Page 102 of Handle Me

When he was gone, I let out a low whistle. “I’m having some serious waking fantasies about you in that racing suit.”

“Yeah?” He smirked and leaned to whisper in my ear, “Later, I’m going to fuck you on the hood of my car in it.”

I whimpered, and he laughed, brushing his hand along my cheek. Behind us, there was movement, and his hand fell to his side as he went rigid. Turning, I saw a group of men in suits enter the pit, one of them in the lead.

“Connor McKinnon,” he muttered. “I guess I better go prove my worth.”

He started to move away, but I grabbed his hand. “This isn’t about your worth,” I told him. “This is about a car and a track and advertising. You’re worth so much more than any of that, and fuck anyone who doesn’t see that.”

He stared at me a moment, the light returning to his eyes.

“Oh, and Anders.” I dropped my voice so no one around could hear. “Rule number 5 is in play, so drive extra fast.”

He groaned, swiping his tongue over his lower lip. “Now that is motivation, boss.”

Anders leaned to kiss me once before he straightened and strode toward the sponsors. I stayed back as they spoke, not wanting to be in the way. But when he turned to get into the car, I dashed over to join Wilkes at the pit wall. McKinnon and his men had moved to the side behind barricades, set up to keep them out of the crew’s way but close enough to see exactly how Anders performed.

“Here.” Wilkes handed me a headset. “Want to sit in?”

I bit my lip as I took it. “Doesn’t someone on the team need this?”

“You aren’t on the team?” He raised an eyebrow. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re the glue keeping our boy together.”

I nodded, my pulse speeding up as I put the headset on. “Now what?”

“Your comms are off, so don’t worry that you’ll distract him,” he informed me. He pointed to the monitors. “We’re tracking everything. His wheels, the calibration of his steering, the wind. Everything. He’s safe out there.”

“Do I look worried?” I asked.

His eyes crinkled as he smiled. “A little. You’ll get used to this. You ready?”

I nodded, and he turned, speaking into his headset as the crew dashed about, finishing their final preparations. The team checked the car and the screens, but my eyes were firmly on the screen that showed Anders.

As the engine roared to life, a transformation took place. The fear in his eyes was replaced by a fierce determination, his face set in a grim expression.

And then he was off, hurtling down the track at impossible speeds. My heart pounded in my chest. My eyes darted to the camera that displayed his visor’s camera and back to the monitor that displayed his progress. I didn’t know how to read any of it.

“Fuck!” Wilkes let out a whoop, followed by, “Watch that corner.”

I leaned toward the engineer next to me. “Is he doing okay?”

“Okay?” His eyes didn’t leave the screen he was watching, but he shook his head in disbelief. “If he keeps his head, he’s going to beat his best time.”

My stomach lurched with every twist and turn, my pulse pounding like a jackhammer as the adrenaline surged through me. My entire heart was out there on that track, and I could scarcely breathe until he crossed the finish line. When he did, the entire crew cheered.

I yanked off my headset, trying to get control of my breathing.

“That’s your best time by a full second,” Wilkes yelled through the comms, and I nearly collapsed with relief.

The car slowed into the pit, the crew racing out to help Anders out. I watched him as he climbed from the car and yanked his helmet off, his eyes searching through the chaos to find mine. As soon as he was on his feet, he was racing toward me.

I ran out from the pit wall, and he caught me, lifting me off my feet and spinning me in a circle before he planted a kiss on my lips. We broke apart as Wilkes and McKinnon joined us.

“You’re a damn machine.” McKinnon thrust his hand out. “I shouldn’t have believed the rumors. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I don’t remember the last time I was this excited about an upcoming season.”

“Thanks.” Anders grinned and shook his hand.

“I was worried after you took this season off. It was understandable given the accident and everything,” McKinnon added quickly, “but the investment is worth it.”