“Jared,” I snapped, accompanying my sharp tone with a yank on his hand.
He focused on me for the briefest of moments. “Gimme a sec.”
I found myself alone as Jared cut through the crowd, making a beeline for the woman and her dude. I hesitated for a second, then followed him. Whatever was going down, I wasn’t about to stand on the sidelines, waiting like a good little girl.
I caught up with him at the same time the blonde noticed him on a collision course. Her eyes lit up—fuck, that wasn’t good—and she wrestled out of the arms of her date. In two strides, she reached Jared. Her squeal of excitement was so loud, it broke through the deafening music. She leaped into his arms. He lifted her in the air, then spun her around which, considering there wasn’t enough room to swing a cat, was damn impressive.
Jealousy curled in my gut, like a creeping fog on a dark, damp morning, poisoning me from the inside and filling my head with evil thoughts.
Like ripping off one of her stilettos and stabbing her in the eye with it.
I cut my gaze to her companion, wondering what his reaction would be. Unlike me, who surely wore a murderous expression, he appeared mildly amused, a slight quirk to his right eyebrow and a glimmer of a smile, barely visible through the insane amounts of facial hair.
“Oh my God, Jared,” Blonde screamed. “What the hell are you doing here?”
The only reason I could hear their exchange over the noise was because I’d glued myself to Jared’s side, my hand curved around his back and slipped into his pocket in one of those ‘Back off Bitch’ moves that was completely dickish and very unattractive. Somehow, though, I couldn’t help myself.
“Got a few days off before the next race,” he replied. He shook the other guy’s hand, and then they clapped each other on the back in that weird way guys did. “Noah told me you’d moved to London. I was gonna call, but life’s been crazy.”
Who the heck is Noah?
“It doesn’t matter. God, it’s great to see you. C’mere.”
She yanked him to her again, so hard my hand wrenched from his back pocket, painfully twisting my wrist.
“Christ, I’ve missed you, McDreamy.”
Mc-Fucking-Dreamy? Okay… Time’s up, sweetheart.
“Hi,” I said in the loudest voice I owned. “I’m Paisley.”
Jared turned his attention to me, and I saw it, right there… awkwardness. He wasn’t happy I’d introduced myself. Well, tough shit. I wasn’t happy with his behavior either, my female intuition running wild, resentment I had no right to own painfully twisting my stomach muscles.
“Oh, hi,” she said, dragging her gaze away from Jared. She held out a hand. “I’m Rox. Roxy. And this is Boyd.”
I almost laughed. If ever a name totally did not suit its owner, it was this guy. He should have been called Giant, or Mountain, or Zeus. Something that befitted his outer shell. Boyd was a bespectacled accountant from the Home Counties, who bought ready-made meals for one and went to bed at ten every evening.
I managed to restrain my inner child, though, and shook both their hands.
“Rox is an old friend from back home, and my best friend’s sister,” Jared said, finally jerking himself from his stupor to try to explain. “We’ve known each other since junior high.”
“That we have,” Roxy said. “And believe me, Paisley, the things I could tell you about this guy.” She threw back her head and laughed. “Stories that’d make your hair curl.”
“Okay, okay,” Jared said, giving Roxy a playful shoulder bump that did nothing to quell the storm building inside me. “Some things should remain private, Rox.”
What? Like the amount of times she’s swallowed your cock?
The uncharitable thought reminded me of my original intention. To drag Jared off to the unisex restrooms and do a little tasting of my own. Suddenly, I wasn’t in the mood.
“How do you know Jared, Paisley?” Roxy asked, but before I even opened my mouth, Jared interjected.
“She’s my boss’s daughter. Londoner born and bred, and very kindly offered to show me some of the nightlife seeing as I don’t know anyone here yet. She’s a good kid.”
Kid? Oh, I’m gonna nail this bastard in the balls the first chance I get.
“Yeah, a regular do-gooder, that’s me,” I said sweetly. I couldn’t believe the calmness I exuded. Inside, I raged, anger thickening my blood and sending savage thoughts speeding through my mind.
