Come What May: A Standalone Age Gap Romance

by LK Farlow

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Seraphine

  Mateo and I texted on and off all weekend. We played our own little version of Twenty Questions. It involved some semi-scandalous pics—and, well, my phone definitely has a new home screen.

  One I found myself shamelessly staring at many times over the last two days.

  But now, it’s Monday morning and I’ll be seeing him in person for the first time since our date.

  Nerves flutter all throughout me, battering my insides like birds trying to fly while caged. Is he going to be the same Mateo he was before our date, or will he be the affectionate and touchy man from our date? Or worse yet, will he become the picture of professionalism and treat me like his employee?

  I guess I’m fine with any of the above; it’s more so the not-knowing that has me fretting.

  Which is why I’m wearing my best armor—makeup. The look is subtle, almost natural-looking, but it is highlighted and contoured to perfection. My brows are sculpted, my liner winged, my lashes full, and my lips glossy.

  It also happens to be the exact way I wore my makeup on our date. So, even if nothing comes of my little power play, Mateo’s reaction will be worth how early I woke up to look like this.

  I waltz into the shop at a quarter to eight, a tray of coffees in hand. “Morning!” I holler in the empty garage. “I brought caffeinated beverages!”

  “Regular coffee or that fancy shit?” Rodger asks, coming from somewhere past the first bay.

  I grin. “Regular for you.”

  “Good.”

  I hear the door to the back office open and close. Looking up, I see Danton heading my way with Mateo hot on his heels.

  Danton whistles when he sees me, but Mateo doesn’t look impressed. My gut clenches as I worry this was a mistake.

  “My office,” Mateo growls before pivoting around and stomping back the way he came.

  “I got you a mocha,” I whisper to Danton, passing him the tray, leaving both mine and Mateo’s drinks behind.

  I walk toward the office like I’m heading to my execution—slowly and with great trepidation.

  As I approach the door, Mateo swings it open, grabs my wrist, and yanks me inside. I’m ready for him to yell, expecting it even. So, when he leans down and kisses me like his life depends on it, I’m caught off guard.

  He slides his tongue past my lips and tangles it with my own in a passionate but unexpected kiss.

  When the need to breathe becomes too great, we both break away panting.

  “What was that?” I ask, my chest heaving.

  “You look… I could not resist you.” He dips back down and captures my lips once again.

  He kisses his way from my lips to my jaw and down my neck. I rise on to my tiptoes, angling my face just so to give him better access—something he readily takes as he sucks and licks and nips at the sensitive skin at the crook of my neck.

  A moan slips past my lips as I thread my fingers into his hair, tugging to bring his mouth back to mine.

  He palms my ass and squeezes gently before pulling away, placing one last soft kiss on my lips.

  “So, you’re not mad?”

  “Mad? No. Turned on beyond belief? Hell yes.”

  “I brought coffee…” I offer lamely.

  Mateo’s eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles. “A kiss from you wakes me up better than coffee ever could.”

  “Flattery will get you everywhere.”

  “You deserve more than empty words, Seraphine, and I plan to only ever speak truth to you. So, when I tell you something, know that I mean it.”

  “How do you always know the right thing to say?”

  He taps his temple. “Age... wisdom… remember?”

  I roll my eyes and laugh under my breath. “The other day, I suggested ground rules. Maybe we should revisit?”

  “My instinct is to tell you no, so why don’t you tell me why?”

  I was hoping he’d agree with me right off the bat. “Um, I don’t know. I just think… maybe some guidelines for when we’re at work?”

  “Guidelines like what? Like no kissing you or touching you?”

  “Yeah, things like that.”

  He looks down at his feet and shakes his head before lifting his gaze to mine. “No.”

  “No?”

  “Life is too short, mariposita. While I will always respect you, I will not hide how I feel for you. I’ve spent two years denying myself—no more.”

  I feel like the little animated guy from the Red Bull commercials; only instead of an energy drink, it’s Mateo that is giving me wings.

