Yes, a hundred grand would work just fine.”

This was amazing. She could buy Shane out and get his inheritance back. He would go back to being just the supplier. Things would go back to normal. She wouldn’t be in debt to him anymore. Sure, she’d be in debt to Barry, but he was such an easygoing guy, she couldn’t imagine that being a problem.

Barry held out his hand to shake on it. She raised a palm, holding him off. “You’d get a fifty-percent share in the profits,” she said, “but I run the place. You’d be a silent partner.”

“Sounds perfect! Cash or check?”

“Um, check is fine.”

Barry had that kind of cash lying around? They shook on it.

“I’ll have my accountant cut a check,” Barry said. “You should get the money on Monday.”

Relief rushed through her. “Thank you, thank you so much. It’s very generous.”

He smiled. “I know a good investment when I see it.”

Now she just had to tell Shane. She decided not to mention Barry by name, seeing as how Shane still saw him as annoying at best, the enemy at worst. She’d just tell him he would be getting his investment back and he could reclaim his inheritance.

~ ~ ~

Shane smiled as Rachel stopped by his shop. His shop was empty, the lull between morning coffee and afternoon ice cream. He wasn’t sure she’d come to him after the way they’d left things last night with him reminding her it was her move, but she had. He wouldn’t make this difficult. It was enough that she came to him.

“Hey,” he said. “Long time no see. How are you?”

She played with the end of her braid, a sure sign she was nervous. “I’m okay.” She bit her lip. “Got a minute to talk?”

His stomach twisted. He had a feeling this wouldn’t be the good kind of talk.

He untied his apron and came out from behind the counter. She took a seat at a table near the front window. Did she want witnesses?

“What’s up?” he asked.

“I just wanted you to know I found an investor.”

“You did?”

“Yes. And I’ll have the money on Monday. Enough to buy you out and pay off the loan you gave me for my share. You can get the Shelby back.”

He crossed his arms. “What if I don’t want to sell my share?”

She turned pleading eyes to him. “Please let me do this.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to owe you. I don’t want you to sacrifice. It’s too much.”

“Rach, I’m okay with it.”

She gripped her hands tightly together. “It’s your inheritance. I want you to get it back.”

“I’m not buying back the Shelby,” he said. “And I don’t give a shit about the money.”

She stiffened. “Please don’t make this harder than it is. Just take the damn money!”

Something wasn’t sitting right with him. She was pushing him away.

“Just tell me this…” He paused, almost afraid to hear the answer. “Are you trying to push me out of the café or out of your life?”

“The café,” she said gently. “I just don’t want you to invest. Besides, I miss you. I miss our friendship. We never hang out anymore.”

Back to that again? Friends?

“You’re scared,” he said. “Scared to give a real relationship a chance. I’m not one of those loser guys you have to endlessly discuss with your friends, trying to figure out how to fix them and send them on their merry way.”

Her eyes narrowed. She stood. “Barry’s accountant will cut the check, and then you’ll have your money.”

He jumped up so fast the chair went flying out from under him. “Barry? Barry from The Dancing Cow? Are you fucking kidding me?”

She gave a quick nod and stepped carefully away.

“I’m not selling out to Barry!” he roared.

“I’m sending you the money either way,” she said, and then she left the shop, leaving him furious and ready to destroy Barry and his stupid dancing cow.

He closed up shop and got in his car, determined to end this deal right now.

~ ~ ~

Late on Monday, with no small amount of trepidation, Rachel crossed the street to Shane’s shop to give him the check she’d received from Barry. She’d asked that it be made out to Shane. She also brought the paperwork canceling her debt to Shane and naming Barry as silent partner in the shop. Gabe had helped with the paperwork while shaking his head at her. She hadn’t appreciated the reminder. She knew Shane wouldn’t be happy. But this was the only way to fix things.

She hadn’t called Shane to give him the heads-up, too afraid she’d lose her nerve. Instead she’d waited until just before Shane’s shop closed for the day before rushing across the street to catch him.

“Hi, Shane,” she called.

He was closing up the register. He eyed her. “Hello, Rachel,” he said flatly.

She swallowed and approached him. “Can we talk? About the business.”

He indicated a chair, and she sat. Her hands were shaking. Geez, what was she so worked up about? This was business, and she was just doing what needed to be done. He joined her a few minutes later, making her wait just long enough to consider running out of the shop.

She handed him the check. “It’s enough to buy out your share and cancel my debt.”

He stared at it. The check said Barry Furnukle Enterprises in bold right on top. “I told Barry I wasn’t selling.”

“I know. I told him it wasn’t up to you.”

His jaw tightened.

She pushed the other papers and a pen toward him. “I just need you to sign off that I paid my debt and, um, sign here that you’re not a partner.”

He signed off on the debt. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Then he took the check and ripped it into tiny pieces.

“Shane! What are you doing?” She gathered up all the pieces.

“I’m not taking Barry’s money, and I’m not selling.”

Rachel was feeling positively desperate. “I’m trying to help you! I’m trying to fix things!” She tried to piece the check back together, thinking maybe she could tape it, but the pieces were just too small. She gave up and stared down at the mess. “Now I’m going to have to get another check,” she muttered.