I’ll show Monterey how she deserves to be treated by a man. A man that I can never be for her. At least, then, she’ll know she’s worth more. That she deserves to have it all.
I head downstairs and before I hit the restaurant I’m stopped by the red-bearded reporter.
“Danger, how are you?”
“Late.” I try to pass him but he stops me in my tracks.
“How long do you think you can keep this charade up?”
I laugh. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t play games with me, Dylan.”
I stop cold when this man uses my real name. “What do you want? Money? Fame? You want to be the motherfucker who outs me to the world? Is that it? You want to see me in prison along with him.”
“Does your little girlfriend know?”
I cross my arms. “Quit being an idiot. You know no one knows. It’d be the top story in every newspaper across the world.” It makes me wonder why this man hasn’t leaked the story yet.
“Yes, you’re right.”
“So, why haven’t you cashed in yet?”
He smiles, rubbing his beard with both hands. “I want the exclusive, of course.”
I’m already bored. I should have known this snake wanted an exclusive. “No.”
He rubs his beard with his chubby fingers. “Maybe I should talk to your fiancée.”
“Stay the fuck away from her.”
“I’m sure she’d love to know about your connection with Earl Wheeler.”
The reporter chuckles, and I’ve had enough. I push past him, hoping to put this man so far into my rearview it’s not even funny.
“You’re just like him, ya know?”
I spin around, ready to punch him. “Fuck you. I’m nothing like that old man.”
Chapter 28
Monterey
When I spot Danger standing by the hostess stand, I suck in a deep breath. It’s almost insane how gorgeous he is. Like no one should be allowed to look that hot. Black suit that looks tailor-made over his delicious body. Hair tamed to perfection. A smile that would make any woman’s panties melt.
He spots me from across the restaurant and his eyes light up. A smile splits his face in half and he heads in our direction.
Earlier when he came into the hotel room after practice, he appeared frustrated. Like something wasn’t quite right. However, staring into his eyes now, the way they captivate me, everything seems fine.
He kisses me on the cheek before shaking my father’s hand and taking a seat. “Hello, sir.”
My father laughs, and I kind of do, too. Danger hasn’t called my father sir, well, ever.
“Are you feeling ok?” I ask him, leaning in close to his ear so only he can hear me.
He smiles, like possibly thinking how I could wonder such a thing. “I’m perfect.” He slings an arm over the back of my chair, it feels so right. He’s perfect indeed, as this moment between us is.
My father kicks off about how happy he is that we’re all here, and before the server can even get our drink order Warren steps up.
“Ah, I must have missed this invite.” He motions to the server to bring another chair.
“Warren, yes, please join us,” my father says, ever the gracious host.
Warren stares right at Danger and me, and I suddenly feel like I need to put on a performance. Like he doesn’t believe Danger and I are a real couple. Hell, sometimes I do believe we are.
“Ignore him,” Danger whispers into my ear. “You look so damn good right now. He’s just jealous.”
Tingles erupt along my spine at Danger’s words. “Thank you.”
My father goes back into his lengthy speech about how promising our chances are in the upcoming race. He speaks mainly to the pit crew, devising ways to get their timing down, and I tune it all out.
Instead my focus is solely on Danger. How he eats carefully, listening to my father, while smiling and being present at the same time. I watch as he tries to keep his hand off my thigh. It’s killing me that he won’t keep it there.
Because I want his touch. I miss his touch.
“Stop staring at me like that,” Danger whispers into my ear.
“Like what.”
“Like you want to devour me.”
It’s because I do. I want this man more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. And I don’t know what to do about that. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be,” he licks the shell of my ear, “because I want to do the same fucking thing.”
My whole body heats up and I smile and try to focus back on the conversation going on around the table.
“Don’t you two look cozy,” Warren says when there’s a lull in the convo.
“We are,” Danger says, placing his hand on my thigh.
I know he’s trying to appease me. To try not to upset me so I don’t go off on Warren, but it’s too late.
“I’m sorry Warren, I don’t see where my relationship with Danger is any of your concern.”