  Like a lovesick lunatic, I launch myself at him. He expertly catches me, guiding my legs around his waist and spinning us so my ass is propped on the ledge of his desk.

  “You’re so damn gorgeous,” he murmurs, leaning in. His lips are a hairsbreadth away when a jarring knock on the office door breaks us apart.

  “What?” Mateo barks, one hand still on my ass and the other still tangled in my hair.

  “The, uh, new hire is here,” Danton says from the other side of the door.

  Mateo swears under his breath. “Tell him I’ll be right with him.”

  I glance down at the space where our bodies are aligned. Mateo’s desire for me is very prominent; I can’t help but grin at his predicament.

  “Here’s your first job as shop manager.” He steps back and helps me to my feet. “Give the new guy his paperwork while I calm down.” He kisses me softly. “Think you can handle that?”

  “I’d rather handle you,” I singsong as I skip to the door.

  He groans as I open the door and slip over the threshold and back onto the garage floor.

  I stop by the restroom and fix my smeared makeup and tousled hair as best as I can before hurrying to the front to meet our new hire.

  “‘Bout time,” Rodger grouses under his breath as I approach.

  Ignoring the grumpy older mechanic, I paste on my customer service smile and address the newcomer. “Hi, you must be Ryker.”

  The man before practically oozes bad-boy pheromones and judging from the cocky smirk on his lips, he knows it.

  “And you are?”

  My cheeks heat. My back office make-out sesh with Mateo has me more than a little flustered. “Sorry. I’m Seraphine.”

  “What’s your role here?” he asks, looking from me to Danton and Rodger.

  “I’m the manager.”

  Ryker’s lips twitch like he wants to laugh.

  “Something funny?” I cross my arms over my chest and glower.

  “Just wondering what your qualifications are, is all.”

  Why did Mateo hire this jackass? And why did he not tell me he was such a jackass?

  Danton and Rodger exchange worried looks.

  “I don’t see how my qualifications affect your ability to do your job.”

  He tips his head back a fraction of an inch and breathes out a laugh. “Got it.”

  “I don’t think you do. This shop was my father’s. Mateo owns it now, but it’s my dad’s name on the sign. I grew up here. I may have a vagina, but I assure you it doesn’t hamper my ability to do my job and it damn sure shouldn’t affect your ability to do yours.”

  “Breathe, mariposita,” Mateo says, startling me. I’m not sure how much of that he heard, but I stand by everything I said.

  Ryker eyes Mateo’s nearness to me and grins like suddenly my presence here makes sense.

  “Everything okay here?” Mateo asks no one in particular.

  We all remain silent until Danton says, “Yup, your girl was just setting the new hire straight.”

  “Straight about what?” Mateo’s voice is low with menace.

  “About whether or not I’m suited to my position here.”

  Mateo rubs a hand over his chin before turning to Ryker. “Why don’t we go have a talk?”

  Ryker’s eyes dart between me and the guys before he nods and follows Mateo back to the office.

  As soon as they�
��re out of sight, Danton cracks up. “Let’s hope he doesn’t give new guy the same kind of talk he gave you.”

  “Men in this industry can be real assholes,” I grumble.

  “We are.” Rodger nods solemnly, but there’s a twinkle in his eye. “Now, get to work. We’ve all fucked around enough this morning.” He gives me a pointed look. “Some of us more than others.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Mateo

  This entire week has been a lesson in patience—but it’s finally Friday.

  “You ready to head out?” I ask Seraphine, diverting her concentration from whatever she’s showing Ryker on the computer to me.

  After my talk with him Monday, he’s been a model of respect toward Seraphine.

  Gracias a Dio—thank God—because I would’ve hated to fire him with the credentials he’s packing. But for her? I’d do it in a heartbeat.

  “Almost done.” She smiles sweetly before turning back to her task. “You can head out; I’ll meet you there.”

  My lip curls at the idea. “Or we could go now?”

