We stare at each other a beat before he leans back down and brushes a tender kiss on my lips. A silent goodbye and now I am more confused then ever. “Remind me to bring you to my next race?”
“What? Why?”
“Because if that’s how you kiss me good luck when I’m just testing, I can’t wait to see what it’s like when I’m really racing!” He raises his eyebrows, a playful smile turning the corners of his mouth, and he squeezes his hands around my waist. I laugh out loud.
“Colton?”
I turn to look into the startled eyes of a stunning woman a few feet to our left. She has a classic beauty that reminds me a lot of Haddie. She has tendrils of blonde hair that cascade around her shoulders, her caramel colored eyes regard me pensively, and her full, painted lips purse as she takes me in. I feel a punch in the stomach. Despite being pressed against Colton, in the split second I have to size her up, I can see true adoration and love in her eyes toward him. Something about her is different though, and the feelings I see in her eyes are much more intense than Tawny’s or Raquel’s.
Will the endless barrage of women in love with Colton ever end?
“Impeccable timing as usual,” Colton says through gritted teeth without even looking at her. I look back at him, slightly confused as he kisses the tip of my nose and pulls back. “Rylee, meet my annoying little sister, Quinlan.”
“Oh!” This makes sense now! I extricate myself from Colton’s arms, the interruption not allowing me to even think about our intimate exchange. I hold out my hand in greeting, my cheeks blushing at the thought of the first impression she must have of me. “Hi. I’m Rylee Thomas.”
Quinlan looks me up and down and then to my outstretched hand before eyeing Colton, an incredulous expression on her face. She shakes her head at him, a warning look in her eye as she completely disregards my hand. I let it fall as Colton sighs a warning to her. “Quin?” She just looks at him like a mother does when scorning her child. He glares back at her. “Q, quit being rude. I’ll be right there. I’m a little busy right now.”
She snorts rudely, surveying me again before turning on her heel and stalking off the way she came. “Sorry,” he mutters, “she can be an annoying little punk sometimes, regardless of how old she is.” And with those words, for some reason, I think I get it. She thinks I’m one of Colton’s little disposable playthings. And she acted how I probably would act if it were my brother. Disgusted. Fed up.
“It’s okay.” I step back from him. “You need to get going.”
“That I do.” He nods, running his fingers through his hair.
“Be safe, Colton. I’ll see you at the finish line.”
“Always,” he says before flashing a quick, roguish smile at me and then turning to walk toward the pits. I watch his sexy swagger as he tugs his baseball hat on his head and adjusts it. He turns back to look at me, the bill of his hat shadowing his eyes and a wayward grin on his lips, dangerous written all over him. If nothing else, he is the definition of sexy. I sigh, shaking my head as I instinctively smile at him. He turns back around, and I watch him until I can’t see him any more.
How do I even begin to process the last fifteen minutes?
“OKAY, BOYS, I THINK THAT last wing adjustment dialed it in. Great job! I’m going full throttle for the last twenty starting next time I hit the line,” Colton’s disembodied voice comes over the headset as we watch him on the stretch of track behind us.
“Don’t push too hard, Colt. We’ll need to make a couple more adjustments for next time out. I don’t want you burning up the motor before we can mess with it.”
“Relax, Becks.” Colton laughs. “I’m not gonna break your baby.” I can hear the engine rev up on the backstretch as Colton heads out of turn two. “Davis? You on?”
“What do you need, Wood?” Davis’ voice fills my ears. Wood? What’s that all about?
On the open mic, I can hear the car downshift as he heads into turn three. “Get Zander in the flag stand.” I can hear the vibration of the car in Colton’s voice as he increases his speed. “Let him wave. Then the rest of the boys.”
“Ten-four.”
The boys are all listening on their headsets and they turn to look at me with eyes big and grins wide. Davis climbs up the stairs to the little box where we sit above pit row and motions for the boys to follow him. Dane descends and then Jax looks back at me, eyebrows raised in question. “Go ahead, Jax,” I motion for him to go as I remain seated. “I’ll stay here.”
