A Father's Name(81)

She shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

“Everyone thinks the governor will pardon me. That I’ll be totally exonerated, and able to get it all back. That’s what the lunch was about a week ago. I’ve been thinking it over ever since. Mulling, Mrs. Matthews calls it.”

“Mulling.” Yeah, Tucker could see that. “So, what have you decided after a week’s worth of mulling?”

“I don’t want it back. Right before my lawyer called and told me I really needed to meet with the judge and ADA, I’d been thinking how much I enjoyed it here at the garage. I’d been good at my old job, but I’d never experienced much happiness while doing it. Here, I like it all. I like working on a car, and then standing back and realizing I’d done that—fixed it. I took something that was broken and made it better. It’s tangible. And I like the people I work with. I’m happy here.”

“So, now that your name is going to be cleared, you’re going to do something that makes you happy?”

“I’m going to try. Although, it’s not completely up to me.”

“No?”

“It’s up to you, Angel.” He squeezed her hand, and before she could pull away, he gave a small tug, moving her closer to him on the couch. “I went to your father and asked if he’d consider selling me his part of the business. I’d like to be your partner.”

“My business partner?” she repeated stupidly.

“Yes.”

“Oh.” She pulled her hand from his and felt even more stupid. She’d told herself that she was going to make him think she’d finally admitted that she did indeed deserve better. And she did. She deserved the best. And even before she’d heard his story, she knew Tyler Martinez was the best.

Of all the men she’d ever known, he was the only one she’d ever felt this way about.

She’d hoped that he was going to admit it himself—admit they belonged together.

The fact that he simply wanted a business partnership hurt, but it didn’t change anything. She was going to fight for him—even if it meant fighting Tyler himself. If she were his business partner, she’d definitely have more time to win him over to the idea they belonged together on a permanent basis. “Really, my business partner?”

“If you’ll have me. You’d own the controlling percentage and you’d also have a partner who likes doing the accounting end of things.”

“Won’t our previous relationship make things awkward?” she asked.

“Ah…about that. I know you deserve more than me. More than I can give you. But I’m hoping you’ll give me the opportunity to grow into the man you deserve.”

Tucker clued in to what he was saying and her heart lept. She tried to keep from smiling as she said, “No.”

“No? You don’t want to give me the opportunity?” He nodded, as if he’d expected it. Then his head jerked up. “I’m not backing down on this. I’ll fight for you.”

This time Tucker couldn’t manage to hold back her grin. “Tyler, you are such a dork. You don’t need to fight for me. You’ve already won. I simply meant I’m not waiting around for you to grow into a man you think I want when you’re already exactly the man I want right now. A man who, when he gives himself, gives his whole heart. Look at what you did for Jason and Mellie. That’s what I want. I don’t want you lecturing me about who I should want. The kind of man I deserve. I want you. I want to come home to you every night. I want to build a family with you.” She leaned across the couch and kissed him. “I want you to be my partner in the garage…and in life.”

She kissed him again. This amazing man who had the biggest heart of anyone she’d ever met.

“I love you, Tyler Martinez.”

“I love you, too, Angel.”





EPILOGUE



SIX MONTHS LATER, TYLER found Angelina in her paint room. She was staring intently at a motorcycle’s fuel tank, as if waiting for inspiration to strike.

He didn’t need inspiration. He simply needed more luck. He felt almost greedy hoping for more, but there was something about Angelina that made him want to reach for more. To be more.

“I have a present for you,” he said, extending the package toward her.

Tucker opened the bag. “Another T-shirt? Ty, I’m pretty sure I could wear a new T-shirt every day of the year and not have to repeat one.”