Page 39 of Racing Heat

“She does not,” Danny says, shaking his head.

“Alright, I’m here to collect you.”

We all turn to see Mac standing there with both hands on her hips.

“And I’ve had the bouncer out there call each of you a cab.” She raises her eyebrows. “I thought you weren’t getting shit-faced tonight.” She looks at August with disgust.

“We were all well-behaved,” I try to assure her. Her hard eyes level me, letting me know I’m not helping. I just grin and get off my stool, stumbling a bit.

“I knew I should have brought reinforcements,” she mutters as she moves to steady me.

“I’ll be alright,” I tell her. “Let’s go, buddy.” I help August make his way out of the bar. He’s doing a better job of balancing than I thought he would be. Thankfully for him, he’s in better shape than I am.

“Miss, here are your cabs,” a man at the curb says, pointing to the two waiting yellow cars.

“Thank you.” Mac places some money in his hand and begins to drag a drunken Danny to her car. “Have a good night, boys. Lots of water and maybe something to eat when you get home.”

We both yell a thank-you in her direction. She just shakes her hand and continues to lead Danny to her car.

I get into the cab and give him my address. He nods and we slowly pull away from the curb. I sit in the darkness as the cab makes its way into traffic. My phone comes out of my pocket.

I envy Danny; he’s heading home with his lady. I unlock my phone and hover over a contact I wish I could call right about now. I wonder what she’s doing tonight. Was she with Mac when Mac got called away? Or is she having a quiet night at home?

My finger no longer hovers. It hits the send button, and I listen to the ringing, noting the time is after one in the morning. There’s no telling if she’ll actually answer.

Chapter Fourteen

~CASSIE~

My phone rings and I roll over in the darkness to see it lit up on my bedside table.

It’s Jase.

“Hello?” I ask, wondering if he actually meant to call me.

“Hey there. Give me one second,” he slurs into the phone.

I sit up and shake my head. Mac already had to leave to go get Danny. I had asked if she needed some help, but she assured me she could handle it. She was only going to worry about Danny. The rest could figure it out, she had said.

“Are you okay?” I ask him and giggle into the phone.

“Just a minute there, love. I’m going to need to talk to the driver.”

“Okay,” I say, not missing the way my stomach flips at the way he calls me love. Instinctively, my hand comes up and brushes my lips, remembering the soft feel of his mouth on mine.

I hear some rattling around, and from the sounds of it, he’s made his way out of the cab and is heading toward the door. I take this time to make myself more comfortable, propping my back up on the pillows and lying back to wait for him to come back to the phone and talk to me.

I’m not sure why he called, but I’m glad he did.

“Alright, love, I’m back,” he tells me.

“What did you call me?” I ask him. I yawn and try to say something less hostile. “Guess you had fun with the guys tonight, huh?”

“Of course. I always have fun when I’m out with the blokes.”

I giggle into the phone.

“That means friends,” he supplies, even though I already knew what he was saying.