Page 7 of Racing Dirty Trilogy Box Set
Izzy
I’m checking my phone as I make my way out of the terminal entrance, hoping for a reply from Mia. I kept turning my phone on and off on the flight, hoping for an update on Austin.
My nerves were getting the best of me on my flight and I wasn’t great company to the man sitting next to me. I kept my eyes on the pitch-black sky, reflecting on my past with Xavier and wondering what I would say or do if I ran into him.
Mia would give me updates throughout the five years I was away on how he was doing, but I found it hard to accept he would change his behavior. Once a playboy, always a playboy.
Right?
I’ve watched it countless times out in California and why would Xavier be any different?
Nope, I’m sticking to my guns and not falling for him again.
I’m here for my dad, not to rekindle my relationship with the love of my life.
The only man who touched my heart the way he did since we were kids.
Oh, who am I kidding? One look at the man and I’ll be right back to where I was before.
While I shuffle down the runway, after powering my phone back on, I’m reading an extremely vague text message from Mia telling me I would be picked up when my flight touched down.
I look up from my phone and my heart skips a beat. Xavier’s shiny, jet-black messy hair is covered with a baseball cap, deep blue eyes and a body to die for is standing in the waiting room entrance watching me, waiting.
My eyes automatically scan down his toned muscular body.
He is wearing tight black jeans that hug his leg muscles perfectly.
A dark blue form fitting t-shirt with my racing logo on it and black racing boots complete his outfit.
New tattoos snake down both his arms and stopping at his elbows, peeking out under his t-shirt.
My heart races, and I wipe my shaking hands on my jeans, shifting nervously from foot to foot.
I watch Xavier as he approaches me. The dimple I’ve always loved is showing as he smiles, my finger’s yearning to touch it.
I’m still frozen in place and can’t make my brain function to set one foot in front of the other.
He moves close enough that I can smell him, and memories flood my mind, my heart races hard and fast in my chest. Memories of his hands on my body, his lips caressing mine, the way he felt inside of me as we made love for the first time.
He raises an eyebrow at my flushed face. It’s like he can read my thoughts as he reaches down to take my bag. Our fingers touch and sparks shoot through me right to my stomach, causing my breath to snag in my throat.
“What are you doing here?” I ask breathlessly. I clear my throat and take a hard gasp, trying to steady my nerves.
“I’m picking you up and taking you to your dad.” Xavier’s rich voice rumbles in my ears.
Oh, how I’ve missed his tone. Composing myself, I stare right into his eyes, his thick lashes are making them more noticeable.
“Where is Mia? Have you heard anything about Austin? What happened?” I rapidly fire questions at him, not giving him a chance to respond. I do that when I’m nervous.
“Whoa, whoa, slow down, B. I’ll explain everything I can in the car,” his deep voice replies, gently.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. He called me B. I never learned why he calls me that and he won't tell me. Maybe he has changed, his voice is full of love and regret. I shake my head at my rebellious thoughts, straighten my spine and deliver him my best glare.
“Don’t call me B. You lost that privilege a long time ago."
Xavier sighs, sadness in his eyes, “I know I did. I can’t help it. To me, you will always be my B. C’mon, let’s go see your dad."
He picks up my bag and hitches it up over his shoulder, his tribal tattoos are clearer now, defining his powerful arms and walks away, his racing boots making a clicking noise on the polished floor. Still suspended in place, I snap out of my trance and walk fast to catch up to him.
As I pass a set of chairs, a little boy with deep green eyes and jet-black hair catches my attention.
I slow down and wonder, if we had stayed together would we have kids already?
Would we have a little boy with heart-stopping features like his dad or would we have a beautiful little girl with my looks?
Shaking my head at my thoughts, I spot Xavier waiting for me at the entrance doors, the cool air coming from the doors ruffling his black hair sticking out under his ball cap, making it messier than it already is.
I clear my throat and walk past him, inhaling his scent that hasn’t changed over the years.
The smell of leather and performance fuel invade my nose, making me weak in the knees.
Xavier settles his massive hand on the small of my back, sending shivers down my spine. I scold myself for letting him affect me. My head tries to remind my heart I’m not here for Xavier, but it doesn’t want to listen.
The warm night air that sweeps across my skin brings back moments of the times we’d slip out during the night as kids. Xavier leads me to a sleek deep green Dodge Charger SXT and he unlocks the doors with his key fob.
He opens my door before I can and gestures for me to get in.
My heart skips a beat from the heat radiating off his body.
I’m lost in his gaze as I slide into the leather bucket seat.
He shuts the door for me after I get in and opens the back door.
He sets my bag down, closes the door, and strides around the front of the car.
I can smell him everywhere in his car and I close my eyes. Trying but failing at fighting off the attraction I have for him again. I need to remember the heartbreak and pain he caused me all those years ago.
As Xavier opens the driver’s side door and slides gracefully into his seat, I can’t help but watch him as he takes a long finger and pushes the button to start his car.
The engine fires to life and I can feel the V8, 370 horsepower rumbles under my feet.
A deep ache form low in my stomach and I squirm in my seat, trying to relieve the pressure.
“Ready?” he asks, his deep voice laced with desire.
“Yeah.” That’s all I squeak out.
“Hard and fast or slow and steady?” I don’t miss the double innuendo in that question. He wants to play a game, I’ll play back.
“You know how I like it, X, hard and fast,” I respond breathlessly, taking in his sexy profile.
Xavier’s eyes grow wide at my comment. He swallows hard, shifts the car in reverse, and backs out of the parking spot, without saying another word.
He turns down a long stretch of the airport terminal, plunging us into darkness, the car purring under his control.
He takes a right out of the airport and guns the gas pedal, causing a squeal to leave my lips as we drift around the corner.
“Hold on tight B. You wanted hard and fast, I’m giving you hard and fast,” Xavier’s deep voice rumbles as he shifts the sleek car from second to third.
When the RPMs reach eight, he smoothly shifts into fourth. When the car whines under protest, Xavier shifts again into fifth and we shoot off like a rocket down the paved road.
A stop sign is approaching fast and Xavier doesn’t slow down, he guns the gas harder and the RMP’s climb even higher. He blows the stop sign, shifting gears. Adrenaline runs through my body at the thrill of the speed and breaking the law.
God, I missed this, the freedom of the open roads, the breakneck speed as we go as fast as the machine we’re in control of will go.
We approach another stop sign and Xavier taps his brakes to slow down a little.
He pulls the emergency brake and turns the wheel hard to the left, his muscles straining under the steering wheel.
He taps the gas as we drift around the corner and he pulls out of it in perfect precision.
He guns the pedal again and we shoot off into the night, racing down the dark road trying to outrun our past and hoping like hell we can make it in the future.
I realize, as we fly down the quiet road towards Austin and the hospital, that I’ve never got over Xavier and never will.
I’ve missed my best friend, my only love and I realize at this moment that life is short.
When I saw him at the airport with his messy black hair and piercing sapphire gaze, my heart and soul felt whole again.
I need him like I need the air I breathe and I hope like hell if I fall again, if I hand him my heart, he will catch me this time.