AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His team runs out toward the car with the widest grins on their faces.
“You did it! You son of a bitch, you did it!” one guy shouts.
I’m not sure what he did, but whatever it is, must be great from the reaction he is getting on the track. My ears are ringing from the loud exhaust of his car. I never asked what car this was, but he always takes me in it and people just stare at it when we drive by on the street. It must be something a car I am not privy about. I have never seen one built like this one and it looks like something you see in that show Car and Driver.
Lane opens the door so I can get out and I smile and step aside, letting everybody talk to him and lift the hood of the car while one guy checks the tires. It is cool as we enter the fall and according to Lane, perfect to test out his build.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I watch how excited everyone is for Lane. The wind picks up and blows my hair in my face and when I get a handle on the strands, Lane is standing in front of me.
“I couldn’t have done it without you,” he says.
My head tilts up and his eyes caress my face. I uncross my arms and he hugs me tight like he never wants to let me go. My heart soars and I breathe him in, his cologne, gas, and burned rubber I have become familiar with that is all Lane.
Chapter twenty-four
Aura
We get ready at the house Lane purchased in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is a two-story home with four bedrooms and a three-car garage. It has one of those gas chandeliers hanging in front of the doors. I told him I loved when we moved. I sleep in the room next to his and it’s the room where I make my custom jewelry and can sit by the window to watch the sunset and rise. He gives me privacy and I give him his. I expected he would be dating someone by now, but all I see him do is work on his next project. Lane is a workaholic but when he has spare time, it is always with me.
I smooth the dress I was able to get on sale in a boutique shop in downtown Charlotte. It is spaghetti strapped in a light pink, almost the color of powder and hits almost to mid-thigh but on the shorter side. I paired it with a cropped sweater and let my hair down. I applied makeup in nude shades and sit on the edge of the bed and slide my feet in nude pointed-toe ankle boots perfect for the fall.
Exie had sent them over as a birthday gift from Neiman Marcus. They are extravagant and it’s from a designer I can’t even pronounce.
Lane knocks on my door, and I call out. “Just a minute.” I look once more in the mirror to make sure I look okay.
When I open the door, Lane looks up and his eyes caress me from head to toe. When his gaze lands back on mine, he has this unreadable expression on his face and I’m not sure if I’m overdressed.
I chew the side of my lip nervously and look down at my outfit. “Do I look, okay?” I ask. “I could change.”
His eyes widen in panic. “No, please.” He begs. “You look… beautiful. I’m just… nervous.”
I visibly swallow. He looks handsome with his fitted long-sleeved black crewneck sweater and stone-washed jeans. His hair is straight and long with one strand curled across his forehead. He has a faint stubble that looks sexy with his dark eyes framed by dark lashes. He smiles and grabs my hand gently and pulls me toward him and cups my face in his hands and the smell of citrus from his cologne invades my senses.
He angles his head slowly and captures my lips in his, and I melt in his embrace. The kiss is gentle and soft. Not too rough but not desperate. He takes his time exploring my mouth. My hands grip his strong shoulders and I love the way he is patient in my response. Like he doesn’t want to overstep and ruin the moment. He pulls back, breaking the kiss, and I move forward and capture his lips, sliding my tongue inside his mouth wanting more. His hands rest on my lower back and he pulls me against him and I feel how much he wants me. It’s no question, Lane Turner wants me.
We enter a nice restaurant in Charlotte called the Bentley. It is nice and very refined and we are seated in a corner at a table for two. I notice we get curious glances and a man I have never seen before nods at Lane.
I lean forward and whisper. “Do you know him?”
Lane shakes his head. “Never seen him before.”
We place our order and Lane furrows his brow when I make my selection and notices I order the least expensive plate on the menu. There is no way I could order anything that would cost Lane more than necessary. He has taken me in and treated me like a princess. He never asks me for a dime and takes care of everything. I tried to give him money, and he always refuses and tells me he has enough.
A man no later than his twenties walks up to our table when Lane was about to tell me something. He smiles at me and it makes my skin crawl with the way his gaze lingers on my breasts. I lift my chin, clearly unappeased by his perusal of me. Lane angles his head toward the man with a scowl on his face.
“Hello, I’m sorry for interrupting, but you’re Lane Turner, right?”
Lane looks away with and with a slight edge to his voice responds. “Who’s asking?”
The man holds out his hand to Lane. “My name is Patrick, and I work with NASCAR. Patrick angles his head slightly in my direction. Who might this lovely lady be?”
Lane looks at Patrick’s outstretched hand like it’s a snake slithering near him and he wants to chop its head off. He doesn’t take is outstretched hand but looks up and I notice his nostrils flare in annoyance. The guy quickly withdraws his hand and his smile fades into a grim line.
“I’m trying to have dinner with my girl and you are rudely interrupting my time with her. I would appreciate you keeping your eyes planted elsewhere and if you so much as look her way again, I will beat you within an inch of your life and run over your corpse with my car to make a point.”
The man visibly shakes and takes a nervous swallow. “I-I’m very sorry to have disrespected you or her in any way. Please accept my apology,” he stammers.
“Fuck off,” Lane snaps.
