Page 64 of Racing Heat

“It’s definitely been an adjustment. I mean, I haven’t even been here six months yet. But they said they’ll come visit at some point. Summers will be easier with the girls’ school, but it’s so fucking hot here. I’m not sure they would appreciate it.”

She nods. “Well, maybe when our season wraps you can go home and see them.”

“That’s the plan. Spend the holidays back around my family. It will be good for the soul.”

She goes quiet and takes a sip of her lemonade. I guess the question part is over for right now. So, I decide to pry a bit.

“Do you have any siblings?” I ask. “Or are you close with your family?”

“I’m an only child. My parents are great. They’re stoked that I’m playing for the Blaze, but they’re not much for traveling. I was hoping they would come and visit, but the heat isn’t the best for my dad’s asthma, so I’ll probably see them the next time we’re on the West Coast or something.” There’s a sadness in her eyes when she finishes, but she just shrugs it off.

“With you being so close to them, I would have thought they would come out here to see you play.”

“Live streaming is great for them. They can watch all of my games that way.”

“That’s true.” I don’t point out that it’s not the same, because I’m sure she already knows that.

Our slices are brought over, and we eat in silence for a bit. I decide that now that I’ve fed her, I have to tell her that Danny noticed us leaving last night. I should let her know the score while I can.

“So, remember when I was in my car for a while when we pulled up to the field?”

“Yeah.” She puts her slice down and looks at me.

“I was on the phone with Danny,” I tell her.

“I’m going to need more.”

I smile at her wit and dive in. “Danny was calling because he saw something last night when we were at the club.” I wait and watch those words sink in.

“When did he notice something?”

“When we were on the dance floor, before I pulled you outside and took you to my car. He was watching us dancing. I shook my head, and he stopped. He stopped watching us, which is what I wanted. I didn’t think anything else of it. All I could think about was getting you alone, and my car seemed like the best place to do it.”

Her cheeks heat. I think she agrees with me, but I wish she would say more. When it’s clear she’s not going to I say anything yet, I tell her the rest of our conversation.

“He doesn’t know the details of what we did. He just knows that something happened between us. I wouldn’t betray your confidence like that. I wouldn’t kiss and tell. Not unless you’d like me to. But Danny does know something. He also knows that you were coming to my game and that I was taking you to lunch.”

“Did you happen to give him any other details about what you’d like us to do tonight?” Cassie picks up her pizza and takes another bite.

I leave my pizza on my plate. My stomach is twisting into a knot. I’m so nervous because I’m afraid that once she knows everything that she’s not going to want to spend time with me tonight. That I’ll never get that body out of those clothes and into my bed. That little bit of a hit I got from her last night was just a taste, and there’s much more I need of her.

“No, he doesn’t. He has his own plans with Mac tonight. So, we’re free to do whatever we want, unsupervised by Danny,” I say, trying to lighten the mood.

Cassie is studying me with her blue eyes. I wonder what’s going on in her mind right now. I want to assure her thateverything will be alright and that no one else will find out, but that’s not something I can promise.

“Does Mac know?”

I shake my head. “I don’t think so. Danny wasn’t sure, but she hasn’t said anything. I think that’s the kind of thing she would have mentioned to him. Or she would have talked to you about it this morning. She might have removed my balls too,” I joke, trying to lighten the mood.

“Well, that’s true. Does he know we had sex?” She lowers her voice when she says sex, like she’s worried that that’s the worst someone could hear from our table.

“No, he doesn’t. I told him that I don’t kiss and tell.”

“Thank you for that.” She smiles, which wasn’t what I expected from her. I thought she might be freaking out a bit more than she is right now. Maybe it’s that I chose to tell her in a public setting and she’s trying to keep her cool so that we’re not discovered.

“I would never do that to you, especially without your knowledge.”

I love the soft smile that covers her face; the way it makes her eyes light up. “Thank you,” she says softly. “I appreciate you not giving him the sweaty details. I thought maybe you might.”