by Alice Ward
As I drove toward Sean’s house, my mind drifted back to those times. Just me and my bike on an open highway. I felt closest to my dad while I rode. It was more than a hobby to him, it was his entire life. He loved motorcycles more than almost anything. The only thing that could make him smile more than a new bike was my mom. In that moment, on that open highway, I missed him more than ever.
I shook myself back to the present as I pulled into Sean’s driveway. I knew I couldn’t be thinking about my dad when I knocked on Sean’s door. This was business, and the last thing I needed was for Sean to see me upset.
Climbing out of my car, I looked at Sean’s house. It was small, modest, and slightly rundown. It was clearly an old home, but it was still nice. There was a tree in the front yard that hadn’t been trimmed in a while, but the flowers in the garden were in full bloom. Sean obviously tried hard to keep the house nice, but I was surprised to find that this was where he lived.
After all, Sean’s father was a multibillionaire. Ray Yates had more money than most people would ever earn in several lifetimes. I couldn’t imagine why his son would live such a modest life. I remembered that Sean and Ray didn’t have the easiest of relationships. Maybe this was Sean’s way of keeping his father out of his life. By not taking money from him, or even help, Sean had managed to keep his freedom all these years.
For the first time, I wondered what made Sean change his mind about coming to work at Yates’ Motorcycles. If he was so determined to distance himself from the Yates family, why would he agree to become the face of the company? What could possibly have changed his mind?
I walked up to the porch and climbed the steps with determination. When I reached the door, I banged on it. Hard. Sean answered quickly, opening the door and stepping outside. I stumbled backward, taken aback by his sudden appearance on the porch.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded, keeping his voice low.
“Are you kidding?” I snapped. “You haven’t been to the office in two days. You’re not answering my calls or returning my texts. You can’t just flake out on your responsibilities. I know you aren’t thrilled about this arrangement, and frankly, neither am I. It was my idea, but the second you showed up I’ve begun to wonder if I made a huge mistake. You don’t get to take advantage of us. The money isn’t going to come free, okay? You have to put in the work. If you can’t do that, then—”
“Will you keep your voice down?” he asked. I didn’t realize how loud my voice had gotten until Sean cut me off. “My daughter is sick. She’s inside, and she needs her rest.”
I opened my mouth to speak, ready for an argument, when I registered his words. My mouth closed quickly and I took a step back. I had never felt worse about myself than I did in that moment. For days, I’d been judging Sean. I let myself think horrible things about him and now, I found out how wrong I’d been.
“I’m sorry,” I said softly. “I had no idea. I didn’t even know you had a daughter.”
“Yeah,” he said. “Well, it’s not something I share with strangers. Plus, it’s kind of new.”
“Can I help?” I asked, surprising even myself. From the look on Sean’s face, he was overwhelmed and had been for days. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.
“Help?” he repeated.
“It’s tough taking care of a sick kid.” I shrugged. “I just wondered if maybe I could help. My mother’s a nurse, so I have some experience in this area.”
“Sure,” Sean said. He eyed me suspiciously, but stepped aside all the same. He held open the front door for me, and I walked inside.
I looked around slowly. The living room was nice, with a couch and two chairs plus a fireplace. It was even smaller on the inside, but I could see why Sean lived there now. It had a specific kind of charm.
“Where is she?” I asked.
“In her room,” Sean said, gesturing toward the hallway. “This way.”
We walked down the hallway together, Sean slightly in front of me.
“Let me see if she’s awake,” he said. I stopped and waited while Sean went inside his daughter’s room. I could hear him whispering to her and then his soft footsteps as he came back to the hallway. He poked his head out and motioned for me to go inside.
“Hi,” I said, walking over to the little girl. She was half tucked beneath blankets, but her eyes locked on mine instantly. She looked exactly like her father. It took my breath away to see a miniature version of Sean lying there in front of me. “I’m Tara. What’s your name?”
“Paisley,” she said weakly. She didn’t look shy, but I could tell from her voice that she wasn’t feeling well.
“Well, Paisley,” I smiled. “I’m not a doctor or anything, but I think I can help you feel a little better.”
“You can?” she asked.
“I can,” I said, smiling wider. “Sean, will you get her a cold wash cloth please?”
“I’ve been giving her one on and off,” Sean said. “But her fever hasn’t really gone down.”
“That’s normal,” I said. “Is she throwing up?”
“A few times.”
“Probably just the flu,” I said. “Just get that wash cloth, okay?”
“Okay,” Sean said. He looked at me and hesitated before he hurried out of the room. I turned back to Paisley and brushed her hair off her forehead.
“You feel pretty bad, huh?” I asked.
“Not as bad as I did,” Paisley said. “I’m just really tired and icky.”
“I’m sure you are,” I said with sympathy. “Why don’t you turn over on your side, okay? It’ll make your tummy feel better.”
“It will?” she asked, her eyes widening.
“It will,” I promised. “Here, let me help you.”
I reached over and helped Paisley turn onto her side. She tucked her hands under head and looked up at me. This was a trick my mother taught me when I was a little girl. There was something about lying on your side that helped relieve pressure on your stomach. It always helped me feel less nauseous.