“It’s really loud in here,” Roxy said. “Want to split? Go somewhere quieter where we can catch up?”
“Um…” Jared’s head twitched in my direction, a barely there movement, but one that told me everything. He’d love to catch up with Roxy, but not with me hanging on his tail. Well, if that was how he felt, I’d make the decision for him. If being in my company embarrassed him that much, he could go stick his finger up his own arse, because he wouldn’t be sticking it up mine any time soon.
“Actually, we were just leaving,” I said. “Jared’s flying to China the day after tomorrow.”
He flashed me a confused frown. I responded with a murderous stare.
“Oh, of course,” Roxy said, clapping a hand to her forehead in a caricatured move I’d never understood, because it made you look like an idiot. “Silly me. When are you back in town next?”
“Not until the beginning of May,” Jared said. “After China, we’re testing, and then I’ll be traveling to Azerbaijan. But once the European season starts, I’ll be able to get back to London much more often, so maybe we can catch up then?”
“Sounds great.”
She leaned in and kissed him. Not on the cheek. No, she planted one right on his lips and then swept her hands down his arms. I growled, the vibration rising from my chest, into my throat, fetching with it bile that burned. Fortunately, the music was too loud for Jared to notice my ire. I had to stay cool. He wouldn’t react well to jealousy. His whole speech earlier in the evening about not owing each other anything was all the information I needed to keep my inner feelings to myself.
Play it cool, Paise. Smile, nod, be friendly.
“Tell Noah I’ll call soon.”
“If I can get a hold of him,” Roxy replied, pouting. “He’s been MIA for ages.”
“Probably just busy,” Jared said.
“Lovely to meet you,” I interjected, eager to put an end to this horrific evening, one that had begun with such promise. I turned to her companion. “And you, Boyd.” Don’t laugh. Save it for later when you need the giggles to stop the tears.
Boyd held up the peace sign in a nod to hippies from the past. “You, too, sister.”
I turned my back to hide the automatic roll of my eyes, but Jared spotted it. He arched an eyebrow, though his lips did twitch. Mine stayed clamped in a firm line. He’d pissed me off, dismissing me so easily, and I didn’t care to join in a private joke.
I strode toward the exit and spilled outside. The cold air hit me, and I inhaled a lungful. A taxi stopped outside, dropping off more partygoers. The club was still going strong and would be for several hours yet. I dove inside, Jared right behind me.
“Jeez, Paisley, where’s the fire?” he asked, referring to my sprint from the club.
“Nothing, just tired,” I lied. I didn’t have the words to tell him how much his behavior toward me in front of Roxy had hurt. “Two drop-offs, please, mate,” I said to the taxi driver, giving first my address and then Jared’s.
Jared squinted at me, puzzled. He captured my hand, the smooth skin of his thumb gliding over the top of my knuckles. “You can stay over if you want?” His rough voice, husky, so goddamn sexy, reverberated up my spine.
I shook my head, tugging my hand away. “Not tonight.”
Turning to stare out the window, I watched the hedges and fields rush past. Jared clearly caught my mood because he opted not to question me further. We left the countryside behind, and the landscape changed as the high-rises of London came into view. The driver pulled into the curb outside my b
uilding.
“’Night, Jared,” I said, my hand on the latch. “See you in China.”
“Paise, wait.” He followed me onto the street and grabbed my arm, holding me in place. “If this is about what I said to Roxy—”
“No, Jared. It’s about what you didn’t say. You treated me like I was nothing. I am not nothing. And I am not a kid.”
He sighed, a deep one that came up from his shoes. “We agreed, no one can know there’s anything going on. Roxy’s an old friend who I adore, but at times she can let her big mouth run away with her.”
“I bet her big mouth is big enough for your cock.”
Shit. My brain-to-mouth filter had malfunctioned again. It happened a lot. If I had a subconscious thought, it usually found its way into my conscious life. I expected Jared to scoff, or to tell me not to be so ridiculous, or crude, or any number of adjectives he could use to describe my inappropriate comment. He didn’t. Instead, he dropped his head.
