Page 14

Monterey

There’s something so sexy about watching a man speed around a track in a race car. Call me weird, but just knowing Danger is at the helm of the car does something to me. It turns me on bad.

I press my thighs together as I watch him with rapt fascination. My heart pounds each time he takes a corner, knowing full well his life is in jeopardy with each second he’s out there.

Danger knows what he’s doing. I swear the man was born in a race car.

It’s why my father has such faith in him.

And in me. And I need to be sure that I live up to my end of the bargain. If I plan to take over when my father retires, then I need to prove to him I can be the best thing for this team. And that I can play my part as the doting fiancée.

I almost feel like pretending to be involved with Danger is getting easier and easier the more I hang around him.

I clap as he spins the car around and comes to a stop.

“Show off,” my father grumbles with a laugh.

That’s Danger for you. He loves the attention.

A few fans have made their way onto the track, and the team’s security rushes over there, keeping the screaming girls at bay. Their eyes spot Danger and they scream even louder.

He emerges from the car and gives a little wave. He really is too good-looking for his own good. Sometimes I can’t handle how striking he is. It doesn’t turn me into some groupie, however, crying for his attention.

I won’t ever be one of those girls. I know first hand how it feels to be one. I was one for many years with Thad.

Maybe it was camouflaged as something more serious, but in the end, I realized I was nothing but another faceless girl to him, ready to do whatever he wanted.

I won’t let any man treat me that way again. That’s why I keep my heart guarded like an iron gate surrounds the fortress where it lies, beating, waiting for the white knight that will fight to keep it safe.

It’s silly, but a part of me still wishes for the fairytale.

And I know Danger isn’t the hero I’m longing for. No, he’s the test. The project my father instilled in me to see if I’m worthy of becoming everything I’ve ever wanted to be. I won’t let Danger ruin those chances.

“I’m going to meet up with Lilah before tonight.” I stand, waving at Danger before I leave the track.

“Wait,” he shouts, racing over to me and swinging an arm around my waist. “I don’t get a goodbye kiss?”

“Well,” I say with a blush. “I...well…” before I can even finish my thought, Danger’s lips are pressed firmly to mine, his tongue begging for entrance.

“Kiss me, dammit,” he growls when I don’t give in.

My lips are razor thin, not really sure how to give into this kiss. Even though every inch of me trembles.

“Fuck, Monterey, kiss me. You know you want to.” And then he palms my right ass cheek, squeezing so hard my mouth shoots open and he takes the kiss he so desperately wants from me.

And then it does turn needy in an instant, and I feel like I’m tumbling out of control.

I stumble a bit, but I don’t fall because Danger’s arms are wrapped securely around me as his tongue moves over mine. My arms cling to him, my fingers weaving through his hair like I need an anchor to hold on to.

I’ve never been kissed like this before in my life. And I don’t want to stop. But, as soon as I hear the crowd of angry girls hissing and shouting, I push against his chest, breaking the kiss. “I should get going,” I breathe out on a shaky breath.

Danger doesn’t release his grip on me. “What if I can’t let you go?”

I suck in air, because my lungs are straight up collapsing from his words. “You have to because I’m not yours,” I remind him.

He laughs against my lips. “You are mine. You just don’t know it yet, but don’t worry...I’ll keep reminding you every chance I get.” He drops his hands and heads back over to where Crank stands with the team.

I wave to my father in the stands as he smiles with a raised brow, like he’s happy we’re making a show of it all.

The only one who’s not convinced is me.

* * *

“Please don’t tell me anymore. I might combust from the hotness,” Lilah says with a high arch of her brow.

We’re here at the spa of the hotel, getting our mani/pedis before the dinner tonight with the team captains and managers, coaches, and of course, the talent. And I ended up telling Lilah my little secret about our pretend relationship.

She was shocked. But, she understood.

“I don’t know what to think about him. He’s just this way with all the ladies. I personally don’t think Danger knows how to act around a woman who isn’t trying to get into his pants.”

Lilah smiles. “That is the damn truth. But, maybe you should let loose. I mean, you haven’t had sex in forever.”

I swat at her with my wet polish. “That is so not true. I’ve had sex recently.” I bite my lower lip, trying to remember the last man I’d even slept with. “Ok, maybe it has been a long time.”

“You deserve it girl.”

“Not with a man like Danger ,” I emphasize his name. “It really would be too dangerous.” For my heart.

Lilah swats away the idea like it’s a gnat flying too close to her face. “Nonsense. I think you should do it. What’s the worst that could happen?”

I don’t want to produce the laundry list of things that could go wrong, with falling in love at the very tippy top of it. Because that really is the worst case scenario.

And with a man who calls himself Danger and lives up to that name in every way possible, I know that is my biggest fear. I’d fall and never even know what hit me.

“I can’t. This is just my father’s way of testing me. I don’t want anything to jeopardize it.”

Lilah studies me, her blue eyes pondering the truth behind my words. “I still think you can have your cake and eat it too.”

I laugh. “When has that ever worked out for anybody?”

She stares at her newly polished nails. “You never know until you try it. I saw that kiss between you two at the track today, and you can’t fight that kind of chemistry.”

“Kiss? How did you see it?”

“Are you kidding? It’s trending.” She grabs her phone, pulling up the picture of Danger kissing me. “Look.”

I take the phone from her hands. “Oh damn,” I say, noticing there is a ton of heat between us.

The way Danger holds onto me so tightly, like he never wants to let go.

The way his eyes bore into mine. The way his hand turns to fists over the fabric of my dress as he deepens the kiss.

I don’t know who took this video, but they have great skill at capturing the moment shared between us.

“Oh damn is right. You’d be an idiot to not want to do that again.”

The truth is, I do want to do that again. And again. Over and over. But I can never let anyone know that truth but me.

This isn’t as simple as right and wrong or black and white. No, this has so much gray area that I no longer want to be faced with the temptation again. Because I know if given the chance I would give into Danger. Oh man, I’d give into Danger so bad. And that could be disastrous.

“You ready to head back?” Lilah asks as our gel nail polish finishes drying under the UV lamp.

I nod, grabbing my bag after the lamp shuts off. “I forgot to ask. How’re things with Mandarin?”

“It’s a fiery inferno I never want to wake up from.”

“That good, huh?”

A big smile cracks her face. “Better.”

“See, that’s what I want, Li. I want a man who’s crazy about me just like Mandarin is about you.”

“Did you not see the video of Danger? That boy wants you.”

I roll my eyes. “Please, he wants anything that’s ready and willing.”

Lilah stops. “I don’t know, Mont. He stares at you like he’s a vampire and you’re packing the blood type he loves most.”

I laugh. “You read way too many paranormal romance novels.”

“Seriously, he looks like he wants to devour you sometimes.” We hit the elevators and the doors open.

We step inside, and I push the button for our floor. “I need to get ready.” I notice the time and now I feel rushed to get to the dinner in the ballroom.

“Relax. You have plenty of time. There’s only one man you need to impress, and after that kiss, I think he’s impressed.” Lilah laughs, but I don’t laugh along with her.

“I highly doubt that. He’s probably off flirting with some girl right now.” And then my fear doubles inside me, wondering if Danger is making me look like a fool. It’s bad enough the media caught wind of my break up with Thad and the reason behind it. I don’t need that madness again.