by Mia Hoddell
The oven chimed and I strolled into the kitchen, causing Taz to jump. Her feet left the floor and her hand flew to her chest when she caught sight of me. With an exaggerated breath, she laughed around the sound. “Could you make a noise next time?”
I shrugged. “Where’s the fun in that?”
A clatter rang out as she opened the oven and dumped the two tins holding twelve fairy cakes each onto the hob. “You’re not getting any cake then. I’ll give them all to Raine.”
I moved up behind her, attempting to reach over her shoulder and grab one. I picked it up by the case and searing heat penetrated the tips of my fingers. When I snapped my hand back the cake went flying across the kitchen and into wall.
“Shit, that’s hot.”
“What the hell did you expect? You saw me take them out of the oven!” Tazia cried around her laughter. “Go run your hand under the tap, you big baby.”
I sighed when the cool water made my hand stop feeling like it was on fire. I kept my eyes on Tazia, watching her scoop the cakes out and place them on a cooling rack.
“So, I’ve been thinking…” She cocked her hip against the counter, waving the knife she’d been using like a wand.
“Oh God, you and thinking…there’s a recipe for disaster.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Really? You’re going to make fun of the person with the knife?”
“You love me too much to use it. Anyway, I’m pretty sure I could distract you.”
“Yeah right, try me. I have unwavering focus.”
I dried my hands and folded my arms. “Are you turned on, Taz?”
Her face scrunched up. “What? Why would you think I—”
“Your panties. There’s a giant wet spot on them.”
Like I knew she would, she looked down in horror. I used the distraction to close the gap between us and slipped the knife from her fingers. Placing it on the counter, I brought her hand up to my lips and kissed my way across her knuckles.
“Thought you had unwavering focus?” I smirked in response to the glare she sent me.
“You don’t fight fair.”
“Never will with you, babe. Your reaction is too funny.” She opened her mouth to complain so I interrupted her. “What were you thinking about?”
She peered up at me through her eyelashes, the humour back. “I think I’m going to move in.”
I fell in love with her a bit more in that moment. There was nothing more I wanted than to wake up to her every morning and fall asleep with her every night. The fact she felt so confident in our relationship to just blurt it out without me asking made me fall for her even more. That didn’t mean I wasn’t going to tease her. “Did I miss the part where I asked you?”
Tazia wrapped her arms around my neck. All I could focus on were her boobs pressed against my chest. She wasn’t wearing a bra.
“You mean you don’t want to wake up to me naked every morning?” She slid a hand down between us, running it over my obvious arousal. “Because I think he says differently.”
I groaned at her touch. “Okay, I take it back. When do you want to move your things?”
“We can start today if you want since I’m working the afternoon shift. We can put them in the spare room and I can stay in there.”
My gaze shot to hers. I’m not sure what expression she saw because there were too many running through me to be sure which showed—confusion, panic, desperation, possession. “If you move in here, no fucking way are you sleeping in the spare room.”
Her lips quirked. “Oh yeah? Where am I going to sleep then?”
“In my bed, preferably naked after mind-blowing sex.”
She laughed. “Someone has a high opinion of himself.”
“It’s only what you’ve told me, babe, but I’m happy to prove it to you right now.”
“Really?”
I inched forward, closing the gap between us. “Of course. I’m happy to prove it to you every minute.” I kissed her. “Of every day.” I kissed her again.
Tazia tangled her hands in my hair, holding me against her as she parted her lips to allow my tongue into her mouth.
“I guess that means you want me to move in?”
“Fuck yeah, babe. I wouldn’t have you anywhere else.” I crushed my lips back to hers, picking her up and carrying her back to our room. Moving her in could wait, first I needed her again.
I’d never be able to get enough of her.
Epilogue
Tazia
Four Months Later—Australia
If someone told me almost a year after losing my baby and fiancé I’d be in Australia to support my Formula One racer boyfriend through the first race of his season I’d have had them tested. Yet that was what I was doing.
I sat in Dustin’s room and watched the pre-race show on the screen while he ran whatever checks he needed to. It had been a surprise to see Nadine presenting, but after Dustin explained her degree in journalism and Teo’s contacts it made sense. She was interviewing Zeke when Dustin bustled into the room with Anthony, dressed in his full racing gear, minus the helmet.
“You okay, babe?”
“Do you really need to ask? I’m in Australia for crying out loud!” I laughed and leapt into his arms to hug him. “Thank you for bringing me out here.”
He wound his arms around my waist. “Trust me, I’m getting way more benefits out of bringing you along.”
I saw Anthony leave over Dustin’s shoulder. “Yeah? What are these benefits?”
“I’ll show you later tonight.”
I nipped at his ear. “Can’t you show me now?”
