Zero To Sixty (BWWM, Sports, Billionaire)

by Tamara Adams

  Not.

  "Yes of course he's going to be there, it's his race!"

  She stared at her overnight bag on the floor. She'd packed another pair of jeans in there as well as some knit tops and pajamas. It was just 24 hours, right? She didn't need anything fancy…

  Still, Denise grabbed a simple black Herve Lager bandage dress and neatly folded it on top of her toiletries. Her black high heeled boots went with everything, which is why she liked them.

  "Happy now?"

  Sasha rolled over on the bed and wiggled her eyebrows.

  "Ecstatic. Now, have you gotten a wax lately?"

  "Sasha, I am not going to bed with a client! No matter what he looks like."

  Sasha pouted.

  "Well if not him, who? Girl your you-know-what is going to turn into a pumpkin if someone doesn't get in there soon."

  Denise threw the sweater she was thinking about wearing on the plane toward her friend, hitting her in the face. Sasha just laughed and shook her head.

  "No cardigans. Try that leather jacket we got last year. I know you still have it, even if you never wear it."

  Denise rolled her eyes but walked over to the closet. She pulled the jacket out, slipping the snug fitting leather jacket over her shoulders. She glanced in the mirror. It did look pretty good on her. Sasha let out a low whistle.

  "Now I know you are gonna have a good time! Very LA and very rock and roll."

  "Stop!"

  "Please Dennie! Wear it for me? Do it for me?"

  Sasha was fluttering her eyelashes foolishly. Denise had to laugh despite herself.

  "It?"

  "Him. Do him."

  "If you think he's so hot, you should go out with him!"

  The moment the words flew out of her mouth she wanted to snatch them back. A hot, uncomfortable feeling had filled her almost immediately. For some reason, Denise didn't like the idea of Sasha and Ansel getting to know each other.

  She didn't like it at all.

  "Uh uh. This one's for you Dennie. Come on, let's go."

  Denise followed Sasha out to her Range Rover. Having a best friend was almost as good as having a boyfriend. Better even. After almost twenty years of friendship, Sasha was still willing to drive her to the airport.

  {}{}{}{}{}

  Ansel slid out of the window to the cock pit. He'd just taken a run with the new tires his crew chief Delaney had talked him into trying. They had better traction but were more likely to burn. It was a toss up. But Ansel never overworked the car, he was more likely to skid out on sharp turns. So for him, it probably made sense.

  Ansel almost always listened to Delaney. The older man had taken him in hand when he'd first started racing and causing trouble. Ansel had liked to talk smack and gotten into a lot of scrapes as a result. Delaney had bailed him out and put him on the straight and narrow.

  Well, more or less.

  "Here."

  Ansel caught the sports drink in mid air.

  "Thanks Jess."

  "No problem Jack."

  The guys all liked to give Ansel a hard time but it was done in good fun and with considerable admiration. Most of his crew had been with him for the better part of a decade. Ever since he started winning. Which was more or less right away. Even before he was legal.

  Donnie was checking the engine when he let out a low whistle. Even before he turned around to see what he was looking at it, Ansel knew. He felt it in his gut.

  She was here.

  It'd been three days since he came down to prep for the race. Four days since she'd dragged him to a promotional event. It was hard to believe, but he'd missed her.

  A lot.

  Denise was wearing something far more casual and rock and roll than he was used to seeing her in. A tight leather jacket that hugged her top curves and tight, worn in jeans that hugged the bottom.

  And what a bottom it was.

  Damn but she looked good!

  "Why do they call you Jack?"

  He flushed. He should have warned the guys not to call him that around Denise. He glared everyone into silence. Everyone except Delaney, who was intimidation-proof.

  "Because he fuc- beg pardon m'amm- he makes love more than a jack rabbit."

  Denise looked appalled.

  Damn. He felt like he was taking two steps forward and three steps back with this woman. And that was more like half a mile in the wrong direction.

  "Thanks a lot man."

  "What? It's true."

  "You're an asshole."

  He smiled at Denise.

  "A gross exaggeration."

  She rolled her eyes.

  "Whatever you say… Jack."

  He grinned at her, liking this playful side of her.

  "Are you hungry?"

  She cocked her head at him.

  "Famished."

  "Come on, let's get something to eat."

  "I really just want to go to the hotel and eat room service in bed."

  "I'm down with that."

  "Alone Ansel. We just have to go over a couple of things…"

  "Come on Denise, live a little. It can be a working dinner. I know how much you love your expense account."

  He could tell she was vacillating so he pushed harder.

  "I know the best little rib joint, and it's on the way to the hotel. You gotta eat doncha?"

  She sighed heavily and threw her hands up, conceding.

  "Alright Ansel you win. Lead the way."

  Six

  She'd let him drive. Why had she done that again?

  Oh right, because she'd taken a taxi to the track from the airport. It had seemed silly to get a rental car for less than thirty hours. Now she felt like she could have used the car.

  As armor.

  Denise looked around the place Ansel had taken her. It was a tiny little juke joint on the edge of town, not far from the track. It oozed authentic charm and the smells of down home cooking were making her mouth water.

