She stepped back and he frowned, glowering at her for a moment.
“Are you really going to be mad at me? At me?”
He shook his head, the glower softening. “I’m sorry. I was worried and you didn’t call me back. You were out there and I wanted to talk. I’m selfish, I know.” He pulled a chair out at the table. “Sit. Please. Eat your pizza. I’m getting coffee, you want something?”
She sat, keeping an eye on him. “What are you up to?”
He brought his coffee over, topping up hers as well. “I’m not up to anything. I just want to know what happened.”
Instead of moving across from her, he chose the place next to her and proceeded to take up all the oxygen.
Leaning against him for long moments, she moved to her coffee again before finishing her pizza. And then she told him what happened.
She knew he was pissed. It radiated from him. “Are you mad?”
“I don’t think ‘mad’ is a word that applies here, PJ. But first, are you all right? Do you need to see a doctor or file a police report? What do you need?”
He was trying really hard to get all that alpha male under control, and it was actually exactly what she needed.
“He didn’t hit me or anything. He just got in my face and he was so vicious. I don’t get it. I’ve never met the guy. I was polite. The customer called me, not the other way around.”
“Can’t imagine it was very pleasant to have a man a foot taller than you scream in your face that you’re a whore. I’m upset and it didn’t even happen to me.”
“I need to get over it. This shit happens.”
He craned his neck so he could see into her face. “This has happened before?”
“I can honestly say no one has gotten in my face in the middle of a business and screamed I was a whore who got a job because I was riding someone’s dick.”
His eyes went hard and she regretted saying that out loud. On one hand, it was nice to feel defended and that what had happened was outrageous and awful. On the other, she didn’t want to stir this situation up. This was a place her personal and professional lives bled into one another.
“But do I get judged because of my gender or my age? Yes. Every day. And not just by strangers. My dad does it.”
Another frown; this time PJ knew it was partially in relation to the mention of her father. “I’m not buying that you need to get over someone else’s bullshit. I don’t know what his problem is. I’ve spent about fifteen minutes in person with the guy. Until today I didn’t have any beef with him.”
“Apparently he’s been thinking a lot about your dick and who rides it.”
He put his arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry you went through that. And I’m sorry you didn’t feel like you could call me.”
“I didn’t call anyone but the client to say I wasn’t going to be at the meeting and that I was available if he went elsewhere or wanted me to do the work at a different shop.”
“I know people have failed you in your life. I’m not that guy.”
His tone was so vehement she knew there was a story there. It wasn’t the time or place to dig any deeper, but it underlined how much she wanted to know him, even if he was overwhelming and bossy.
“What are your plans tonight?” He finished his coffee.
“I’m having dinner with my mom and sister. I should be done by nine or so.”
“Come to my house after? Spend the night.”
She stood, balling up her napkin and washing out her cup and putting it in the small dishwasher. “If you’re sure. Text me if you want me to bring anything special with me.”
They parted at the bottom of the steps, she heading out to the paint bay and he back to work on the front end of the Dodge they were supposed to deliver in three weeks.
Chapter Sixteen
Bis on Main in Bellevue was a place her mom and sister went to a lot. PJ enjoyed it and certainly loved the food, so she was all too happy to accept the invite, which was more like a pointed order.
PJ hugged her mother and gave her a kiss on the cheek after sliding her bag under the table.
Lenore Colman had been raised to be someone’s wife. And she did a great job. She’d aged gracefully. She’d had little things done here and there, PJ knew that much, but it was deft and her mother pretended it never happened. As PJ and Julie felt it was their mother’s business, they said nothing.
Her home was beautiful. Tasteful. If you stayed in her guest room you’d find a basket with pretty soaps, maybe a sleep mask and some snacks she remembered you liked from the last time she saw you.
Her parties were perfection. She knew how to have you over to eat, no matter the reason or situation. Sometimes she made PJ feel like an utter failure because no matter how hard she tried, she’d never measure up.
“Champagne cocktail?” Julie asked.
“Yes, please.” The server left to go handle that as PJ looked back from her menu to her mom and sister. “You both look great. How are things?”
Her mother smiled. “Tell me about you. Or should I say, tell me about Asa. Honestly, why you think I wouldn’t have heard about this boy, I don’t know. But I saw a picture of the two of you. He’s quite fierce looking, but Julie says he’s very sweet.”
“How did you see a picture of us?” When had that happened? How had that happened?
“You put it on your whatsits? On the Internet. You post pictures of your work too. I like to look at what you do. It’s very impressive. You had on a lovely red dress and he had on a black shirt that buttoned up. Does he really have a ring in his nose like a bull?”
PJ burst out laughing. “He does have a piercing there, yes. Not a ring, a horseshoe of sorts.” She brought her phone out of her bag, showing her mother some pictures of them.
“It’s actually a little handsome on him.” Their mother’s nervous laugh and blush made Julie grin across the table at PJ.
Julie looked to their mother. “It’s all a front. He’s scary on the outside, but quite sweet and charming. A dry sense of humor. A sign of intelligence.”
PJ nodded. “He’s quiet and very intense. He listens more than he talks. Definitely smart.”
Her mom nodded, clearly approving. “Your father says your young man owns a custom-build shop.”
“He and his friend Duke co-own it, yes. Twisted Steel. He does the bodywork and some machining. He’s thirty-seven. I just wanted to tell you that myself. It seems to scandalize some people. It hasn’t really mattered between him and me, though it took me months to get him to ask me out because he thought I was too young for him.”
“I think in some circumstances you might be too young for someone. But you’re a Colman and you went after what you wanted until you got it. Well done, darling.”
Her mom gave really good compliments sometimes.
Happy and feeling very loved, PJ raised her glass to her mother. “Thank you, Mom.”
“You should invite him to dinner.”
Even Lenore Colman might not be able to pull off that dinner.
“How about we all meet somewhere instead? That way you can visit with him and someone else can do the cooking. You and Dad like Salty’s, so let’s go there.” PJ had no plans to bring Asa into that house. Not the first time he met her parents. A restaurant was a public place. Her father would behave, and if it was awful it would be easier to escape.
“All right. I’ll set it up and give you a call about it.” Lenore sat back, satisfied, and it occurred to PJ all too late that her mother had set that trap rather expertly.
Well played.
That handled, her mother moved to the next issue on her list. “Are you going to speak to your father any time soon, Penelope?”
“I’ve seen him once since I left. Which was two months ago at this point. I’ve left him messages. I’ve sent him e-mails. I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do except to hear him telling me he doesn’t want to talk.”