Page 22

Monterey

I drift off to sleep in a peaceful slumber. I can’t even remember falling asleep, but I remember waking up.

Because it’s loud.

It’s like a train has ripped through the hotel room, causing me to jump when I try to locate the sound.

“Danger?” I call out, not sure where he is.

He steps out from the living area. “Hey, I’m just watching the wreck, and the news coverage of it. I wanted to see it for myself.” He gives me a half-smile. “Coffee?”

I try to open my eyes wider, but the morning sun pouring in from the windows doesn’t allow it. So, I squint, trying to wake up properly. “Uh, ok. Give me a minute.” I stretch my body across the bed, and Danger growls.

“Ok, I can’t concentrate with you looking all sexy as fuck like that.” He steps closer to the bed, bending over to smack me on the ass.

I smile, remembering the way he held me last night after stripping me bare. I should feel weird, awkward, but I don’t. Instead I feel like I can trust this man with anything.

Like he broke a big chunk of my walls down last night, and I don’t mind. “I’ll be right there.”

I head into the bathroom, not really sure if I’ll be able to watch the crash again. It was bad enough the first time.

I get ready for the day, knowing we have the press conference in a few hours, and then we can pack and get ready to move onto the next city. I can’t even remember where we’re going, or if we’ll leave today.

With Danger’s team member in the hospital, we’ll need to wait until we get word on Mandarin’s surgery.

I told my father I would handle it all, so I push away the fog clouding my brain, and walk into the living area. “I need to find a driver for Mandarin. And see what the doctors think.”

Danger stares at me. “The doctor cleared me for driving, right?”

I nod, knowing very well Mandarin won’t be able to drive this season. “Yes, so I just need to look through our replacement roster. I’m thinking Parks.”

Danger growls, and stares back at the TV when the crash occurs. Twisted metal and car parts fly through the air as they’re covered in a plume of smoke. I turn away, unable to watch anymore of it. I wince at the sound of metal crunching into metal.

Danger doesn’t even blink. Just watches, rewinds and watches again.

I cross the room, sitting next to him on the little sofa. My hand makes its way like a magnet to his leg.

His hand immediately reaches down to rest on mine. It makes me smile, and a warmth floods my chest.

I turn toward the TV screen, knowing full well I won’t be able to watch the crash again.

But, I do watch it. My eyes are fixed to the screen. Like a bad train wreck, or ha ha, a car wreck, I can’t get the image of twisted metal out of my vision.

And then I see it, the thing I’m sure Danger is noticing every time he watches it. The moment he loses control of his car.

It’s only a small miscalculation, but it’s so visibly obvious to the trained eye. “Do you want to talk about it?” I ask him.

He squeezes my hand. “It’s my fault. I let that asshole get inside my head.”

“The reporter?”

Danger removes his hand. “Yeah, him.”

“Anything I can do?”

“Let’s get this press conference done, and then get out of town.”

I smile. I like this with him, acting like a real couple. “Yes, I like that idea.” Or maybe it’s just I like being with him. In a car, traveling. Just the two of us.

He turns off the TV, moving into the kitchen area to make a pod of coffee for me. “Cream and sugar?” he asks.

I pin him with a stare. “You should know by now how I take my coffee, Mr. Fiance.” I park a hand on my hip.

“Lots of cream and enough sugar to give anyone diabetes.” He smiles and I laugh.

An hour later Danger’s doing a press conference with Thad and all the other drivers.

I pull my father aside. “I’m going to contact Warren Parks to sub in for Mandarin.”

“Good idea. Mandarin made it through surgery, but he’s out for the rest of the season.”

I chew on my bottom lip, reminding myself to make a call to Lilah to see how she’s holding up. “I think Warren will be ready in time.”

My father glances over at Danger, and then back at me. “He’s gonna have to be.”

“Don’t worry, Dad. I’ve got this. We’re going to be ok.”

My father smiles. “I know we are. I trust you.”

I return my attention back to the conference. The questions toward Danger are mainly about the accident, his teammate, and how he plans to recover from the crash.

And then I spot the man who caused Danger to be off yesterday.

Ricky Morris from the LA Sun .

He has a red ball cap on, and he stands with his tape recorder pointed at Danger. “Danger, how’re things with Monterey?”

Danger smiles. “Exceptional.” He gives off a charming little laugh.

“Ever been in love before?” he asks.

Danger keeps his smile strong, like the questions don’t even phase him. “Nope.”

“No skeletons in your closet from the past?”

Danger’s smile tilts just a tad. “Nope. Anyone else have a question?” Danger’s eyes scan the crowd.

Ricky laughs, like he would never allow anyone else to share the spotlight right now. He has Danger’s full attention and I feel like I should do something to stop all of this. Last time Ricky had Danger’s attention there was a crash.

I step forward.

Ricky waves his voice recorder in the air. “Ever read the book, The Killer by Earl Wheeler?”

I swear everything stops. Like you could hear a pin drop in this moment. I stare at Danger, watching his bottom lip twitch ever so slightly.

A smile spreads across Danger’s face, lighting up his eyes. “Nope, never heard of it.” And then he walks off stage.