Page 32

Monterey

It’s been a busy past few weeks. The meeting for Danger to meet with the PR firm is set for the morning of the last race. My father was able to cancel the exposé with the LA Sun , and I’m sure Mr. Moore isn’t too happy about that fact. I can’t believe we’re almost done. I can’t believe we’re pulling off this fake relationship for the media. Although, I have to say it doesn’t feel fake anymore. Danger and I have spent pretty much every moment together, and every night in each other's arms. There’s nothing more I want than to be his, but something’s holding him back and I wish I could get to the bottom of what that something is.

I’ve tried to talk to him about his past, but every time I do, he clams up, going cold and distant. There’s really only one person who can help me, and when I spot the reporter on the sidelines of the entrance to the racing arena, I move over to him.

“Hi again, Mr. Moore,” I say, shaking his hand.

He grabs his pack of cigarettes. “Call me, Ricky, please.” He offers me a cigarette. “Want one?”

I shake my head. “No thank you. I actually wanted to talk to you about Danger.” I smile, hoping he will open up to me.

“Pillow talk doesn't include his past, huh?”

I crack a grin. “No, not actually.”

He lights his cigarette, taking a drag before he opens his mouth to speak. “Ask yourself, why doesn’t Danger want to do an interview with me?”

I stare at him. “Well, he’s stressed out.” I bite my lower lip, not wanting to mention that our engagement is all a sham and that’s the reason we’re cancelling.

“I don’t think that’s it.”

“How can you be so sure?”

He drops his cigarette, stubbing it out with his Converse shoe. “Tell me this. What’s a girl like you doing with a man like him?”

I’m shocked he could even ask that kind of question. “Danger’s a good man. Sure, he’s got a past. A past that maybe people don’t believe he’s serious about me, but he is. We’re getting married,” I’m rambling, but I can’t stop. “You don’t know Danger like you think you do. You only know his past. I know his present.”

He laughs. “But, do you know his future? You should ask him about Isabella.”

“Isa-who?” My mind is flooded with thoughts of another woman.

The man laughs again. “You don’t know everything you think you do. That Danger is searching for Isabella.”

I shove the thought away. “No he isn’t.”

The man shrugs, pulling out another cigarette. “Ask yourself why he’s making special meetings with the Donavans.” He lights his cigarette. “He has contacted them, right?”

“How do you know all of this?”

He chuckles, puffing out smoke all around him. “I know a lot more than you think I do.”

“How?”

“Because I went to the source himself. The man who has a story to tell.”

“Who?”

He’s so arrogant which makes me a bit angry. “Just ask Danger about Isabella.” And then he walks away in a plume of smoke, leaving me frustrated as hell.

Who’s Isabella?

* * *

Another stupid dinner, for another race won by Danger and my mood is shit. I hate to say it but it really is. I hate how I feel right now.

After speaking with Ricky, I went straight up to the room and didn’t even attend today’s race. I know petty, but I can’t help it.

I can’t help to think Danger is pinning after another woman, searching endlessly for her. It doesn’t make sense.

It just doesn’t.

If he loves this Isabella with everything he has, why has he been reckless and screwing half the country while searching?

It makes my blood boil just thinking about it all.

I finally come to the conclusion that Isabella is not a past lover, but someone else. Yes, I guess I am smart, but come on, he can’t love another woman.

He just can’t. And I don’t think I’m in denial here.

I make myself laugh with my thoughts and then I scour once more.

The ballroom is bright, making my shit mood even shittier. The laughter filling the air makes my teeth grind and I try to pretend I’m not in a bad mood. The main reason I’m so upset is because I’ve finally admitted to myself that I’m in love.

Yes, paint moons and stars and happy clouds across the sky because Monterey Grander has fallen in love. And sure, I’ve supposedly been in love before with Thad Jeffries, but I see now that was just child’s play. It was something that can’t even compare to what I have for Dylan.

It’s scary. And what’s even scarier, is the fact that I don’t know everything there is to know about this man I’m in love with.

That there’s beginning to feel like a big secret he’s not sharing.

And just who the fuck is Isabella?

“Monterey, you look upset. What’s wrong?” my father asks, handing me a flute of champagne, most likely thinking that this simple act of kindness will help cheer me up.

It doesn’t.

“Nothing. I’m just thinking.”

My father’s bushy brow rises. “Nothing too serious, I hope.”

I don’t answer and take a sip of my champagne.

“Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about something serious.”

I focus on my father. “What about?”

He smiles wide, his big belly jiggling a bit as he laughs under his breath. “I think you’re finally ready.”

“Ready for what?” Now I turn to face him, wondering what he could possibly mean. Ready to marry Danger? Ready to take over my father’s company? I perk up a bit, wondering if this is exactly what he wants to tell me.

He makes me happy when he says, “I’m ready to retire, and I know you’re more than ready to take over Grander Racing when I do.”

I smile, for the first time tonight. “I can’t believe you’re going to retire so soon. I thought you’d stay on til’ the day you died.”

He laughs, moving closer. “I think this year’s been good on you. I also think Danger’s been good on you as well. You just seem so much happier.” His eyes stare at me. “Well, tonight excluded.”

“I just have a lot on my mind.”

My father takes a flute of champagne from a passing waiter’s tray. “Monterey, I wish I had some sort of great pearl of wisdom to bestow on you right now, but I haven’t got anything.”

I smile wide. “It’s ok, Dad. I’ll be fine.”

“I will say this, don’t wait to tell the person you love that you love them. Because I wish everyday I would have told your mother. But, instead I let her walk away and it still pains me everyday to think about how I should have told her I loved her in the end.”

