Page 60 of Rear View
One Year Later
Xavier
I sat in the Jeep, my thumb tracing a slow line over my key chain while I waited for Ryah at the DMV. She’d been gone an hour, and I’d counted down every damn second since.
“Scandinavia in December,” Earl said, his voice carrying through the vehicle’s speakers. “Portugal in May.”
Turned out the WRC’d received an anonymous call from the crown attorney’s office suggesting they hold off on any decision.
One that came in my favor. In the days after Juan’s press conference, sponsors had flooded Earl’s phone, hittin’ him up with offers.
Big ones. A week later, we were back in business.
“It’s good with me, but you talk to Alec about it yet?” ’Cause Sheila’s due date was over Christmas and if my boy wasn’t there, she’d feed him his balls.
“Not yet.” He humphed. “I’ll keep you posted.”
We’d climbed the ranks higher, entering WRC2 and on the cusp of jumping that last hurdle to WRC. Just a few more races and we’d qualify. It was coming. I could taste it.
The trial for my old man had wrapped up six months earlier, putting him away for another twenty years. Ten for me. Ten for Ma. And that justice felt real good.
We’d be movin’ her back soon. And I couldn’t goddamn wait.
My stare locked on my girl as she exited the building, her head low. My chest tightened. Shit. She’d worked so damn hard. I’d practiced with her every day.
“You do that,” I told Earl before we said bye and the call ended.
Climbing out, I headed Ryah’s way. When I closed in, her pretty eyes lifted, and there was a grin hiding inside of them.
She ran toward me and shrieked. “I got it!”
My mouth tipped up as she threw herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck. I gripped her thighs and lifted, then pivoted and pressed her against the Jeep. “My girl’s street legal, yeah?”
She squealed again. “Yeah!”
Christ, I loved her. My pulse raced, thumping through me. She was everything.
The laugh that broke from me was a low rumble. I nudged her temple with my jaw. “Congratulations, darlin’.”
Pulling back to see me, she set a palm over her heart. “My drive tester told me I was the best he’s ever seen.” She poked me with a finger. “So, take that, rally boy.”
My head dipped in a slow, easy nod. “That so?”
She wiggled her hips. “Sure is!”
My cock twitched. “We should probably celebrate, then.” Tapping her ass, I carried her to the driver’s side and set her down. “Take us home, driver girl.”
“Home?” Her face twisted. “What kind of celebration is home ?”
“You heard me.” Heading around the vehicle, I took my seat.
She looked good behind that wheel. Always did. Cute as hell and twice as sexy. Those small hands took position as I clipped myself in and stretched an arm out behind her headrest, getting comfortable.
My girl. My goddamn world.
After she graduated, she got her counseling and psychotherapy certification, registered for a provincial membership and started offering online patient services, helping people. People who were trapped, just like she’d been. Bonus meant she was free to travel. And stay with me.
Twenty minutes later, she veered us into the driveway and parked, a frown painting her face. “I have to tell you, this is exceedingly underwhelming.”
I smirked, reached into my pocket and clicked the trigger for the garage. The door ground up, showing off the brand-new, super-practical SUV she’d had her eye on for months.
“Congratulations, darlin’.”
Her pretty eyes flew wide, and her hands covered her mouth. “You got me a car?” she said, her words muffled.
My lip arced high at the corner, and I gave her a wink. Using a loose fist, I gestured toward it. “Go see her.”
She squeaked and burst from the vehicle, skip--running her way there.
Chest inflating, I followed after her. Dream girl bounced on her toes while she took it in.
I pulled out the keys, my heart kicking into overdrive as it slammed against my ribs.
Taking her hand in mine, I flipped it palm up and set them there.
Her gaze dropped, lingering on that key ring with a small, black velvet box clipped to the end.
She froze. Started shaking. Those eyes turned glassy.
Slowly, I took a knee.
Her breath turned wild, her chest rising and falling in rapid pants.
“I love you, Ryah. Only you. Don’t need anythin’ else as long as you’re with me.” I took that little black box and opened it wide. “What would you say if I asked you to marry me?”
Her tears fell, spilling down her cheeks. “I’d say yes! Yes, yes, yesyes yes !” She sprang in place and shoved her left hand out.
“I get to keep you, yeah?”
“That’s what yes means!” She shook her hand at me again, a demand.
My laugh was easy, and my heart beat again when I pulled out the two-carat diamond. The thing sat in the middle of a platinum band lined with smaller diamonds. It was pretty as hell, and when I slid it on that ring finger, it looked twice as goddamn good.
Mine. She was mine.
Forever.
She jumped me, arms looping around my neck while her legs banded my waist. Her mouth met mine, and a loud moan broke from her. She rocked her hips, grind-in’ over me.
My cock strained against my jeans, pressing at her needy core. “Christ, dream girl.” I aimed us for the house. Fast.
“No!” She pointed to her car. “I think we should christen it.”
I grinned.
This girl.
The growl I let loose thundered through my chest when I closed the garage door, then lowered her to the hood and laid her fuckin’ bare.
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