“Is that a little better?” I asked.
“I think so,” Paisley said.
I looked around the room and frowned.
“I think we should convince your dad to move the T.V. in here. What do you think? You can watch movies. I bet you’ve been pretty bored in here.”
“Sean’s been reading me stories and stuff,” Paisley shrugged. “But a movie would be better.”
I smiled, taking note of the way she called him “Sean” instead of Dad. I wanted to ask questions, but I knew it wasn’t my place. I didn’t even know what compelled me to go inside. In that moment, I just knew I wanted to help. Sean looked so defeated that I couldn’t help but feel for him.
“Here you go,” Sean said as he hurried back into the room. “One cold wash cloth.”
“Perfect,” I said. I took it from him and laid it gently on Paisley’s forehead. “Hold this here. I’ll talk to him about the T.V.”
“T.V.?” Sean asked. He raised his eyebrows when I turned to face him.
“Paisley and I were talking,” I explained. “And it seems that she’s a little bored all cooped up in here. I was thinking you could move the T.V. in here? That way she can watch movies or something.”
“That’s actually a really good idea,” Sean smiled. “Thank you.”
“No problem,” I shrugged. I sat with Paisley while Sean set the T.V. up in her room. He put on a movie and kissed her forehead. I told Paisley goodbye and let Sean lead me back to the front door.
“I’m sorry about work,” Sean said once we were back out on the porch. “I can come in tomorrow if I need to.”
“Tomorrow’s Saturday,” I reminded him. “Just take care of Paisley. Call me when she’s feeling better, and we’ll set something up, okay?”
“Thank you,” Sean smiled. It was the first time I could remember seeing a real smile on his face. “You were really good with her.”
“Oh, it’s nothing,” I said. “Just keep her
on her side and give her a ton of water. She’ll be better in no time.”
“I will,” Sean promised. “And really, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
I smiled and turned toward the driveway. When I reached my car, I turned back around to wave. Sean waved back and watched as I climbed behind the wheel. In that moment, I realized I hadn’t been fair to Sean. There was much more to him than I ever imagined.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Sean
“Are you sure you’re ready to go back?” I asked as Paisley packed her bag for the day. She looked up at me with an expression I was beginning to recognize: half disdain, half annoyance.
“Yes,” she said. “I promise. I feel perfect.”
“Okay,” I sighed. “Well, you only have a week left of swim camp so you won’t have to go much longer.”
“I know,” she said. “You don’t have to remind me.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “Aren’t you ready for a little break, though?”
“Why would I be?” she asked with attitude. I opened my mouth to speak but quickly changed my mind. Now that Paisley felt better, she also talked to me more. It was exciting and new, but it meant I had to deal with her little girl sass far too often.
“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “Forget I said anything. Just have fun today, okay? And take it easy.”
“I feel fine,” she insisted.
“You say that now, but when you puke in the pool—”
“Sean!” I laughed as she looked at me in horror. “That’s not funny!”
“It was a little funny,” I argued. “Now, get going. Your ride is here.”
“Bye,” she said. She waved and hurried out the front door.
“See you later!” I called after her.
Part of me hoped she might give me a hug before she left, but I knew that was wishful thinking. We were closer now, but we still had a long way to go before we could have the relationship I really wanted. Even bonding over an illness didn’t make up for the last eight years of being away from her. I wasn’t sure anything ever would.
I ate a quick breakfast before I hurried out to the driveway. I wanted to take my car just in case I needed to pick Paisley up early again, but I knew it would take me longer to get to work if I did. I frowned, considering my options. Paisley really did seem to be feeling better and traffic would be a nightmare so early in the morning. Taking a deep breath, I decided to take the risk. I climbed on my bike and pulled out of the driveway.
The drive to Yates’ Motorcycles was a slow one. I passed by two accidents and sat in bumper to bumper traffic for twenty minutes. Even on my bike, it took me an hour to make it to the office. Still, I showed up ten minutes early. I thought about grabbing a coffee at a little place down the street, but I didn’t want to be late. After everything Tara did for Paisley, I didn’t want to repay her by being late on my first day back.
I hopped off my bike and hustled inside. Waving at the employees in the showroom, I hurried toward the elevators and pressed the button. The doors opened quickly and I jumped inside. I didn’t know why, but I was no longer dreading my time at Yates’ Motorcycles. For the first time since I agreed to work for my father, I found myself actually looking forward to being at the office.
When I stepped into Tara’s office, she looked up at me with a smile.
“How’s Paisley doing?” Tara asked. I smiled, thinking how nice it was for her to ask about my daughter.
“She’s better,” I said with a nod. “Thanks to you.”
“Me?” Tara asked.
“Yeah, that movie idea was brilliant,” I laughed. “I swear, nothing is better medicine than watching Disney movies on repeat for two days straight.”
“Which movies?” Tara laughed.
“Tangled and Brave,” I said. “Always Tangled and Brave.”
“Well, of course,” Tara said knowledgably. “Those are some great princess role models.”
“Tell me about it,” I said. “I learned more about Rapunzel and Merida this weekend than I ever wanted to know.”