I watch the boys make their way to pit row, heads turned to the right as Colton comes flying out of turn four toward the start-finish line. The rumble of the engine fills my ears and vibrates through my body, reverberating in my chest as he whips past us. Once gone, Davis leads them across the track and they disappear as they head to the flag stand. Moments later, Davis climbs into the little white boxed in platform with Zander at his side, and they wait for Colton to come back around the track again. I can hear the pitch of the motor heighten as Colton hits the accelerator down the backstretch. Before I know it, he is completing the two-mile circuit and tearing down the front straight away before me. Zander’s hands are on the flag, and Davis cautiously helps his little arms wave it as Colton approaches and quickly zips past. I capture his smile with my camera before he heads back down the stairs for Aiden to have his turn.
It has been an incredible day. The boys have gotten a once-in-a-lifetime experience, thanks to Colton and his team. I’ve been interviewed by reporters from the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register about the fundraising collaboration of CD Enterprises on behalf of Corporate Cares. A photographer took pictures of us while we were watching the test laps. The boys have been filled with sugary treats as well as great food that Colton’s team brought in for us. We’ve been treated better than I ever could’ve imagined, especially considering this was not a race or official engagement.
I snap a shot of Shane as he waves the flag when Colton passes by, pleased that I perfectly captured the look of joy in his face. When I look up from the digital image on my camera, Tawny is standing in front of me, a cool, calculating look in her frosty blue eyes. I give her a cautious but courteous smile.
When she continues to stand there and stare at me, I decide to make the first move. Her attempt at intimidation is ineffective. I just pray that for once in my life I can have that quick wit I always think about after the fact because I think I’m going to need it. “Can I help you?”
She crosses her arms across her ample bosom and leans a hip against the railing, her eyes never leaving mine. “You know you’re not his typical type, right?”
Oh, so that’s how this is going to be. I watch Colton come down the straightaway and wait for the deafening sound to pass us before pulling my headphones off. I lean back in my seat and allow the knowing smirk I feel to ghost my lips—the ones that Colton’s lips had been on earlier. “And your point is what? That you are?” I cringe inwardly at my last comment, because I know that she actually does fit the Colton pre-approved mold. So much for being witty.
She laughs snidely. “Oh, doll, your innocent little self has no clue what you’re getting yourself into, do you?”
Condescending bitch! “And what? If I had all of the experience that you do, I would?” My voice drips with sarcasm. “Let’s get something straight, what’s between Colton and me is none of your business. And I’m more than capable of taking care of myself, Tawny. Thanks for your misguided concern, though.”
She stares at me through the slits of her eyelids, her face twisting in amusement. “Oh, Rylee, everything Colton does is my business. I make sure of it.”
I stare at her momentarily, stunned by her impudence and wondering if there is any truth behind her words. I try to hide the bewilderment in my voice with cynicism. “I wasn’t aware he needed a keeper. He seems quite capable of making decisions for himself.” I cross my arms over my chest, mirroring her.
“You don’t know anything, do you?” She laughs cattily, her
patronizing tone grating on my nerves. “Every man needs a woman whispering in his ear, telling him what’s best for him.” She smirks. “And, Rylee, doll, I’m that person to Colton. Have been...” she arches an eyebrow “...and will continue to be.”
I plug my ears as Colton comes back around again, thankful for the brief moment to let her comments sink in. “I’m pretty sure Colton doesn’t let anyone tell him what to do, Tawny. Nice try, though.”
If she laughs that annoying know-it-all laugh one more time, I’m going to strangle her. “You just keep thinking that, doll.” She taps an acrylic nail to her perfectly white teeth. “And before you know it, you’ll think you’ve reeled him in. And despite his little spiel about not wanting a girlfriend, you’ll think he actually wants more with you. That you can change him and his ways. You’ll think that you’ve tamed that rebellion and topped him and his domineering ways.” She turns to watch him fly down the backstretch of the track before turning back to me and taking a step closer. “And just when that happens, you’ll be over quicker than that lap he just clocked. You don’t have what it takes to keep him. He gets bored quickly.” Her eyebrows rise as she studies me. “Oh, my God!” She gasps, putting a hand over her mouth to hide her smarmy smile. “You’ve already fucked him, haven’t you?”
