by Chelle Bliss
I grimace. “Sorry, Mamma.”
“You okay?” she asks, waving off my comment.
“I’m fine,” I lie. I’m not fine. My heart’s pounding so hard, I wonder how much more the muscle can take before finally giving out. “This race is so close.”
She nods, leaning forward and up to get a better look. “Let’s just hope they don’t wreck.”
“Mamma!” My eyes widen and my stomach rolls. “You know you can’t say stuff like that. It’s bad luck.”
She pats my leg and smiles. “Don’t be silly, child. It’s in God’s hands now, not some crazy superstition.”
I turn my eyes back to the track with a loud huff. Everything’s moving so fast as they pass in a blur, I have a hard time finding Brooks’s car. But then I spot him. He’s on Roscoe’s bumper, heading into traffic, about to overtake the racers pulling up the rear. Between the rumble of the engines and the nervous energy coursing through my body, I’m practically vibrating in my seat.
“Two laps to go,” Mamma says.
I hold my breath again and rise to my feet, unable to sit down anymore. On the stretch between turns two and three, a bright-orange car comes out of nowhere and takes the lowline as Brooks takes the highline near the wall.
My body stiffens as the guy is fender-to-fender with Brooks as they come out of the turn. “Jesus.” I cover my mouth so my mother can’t hear as I slur together a string of curse words.
The three cars—Roscoe, the orange bastard, and Brooks—move into a perfect line across the track and head into the final lap neck and neck. They’re bumping and grinding, each of them fighting for the lead.
I cover my face and peek through the slits between my fingers. I’ve never been so stressed out during a race. I bounce on the balls of my feet to stop myself from shaking. Roscoe heads into the final turn, firmly in the lead, but Brooks and the other guy are still duking it out. Brooks takes the outside as he comes out of the turn. He pulls ahead of the orange car but only by a few feet. I’m almost hyperventilating as the flag waves through the air and Roscoe zips underneath it, followed by Brooks and the other guy.
I rip off the headset, letting the roar of the engines hit me at full force. There’s nothing like the sexy rumble inside the small stadium. I jump up and down, screaming at the top of my lungs. “He did it! Hell yeah!”
By the time my mother and I walk toward the infield, the adrenaline starts to wear off and my knees feel like jelly. I didn’t realize I’d been tense for the last three hours, practically hanging off the edge of my seat in anticipation.
“I’ll be back,” I tell my mother before taking off toward Brooks. I push through the celebrating crowd, weaving my way to pit road and wanting nothing more than to congratulate Brooks. “Brooks!” I yell and wave my hands as I run toward his car.
He slides out of the driver’s-side window and removes his helmet. His face is smudged with dirt, and the sweat trickling down his cheeks glistens in the sunshine. The man’s in his element, looking like pure perfection in his Ridley Racing colors, and I couldn’t be prouder. He finally turns, and his eyes meet mine. I run faster, moving toward him like I’m being pulled by some invisible force.
The entire Ridley pit is clear and too busy celebrating with Roscoe to pay much attention to the kid. There aren’t too many people around, so I don’t even think twice about jumping into Brooks’s arms and wrapping my arms around him. “You did it!” I yell, but he can’t hear me because I can’t even hear myself.
He squeezes me tightly, burying his face against my neck as he spins in a circle. I tip my head back, losing myself in the moment. Brooks’s lips graze my neck and bring me right back to reality. I search the grounds, looking for my father or anyone who may have seen us, as Brooks sets my feet back on the ground. I immediately pull away and try to regain my composure. I take a step back and slap him on the shoulder like I’m congratulating a friend. I plaster a smile on my face as my dad comes marching over, hopefully totally unaware of what just happened and still clueless about Brooks and me.
My dad wraps his arm around me and then Brooks, hauling us inward and embracing us both. He’s excited, shaking with laughter, and has tears in his eyes. Brooks and I lock eyes, knowing this may be the first and only time we celebrate together, because when my father finds out about us sneaking around, Brooks is going to be sent packing.
