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“It was almost as good as having your mouth on me,” she gushed.
The crew member opening the door choked out a strangled laugh. I ignored him, reveling in the compliment she’d given me.
“It was amazing!” she went on. My smile broadened even wider. “I can’t believe I lived without experiencing this before.” She grabbed my hand and squeezed. “Can you take me again? Can I drive?”
My smile fell off my face. My heart dropped. “Absolutely not.”
Her brows slammed together. “Why not?”
“Uh-oh,” came a mutter from my man. I gave him a searing look, and he melted away.
“It’s dangerous.”
“But you do it?” She crawled out of the car, swaying on her legs, and my crew member’s hand shot out to steady her. I sent him another look, and he immediately stepped back. I had to give him credit because he didn’t release her until he was certain she was steady. Slapping my hand on the roof of Blue, I ripped my helmet off my head.
“Is it because I’m a woman? That’s it, isn’t it, you big…boor! You race, and you love racing, so it can only be because I’m a woman.”
That was partially true, but not the entire story. It was the protector inside me rearing his head.
“It’s dangerous, Jewel. That’s why. You racing this car will shave years off my life. More than racing has ever done.”
Her lips pursed together tightly; hurt and disappointment clouded her vivid eyes. I scrubbed my face. Shit, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t see the bright excitement die in her eyes. I might regret it, because the idea of her being in danger would likely kill me, but I couldn’t introduce her to something that I absolutely loved and tear it away an instant later. I understood the thrill of racing only too well.
“Fuck, alright,” I yielded. Jabbing a finger at her over the car, I warned, “But there will be rules. I will teach you, and you will listen to every damn instruction I give you, or swear to God, I will pull the car over and redden your ass in front of every worker and spectator in this place.”
She just grinned at me, unrepentant and completely unfazed. “Sure,” she answered saucily.
I scrubbed at my hair. “Christ, I can tell I’m going to regret this.”
She spun around, struggling with her helmet until it was off. Rounding Blue, she strode over to me, so goddamn strong and purposeful, placed a soft hand on my heart, and said, “I promise to listen to you. Nothing will happen to me.”
“And it’s not because you’re a woman,” I chuffed. “Mostly. Racing is dangerous. I know what I’m doing, but many things can go wrong when you’re going fast. The smallest misstep, and the car can flip over a half-dozen times. I’ve seen it happen.”
Her inquisitive eyes bored into mine. “Has it happened to you?”
“No, but I’ve crashed multiple times.” I gripped her hand securely against my chest. “I don’t want to clip your wings, baby doll, but there isn’t a world that exists where I will be the cause of you getting hurt. Understand?”
“I understand. And I won’t let anything happen to me, okay?” she promised.
I was willing to give her a chance. For her, not for myself, even if I didn’t think it was a promise she could keep.
My phone beeped, and I saw I had a series of text messages that must’ve come since we left the city. Half a dozen were from Tatum, venting his frustration with the Hagi clan again. What was an unusual emotional range was becoming his new normal. There was a message from Sebastian, complaining about the Hagi family and Tatum. The situation was devolving into chaos.
Then there was a text from an unknown number. I clicked on it. A video popped up. My hand curled around my phone, squeezing tightly as I watched a dark, shaky clip of me helping Jewel into my car last night. This was a message, and I had a strong suspicion of who it was from. My head snapped up, scanning the horizon. There were only the employees and people milling around the racetrack. Anyone of them could be a spy.
“What’s wrong?” Jewel asked. Head tilted to the side, her curious eyes zeroed in on me.
Cristo normally didn’t set me off, but this…bringing Jewel into our rivalry…would bring my blood to a boil. Except, being with Jewel gave me the equilibrium to know how to handle the situation. I wiped the expression off my face and cracked an easy smile.
Turning back to Blue, I said, “Nothing, baby doll. I don’t like business interrupting my time with you. Let’s get back to the city. I’m taking you out for lunch.”
My eyes surreptitiously searched the area one last time before dropping into the seat of my car. Again, nothing.
Fuck.
There was a threat underlying that video, whether he was sending me the simple message that I was being watched or whether he planned to use my relationship with Jewel as blackmail. If he thought I was afraid of being outed, he was about to be seriously disappointed. I didn’t give a fuck who knew about us. It was an easy fix. I’d eliminate that threat by outing my own damn self. Taking hold of the narrative, I’d show Jewel off at the most public place possible.
