Fast Lane (7 page)

Just as the song ends, my text notification sounds. It’s Derek. Coen’s in position, and apparently isn’t impressed about this being a cheap race. Something tells me that once he finds out it’s me, that won’t matter anymore.

I have butterflies in my stomach as I drive around the building. As I turn the corner, I see about 20 cars lined up, and the ass end of that sexy-as-hell HellCat of Coen’s.

I swallow the lump in my throat. Our cars are now side by side, the engines idling. My windows are tinted—there’s pretty much no way he can see me. I’m glad, too, because I want an honest race. I don’t want him taking it easy on me because I’m a woman.

Derek is standing in front of us holding the walkie-talkie up to his ear. I’m guessing he’s waiting for the all-clear. I quickly sneak a glance over at Coen’s car. He’s gripping the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles are white. His brow is furrowed. He really doesn’t seem too happy. I’m hoping he won’t be mad once he finds out it’s me he was racing.

The smell of fuel momentarily intoxicates me. It reminds me of when my dad use to take me to the track as a kid. It’s one of my best memories of him.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Derek waving to get my attention. Coen and I both rev our engines in anticipation. The vibration sends chills down my spine and makes the butterflies in my stomach feel like they are now giant moths fighting to get out. Derek beckons me closer until my car is perfectly in line with Coen’s. As soon as he has us where we need to be, I strap on the helmet he lent me.

“Good luck to you both.” Derek runs over to the sidelines, and the flag girl for the night runs over in her skimpy tank top, short skirt, and stilettos. She holds up a green scarf. The second it leaves her fingertips, Coen and I are off. Everything around us, the other cars, the warehouses, are suddenly a blur. We’re both giving it everything we’ve got. He’s not holding back, and neither am I. I’m fighting hard to keep up with that blue beast of his. I’m about two seconds behind Coen all the way to the end. No matter how hard I push, the Shelby just can’t get past him.

We head back toward the warehouses. There I see Brea jumping up and down like an excited little kid, waving and waiting for me to get parked. I see Coen get out of his car first. He wastes no time in walking straight over to Brea, and I can only assume he asks her where I am. Brea smiles, and points in my direction.

I open my car door and step out, slowly pulling the helmet off and tossing it onto the passenger seat. Brea makes it over to me before Coen does. “Hot damn, girl! I didn’t know you had that in you.” she says, high-fiving me.

“Yeah, well, it’s been a crazy day, so why not make it crazier?” I say, combing my fingers through my helmet hair before putting it back into a ponytail.

I just finish wrapping the elastic in my hair when Coen makes his way over to me in that slow, sexy stride. His green eyes look down at me. Slowly, that delicious smirk starts to appear.

“Well, that was quite impressive, Lex.” He raises an eyebrow and angles his head to the side, giving me a better view of his neck tattoo. His whole attitude seems to have changed. Maybe he’s happy that I surprised him. I’m willing to bet that never in a million years did he expect to be racing me tonight. Especially given how rude I was to him all day.

In my defense, I’m only human. I did just break it off with Patrick last night. But really, Coen’s done nothing wrong. There definitely was nothing wrong with that kiss in my car earlier today. And even though things seem to be moving really fast, maybe it was just what I need. The sooner I can move on and put Patrick in the past, the better.

Coen steps in closer to me, so close I can smell his cologne. He has one foot between mine. He slowly brings his hand up near my face, as if he wants to touch it, but lowers it again. I look up at him with a reassuring smile, silently telling him that it’s okay.

Brea breaks the silence. “Lex, love, I’m heading home before the cops show. I’ll chat with you tomorrow.” She kisses me on the cheek and leaves.

“Goodnight, Brea.” Coen says, and quickly turns his attention back to me. “So why the new attitude all of a sudden?” he asks, slowly reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. He lets his fingertips gently trace my jaw line, and lifts my chin to look into his beautiful green eyes.