Dustin groaned into my hair. “Do not tempt me, Taz.” I fluttered my lashes innocently. “And don’t look at me like that either.
“Okay, no more tempting, you have a race to win.”
He framed my face with his hands, kissing me gently. “Thank you. I really do not need my Formula One debut remembered for the size of my hard-on.”
I gazed at him innocently. “I said no tempting, not no to giving you an incentive.”
I ran my finger around the collar of his race suit, following the line with my eyes.
“Taz…” Dustin’s voice dropped in warning and a knock on the door had us both stiffening. Anthony poked his head around the door.
“It’s time, Dustin.”
Dustin nodded, not taking her eyes from mine. “One last kiss for good luck?”
He slanted his mouth over mine, his lips moving tenderly. When he moved to pull away I held him in place for a second longer, making sure I could whisper in his ear. “I have strawberries and whipped cream back in the room. If you win I have a surprise for you.”
His breath caught in his throat. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
I chuckled, planting one last kiss on his lips. “Good luck. You’d better win because I really want to play tonight.”
Anthony pulled Dustin from the room before he could respond, but he shook his head and I swear I saw him adjust himself as the door shut behind him. Messing with him was never going to get old.
* * *
Dustin
Tazia was going to get me killed. I sat in my car on the start line and all I could think about was her body sprawled out on our hotel bed, naked. That was not the image I needed as I was about to start the first race of my season.
I glanced over at Zeke starting in third beside my fourth place. He gave me a quick salute from his cockpit, a friendly good luck, then his focus returned to the lights. I needed to do the same. If I didn’t Teo’s car was going to be disappearing in front of me faster than I could blink.
I screwed my eyes shut. When I opened them again, all I focused on was the track. Everything else faded away.
After all of the events I’d been through over the last year and a half, none of it seemed to matter anymore. I hadn’t heard from or seen Elora, and I didn’t want to. Perry awaited trial, and with Teo’s help we were making sure he wouldn’t escape jail time. Raine hardly reacte
d to crowds anymore, and she loved having Tazia on the grid to keep her company. They had struck up a friendship over sugar and Tazia had been roped into baking Raine and Teo’s wedding cake since they’d finally set a date.
I had my friends back, and my Formula One family kept on growing. Everything was perfect for once, and it felt strange to think it all came out of something so horrible. I had been dead on when I thought of Tazia as a balm to soothe my numbness. However, what I never expected was for her to piece me back together, share my pain, and experience everything with me. In her presence I very rarely needed my cards anymore unless it was to make her laugh with a shitty magic trick.
Yes, I finally admitted I couldn’t do magic, but I didn’t care in the slightest.
I had my dream job and my dream woman. Though I never thought I’d find someone to match a relationship like Raine and Teo’s, Tazia was my one and only and I wasn’t letting her go for anything.
Cars revving around me brought my focus back to the track. I engaged my starting sequences and watched the lights on the gantry illuminate.
When they reached five, the lights went out.
It was time to race.
~The End~
***Sneak Peek***
Stolen Breath
Chequered Flag, Book 3
Prologue
Zeke
The platinum band hit the table with a chink and spun on its side. I slammed my hand down on top of it to silence the irritating noise.
Curling my fingers, I scraped them over the wood until the ring was once again balled tightly in my fist.
I hung my head.
When I screwed my eyes shut I pushed the tears to the corner of my eyes. The burning drops clung to my skin as long as possible before gravity took over. They left my face as I exhaled heavily, leaving no air in my lungs to support my deflating body.
It wasn’t fair.
The heated metal bit into my skin as I tightened my grip. Any stronger and I’d have pressed it into my palm completely, but I couldn’t relinquish my hold. I stared at the back of my hand. My finger didn’t even have a tan line from where the ring had rested, that was how long I’d been able to wear it. There was nothing left behind except for the small dent which faded quickly.
I should have been relieved because no permanent reminder meant no endless pain, right?
It meant I should be able to move on.
After all I knew when she placed that ring on my finger it wouldn’t be there forever.
At least not for my forever.
I knew there’d come a time when I’d have to remove it.
It just came a lot fucking sooner than we expected.
Opening my eyes, I blinked against the daylight filtering in through the cracks in the blinds I’d failed to shut completely and glanced down at my hand. A small puddle had formed next to it and unclenching my fist I allowed my ring to fall from my grasp and into my tears. I stared down at it, my chest cracking open at everything it symbolised. There may have been no outward sign to remind me of her but I could feel her in every beat of my heart. Each thump felt like a kick to the chest, winding me as I struggled to draw in a breath.
She should be here.
We didn’t have enough time.
There were thousands of things I wanted to do with her by my side and now they were all impossible.
She wouldn’t see me succeed in racing or be there to cheer me on.
I’d never see her smile, hear her laugh, or feel her lips again.
