“Wait, you call your grandfather ‘PawPaw?’” Bonnie asked, interrupting his memory.
“Yeah. What about it?”
She grinned. “It’s cute. I love it. Go on.”
He evaluated her for a moment before continuing. “Anyway, PawPaw and I were out on the porch, and he asked me how school was going. I almost told him it was great, and I was really enjoying it, but he put his hand on my shoulder, and I couldn’t do it. I told him I hated it, and I wanted to quit, but I didn’t want to crush my dad. I told PawPaw I had this idea for a computer tech company and I knew it was going to change the industry.”
“How’d he react?” Bonnie’s beautiful brown eyes watched him closely, taking in his story.
“He told me, ‘Screw your dad. Do what makes you happy. You start that business.’” Dylan smiled at the memory.
“I think I like your PawPaw,” Bonnie said with a nod.
“I was shocked. Family’s important. Family is everything with my grandfather,” he told her. “I couldn’t believe it.”
“Then what happened?” Bonnie asked.
“He wanted to know about my idea. He asked me all sorts of questions,” Dylan replied. “After about an hour of me talking about it, he went to his office and came back with a check. He gave me two thousand dollars to start my business.”
Bonnie’s face softened with a sweet smile. “He did that?”
Dylan nodded. “He told me I could cash it as soon as I told my dad. And that I was to tell my dad that I already had an investor.”
“What’d your dad say?” Bonnie asked, taking another strawberry.
“It took me until the next day to tell him,” Dylan replied. “He was mad, but since I already had an investor, there wasn’t much he could do about it. So, I finished the semester and then did my own thing.”
“I’m guessing FirmHard Tech was your idea,” Bonnie said. She looked around at the private jet. “I’d say your grandfather invested wisely.”
Dylan chuckled and nodded. “My first and only investor. I think he’s made his money back.”
“I can’t wait to meet him.” Bonnie stood up from her chair and kisses his cheek. “Anyone who believes in you like that has to be an amazing person. Thank you for introducing us.”
Dylan’s heart swelled. He couldn’t wait for PawPaw to meet her too.
They arrived at another small airport north of his grandfather’s house just as the sun was starting to set.
True to his word, he had security out the wazoo. He couldn’t look around without seeing someone either in a suit or wearing plain clothes with an earpiece. Dylan had seen world trade meetings with less security.
He was going to keep Bonnie safe.
They took a limo to his grandfather’s house. Again, her reaction to the limo made him smile. She loved playing the with various windows, music, lights, and features that he’d forgotten were novel.
It wasn’t until they were a block away from his grandfather’s house that he started to get nervous. He knew his grandfather would love Bonnie. He knew because Dylan loved her, and anything Dylan loved, so did his grandfather.
He was nervous because this was a big step for him. This truly meant that he loved her. This was the test to himself. He’d never brought anyone here because he’d never felt this way about anyone before. Bringing her to this place, the place he loved as a child, meant that it was real. That their relationship was a real thing.
The limo turned onto the road leading to the manor and Dylan started to sweat. He turned up the air and sat in front of the vent, doing his best to keep a calm face. He hadn’t felt anywhere near this nervous during negotiations with Google for his company.
The limo came to a gentle stop in front of the house. Dylan waited patiently for the driver to open the door. Dylan stepped out first, wanting to see Bonnie’s reaction to the house.
His feet crunched on gray pebble
s as he stepped out. The humidity of the south hit him full in the face, warm and sweet. The scent of magnolias and night blooming jasmine drifted on the hot damp air. The hum of katydids, frogs, and the call of a whippoorwill called out like familiar friends saying hello.
He turned and offered Bonnie a hand to exit the limo. She stepped out with a grin.
First, she took a deep breath of the air, feeling the new humidity and the heat. Her eyes went big, and her jaw dropped as she took in the home.