I just stare at her, trying to hide the truth, silence my only answer. I don’t want to let her know that she’s getting to me. That her little bitchy comments are starting to get under my skin and feed the insecurities that I have in regards to why Colton likes me.
“Well, it won’t be long now, then.”
“’Til what?” I ask, already assuming what she’s going to say.
I can see her move her tongue around the inside of her mouth as she thinks of how to best phrase her next piece of venom. “I’ve seen enough of his hussies come and go to say that I’ll give you two months tops, doll. You’ll be out of his bed and his life before the first race of the season.” She squints her eyes, glaring at me, waiting for the reaction I won’t give her. She takes a step closer. “Just know that it’ll be me he turns to then. It’ll be me telling him he’s too good for someone like you. I told you. I’m. The. Voice. In. His. Ear,” she whispers the last words to me.
“And let me guess, it’ll be you he finds happily ever after with, right?” I retort, my voice sugary sweet despite the ire bubbling beneath my surface.
“Eventually, once he’s done biding his time with bimbos like you.” She chuckles, eying me up and down. “You’re smart. I’ll give you that. But I’ve known him longer than anyone, and I’ve put in the time. His parents love me. I’m the only one he needs. He may not realize it yet, but he does love me—”
“Looks like you need to find something better to do with your time, doll,” I say, rising from my seat and taking a step closer, fed up with her egocentric diatribe. “Waiting around to be second best must be really frustrating.”
“A little testy are we? Don’t shoot the messenger,” she says, holding up her hands, “I just thought I’d save you the inevitable heartbreak.”
I manage a single laugh. “Yeah, I can see the sincerity oozing out of your pores.” I roll my eyes. “Your compassion is just overwhelming.”
She purses her lips. “Us girls have to look out for one another.”
Now I really laugh. What a bitch! “Yeah, I’m sure you have my back!” With a knife pointing into it. “I appreciate the heads up, but I’m a big girl, Tawny. I can take care of myself just fine.”
She throws her head back and laughs loudly before eying me up and down again, a look of disdain on her face. “Oh, he is going to eat you alive and then spit you out, and I am so going to enjoy watching it!”
I see Colton complete his last lap and swing the car into the pits to the right of us. The boys will come looking for me any moment to go down and see the car, and frankly, I’ve had enough of Tawny’s little “let me put you in your place” speech. I’ve tried to take the high road. I’ve tried to not be the catty bitch she’s being. But enough’s enough.
I take one step closer to her, my voice a spiteful whisper. “You better get used to watching, Tawny, because that’s all you’ll be doing. When he cries out a name, it’ll be mine, sweetheart.” The corners of my mouth turn up, my voice implacable. “Not yours.”
“That’s what they’ve all thought!” She snorts derisively.
How I’d love to throttle her right now. Wipe that sarcastic smirk off her face and show her she has no clue what she’s talking about. But I can’t. In the end, she may be right. And that kills me. Reminds me I need to keep my guard up. I give her the same, slow appraisal that she’s given me, and I shake my head in disinterest. “This conversation has been stimulating, Tawny, but I’m going to go spend time with people that are worth my breath.”
I rush down the stairs quickly, wanting to make sure that I get the last word in. At the bottom of the stairs, I walk toward where I can hear the engine of Colton’s car. As I turn the corner, I see my boys following Davis down to the garage area of the speedway. I hurry to catch up, trying to let the anger and irritation from Tawny’s words dissipate.
I shrug it off and tell myself that she’s just a catty bitch trying to hold on to something that’s not hers. A drop-dead-gorgeous catty bitch, but a catty bitch nonetheless. I think the combination of her being his type and my fear that there is some truth to her words, keeps the anger running through my system.