“We had a thing. Years ago. Now we’re just friends.”
Oh, this was so not the news I wanted to hear. I knew Jared had a colorful past, no different from any other driver in the paddock. These guys attracted girls like bees to honey, even the ones who didn’t taste that sweet. A guy like Jared—stunning, fit body, talented as hell—would attract a swarm. It shouldn’t bother me.
It did bother me.
More than I was willing to admit.
My anger withered, then died. I needed to finish this conversation and go inside before I revealed too much of my heart. “Your past is none of my business, Jared. I’m sorry I said that about one of your friends. I shouldn’t have. You’re right. We need to be discreet.” I leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for an amazing evening. See you in the pit lane.”
My tears came the second I stepped inside.
I let them fall.
Jared
China came and went, with another podium finish in the bag. Second place this time. I narrowly missed the win, losing out to Tate Flynn. Talking to him behind the scenes prior to collecting our trophies gave us time to bury the hatchet after our confrontation in Australia. He was actually a really cool guy, and I got the sense we could become friends.
I should be smiling wide, but whenever I tried, my mouth wouldn’t work the way I wanted it to. The reason for my malaise came in the form of a little fireball—Paisley. Fully aware I’d hurt her back in London with my dismissive attitude in front of Rox, in my defense, she’d known—and agreed to—the rules. She kept a polite distance at this race, and I’d been too busy to find the time to seek her out and talk to her properly. It was difficult to carve out even five minutes during a race weekend, and given we were heading straight to the test track, it didn’t look like I’d get any time before the next race either.
I attended the debriefing, schmoozed the sponsors, fulfilled all my press obligations, and finally managed to leave the track at ten p.m. I spotted Paisley talking to Angus as she packed stuff into a crate ready for the next leg of its journey. Whether she sensed me staring, or it was pure chance, she lifted her head, and our gazes met. I raised my hand in a conciliatory wave. She returned my peacekeeping gesture with a wan smile, then returned to her work.
My low mood stayed with me the entire trip back to the hotel. Early tomorrow afternoon, I’d travel to the airport where I’d be flown by private jet to our test track, and then after a few days testing, it’d be on to Azerbaijan. I hoped that when we finally arrived in Europe, with the races being so much closer in distance from each other, I’d get some free time to explore. Part of wanting to switch to Formula One from IndyCar racing had been the opportunity to see the world, but so far, apart from a couple of days in Melbourne with Paisley, I’d seen very little.
My heart clenched as my mind turned to her. The few hours we’d spent in bed together seemed like a lifetime ago, even though it hadn’t even been a week. I was anxious for a repeat performance, but she’d clearly changed her mind. The whole secrecy thing must be preying on her, and she’d decided I wasn’t worth the bother.
If I had the words to explain how disappointed that thought made me, I’d share them. What started out as a bit of fun, a secret affair, had turned into an all-consuming mindfuck. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Even today, as I crossed the finish line, narrowly missing out on my second win in three races, all I could think was if I’d made her proud. Whether she’d call me a god again like she had in Bahrain, and whether that would result in spending the night with my dick buried inside her.
If her dismissive half grimace acted as a verbal cue, that would be a resounding no.
I collapsed on the bed the minute I set foot inside my hotel suite. Loneliness enveloped me. An urge to talk to my family had me reaching for my cell phone. They’d all be around at Mom and Dad’s for Sunday lunch. My sister, my two brothers, and five nieces and nephews. At times like these, a niggle of regret at the life I’d chosen burrowed beneath my skin. It usually didn’t last very long. Connect to home and family for five minutes and all would be good.
I called my mom’s cell because she’d have it beside her in the kitchen while she served up enough food to feed the entire street. When I’d made my first million dollars, I’d bought my parents a house. It wasn’t a mansion. Such a huge property would make them very uncomfortable. It was a decent-sized four-bed, three-bath single family home on a nice tree-lined street with a fenced-in yard and enough space for their grandkids to play. As I’d made more money, I’d followed that up with houses for all my siblings and set up college funds for each kid they pushed out. I knew my family was grateful, and none of them expected a goddamn thing from me. Every one of us still had our feet firmly on the ground, and my siblings and their other halves worked hard for a living. They didn’t expect me to bankroll their lives, even though I’d be more than happy to.
