Bad Taste in Men (Clover Park, Book 3) Contemporary Romance (The Clover Park Series) by Kylie Gilmore Read Free Book Online

Once they’d gotten the car running, his dad had given him the car as a thank you for spending time with him. Shane had never told his brothers about the gift. He hadn’t wanted to further any hurt between his brothers and his dad. Ryan and Trav were polite to their dad at the few family events Gran had invited him to, but that was as far as it went. Shane kept the car hidden at his dad’s place and never drove it in Clover Park.
    His dad opened the garage, and they both took a moment to admire the car’s beauty.
    “That wax really brought out the red, didn’t it?” his dad asked.
    The original candy apple red. Shane resisted touching it so as not to leave a smudge. “She’s beautiful.”
    Shane slid onto the smooth black vinyl of the driver’s seat and gripped the original wood steering wheel. He admired the brushed aluminum accents and the old-fashioned speedometer. No computers working in this car. Just pure gears, metal, and raw horsepower. His dad got in and shut the door.
    Shane turned the ignition, and the engine roared to life. He glanced at his dad, and they exchanged a grin.
    He pulled out and headed for the open roads just outside of town, where horse farms dotted the landscape. The roads were curvy, mostly deserted, and lined with trees and stone walls. He hit the accelerator, enjoying the guttural sound of raw power that he felt as much as heard. The steering was tight, the brakes tight, beautiful shifting. They’d done a great job pulling this car back to its top form.
    They rolled the windows down and let the warm breeze carry through. Shane soaked it all in for several miles before he finally told his dad what was on his mind.
    “Dad, you know how much this car means to me, right?”
    “That’s why I gave it to you. I knew you’d take good care of her.”
    “You know what means even more to me?” He glanced over. “Just hanging out with you.”
    His dad’s voice came out hoarse. “Me too, son.”
    Shane’s chest ached. They drove in silence for a few minutes. He really didn’t want to hurt his dad’s feelings. The car had brought them together. It had given them something to focus on when conversation was still difficult in those early visits. It had given them something to look forward to and, ultimately, to connect with. But the important thing now was that they did have a bond. A good one.
    “Dad, I want to sell the car.”
    “What! I thought you loved this car! I love this car. When I gave it to you, I pictured you giving it to your son one day.”
    Shane’s chest tightened like his heart was in a vise. Geez, this was hard. But if he wanted to have a son of his own, he first had to sweep Rachel off her feet. Investing in the café, becoming her business partner, and ultimately much more, all depended on selling this car, his only real asset. He hoped to get at least a hundred grand for it. He couldn’t take out another business loan, he was still paying off the one he’d taken to open his own shop. And he’d invested most of his profits right back into the business when he expanded with the equipment, staff, and delivery truck needed to supply ice cream to restaurants.
    Whatever it took.
    Shane slowed the car a bit to make conversation easier with less wind whipping through the windows. “You know I love the Shelby, but something’s come up. An investment opportunity. I need the money to get in on the ground floor.”
    He congratulated himself on sounding reasonable and very business-savvy.
    At his dad’s silence, he glanced over. His lips were pressed into a line. His dad finally spoke. “This is about a woman, isn’t it? That Rachel you’re always talking about.”
    Shane didn’t want to sound like a total lovesick fool, even if he was. “No, it’s business.”
    He hit the accelerator, and the engine’s roar combined with the wind made further conversation difficult. Finally, a couple miles down the road, he had to stop at a stop sign.
    “Rachel’s business?” his