Free A Courtesy Call (Green Division Series Book #2) by Ashley Monahan Page B

inviting us over,” Cass said, a permanent smile plastered on her face.
     
    “Yes, thank you,” Mike said properly.
     
    “Oh, no problem.”  Raleigh looked at Cass.
     
    A silence filled the air, the discomfort between Mike and Raleigh was overwhelming. 
     
    “So, where is it in Canada you hail from?”  Aiden asked.
     
    “We don’t live in Canada.”  Cass laughed.  “We live in Maine.”
     
    “What is the difference?”  Aiden was stone serious despite Raleigh’s clarification.
     
    “Maine is in the United States, not Canada.”
     
    “Right.  Well, where in Maine is it?”
     
    “It’s on the west—”
     
    Once Raleigh thought about the answer to the question she began to cough and inhaled a chunk of food, cutting Cass’s answer off. 
     
    “You alright?”  Mike asked.
     
    “Yea...”  She coughed more.  “Just...”  Cough.  “Went down the...”  Another cough.  “Wrong pipe.”  She cleared her throat.  “How long are you staying in North Carolina?”  She shifted topics swiftly. 
     
    “Another four days.”
     
    “Good, good.”  Raleigh’s eyes watered from her hacking.  “There’s a lot to see down here.  You should definitely see the sites before you head back.”
     
    “I’ve been trying to tell Cass that, but she’s pretty taken up with you.”
     
    “Can’t blame her, can you?”  Raleigh joked.  As long as the topic steered away from the potential train wreck it had neared, she would be happy.
     
    “Right,” Mike said, trying to hide his sarcasm. 
     
    “You said you wanted to see my garage.”  Raleigh looked over at Cass.
     
    “I’d love to.”  She looked at Mike.  “She has an Aston, Dad.  An Aston!”
     
    “Not as impressive as my Camry,” he said lowly, smiling at Cass.
     
    “Come on.”  Cass pulled on Mike’s hand. 
     
    The four walked together to Raleigh’s massive garage, or warehouse as Aiden called it.  Aiden pecked in the security code and one of the bays opened.
     
    “It’s like Noah’s Ark,” Mike commented upon looking at the toys that were lined up inside.  Two of everything.  Dirt bikes, motorcycles, go karts, and ATVs.  Aiden hit the lights and they flicked across the four drive thru bays, enough to house eight vehicles, six were filled with cars, the other two by Noah’s Ark’s items.
     
    “Wow.”  Cass was speechless.  “I think I’ll drop out of college and do what you do.  This is amazing.”  Cass walked over to the Aston and opened the door peering inside.
     
    Mike scanned the garage, but Raleigh didn’t see the same amazement on his face.  He held it inside.
     
    “Nissan GTR, Audi Q7, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, Aston Martin Vanquish, Subaru Impreza WRX rally package, and the Judge,” Mike said without an ounce of excitement.
     
    Raleigh took a step back and stared.  A man who drove a Camry knew what these vehicles were without inspecting the badges.
     
    “Where do you think my daughter gets her love of cars?”  Mike walked over to the Judge and leaned inside the window checking out the interior.
     
    “Impressive,” Raleigh said and walked to the black GTO. 
     
    “She’s beautiful.”  Mike ran his hand down the windowsill.  “Surprised you picked the 1967 6.6 liter over the 1968 7.5.”
     
    “It’s not all about engine size.  She’s been my baby since I was sixteen.”  Raleigh smiled.  “And tell me she’s not more beautiful than a sixty eight.  She’s gorgeous.”
     
    “I agree.” 
     
    There was a silence in appreciation of the car.
     
    “And she might have a 6.6, but trust me, she goes.”  She popped the hood.    Mike looked down at the polished metal. 
     
    “Doesn’t look like she’s ever been driven.”
     
    “Trust me.”  She grinned devilishly.  “She’s been driven.”
     
    Mike shook his head. For the first time since their initial meeting, they’d not been contemptuous to one another. 
     
    Mike looked to his left