“You have a little girl,” Tara reminded me. “It’s only right that you know these things.”
“You’re right,” I smiled. “But seriously, thank you again.”
“It was my pleasure,” Tara said. “Paisley’s adorable.”
“She really is,” I agreed. “Her swim camp ends this week and I have no idea what I’m going to do with her for the rest of the summer.”
“I’m sure you’ll figure something out,” Tara said. I’d never seen her smile so much. It was like she was an entirely different person. The more she smiled, the more I noticed how green her eyes were. They were the color of emeralds, and every time the light hit them, they captivated me.
“So,” I said, clearing my throat. “Should we get to work?”
“Yes,” Tara said. She instantly went into business mode. She pulled out a folder from her desk drawer and opened it. She handed me a sheet of paper. It was the exact same one from last week.
“Didn’t we already go over this?” I asked with a frown.
“We did,” Tara admitted. “And if you can promise me you were paying attention, we won’t go over it again.”
Tara grinned slyly as she waited for my response. She already knew the answer. My mind was a million miles away last week and she knew it. I couldn’t help but laugh at the knowing look in her eyes.
“Fair enough,” I said. “Go ahead. I’m listening this time. I promise.”
“Okay,” Tara said. “So, the first thing I need you to remember is…”
Tara launched into her speech about my appearance and my attitude. It was the same stuff from last week, but this time I did pay more attention. I took in every word she said, watching the way her lips moved while she spoke. They were full and perfectly pink. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from them, but what was worse was how badly I longed to lean over and kiss her.
It had been a long time since I last felt the urge to kiss anyone, let alone my boss. My boss at the repair shop was a burly old man who always smelled like chewing tobacco and moth balls. He wasn’t exactly my type. I hadn’t thought Tara was either, but after what she did for Paisley, my opinion was changing fast.
As she spoke, I took mental notes. I made sure to remember everything she said. I told myself I hadn’t been fair to Tara. In the beginning, I took out my frustrations on her when really, I was just angry with my father and brother. It wasn’t Tara’s fault that she worked with them. It wasn’t her fault that I’d spent years avoiding family gatherings like the plague. All she wanted was someone to come in and help the company. To her, I was that person. The least I could do was actually make an effort.
“So,” Tara said after about twenty minutes. “Any questions?”
“I think I got it,” I said. “Seems pretty straight forward. Dress nice. Be clean. Stick to the script. Don’t ramble about how much I hate my dad. That sort of thing.”
Tara chuckled and shook her head. “Yeah, that wouldn’t be very good for our image.”
“Probably not,” I agreed.
“All right,” she said. “Well, I won’t keep you any longer today. I know you need to stay close in case Paisley gets sick again.”
I smiled at her ability to read my mind.
“Just remember,” she said. “You have your first event on Wednesday. Nothing big. Nothing formal. Just some press. They’ll come here, we’ll set you up in the showroom, and they’ll ask you some questions. It’ll be easy.”
“Okay,” I nodded. “Sounds good.”
“And you should bring Paisley,” Tara said suddenly.
“Paisley?” I raised my eyebrows.
“When her camp is over,” Tara explained. “You said you weren’t sure what to do with her over the summer. She can just come with you. I’m sure she would love to see what her dad does all day.”
“Maybe,” I said, highly doubting Paisley would have any interest in a motorcycle company. Still, it
was nice of Tara to offer. “I’ll think about it.”
“Good,” Tara smiled. “Well, I’ll see you later, then?”
“That was an easy day,” I laughed.
“They can all be easy,” Tara said. “If you would be nice, that is.”
“I am always nice,” I said, feigning seriousness. I touched my hand to my chest in mock offense and looked at Tara with wide eyes. She laughed and shook her head.
“Who knew Sean Yates could actually crack a joke,” she said.
“There are a lot of things you don’t know about me,” I told her. My tone was flirtatious and I knew it was time to leave. I moved toward the door, turning to wave as I stepped out into the hallway.
***
My meeting with Tara was so short that I arrived home hours earlier than I expected. I didn’t have to pick Paisley up until later so I made myself some lunch and watched T.V. I tried to focus on the show, but it was no use. My mind was entirely occupied by thoughts of Tara.
It took me completely by surprise. She was just an irritating woman that happened to work with my father. When I met her, I disliked her immediately. She was sent to babysit me, and I resented my father for putting her in charge of me. I hated Tara for the simple fact that she was my father’s right hand and now, my boss.
When she showed up at my house, I hated her even more. Who did she think she was? Just barging in without any notice? I was livid. Until she helped Paisley. Then, everything changed. Suddenly, she was no longer the irritating woman I thought she was. She was kind and patient. She was beautiful and caring. Everything I thought I knew about her was wrong.
I finished my lunch and decided to take a shower. I thought it would help clear my mind, but all it did was the opposite. I couldn’t stop thinking about how attractive Tara was. That morning, at work, I tried to pay attention to her words, but I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Her blonde curls were long, and I wanted nothing more than to run my fingers through them. Her lips were so alluring I could barely think. And her breasts…
