“I have the right to make that choice if I want to.”

“But I don’t want you to. I don’t want price breaks. When we were first starting out, I remember how hard it was. How close to the margins we were. I didn’t want to put you in a place where you felt you had to take a hit. I can afford it. And you just boosted the value. People will see it tonight too. I’ll have it sold within the month, most likely.”

He just – ugh! PJ worked to keep her voice level. “I counted to ten. Then I had to go to thirty. I appreciate that you thought of me and my business like that. And I know you can afford it. I would have charged you materials and time and that would have been my choice. You made that choice for me, and that’s not cool. I’m usually fine with your need to control stuff. But this is not an area of my life I’ll cede to anyone. Whether I give you a price break or not isn’t about what you want. Don’t you see? This is connected to that other stuff about control and trust. This is my stuff. My choice to make or not. My skills are mine, my time is mine, who I work with and for what rates is mine. You’re not my keeper. I want to be with you, not live through you.”

He blew out a breath. “I just didn’t want you giving me a break you couldn’t afford.”

“I appreciate that you wanted to help me.” She reached out to squeeze his hand. “I love that you want to protect me and keep me from harm. Talk to me, don’t think for me, and we’ll be good. It’s not up to you to decide my pricing. That’s my business. My choice. This going-around-me stuff, it is not cool.”

“Okay. I see what you mean. I’m sorry. I’ll do my best not to do it again.”

“Your best is pretty awesome.”

He used valet so they could get out close to the front doors, not wanting her to have to walk the mile through parking lots. He was a very nice man.

“I’ve been to what seems an incalculable number of trade shows in my life. My first was while I was still an infant. But this is better. This is totally cool.”

Asa nodded, taking PJ’s hand. “Absolutely. Better than cool. This is fantastic.”

She walked along at his side, nerves jittering. He paused, pulling her out of the crowd and standing very close. “Penelope Jean, you are really good at what you do. That’s why your stuff is here on someone else’s dime, dig?”

She nodded. “I know. I do!”

Her mouth firmed and it took all his control not to kiss her as she got rid of the briefest frown.

“I know I do good work.” This time he knew she believed it.

“There you are.” His PJ was confident and strong. She knew she had talent. It was part of the reason people hired her. Her confidence was alluring.

“Next year I hope to have my own booth. With or without Colman.”

“Do it,” Asa challenged.

“I will. Speaking of that, where are you guys?”

“Restoration and custom work is across the hall from where your cars are. Let’s go look at that first and then we can see what’s going on over at the Twisted Steel booth.”

“Debauchery, most likely.”

He bent to kiss her, his mouth against the curve of her cheek. “You’re perfect. I’m proud of you.”

She clutched the front of his jacket, swaying a little. “Thank you. I love you.” Her voice didn’t get just a little thinner in the middle this time, her nervousness under control.

Right there in front of all those people in the exhibition hall, Asa blushed. “Fuck yeah.” He turned her and they headed out into the main part of the large hall.

The cars with her paint were being featured by an auction house, so it wasn’t too far away, just across a wide aisle where the edge of the Twisted Steel booth was. She could be over there to answer questions and network but also come his way to take a break.

He looked at the map in her hand. “Blue. So west. Go up here and hang a left.”

“I’m relieved I don’t have to set anything up this year. This time I can scope it out to see the lay of the land. Then when it comes time to set up next year I’ll know what to expect.”

PJ couldn’t help the gigantic grin she got at the sight of her work. Most people wouldn’t say, Oh my god, that paint! They’d think the entire car was fantastic and would hopefully think Cargrand Auctions was putting out only the very best.

It’d be the people who dealt with the auction house whose opinions would be so important. The shops like Twisted Steel were steady profit for her. But if she could do more with other types of businesses, with dealerships and the individual clients who wanted something extra special, she’d be growing her business just right.

And the truth was, if she went back to Colman and had the infrastructure of a billing department, the bays, and the industrial equipment for bigger jobs instead of having to rent that space herself, that would be a huge plus.

She already had offers to come on at other major paint shops. While flattering, she wanted to make it on her own.

“I have no idea how you managed to get this red so cherry.” Asa looked closely.

She’d never reveal in public just how many tries it had taken to get that tone. “I’m just glad I liked chemistry. These lights really do make it pop.”

“The metallic in that racing green, though. Yes, Penelope Jean, this is magic.”

It’d been a risk. Racing green was a classic, traditional color and it appealed to a certain kind of customer. But the metallic was so subtle it managed to remain traditional while having just a smidge of rock star in it too.