Chapter Fourteen
Brooks
Mr. Ridley pops open another bottle of champagne and holds it high in the air, letting the foam run over his fingers and spill onto the floor. Faith is across the room, in a heated exchange with Roscoe, glancing at me every few seconds before giving him her full attention.
“It’s time for a toast,” Mr. Ridley says and starts to walk around the room, pouring champagne into the empty glasses of family, friends, and employees who have flowed into Ridley Racing headquarters.
More than fifty people have filled the lobby to celebrate our success, each one of them wearing a Ridley Racing T-shirt with Roscoe’s and my names on the back. The excitement is electric, and even though I’d normally not be happy coming in second place, it’s hard to be upset when everyone around me is filled with happiness.
A guy like me, barely graduating from high school and with a crappy childhood, should’ve become a statistic on the evening news. I wasn’t supposed to be something or make a name for myself by almost defeating the reigning champion twice in one weekend. But I did. I heard the whispers around town about the new kid, but I ignored every single one of them. It’s not like I lost to some asshole off the streets. I was beat by the best driver on the entire circuit while the rest of the field choked on our exhaust fumes.
Mr. Ridley stops in front of me, dips his chin, and hands me the half-full champagne bottle. “A glass is not enough for what you did out there today. Hell, the entire weekend, for that matter.”
“Thank you, sir.” He raises an eyebrow as soon as the word leaves my mouth, and I quickly correct my mistake. “Thanks, Beau.”
Mimi touches Beau’s arm and hands him another bottle of champagne. He smiles at her like she’s the most beautiful person in the world. His eyes light up whenever she walks into a room. I’ve never seen two people more in love with each other than Beau and Mimi. They have the type of love books are written and movies are created about.
I should be smiling, but I can’t. The thought of losing all this—the team, the car, the Ridleys—is more than I can bear. In a short amount of time, I’ve fallen in love with everything in Buxton, including the people. I’ve never felt part of anything before. I was always the outsider, the kid no one really wanted to play with, the one parents didn’t like because of my mother’s nearly daily public antics.
Buxton was my fresh start. A new beginning. Something I could create and mold into what I wanted. And yet…I fucked everything up. I fell for the only girl in town I shouldn’t have. What started out as an innocent flirtation and fun turned into something magical and pure. Peering around the room, I soak in the people and excitement, knowing this may be the last time I experience anything quite like this.
Mimi stares down at me, staying behind when Beau walks away. “You doin’ okay, kid?”
“I am, ma’am,” I lie. I’m the furthest thing from okay. I don’t want to say goodbye, and yet, I know that’s what is going to happen as soon as Beau finds out I’ve slept with his daughter and didn’t man up and tell him what happened.
She motions toward Faith but keeps her eyes locked on me. “You two okay?”
I drag my gaze across the room, catching sight of Faith among the crowd. My pulse quickens, and I’m momentarily breathless because she’s so damn beautiful and good, I don’t really deserve her. “We’re fine.”
“You have to tell my husband what’s been going on. You have to tell her father and your boss. It’s the only respectable thing to do in your situation,” she tells me, but I already know this.
“I was planning to tell him after dinner before my mother sho
wed up, ma’am.”
“That’s a shame.” She touches my shoulder. “Do you love Faith?”
“I do,” I say without hesitation.
“Beau’s a romantic,” she says and turns around for a second, searching for him in the crowd. He’s laughing, happy, and I’m going to kill all that as soon as I tell him what happened. “He’ll understand. Don’t go into too much detail. Just ask for his approval and let him know you love her.”
“I wasn’t planning on telling him the details.” I smirk. I may be a country bumpkin, but I’m not stupid. Well, that may be debatable since I slept with the boss’s daughter, but I’m not going to spill my guts and give him a blow-by-blow retelling of the entire events that led us to this spot. No way. Only someone with a death wish would be that stupid.
“Good. Keep it short and sweet.”