I catch up to the group as we approach the garage where Colton’s crew has set up. The purr of the engine stops, and I see Colton hand the now-detached steering wheel to a crewmember before slowly pushing himself up from his seat. He lifts one leg over the side and then the other to stand on the ground. He takes a moment to settle on his legs before removing his helmet and the white fireproof balaclava from his face. He accepts the Gatorade that someone hands him and takes a long pull on it before running a hand back and forth through his sweat-soaked hair. Colton gives the man who approaches him a huge grin, and it takes me a moment to place him. He is the rakish gentleman who was at the Merit Rum party with him.
I stand back with the boys away from the flurry of activity in the garage. Several people are talking to Colton, who is motioning with his hands to demonstrate what he is saying. Other crewmembers are tending to the car, using instruments to measure things. Colton is completely in his element. It’s not hard to sense his enthusiasm and respect for his sport.
His smile is wide and authentic, and I feel a pang in my heart when I see it. If he is this passionate about the sport that he obviously loves, I can’t help but wonder what he’ll be like when he finally accepts love from someone. My heart twists at the thought that it won’t be me. I push the thought from my head, but it stays at the edge of my mind as I watch him.
The flurry dies down as several of the people who Colton is speaking to back off and attend to the engine in the back of the car. Now Colton is just speaking to the man from the club, and I observe an easy camaraderie between the two.
Davis motions for the boys to enter the garage, and they quietly follow in line, trying to stay out of the way. I remain rooted, choosing to watch from afar. Colton notices them and looks up from his conversation, giving the boys a wide smile. He waits until they approach before speaking. “So what did you think, guys?”
All of them shout out words at once ranging from “awesome” to “cool” to “unbelievable.” He unzips his fire suit and pulls his arms out of the sleeves, letting them fall and hang below his waist. His shirt, darkened with sweat, clings to the defined muscles of his chest. The sight of him, sexy as hell, pulls at every part of me.
“I’m so glad you guys liked it! Now, this here,” he says, putting his arm around the man from the club, “is one of the most important people out here. More important than me,” he kids. “None of this...” he gestures to the garage around them “...would run so smoothly if it weren’t for him. This is Beckett Daniels, my crew chief.”
The boys say hello to hi
m and he smiles back at them. Ricky throws out a question and Beckett smiles broadly, motioning the boys over to the car to look at something. Colton stays where he is and watches the boys follow. He rolls his shoulders and takes another long drink before looking up and around the garage. I feel that sudden crackle of electricity when his eyes meet mine, and that slow lazy grin turns up the corners of his mouth, his dimple deepening. He looks like sex: hot, sweaty, disheveled, and mouthwateringly irresistible. He looks back at Beckett to make sure that things are okay before sauntering over to me.
“Well, hello there.” I can’t help the smile that forms on my lips when I speak to him.
“Still think I’m faking it?”
“No.” I laugh as he stops in front of me.
“Well, as long as you’re not, then I’m doing my job correctly,” he quips, reaching out a hand to tug on a curl.
I shake my head at him with a soft smile before taking a deep breath. Faking it is definitely not a necessity when it comes to Colton in the bedroom. We stare at each other, the activity of the garage buzzing around us, as we become entranced by one another.
“You looked good out there, Ace,” I finally manage to say, breaking our silence.
He takes another drink of his Gatorade. “You know nothing about racing, do you?” He laughs as I shake my head, laughing with him. “Didn’t think so, but thanks for the compliment.”
“But I have watched it with my brother before, and the boys obviously were Googling all about it to make sure they knew as much as possible.” I shrug, glancing over his shoulder to check on the kids. “So, Wood, huh?”
He smiles shyly at me. “It’s not what you’re thinking. It’s an old nickname.” I raise my eyebrows at him, amused. “When I first started racing, someone called me Hollywood. The name stuck. Has been shortened to Wood over time. Anyone who calls me that has been around a long time.” He looks back at Beckett for a beat. “Is someone I trust.”