Page 65 of Racing Heat

“No, I wouldn’t do that to you. But why would you think that I would?” I ask.

“I don’t know. I guess because I’ve heard August. The way he explains everything that happens between him and his conquest. Danny has even shared some details about him and Mac. Although, I think she’s proud of having sex with him in his pool.”

“Remind me not to go swimming in there,” I tease.

She shakes her head. “Apparently, he’s put enough chemicals in it that it will kill any bacteria. So, we’re safe.”

“Oh, that makes it so much better.” I pick up my pizza and take a bite. Once I swallow, I ask her, “What else do you want to know?”

“Is he going to tell Mac, or do I get to be the one to tell her about this?” She gestures between us.

“What would you want to tell her about us?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure what to call this.” She shifts uncomfortably in her seat.

“We don’t have to tell her or Danny anything. We can just see where things go from our night out tonight. Then we can decideifthere is anything that we want to say about it.”

She nods. “Think it will get around?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t think Danny would tell —at least he said he wouldn’t. He even offered to help us, like if we wanted to hang out with him and Mac at his place. Said he would hide us.”

“Really?” I can see she’s considering the idea. Her eyes go down to her plate. They’re full of worry when she looks back up at me. “Do you think there’s a chance that if Danny noticed something that Nick, Amelia, or Hendrix did too?”

I’ve thought about that lot. In fact, it was on my mind during the game. Part of me wants to tell her that we’re fine and not to worry about it, but I don’t know that for sure. I just know that I don’t want the outcome to impact what I have planned for her tonight. I want the chance to give her the kind of date that she deserves. And be the English gentleman I was taught to be. Not the kind who mauls her in the back of my car because I’m so turned on by her body and the alcohol that’s coursing throughout my body.

“I don’t know. I guess there’s a chance that Nick might have noticed. But we’re not close, and he’s not close with August either. Not like Danny, August, and me. I think we’re safe with him mentioning something to Danny before me or you. Amelia…I don’t know. I can’t get a read on her. And I think if Hendrixnoticed something she would have given me shit this morning at practice. It’s not her style to beat around the bush.”

“This is true, it’s not.” She sighs.

“We don’t have to go out tonight, if you don’t want to. I don’t want to get you in any unnecessary trouble.”

“Well, I think you might have screwed up that plan when you defiled me in your car.”

I chuckle. “How worried are you about one of them turning us in? Do you want to stop?”

I hold my breath while I watch her consider the options.

“No, I don’t. There’s something about you, Ford. I can’t tell if it’s the way you call me love, how gentle you are even when you take me roughly, or how great you look with your shirt off.” Cassie leans across the table, and I lean in along with her. “This has the potential to be a big mess.”

“It does, but I’m no stranger to a mess,” I reply, tapping her nose.

“I’m in. Take me out tonight and let’s see what you got when it comes to dating. We’ll let the chips fall where they may and see if we can survive the wreckage we’re about to cause.”

Those words don’t quite sit well with me. “You’re damning us before we even start.”

“Yeah, well, the Blaze has a pretty strict no fraternization policy, but I think you just might be worth it.”

I lean across the table and kiss her, people be damned. I’ve wanted to claim those lips ever since I saw her wrapping them around the straw to drink her lemonade. When we pull apart, I say, “You’re just so fucking sexy. I can’t keep my hands or eyes off you.”

She giggles. “It’s going to be a beautiful mess.”

“It sure is. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll survive it.”

Cassie winks one of her baby blue eyes at me. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

It’s right there in the pizzeria that I make a vow that if anyone takes the blame for this, it’ll be me. I’ll never let it be her who loses everything. No, that’s my cross to bear. I’ve done it once and I think I have another hit in me before it destroys me.

Chapter Twenty-Four