Page 58 of Sweet Deception

She’s gone. Where the hell…?

A soft, warm body crashes into my chest, and a graceful limb twists around my neck. My arms loop around her waist instinctively.

“You’re so stupid! You could’ve crashed. I can’t even…but that was so…” The bright smile on her face trembles and fades, replaced by that unreadable mask.

She quickly pulls away, securing Napalm in both arms as he pokes his head out from the collar of her hoodie.

For a second, my entire body is frozen. She steps back and tucks a loose lock of hair behind her ear. I just want to grab her and tug her close again.

When’s the last time someone hugged me like that? It felt…nice. I shouldn’t have enjoyed the way my arms slotted around her waist, the way her smile blocked out everything else in this chaotic space…

Before my mind runs wild, the kid gets out of his orange dream machine. Damn. The driver really isa kid. Grease-stained hands, sharp green eyes, and jet-black hair above a face that can’t be more than twenty.

He marches straight up to me, and instead of being intimidated, he grins and thrusts his hand out. I shake it on instinct, impressed with his balls despite myself.

The kid’s mechanic is right behind him, starry-eyed with admiration.

Don’t tell me these two are…fans?

“Can I take a look under the hood?” The kid and the mechanic ask in unison.

Their matching expressions are comedic, but instead of laughing, I just give them the go-ahead, duck into the driver’s seat, and pop it.

The distraction gives me a moment to shake off the memory of Veronika’s fingers brushing my neck.

The heat coming off the engine is enough to scorch marshmallows, and the kid and his mechanic study the subterranean glory of my machine like they’ve never seen anything more mesmerizing in their lives.

Soon, they’re peppering me with mechanical questions about how to increase speed and power. Any other night, this would’ve been right up my alley. But I keep glancing back at Veronika and her stormy gray eyes. Under the intense scrutiny of her full attention, my body tingles with anticipation. With awareness.

Meanwhile, my brain keeps thinking pointless thoughts, wondering shit like,why’d she hug me like that?

Why’d I like it so much?

Isn’t she afraid of me?

Does she want me?

I attempt to focus on the crowd, on the kids and their queries, but I remain acutely attuned to Veronika’s eyes on me.

She doesn’t belong in this world of street racing, never mind the world of organized crime and violence, but somehow, she fits here with me.

It’s close to five in the morning at this point, and periwinkle light rims the tree line across the water. By dawn, I’ve taught the crew a few tricks about engine modifications, and the rush of speed and danger has cleared my head.

Still, the way Veronika has stuck by my side, almost as if this all fascinates her, shakes me.

Maybe we should go another round.

But then she yawns, trying to cover the act with a hand.

Fuck, I’ve kept her awake for the better part of twenty-four hours.

It’s time I get her to bed.

The right way this time.

Chapter Twenty-One

I wake up several hours later with no sense of where I am.