“But, you’re happy with your life, right?”

My father sips his champagne before answering, “Sure, sometimes. But there’s always something that feels like it’s missing from my life.”

“I never knew this.”

He laughs, swatting away the words he has said like a little fly buzzing around. “No importance. But, I know you love Danger, don’t you?”

I stare at the glass of bubbly in my hand, afraid that if I meet my father’s eyes I’ll break down. “I do, a lot.” My shoulders slump at my confession and my father motions to a chair beside him. I take the seat and he holds my hand.

“Then tell him. You never know what he might say. I can see by the way he stares at you that he’s got some serious feelings for you.”

I smile, trying my best to believe the words my father says. “Ok.”I blink. “Dad, what do we really know about Danger?”

My father taps his chin as he thinks. “Not much. Runaway. I remember him saying once his dad was a driver.”

“His father?” I let the fact that his father was a driver absorb into my brain. “Anyone we know?”

“I don’t think he ever made it to the big times.”

“Ah, ok.” At just this moment Danger enters the ballroom, looking sexier than sin in an all black suit. “There’s the man of the hour. I guess I should join him.”

“Remember what I said, don’t wait.”

I smile, squeezing my father’s arm as I walk away.

I cross the ballroom, my eyes glued on Danger, my nerves on high alert. My hands shake as I set the flute of champagne on a table as I pass by.

“You look, wow,” Danger says as I reach him. He wraps an arm around my waist, tucking me into his side.

“You look pretty good yourself.”

“Missed you at the race today.”

I bite the inside of my cheek, stalling for an answer. “I just didn’t feel like dealing with all the media and fans today. I wasn’t feeling too well.”

He moves to where he’s standing in front of me, both hands on my arms. “Are you feeling ok now.” I feel like he’s ready to place his palm on my forehead.

I pull away just a bit. “I’m fine.”

He stares at me for a second, studying me. “You kind of don’t look so hot.”

My mouth opens at his words. “Danger, how could you say that?”

“No, I mean you’re gorgeous, but you’re kind of white. Like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Who’s Isabella?”

Danger steps away from me, his eyes narrowing. “Where did you hear that name?”

“So, there is someone named Isabella?” I cross my arms. “Past lover?” I just have to make sure. Make sure that Danger isn’t more of a player than I’ve ever given him credit for.

He smirks with a little laugh. “No, she’s not a lover.”

“But, she is someone?”

Danger breathes in deep, running his hands down the lapel of his suit jacket. He lets the breath out slowly, his eyes searching the ballroom before settling back on me. “She is someone. Where did you hear her name?”

I shrug, not really sure how to answer him. “The reporter.”

The anger in Danger’s eyes starts slowly, until they are in a full on rage, and I’m unable to turn away. “What else did he say?”

I step back, needing space between us. “Nothing, I swear.”

Danger cracks his neck to the side. “What did he say, Monterey?”

“Nothing. He just said to ask you about Isabella.”

Danger stares at me for a full minute, and I debate on pleading more of a case. The reporter didn’t really say anything. And then, Danger turns and walks away, leaving the ballroom.

I chase after him. “Dylan, please talk to me,” I say once we’ve reached the lobby. “You know you can trust me.”

He spins around on me, grabbing my hand. “Come with me.” He marches over to the elevator so fast I stumble a little. After the metal doors open he jabs his thumb at the button furiously. He’s here with me, but somehow he looks lost. Lost in his rage and another emotion I can’t name.

As soon as we’re in the privacy of the elevator he doesn’t release me, only grips tighter. “Let go, Danger. You’re hurting me.”

He loosens his grip, but doesn’t drop my hand completely.

“Where are we going?” I ask as I watch the elevator ascend.

Danger doesn’t speak, and he appears angrier than he was when I first mentioned the name Isabella to him. It’s as if to say it would open Pandora's box, releasing a curse on us.

The elevator stops at our floor, and we head off to our room. Once inside Danger lets go of me, and I fall onto the bed.

He hovers over me, our noses practically touching. “Tell me what that motherfucker said.”

I shake my head a bit. “He didn’t say anything. I swear.”

His dark eyes are on mine, looking for an answer desperately. “You’re lying.” He sucks along my jawline and then further down across my neck. “Tell me what he said.”

Damn, thinking is hard when he does that.

“Nothing. He just said something about asking you about her.”

Danger lifts his head, staring right at me.

He brings his finger down to close my lips. “Shh, no more talking.” He resumes kissing and sucking along my heated skin.

“Dylan, please,” I whisper, but he just stares at me again, shaking his head.

He continues his assault on my neck. He groans out. “I need to fuck you.”

I push him off me, wanting nothing more than to talk to him. He’s the type of guy who answers all his problems with sex, and I won’t do that. Not tonight.

Not when we have things we need to discuss. I sit up, pushing away from Danger still.

He moves and sits across the room in a chair. “What the fuck, Monterey?”

“We need to talk.” I cross my arms over my chest, like a grade school teacher, not letting anyone get away with any shenanigans in their classroom. This is my classroom now, and Danger my pupil. And I will get answers, dammit.

“I don’t want to talk.”

“But we should. Who is Isabella?” I stand up, my restless energy getting the best of me.

“She’s just someone I used to know.”

“How?”

Danger stands up, shuffling a hand through his hair. “It’s not important anymore.”

I stop in front of him, staring down at him. “It’s important to me.”

He stands. “Well, that makes one of us.” He moves from me, toward the door, and I don’t have the strength to go after him. “I gotta get out of here,” he calls over his shoulder as he leaves.

I stand here, shaking. “Why is it so hard to answer a simple question?” I ask myself.