  She laughs. “Go home, caveman. I need to freshen up before the game anyway.”

  Wisely, Ryker keeps his eyes on the computer screen. “Fine,” I concede, “but I’m picking you up.”

  Seraphine bites down on her bottom lip, trapping the smile I see trying to break free. “Sounds good.”

  “I’ll be there at six.”

  I stalk back around the counter and press a lingering kiss to her lips.

  Ryker clears his throat. “Sooner we finish, sooner you can get out of here.”

  With reluctance, I pull away and give her a meaningful look. “Then get back to work.” I pause at the door. “Oh, and, Seraphine, pack a bag.”

  I pull into Seraphine’s driveway with five minutes to spare. Much to my surprise, she’s out on the porch with a small overnight bag resting at her feet waiting on me.

  As soon as I shift the truck into park, she’s bounding down the stairs and climbing up into the cab beside me.

  “Miss me?” I look at her over the top of my sunglasses.

  “Depends.” She taps her lip, pretending to think. “How lame would it be for me to say yes when I saw you less than an hour ago?”

  I laugh as I throw the truck back into gear. “Then we can be lame together.”

  She reaches over and places her hand over mine on the shifter, rubbing her fingers over my knuckles. “Together…I like the sound of that.”

  “I can’t help but notice you packed a bag.”

  A soft, melodious laughs bubbles out of her. “Well, this very bossy man told me to.”

  “Mmm, really?”

  “Yeah and as it turns out, I kind of like it when he orders me around.”

  I damn near swerve off the road as images of all the other ways she might like me bossing her around.

  “Are you nervous?” I flip my hand and interlace our fingers. Her inexperience would bother a lot of men, but to me, it means I’ll be the one to teach her—and even if it doesn’t happen tonight, I know I’ll be the one to have the honor of helping her learn what she likes.

  “Maybe. But only a little.”

  “Nothing has to happen between us, I just want to wake up next to you.”

  Seraphine falls quiet, her fingers tensing against mine. I worry I came on too strong, until she says, “Or…something…could happen.”

  Fuck. Me.

  My cock twitches in my pants. She’s this beguiling mixture of shy and bold, and truth be told, the combination really works for me.

  “Sure.” I bring her hand up to my lips and kiss her knuckles. “But only what you want to happen. There’s no rush.” The words are a little painful to say, because Lord knows, the thought of sliding into her sweet pussy is enough to drive me mad, but I respect her more than enough to wait until she’s ready.

  “There is if we don’t want to be late for the game!”

  It takes me a second to process the subject change. “We’re going to make it.”

  “Told you,” I tell her, five minutes later, when we’re parked, out of the truck, and in line to get tickets.

  “Only because you drove like a madman.”

  “How many?” the PTA mom at the door asks.

  “Two please.” After paying, Seraphine and I head into the crowded gymnasium hand-in-hand. Luck’s on our side and we find an open spot on the second row of the bleachers, mid-court.

  “How long has Des been playing basketball?”

  My heart swells at the sound of Seraphine calling her Des. “Since she was old enough for city league. But this is her first varsity game.”

  “That’s exciting. I don’t think there’s anything I’ve liked that long.”

  “Cars,” I tell her, bumping my shoulder into hers.

  “That’s true. Does she want to play in college?”

  “Depends on the day you ask her, but most likely, yes.”

  Before Seraphine can respond, the lights flicker and a pounding bassline fills the gym. “Ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer booms, “let’s give it up for the four-time state champs, the Lady Dolphins!”

  Strobe lights flash and everyone on our side of the bleachers goes wild, Seraphine included.

  From there, the starting players are called out, including my girl. “Number fourteen, point guard, Desi Reyes!” I whoop and cheer so loud for my girl I miss most of her stats; good thing I know them by heart.

  The game starts fast and moves even faster. The girls on the court are all here to win. Seraphine claps and cheers with me as Desi runs up and down the court, holding her own during her varsity debut.