“Jared!” Mom screamed when she answered the video call. Her face swam into view, her cheeks red from standing in front of the stove for hours, wisps of hair escaping her bun.
“Hey, Mom. How’re you guys doing?”
“Oh, baby, we’re so proud of you. We were all watching the race. We got up especially early. We’ve been hoping you’d call.”
“Let me say hi to everyone.”
The picture went all fuzzy and jerky as she moved into the next room. “It’s Jared,” she said, even though a deaf man would have heard her scream when she answered my call. She held the phone at arm’s length, and my family all crowded around. I struggled to get a word in, but as each one of them vied for airtime, the warmth of love seeped through my bones. I’d never be the kind of guy who forgot my roots. These amazing people would always keep me grounded.
We talked for twenty minutes or so before exhaustion took over and my eyes began to droop.
“Gotta get some shut-eye guys,” I said. “I’ll call again soon.”
After everyone had their chance to say their goodbyes, I cut the call. Conscious I still hadn’t managed to catch up with Noah, I sent a quick text, then tossed my phone on the nightstand. Stripping down to my boxers, I pulled a T-shirt over my head and climbed under the covers.
I didn’t remember a thing between falling asleep and the moment a banging on my door woke me. Bleary eyed, I checked the time. Two in the morning. With a groan, I sat up straight, rubbed my eyes, and climbed out of bed.
If the one at the door brought news of anything less than a fucking emergency, like the hotel was on fire, they were going to receive the sharp edge of my tongue.
Yawning, I drew back the door.
On the other side stood a very contrite-looking Paisley.
“Jesus, Paisley, it’s two in the morning.”
Her teeth grazed her bottom lip, and she slowly blinked. “Can I come in?”
I swept a hand over my face and blew out a breath. I stepped back and gestured for her to enter. She perched on the edge of the couch and rested her elbows on her knees.
“I’ve come to apologize,” sh
e said, her meek tone setting off my radar. Paisley didn’t do meek. She was a full velocity trample-on-your-toes force of nature.
“For what?”
She kept her gaze averted. “For behaving like a child. For ignoring you all weekend. For being a jealous bitch in front of your friend, Roxy. I hate the fact you’ve had a relationship with her, yet you refused to acknowledge us. I know I agreed to keeping our…” She sighed. “Our whatever-this-is secret, and I still think it’s the right thing to do, but when you treated me like I meant nothing to you, it hurt. More than it should have. Which scares me, because I’m feeling things I have no right to.”
I crouched in front of her and cradled her jaw. Her eyes swam with tears. Taking her hands, I helped her to stand, then folded her inside my arms. I held her tightly, stroking her back in rhythmic circles. She didn’t let her tears fall, but she did cling to me. We stood like that for at least a minute before slowly easing apart.
“I missed you this weekend,” I said, brushing her cheeks with my thumbs. “You were right there, and yet I missed you because I couldn’t touch you, I couldn’t kiss you, I couldn’t tell the world what I’m really feeling. You’re there, Ley, right under my skin. I can’t dig you out. Dammit, I don’t want to dig you out.”
I tugged at her chin, parting her lips, then covered her mouth with mine. In seconds we went from a standing start to hurtling down the track at two hundred miles an hour. Starved for her, I frantically grabbed her shirt and tore it open. Buttons scattered over the floor. I broke off our kiss to tug my T-shirt over my head. We were both panting as if we’d run the hundred meter dash at the Olympics. Our bodies mashed together again and we quickly discarded the rest of our clothes until there was nothing between us but warm, soft skin.
I picked her up and carried her into the bedroom. The sheets were still rumpled from my interrupted night’s sleep, but my earlier tiredness had evaporated. I lay her on the bed, crawling on top of her.
Friction: Full Velocity Series - Book 1 Page 13