“I guess what you said earlier about not really believing in coincidences got me thinking. Maybe I should give you a chance,” I say, lightly brushing my hand over his tattooed bicep and looking up at him through my eyelashes.

Coen places his hand on the small of my back and pulls me closer to him. He looks deep into my eyes. My breathing hitches. “I can’t make you any promises, Lex, but if you just give me tonight, I guarantee you won’t regret it.” His lips brush against mine just softly enough to send shivers up my spine. Before I can even give it any thought, his tongue finds mine in a ravaging kiss. He’s devouring me like I’m a raw piece of meat and he’s a starving lion. I slide my hand down and squeeze his ass cheek. He lets out a low, carnal growl. He breaks our connection and rests his forehead against mine. We’re both sweaty and panting from the combination of the heat and lust. Coen opens his mouth to speak, but instead of his deep, sexy voice, I hear a voice I thought I said goodbye to last night.

“Wow, Lexi. Are you fucking kidding me right now?” It’s Patrick, and he looks to be in one of his
wonderful
moods. Awesome. “Is this the real reason you broke up with me last night? So you could go off and fuck this tattooed piece of trash without feeling guilty?” His voice is escalating as he steps closer, puffing his chest out like a damn peacock trying to stake his claim on me. He huffs in disgust. “I always knew you were a slut.”

I take a few steps back to distance myself from his awful alcohol laced breath. Before I can even think of a smartass comment back, Coen grabs Patrick by the throat and pins him up against my car. “You should think twice about who the fuck you’re calling a piece of trash, you low-life son of bitch.” Patrick’s face is starting to turn red, so Coen grits his teeth and growls in frustration as he lets go. I’ve never had a man stick up for me like this before. Patrick deserves to have a taste of his own medicine for a change. All of a sudden, everyone starts scrambling to their cars. I hear Derek yell, “Move out! Cops are here in thirty seconds!”

Coen pushes Patrick away from my car. “I better not ever see you up in Lexi’s face again!” He quickly kisses me on top of the head. “Lex, follow me. Make sure you keep up so the cops don’t catch you.” He runs and jumps through the open window of his car, starts it, and waits as I quickly get into my own. I look over and see the red and blue lights flashing about two and half blocks away.
Shit! I wasn’t planning on racing twice tonight.

As soon as I throw my seatbelt on and start my car, Coen and I peel around the corner and down the back alleys, hoping to stay out of sight.

I’M RACING THROUGH
the streets of town with Lexi tailing in her car. Thankfully, we managed to get off the quarter-mile just in time to give us a chance to shake the cops. After all the crazy-ass happenings of today, I never in a million years expected it to be her I was racing. I almost backed out when Derek told me what the payout was, but I never back down from a race. And besides, Derek kept encouraging it. Now I know why.

It’s completely dark out now, and the streetlights are on as I turn down Lexi’s street. My body is still tense from dealing with that fucking puny little loser that was running his mouth at Lexi. I should have put my fist through his face. Rolling my shoulders, I slowly ease up speed and pull up in front of Lexi’s place. Looking into my rearview mirror, I see her pull into the driveway.

I have to keep my feelings at bay with this chick. She’s really getting under my skin, and I can’t let that happen. Not now. Not ever. Thoughts of her stepping out of her car after the race flash through my memory. Her perfect tits framed in a tight fitting, purple v-neck t-shirt. Her amazing curvy ass, hugged in all the right places by a pair of denim shorts. Running her fingers through her luscious red hair. And those Chucks. Fuck! Most men would get off on a woman in a sexy pair of heels. I admit, I appreciate a hot pair myself, but give me a girl in a pair of Chucks any day.

I put my car in park, shut it off, and get out. After I shut the door I cross my arms and rest them on the roof of my car, watching Lexi get out. She tightens her ponytail and straightens out her clothes. Her cheeks are flushed. I’m not sure if it’s from the rush of having to speed through town, or because she wants me. She’s so fucking beautiful. As bad as I want to feel her body underneath me, I decide it’s best to get my thoughts in check before we go any further with whatever this is. I might be a bit of an asshole, but she did just break up with someone, and today has been all kinds of crazy.

