Page 43

Danger

“Have you read the news today?” Monterey asks me, entering the nook where I’m having breakfast with Pearl—our nine month old baby girl—in my arms. We named her after my mother. She plays with the pancakes from my plate, while I try to put something in her little mouth.

“No, why?” That kind of stuff stopped bothering me eons ago. My life is so full, I couldn’t care less about gossip.

“They’re making a fuss about the fact someone recorded a video of you kissing a woman in a dark corner in the ballroom.”

Last night, one of the major team sponsors hosted a party in the Wilshire Beverly Hills hotel, our attendance was mandatory. And if I’m being honest I enjoy going to those events, having Monterey on my arm. But last night was different. Better. Monterey and I haven’t had a night alone together since we welcomed baby Pearl into our world.

“And all the scandal is about me being said woman …” she puffs. “What a shame, smooching your wife. They’re saying you’re a walking cliché. The epitome of the reformed bad boys.”

I laugh at her indignation. This is fun indeed.

“Why do you care that much?” I ask her, balancing Pearl on my leg, making her laugh too.

“Because you’re a living legend. The best Indy driver, you have won five championships in a row, rejected an F1 contract because you want us to keep working together. You’re richer than God himself, and they’re worried because someone without a life found you kissing your wife?”

I grin at the sight of her cheeks blazing a vivid crimson. “Sure, I might be a reformed bad boy,” I say with a mischievous shrug, “but I never promised to behave myself. If I want to kiss you anywhere, at any time, I’m damn well going to.” And I do—constantly. My hands always seem to find their way to her skin because, frankly, I can’t get enough of her. Ever since she gave birth to our baby girl, her body carries an even more mesmerizing beauty in my eyes, a strength and softness I’m obsessed with. I love this woman with every beat of my heart, and I’ll make sure everyone knows she’s mine.

Monterey heads over to me, taking Pearl from my arms. She bounces our daughter on her hip and I smile at the knowledge that this is my family now. When I told Isabella we wanted to name the baby after our mother, she couldn’t be happier. Monterey thought Pearl was the perfect name to honor the woman who gave birth to me.

The woman who tried to protect her children the best way she knew how.

And Aunt Isabella comes over all the time, spoiling my daughter with as much love as she has to give, and then a little more on top of that.

I never knew I could be this happy. Ever since that day when my father killed my mother I felt my life was never meant to know this type of happiness. That my life would only ever be an endless loop of never-ending sadness.

But Monterey has taught me that I deserve a good life. That I can make my life into anything I want and I don’t need to dwell on my past. That I can overcome it and prove to myself that I can do anything I want for me, for us.

And everyday I try to be the man she and Pearl both deserve.

I took a year off racing when Pearl was born, just so I could spend more time with my girls while Monterey runs Grander Racing. My wife is a badass boss, and it turns me on just to watch her work most days.

The book my father wrote never made it to the big screen, and I’m happy to say it’s no longer on the bestseller’s list either. And I’ve decided to write my own book. To tell my own story about how I overcame my bad upbringing and triumphed the moment I fell for the right woman. Maybe once Pearl is a little older I can finally find the time to write it.

For now it’s enough to know my story exists. That one can overcome a bad life. That a person can carve out their own happy existence and make their life into whatever they wish for. And as for this reformed bad boy I couldn’t wish for anything better.

* * *

Thank you so much for reading Danger. I hope you enjoyed Danger and Monterey’s love story as much as I enjoyed writing it for you.