Page 44

Monterey

* * *

I’ve always wondered what a proposal from Danger would look like, but I could never expect this…

Dylan once asked me many moons ago, when I still thought his name was Danger, if I could race. I told him yes.

Because honestly, I grew up around the sport.

I’d driven behind the wheel of an Indy race car many times.

So, once the paparazzi got wind of Danger asking me if I could race, they took off with it.

It became a thing.

It became intangible.

Soon, we were offered a race track and a team of cameras to catch the whole debacle live.

How could we ever say no?

Now, after the truth came out about Dylan, we never told anyone our engagement was fake.

We just never mentioned the engagement ever again.

We hid away from the cameras, focusing on our own relationship first.

Also, Dylan wanted to reconnect with his sister, Isabella as well.

So, when they decided to have the race on a Saturday before the next season would start, we agreed.

I’d been so busy lately with the transition of power from my father to me with his retirement.

My nerves were all over the place with my father leaving the company and everything falling onto my shoulders.

However, I knew I was ready. I was more than ready.

“Do you really think you can beat me?”

Dylan laughs as he pulls me in for a hug.

We arrived at the speedway earlier than any of the local TV cameras, and I was actually hoping I could maybe get a practice run in.

“Oh, you know I just might.”

Dylan laughs, the gleam in his eye catching the light of the early morning sun. He knows he has this in the bag. Hell, even I know he’ll win.

“Care to make a wager?”

he asks me.

“Like what.”

I kiss the tip of his nose, and then move around to plant a kiss on his neck, hoping I can distract him into an unfair bet.

“I’m thinking if I win, we can continue this all night long.”

He pulls back a bit and I pout my lower lip.

“And if I win?”

He smiles. “Well, then you’ll have to give me the thing I want most.”

I laugh. “What’s that?”

He kisses my lips. “That’s for you to find out.”

It’s most likely something sexual, although Dylan has done everything in the bedroom to me he’s wanted, so I’m not sure what he could possibly want more of. “Ok,” I agree.

He goes over a few things about the track and the car I’ll be driving, making sure I’ll be safe throughout the race.

I roll my eyes. “Yes dear, I know all these things.”

“Don’t patronize me. I want you safe.”

I don’t want to tell him my top speed will probably be something around fifty miles per hour. Yes, I grew up around racing, but it doesn’t mean I have any confidence that I’ll win.

My father wheels over closer to us. “Monterey, think you’ve got this?”

He laughs a little, knowing full well I have no intention of winning. At this point it’s just a publicity stunt, and a good one at that.

Dylan has had the most positive reputation lately, and this is something fun we can do to keep it there.

“I have a good chance,”

I say, leaning over to kiss my father on his cheek.

Dylan shakes my father’s hand and they say their hellos.

“Ready?”

Dylan asks me.

I nod, noticing all the cameramen headed our way. “I am.”

The place comes alive with our pit crew and managers to help with the race. There’s a lot more spectators than I was expecting, but I’m assuming it’s all for show. No one actually expects me to win, do they?

“You’ve got this,”

Lilah says, stepping up to give me a hug.

I shake my head. “You’re telling me I’ll beat Danger when the man can get his car up to two-fifty miles per hour?”

Lilah smiles with a lift of her shoulder. “You never know.”

Mandarin strolls up behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist. “Just stay on the inside.”

I laugh a little, like this advice will really help me win.

All of a sudden there’s a spectacle on the track. “What’s going on?”

I ask Lilah and Mandarin. They both look as confused as I am, when I see a junky brown car being carted onto the track.

“What’s this?”

I ask Dylan.

Crank tosses the keys to the beat up Buick to Dylan. “Your car, Danger.”

I’m the only one who calls Danger by the name Dylan, even though everyone knows it’s his real name.

“Thanks,”

Dylan says with a smile.

“What’s going on?”

“We’re making the race fair,”

Crank says with a laugh. “You can’t expect Danger to race you in an Indy car, do you? He’ll annihilate you.”

“Thanks.”

I blow out a breath. No one has any faith in me.

The Buick has definitely seen better days. The color a nice shade of brown and rust, I’m sure the car can barely get over fifty miles per hour either.

Dylan wraps me into a hug. “You’re not mad, are you?”

I laugh. “I just think it’s funny you think I can’t beat you fairly. That you think so little of me you have to get a junker car to make sure I have a fighting chance.”

He kisses my nose. “Maybe I’m just rooting for you to win.”

Crank calls for the start of the race, and we do a few quick interviews before we’re headed to our cars to get this race on its way.

I’m nervous and I’m not really sure why.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been behind the wheel of an Indy car, but I remember the basics of it.

Dylan’s in trouble.