I nod and swallow. Short and sweet I can do. The entire confession would probably come flying out of my mouth in a breathless string of words that I’ll end up repeating because it’ll sound like gibberish. Even now, my body’s shaking, knowing I have to man up and do it soon.
“I will. I promise. Thank you, Mimi.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” She laughs and touches my shoulder before she walks away.
Mr. Ridley clears his throat, waiting for the room to grow quiet. I glance at Faith and smile. She waves, but Roscoe pulls her hand down and glares.
The funny thing is…I really like Roscoe. He may have been a pain in the ass, and sometimes he verged on being a whiny little bastard, but he is a champion. I spent two years studying his every move, praying to get a chance to race against him someday.
The room grows quite as Mr. Ridley holds his champagne flute high in the air. “I’m honored to see so many old faces today and a few new ones.” He glances in my direction and makes eye contact, and I tip my head to acknowledge his words.
I love and respect Mr. Ridley as a boss and a father. In the six months since he first contacted me, we have formed a quick and easy friendship. That’s the thing about him. He is so damn easy to love, with his big bravado and even bigger heart. For a champion and savvy businessman of his caliber, I would’ve thought he wouldn’t be so down-to-earth, but everything about him is filled with kindness and charity.
No one else would have plucked me from the dirt track and laid everything at my feet for the taking. Taking on someone like me is a huge risk for anyone, especially when millions of dollars are at stake, but Mr. Ridley never thought twice about offering me a driver’s spot on his team. And how do I repay the man who is giving me biggest opportunity of my life?
I screw his daughter.
“Tonight, we’re not celebrating just one victory but two. My boys dominated the track.”
The room erupts in thunderous applause with people cheering. My vision blurs as tears fill my eyes. God, he always has a way of making me feel like part of the family and not just a driver on his team. Breaking his heart is going to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but I know telling him is right. The truth has to come out, and I only pray he’s willing to let me finish the season. I’d do anything to stay on the team. Anything except give up Faith.
“Right now, every competitor hates us. They wish they could be us and replicate our success, but they don’t have what I have.” He pauses, and his eyes move from Faith to Roscoe to Mimi. “I’m surrounded not only by amazing friends and a loving family. I’ve been blessed my entire life, and the blessings keep coming with Brooks coming on as the newest addition to the family.”
My stomach rolls as guilt washes over me. I am the world’s biggest asshole.
“To a long, prosperous, and healthy season. We’re about to be unstoppable.” He lifts his glass higher, and I raise my champagne bottle, wishing the entire thing was full so I could wash away the sinking feeling that’s settling deep in my bones.
FAITH
I set my purse down on the table and turn toward Brooks, unable to take his silent brooding any longer. “What’s wrong?”
He falls backward onto the couch with a loud huff and pulls a fluffy pillow over his face. “Nothing,” he mutters as he kicks off his boots, letting them drop to the floor near my coffee table.
I don’t waste another second as I cross the room and crawl into his lap. “I can make you feel better.” I tangle my fingers in his hair and press my breasts against his chest. He grabs the pillow and tosses it across the room, finally catching sight of my breasts, which are practically spilling out of my top. “Come on, baby. You know you want them.” I jiggle my tits in his face when he doesn’t say anything.
We haven’t touched each other in over a week. There is nothing more I want than to feel his hands and mouth roaming my body and devouring my skin. I want to completely lose myself in him.
Brooks’s hands slide up my legs and come to a stop just above my waist. “Princess. I want them more than anything.” His fingers dig into my flesh as his grip tightens. His resistance is slipping, and his cock hardens underneath me.
I arch my back and push them closer to his face, trying like hell to get what I want. “You know what I want?” Not above playing dirty, I run my finger down the middle of my cleavage and moan.
His eyes darken as they follow my finger. “What?”
My plan’s working, but I know I can’t stop now. I have to go bigger, push harder to get him out of whatever funk he’s dwelling in. I want the guy who can’t keep his hands to himself back, because the Brooks Carter underneath me isn’t nearly as fun.