What gutted me most was waking up to an empty bed every morning. Her side remained cold and her scent still lingered. It had been a week and I still couldn’t find the strength to change the sheets because each time I got a hint of her honey scent my heart flared in memory. The smell of her perfume brought me a few seconds of happiness where I could trick my mind into believing she was still with me. In that lazy slumber where I was half asleep, half awake, it was easy to forget.
Even if coming back into reality shattered me a little more and made my heart want to stop with hers because I had to lose her all over again, it was all I had. I relished those seconds every morning where I could believe since her memory was the only reason I was able to pull myself out of bed. I knew she’d hate me for lying there all day so I fought through the pain for her, though today it was too much.
It should have been her birthday and instead it was her funeral.
She was supposed to have seen her birthday. I had everything planned out after all. Her eighteenth was meant to be special, not cruelly ripped from her.
We always knew it would be touch and go, but I had hoped.
God, I’d hoped with every fibre of my being she’d live.
I hadn’t allowed myself to consider the possibility of her not reaching her birthday even if it was the stark reality. The signs had all been there in the run up, yet no matter how much I knew in my head what was happening, my heart refused to believe her time had run out.
Everyone had accepted it but me, so the end result blindsided me.
She was gone and I was alone.
I’m eighteen and I’m a fucking widower.
Did you miss Raine and Teo’s story?
Chameleon Soul
Chequered Flag, Book 1
After one fateful night, Raine Wilkins’ life has never been the same…
Two years into a relationship with Formula 1 driver Teo Coates, Raine walks out of his life without offering an explanation. To shield him from horrifying events that are best kept secret, Raine breaks her own heart and the heart of the man she loves. And left with no choice, Teo is forced to abandon Raine to finish his race season.
However, Teo always wins, and losing Raine’s heart has only made him more determined to reclaim it…
Now, a year later, he’s back, and she’s his only goal. But Raine is no longer the same girl he left behind; she’s broken by the past and struggling to cope with each day. Unbearable memories have her nights plagued with fear, while her days are spent deliberately hiding away to avoid triggering full-blown panic attacks. Therefore, when Teo returns as England’s favourite driver, and demands answers, all of Raine’s careful planning is destroyed.
She is thrown into the one place she never wants to be—the spotlight.
Her newfound fame as Teo’s public girlfriend raises old dangers, and exposes her to a group who will stop at nothing to tear them apart. If Raine and Teo are to be together, they must confront their past. However, only Raine knows the truth behind what happened during that sinister night, and revealing her secrets may cause Teo to leave for good.
Acknowledgements
A lot of people helped me in the creation of Twisted Mind. Dustin has been a character that wouldn’t leave me alone for a while, and he’s also been the most frustrating character I’ve ever had to write because he wouldn’t fit the storyline I envisioned for him. He had a mind of his own and did what he liked, therefore I’m so thankful to everyone who has helped me shape this book to bring the best possible version to life.
First, and foremost, to my family. Whether it’s to talk me down off a ledge when things don’t go to plan or to celebrate when things go right, you guys are always there. I love you all so much.
Secondly, to my betas, Kirsty and Lauren. Thank you for helping me work out the kinks in this story, pointing out the totally unbelievable things, and keeping me motivated when all I wanted to do was strangle Dustin.
Thirdly, to my wonderful publisher, Limitless Publishing LLC. Thank you for all of your continual hard work behind the scenes and for giving me the chance to bring this series to life. It wouldn’t be possible without you.
To my brilliant editor, Felicia. We haven’t worked on many projects together, but I’m learning a lot from you in the short period of time we have worked together. Thank you for making my manuscript all shiny and sparkly.
Also, a big thank you to my cover designer, TOJ Publishing Services for creating another amazing cover I’ve fallen in love with.<
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To all of the authors I’ve met through Limitless and those I haven’t. You are a great support system and people I can turn to for help.
To all of the bloggers who share and promote my books. There are too many of you to name individually, and I can’t put into words how much your help means to me. I appreciate every single thing you do for me. You guys are amazing, thank you.
And finally, to my readers. Thank you for taking a chance on my work, sticking with me, and supporting me. Without you I couldn’t live my dream and it means so much to me that you’re actually reading my books.
About the Author
#1 bestselling author Mia Hoddell lives in the UK with her family and two cats. She spends most of her time writing or reading, loves anything romantic, and has an overactive imagination that keeps her up until the early hours of the morning.
Mia has written over ten titles including her Seasons of Change series, the Chequered Flag series, the Elemental Killers series, and her standalone novels False Finder and Not Enough.
Her favourite genres are contemporary romance or romantic suspense, and with an ever-growing list of ideas she is trying to keep up with the speed at which her imagination generates them. She also designs book covers on her website M Designs.
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