Page 56 of Racing Dirty Trilogy Box Set

“Miss Jones.” The announcer’s voice booms over the cheering crowd, making them go silent.

“Congratulations on your win tonight. Is there anything you’d like to say to your adoring fans?

" Her eyes grow wide, she looks like a deer caught in a pair of headlights as he holds the microphone up to her.

Izzy begins to speak but clears her throat.

I finally make it to her, my hands are sweaty, and my heart is beating hard. I’m ready to lay it all out in front of everyone, make her see me. See that I’m here and I’m alive. I’m not blaming her for anything and I want to spend the rest of my life with her.

The announcer spots me and gives me a slight wink. Izzy doesn’t notice me yet and I wrap my arms around her from behind. She goes stiff under my touch and tries to pull away, but I won’t let her run anymore.

“I’m here,” I whisper to her and kiss the side of her neck.

“I don’t deserve you,” she whispers back.

I turn her body towards me and tears are gleaming in her eyes.

I wipe them away with my thumbs and she doesn’t flinch from my touch.

That gives me all the encouragement I need.

The announcer is still standing next to us with the microphone pointed in our direction. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

“Izabella Jones, you’re the most important person to me.

" My voice booming through the speakers. “I’m not complete without you by my side. I’m not whole without you.

You’ve had my heart and soul since we were kids.

These last few weeks have been torture without you by my side.

I don’t blame you for anything. None of what happened to us is your fault.

I see you, Izzy. I see you. You belong with me, you are my better half.

You bring hope and love when I gaze into your captivating emeralds.

You give me light in a world of darkness when you smile at me.

I love you, Izzy. I love the way your eyes light up when I crack a stupid joke, I love the way your body trembles when I touch you.

I love the way you look at me like I’m the only person in the world. I want to give you forever with me."

I bend down onto one knee carefully and pull a velvet ring box out of my pocket. I hear a loud gasp leave her lips when I open the box and reveal a sapphire diamond sitting in a heart-shaped setting on a white gold band.

“I know I already asked you once, but I need to ask you again. Izabella Iris Jones, will you give me forever? Will you give me the light in this world of darkness? Will you be my wife?”

I hold my breath waiting for an answer. Her eyes are red from crying and she is still the most beautiful woman in the world.

She looks around us and spots Austin, Mia, Christian, Ashley, Nolan, my mom, and my dad next to her car.

Austin nods his head in approval. The crowd is so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.

Izzy’s eyes finally land on mine. She takes a deep breath. “Why Xavier? Everything that happened to you is my fault. Why would you want to tie yourself to someone who hurt you?" Her question throws me off for a second, but I recover quickly.

“Izzy, I want to tie myself to you because I love you. Through thick and thin, we’re connected in a way no one can understand.

You are it for me. I don’t blame you for other people’s actions.

I don’t blame you for what happened to us.

I blame you for stealing my heart when we were kids.

I blame you for loving me all these years when I felt I didn’t deserve it.

I want to spend the rest of my life waking up next to you, stealing my heart every day, and never letting it go. I want us to get our forever."

She wipes away the tears in her eyes. “I want that too,” she whispers. I slip the ring on her finger with shaky hands and carefully stand up.

“Then give me forever. Say yes,” I beg.

“Yes X, I’ll give you forever." My lips crash down on hers and she opens her mouth to my assault. I pull her against my body, her soft curves fit perfectly in my hands. The crowd cheers and catcalls but it all fades away as I’m consumed by her lips, her body, and her soul.

Izzy breaks the kiss, breathing hard. I rest my forehead against hers.

“I’m sorry I pushed you away,” Izzy says, her breath fanning against my lips.

“I’m sorry I let you. Let me make it up to you. I love you, B. Always have and always will.” She runs her fingers through my jet-black hair, tugging my head towards her.

“I love you too, X. Always have and always will,” she whispers before kissing me again.

The announcer breaks through our bubble. “There you have it, folks, Miss Jones and Mr. Sweeney finally have their ever after. Let’s give them another round of applause."

The crowd whistles and cheers and we break our kiss and turn to our family. Austin wraps Izzy up in a hug and squeezes her tight.

“I’m so proud of you baby girl,” he tells her.

“Thanks, Dad,” Izzy answers. Mia and Christian are holding onto each other and they both have a smile on their faces as they make their way to us. Christian gives me a bro hug.

“Congrats man,” he says.

“Thanks,” I answer.

“It’s about time you pulled your head out of your ass,” Nolan tells me. I laugh as Izzy comes back to me.

“Yeah, it is,” she says. Nolan narrows his eyes at her.

“It’s about time you pulled your head out of your ass too, Miss. Jones,” he tells her.

She shakes her head. “It’s now Ms. Jones, soon to be Mrs. Sweeney to you, Mr. Ryan. Better get that straight, boss."

Nolan barks out a laugh, his eyes land on Ashley. The laughter dies on his lips and his face turns red. Ashley is watching him carefully, guarded. Izzy breaks the tension between them.

“Ashley, when are you going back to LA?" Izzy asks her.

Nolan’s eyes grow wide like he didn’t expect her to leave. Ashley shrugs her shoulders, watching Nolan instead of looking at Izzy.

“I don’t know yet,” she answers.

I pull Izzy into me and kiss her again, breaking up the conversation. Yeah, I know, I’m an ass, but after a month apart, I don’t care.

“Well, soon to be Mrs. Sweeney. Are you ready to get out of here? I’m more than ready to make up for not spending every moment inside of you." I push my hips into hers and she shudders when she feels how hard I am for her.

“Yes Mr. Sweeney, I’m ready,” she says breathlessly.

I pick her up, carry her from the track, and set her onto the passenger side of my truck.

She’s cursing me the whole way, but I don’t put her down.

I never want to put her down. I climb into the driver’s side and kiss her hard before pulling away from the track.

Away from the lights and the smell of performance fuel, away from where she first stole my heart.

We’re not done yet, our story isn’t complete, but it is for now.