  Maybe Ansel did have some good qualities after all. Other than his eyes.

  Or his ass.

  She'd been trying to avoid staring at it ever since she'd met him. Seeing his cute little ass wiggling out of his race car this afternoon had made that impossible. His bottom was in fact, just as cute as she'd thought it was.

  Darn it.

  Now he was watching her while she perused the menu. Except it looked like he already knew what he wanted.

  Her.

  She closed the menu and decided to tackle her accidental dinner date head on. Her stepmother had always said that bravery took the day. She also said that discretion was the better part of valor. Conflicting advice to be sure.

  She sighed, deciding to go with a bit of both.

  "What's good?"

  He leaned back in the chair and grinned at her.

  "Everything. But I recommend just going for the classics. Ribs, greens and a side of slaw."

  "Sounds great."

  "Oh, and beer."

  "I don't usually drink. And you shouldn't the night before a race."

  "Oh but it's a law."

  "A law?"

  "Uh huh. The law of barbecue. You have to have a beer. No choice."

  She laughed and nodded.

  "Okay, I'll have one. But you're driving."

  "A couple of beers and all this ribs equals no beers for a lesser man."

  "Ansel…"

  He held up his hands.

  "You win. One beer each. And extra biscuits. There's no way you can get drunk and eat biscuits at the same time."

  "Well, I can't argue with that logic."

  Ansel didn't say anything, he just watched her as they waited for their food. As soon as the pitcher of beer was set down, he poured them each a glass and went back to staring at her. It was discomfiting to say the least.

  She tried to sip her beer and ignore him but it was impossible. Finally she couldn't take it anymore. She leaned forward and put her elbows on the table.

  "Alright Ansel, what is it?" />
  He smiled and sipped his beer.

  "What do you mean?"

  "The probing look you are giving me?"

  "Probing… interesting choice of words."

  She threw her hands up in exasperation.

  "Never mind. Let's just review the schedule for next week."

  "That can wait. Besides, when I win, the schedule is gonna change anyway."

  "If you win."

  "When."

  He sipped his beer and leaned forward, matching her position.

  "I'm just trying to figure you out. It's not easy for a poor little country boy like me to understand a sophisticated city lady like you."

  She burst out laughing. He was so over the top flirtatious it was insane. How was she supposed to take anything he said seriously? But he did look strangely serious as he leaned forward and continued buttering her up.

  "Sophisticated, gorgeous and much, much smarter than me."

  She took a sip of beer to cover her reaction. He was getting to her. She wasn't as immune to his flattery as she'd hoped.

  "I'm not so sure about that Ansel."

  He was grinning again when he leaned back.

  "I love the way you say my name darlin'. I surely do."

  "You are incorrigible, you know that?"

  The waitress brought their food over and Ansel picked up a rib.

  "You have no idea sweetheart."

  {}{}{}{}{}

  As slowly as he could manage, he walked Denise through the hotel lobby. He didn't want the night to end. Well, not unless it ended up with them in bed together.

  He had a sneaking suspicion that it was a long shot. Even if she did like him. Which she did. He knew she did. At least a little.

  The hotel was packed and people were starting to notice him. But he didn't want to glad hand anyone right now. He had other, much more important things on his mind.

  It was a mid range place, the best you could do out here in the sticks. The only reason a half way decent hotel existed in this area was due to the race track to begin with. It had been built in the mid 90's so there was an overabundance of soothing waterfalls and mauve and peach tones.

  But he didn't notice any of that.

  Ansel's mind was working over time, trying to figure out how to get into Denise's hotel room.

  Or get her into his.

  "Nightcap?"

  She shook her head at him primly. She really did look like a playboy bunny styled as a sexy librarian, even dressed down in her jeans. A sexy librarian, right before she took her clothes off.

  "No, thank you."

  He followed her into the elevator.

  "What floor?"

  "Sixth."

  He pushed the bottom and grinned at her.

  "Me too."

  Of course, he would have said that no matter which floor he was on. He took her arm and escorted her down the hallway. With every step he felt himself getting more and more desperate to put a crack in her armor. Just enough to let him in...

  "Are you sure you don't want a nightcap? Might help you sleep. I heard the beds here are terrible."

  Her eyes opened wide in dismay.

  "You did?"

  He nodded his head slowly.

  "No."

  She rolled her eyes and pushed open the door to her room.

  "What time do you need to be at the track in the morning?"

  "Ten, but I like to come in early. I usually can't sleep before a race."

  "You get nerves? I never would have guessed."

  "Think of it more as… anticipation."

  He grinned at her.

  "Besides, I can think of lots of worthwhile things to do in the middle of the night."

  Denise rolled her eyes at him.

  "I'm sure you can. Good night Ansel. See you tomorrow."

  "Denise…"

  She turned to look at him. He stepped in and that was it. They were kissing each other. Not just kissing, devouring.

  He held her face with both hands, slanting his lips over hers. That lasted about ten seconds. Her mouth opened under the subtle pressure and their tongues were swirling against each others in an erotic dance.