  By the fourth quarter, the game is tied and everyone—players and spectators alike—are tense. There are only seconds on the clock when Desi manages to steal the ball. With lightning-quick speed and damn near robotic precision, she maneuvers back down the court before.

  “Shoot!” her coach yells as the clock rapidly counts down.

  She stops at the three-point line and launches the ball like it’s a grenade and the goal’s her target. I hold my breath, feeling frozen in place, until the ball sails through the hoop, nothing but net.

  The buzzer sounds.

  The crowd goes wild.

  My girl just scored the winning point in her first varsity game.

  “Mateo,” Seraphine yells over the cacophony of sound, “she’s amazing!”

  “C’mon, let’s go talk to her before she heads into the locker room.”

  “Did you see me?” Desi yells, still hyped from the game.

  “You were—”

  My daughter bypasses me and damn near tackles Seraphine with a sweaty bear hug. “Did you see me?” she asks again.

  “I did!” Seraphine rocks and jumps, holding Desi close. “You’re a freaking beast!”

  They whisper to one another for a minute before breaking apart. Desi flings herself at me and, even though I was her second choice, I can’t be mad. The fact that she even likes Seraphine blows my mind. “You did so good, pollito. I am so proud of you.”

  She beams. “Thanks!”

  “Be safe tonight. No parties. No boys. No drinking.”

  My daughter sighs. “How about yes to a party—with the team—and no to boys and booze?”

  “Deal. Check in regularly.”

  “I will, Dad.” Her eyes flit between Seraphine and me. “Y’all have a good night and, uh, be safe, too.” She winks and dashes away before I can fully register what she said.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Seraphine

  “I still can’t believe she hugged you first—my own flesh and blood,” Mateo says as we walk into Trattoria, Dogwood’s go-to Italian restaurant.

  “Forget that.” My cheeks heat before I give voice to my thoughts. “I’m still dying over her telling us to be safe.”

  Mateo yanks his hand from mine and covers his ears. “La-la-la—I don’t want to hear that shit!”

  I tug on his elbow and pull his hands away.
“She’s sixteen, Mateo.”

  He nods. “Only two more years until I can send her off to a monastery.”

  It’s a struggle not to cackle as we approach the hostess stand, but through Herculean effort, I manage it.

  We’re shown to an intimate booth near the back of the dining room. The low lighting and soft music make for a romantic setting, but I’d be happy just about anywhere with this man.

  The strength of my feelings for him is honestly a little scary. My once unrequited—or so I thought—crush has morphed into this larger-than-life thing. Mateo’s my friend, my protector, and if I have any say in the matter, after tonight, he’ll also become my lover.

  “Have you eaten here before?” he asks after we place our drink orders—a beer for him and a Coke for me.

  “Once.”

  “Do you know what you’re getting?”

  “Not a clue; everything sounds good,” I groan. “What about you?”

  “The sweet potato ravioli. It’s out of this world.”

  I hum under my breath and read the menu over again. Everything sounds delicious, but my mind keeps straying away from my choices and back to the game.

  Mateo’s the kind of dad every daughter deserves—the kind I had. Desi is his entire world and seeing him cheer and clap and scream for her at her game only made my feelings for him that much stronger. The pride on his face as she shot the winning goal may have been directed at her, but it was a bullseye to my heartstrings.

  I finally focus and manage to narrow it down to two options by the time our server arrives, but they both sound delicious. I gesture for Mateo to order first, but I’m still no closer to choosing when he’s done.

  “Do you trust me, mariposita?”

  He’s asked me this before, but tonight, it seems to carry more weight. He’s shown me over and over that he’s worthy of not only my trust, but my love, too. But that’s a whole other issue that I’m not getting into tonight.

  “You know I do,” I murmur, sliding my calf against his under the table.

  “Enough to order for you?” He reaches beneath the table and pulls my foot into his lap. With a touch lighter than that of a feather, he skims his fingertips up and down my leg.