I lean forward, placing my lips next to his ear. “I want you to fuck me in the ass,” I whisper with a smile.
His eyes widen. “What?” He swallows and licks his lips, already salivating at the very thought. “You sure? I mean, I’m pretty big. I don’t want to hurt you.”
I moan and grind against him harder, working the bullshit for everything it’s worth. “And my ass is so tight.” I’m pulling lines straight out of bad pornos I found in my brother’s room as a teenager. I could never figure out why guys like them, because there wasn’t anything remotely sexy about the bad cheeseball lines, but clearly the shit works because Brooks is almost panting.
“Fuck,” he hisses. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
This is too easy, but I keep going because it’s working like a fucking charm. “Some pain is worth the pleasure, baby.” My voice is sugary sweet and filled with need. The need’s real, though, until the wanting to have anal sex. There’s nothing remotely sexy or pleasurable about booty sex.
He slides his hands to my ass. “You know all the right sexy things to say.” He moans and squeezes my ass cheek in the palm of his hand.
Moving my face closer, I stare into his eyes and lower my voice. “My pussy is so full when you’re in me, baby. I can’t imagine how you’ll feel stuffed in my ass.”
They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, but I’d disagree. The proof is underneath me. Dirty words coupled with the promise of anal sex have gotten me further than a slice of apple pie ever could have.
“Jesus,” he murmurs against my lips before sealing his mouth over mine.
My skin tingles as his rough palm slides across my back, and I rock against him. He moves his thumbs underneath the elastic of my bra, and in one quick motion, he unhooks my bra like he’s done it a thousand times.
Breaking the kiss, I lift my arms over my head, wanting nothing more than to get naked with this man. He pulls his shirt off and drops it to the floor. I keep my eyes locked on his as my hands slide down his rock-hard chest.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he whispers as he gazes up at me.
He slides the pads of his thumbs across the tender undersides of my breasts, and my nipples instantly harden. I’m hungry for his kiss, starving for his cock, and practically panting with need for any little bit of him he’ll give. He moves his hands upward, enveloping my breasts, and I tip my head back, offering myself to him as I dig my fingernails into his shoulder. “Shh, princes
s. I know exactly what you need.”
I’m so lost in his touch, so consumed by the feel of his coarse palms against my nipples, I can’t protest. He leans forward, pressing his lips to my neck, and nips the tender skin near my shoulder, which he knows drives me insane. I lie helpless in his arms with my eyes closed, unable to speak as his lips burn my skin and leave goose bumps in their wake.
When his hands leave my breasts, I whimper and open my eyes, longing for his warmth and silently begging for his touch. He hooks an arm around my waist and lifts me into the air, setting my feet flat on the floor. I sway slightly, my head swimming with possibilities as he works the button and zipper of my jeans and yanks them down my legs. As I step out of them, I admire him from this position as he lifts his ass and pulls his jeans off. His muscles glisten in the light, rippling one-by-one as he moves. The planes of his abs deepen as he twists, creating caverns of skin I could lose myself in.
He motions to me with his hand and beckons me forward. “Come here.”
I move quickly, mounting him again and take in his rugged beauty beneath me. “Do you want me, Brooks?” My lower half rocks against him, his cock sliding easily through my wetness.
He wraps an arm around my back and leans forward, bringing his lips near mine as he stares up at me. “More than anything.” His voice is ragged, matching his hard breaths.
Whatever happened before tonight doesn’t matter. The only thing I can focus on is the feel of his dick skating across my clit, sending me closer to the edge. I close my eyes, rocking back and forth, back and forth, relishing the warm, wet skin-on-skin sensation.
His face comes forward, and he wraps his lips around my nipple, adding to the building pressure and deepening my need. I moan softly and push my pussy against him harder as he toys with the hard tip between his teeth.
“More,” I beg, needing more than the friction as our bodies move together.
He lifts me and pulls his lips away from my breast. I cry out but am quickly silenced as he drags the tip of his cock between my legs. “You want this cock, princess?”