  He pressed her against the doorjamb, bringing their bodies into intimate contact. He was getting harder by the second and the feel of her luscious breasts against his chest tipped him over the edge. He moaned and gripped her hips, grinding into her as he kissed her with everything he had. Denise gave it right back to him, matching his intensity and then some.

  Damn but the girl could kiss.

  Ansel tried to slow down, to control his breathing. The way things were going he was afraid of what he might do next, like start humping her in the middle of the hallway. He felt like a teenager, trying to get a girl to lay down with him in the back of his car.

  Not that it had ever been hard for him to get any girl to lie down with him. Not ever. Not until her.

  But he could tell she wasn't ready. No matter how she was kissing him. This was not in her precious schedule, that much was certain.

  Suddenly he realized that it mattered to her how she felt in the morning. If he went into her room now, she would regret it. And he wasn't going to mess this up.

  He forced himself to step away. It wasn't easy. Hell, it was one of the hardest damn things he'd done in his life. Denise was staring at him, her beautiful mouth slightly ajar.

  "Goodnight m'am."

  He reached out and picked up her hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it. Then he turned and started to walk away. He refused to turn around to see if she was watching.

  Besides, he could practically feel her eyes on him.

  He was pretty sure Denise was staring at his ass.

  Seven

  Denise rolled over on the uncomfortable hotel bed. Ansel hadn't been lying about that. He also hadn't been exaggerating his desire for her.

  What she hadn't counted on was her desire for him.

  When he'd kissed her in the hallway her mind had cleared of all thoughts, all the reasons she should step away, turn her head, close the door.

  That was a laugh. She'd been struggling not to drag him inside her room and throw herself at him. And thank God she had restrained herself, because apparently all he'd wanted was to prove that he could kiss her.

  Boy, had he ever.

  As much as she'd have liked to blame that kiss on Ansel she couldn't lie to herself. Yes he had grabbed her, surprised her, taken her off guard. But she hadn't stopped him.

  She hadn't wanted to stop him.

  Denise could still feel his lips on hers, his tongue, his hard, hot body. The man felt like a furnace! But somehow, even in the southern heat, that was appealing.

  She sighed and picked up her phone.

  U up?

  It only took about thirty seconds for Sasha to ping her back.

  U know it

  Denise smiled. Thank Goodness for her night owl friend. She just knew that Sasha would put things in perspective.

  He kissed me

  WUT

  And I liked it

  Oh no baby girl, you got problems

  U r the one who told me to go for it

  Yeah but u better just hit it and quit it

  Seriously?

  Give him what he wants and then U OUT

  I don't know if I can do that Sash

  Dennie girl u have worked too long and too hard to let a man mess things up for u

  I know

  But that doesn't mean u shouldn't have one night of nookienookie

  LOL u r terrible!

  Everybody needs at lease one friend who is a bad influence. U lucky its me

  Yes i am

  Love u

  <3

  Denise snuggled back down under the covers and closed her eyes. She didn't fall asleep for a long time though. By morning, she knew what she had to do.

  {}{}{}{}{}

  Ansel was stretching and pacing before the race. He'd already gone over all the checklists with his crew and glad handed with all
the corporate types. He'd even exchanged some good natured ribbing with the other drivers.

  Now it was nearly go time. As cocky as Ansel was in his abilities, each race did bring a strange sort of energy with it- not nervous so much as frenetic. He used to consider it a high. But adding it to the crazy way he was reacting to Denise was making him feel like he was about to get into a rocket, not a race car.

  Plus something was different today.

  He'd expected Denise to be stand offish or uncomfortable this morning. To his surprise she seemed perfectly at ease with what had happened between them. Or, rather, what had almost happened.

  But it wasn't just that. He felt different.

  He felt… hopeful.

  Ansel grimaced and did a set of pushups. He knew that if anyone could hear his internal monologue they'd think he was a teenager.

  Not just any teenager.

  A teenage girl.

  It was embarrassing if he was honest with himself. He stood up and flexed his muscles, hoping that Denise was impressed. He glanced around and saw her busily tip tapping away at her smart pad. She was not paying him any attention at all. That irked him. It irked him a lot.

  Of course when she'd said good morning to him earlier there had been a strange look in her eyes. A warm, inviting look. He definitely was not imaging it.

  "You good?"

  It was Mac, one of the guys who'd started out with him on this crazy ride all those years ago.

  "Yeah man, ready as ever."

  Mac grinned and gave him a thumbs up sign, before hurrying off to prep the car. The backup ride was in here, that had already been prepped earlier this morning. Before he got to the track.

  Ansel closed his eyes and thought back to the first race he'd even drove in.

  His Gran has been there of course. She'd aided and abetted him in pulling the wool over everyone's eyes in regards to his age. Besides, she'd said from day one that Ansel was an old soul.

  He sure as shit drove like one.

  He'd been jittery then too. And just as sure that he would win. Today he knew in his gut that he was going to get the trophy and the girl.

  And what a girl she was.

  He just wasn't sure what he was going to do with her after. Ansel had a strong suspicion he was in far deeper than he'd ever gone before. He could handle it. It was just like a new road and a different, longer kind of race.