Lexi shuts her car door, double checks that it’s locked, and then turns to look at me with those big, beautiful brown eyes. “Would you, uh, like to stay for a beer, Coen?”

God, if she isn’t making it hard to say no right now.
Hard. That’s a good word for it. My dick is definitely twitching at the sight of her next to that sexy car of hers, remembering what we were doing in there earlier today.
I clear my throat, trying to stifle the groan rising from deep in my chest thanks to my aching balls.

“I would love to, Lexi, but I should probably get going. It’s getting late, and I have to be at my aunt’s place early in the morning or she’ll be jumping down my throat.” I huff and roll my eyes.

“Oh,” is all she says, breaking eye contact with me and fumbling around with her keys. She bends her head down while running her hand over her hair. “Well, I guess I’ll see you—”

She’s cut off by the sound of squelching tires and the sound of a car door slamming. Before I even bother turning my head to see who this idiot is, I know. Looks like this twerp wants his ass kicked after all.

He’s barely taken two steps toward me before he starts yelling again. “Who the fuck do you think you are, putting your hands on me and taking my girl home?”

“I’m not your fucking girl any more, Patrick, and this is exactly why. Your crazy-ass fucking outbursts of rage. Now fuck off and go home!” Lexi yells from across the driveway.

I walk over to him, my boots loud on the pavement, cracking my knuckles. What if I hadn’t driven home with Lexi? She’s tough, but this guy is out to get her. I’m beyond mad, and grab him by the throat again, holding him just an inch or two above the ground.

“Look, you stupid little punk. I answer to no one. It’s none of your business who I am or what I do, and it sounds to me like Lexi wants you off of her property. So how about you take the fuck off before I pound your face into the curb.” I spit the words into his face and then drop him on his ass. “If I fucking see you anywhere near Lexi again, you are going to have bigger problems than that fucking shitty attitude of yours, asshole. Now fuck off!”

Patrick glares at me for a brief moment before he stumbles to his feet. I don’t take my eyes off of him. I want him to feel the heat radiating off of me from my anger. He goes back to his car mumbling under his breath. Just as Patrick’s car screeches around the corner at the end of the street, I hear Derek. He must have pulled in behind me while I was trying not to snap the twig’s neck.

“Hey man, everything okay here? Lexi, are you alright?” he asks, looking back and forth between Lexi and me.

“Yes, Derek, we’re fine. Thanks to Coen,” Lexi says, curling her luscious lips into a smile. She’s spinning one of the key rings on her set of keys around between her thumb and index finger. “Patrick is on one of his little drunken rampages and was trying to show his ass, that’s all.” Lexi shrugs. Sounds like she broke up with this asshole at the right time. No woman should have to put up with being treated or spoken to that way. She’s even stronger than I thought. She’s blowing this off like it’s no big deal. This is not okay with me. She shouldn’t be comfortable with him acting that way. I don’t trust that piece of shit, and fuck if I’m going to leave her here alone. That idiot will probably try to come back again later when he thinks I’m gone.

I walk over to Derek and grip his hand. “Thanks, bro, it’s handled. I’m taking Lexi back to my place for the night,” I say, walking back toward Lexi’s driveway.

Her eyes widen and her mouth falls open. “Uh, what?”

“Well then, um, you two have a good night.” Derek yells over his shoulder as he walks back across his yard and goes inside. My eyes are still on Lexi. Her arms are now crossed. Her lips are pressed together, and she has one eyebrow raised. She’s waiting for me to explain what the hell I’m thinking.

I stand directly in front of her and slip my hands in my pockets to avoid reaching out to her, because I’m not sure if she wants to hug me or hit me right now. I’m guessing by the look on her face, it isn’t the first option.

“Look, Lex, I know you can take care of yourself, but that fucking tool is a loose cannon. I won’t get any sleep tonight if I’m sitting up wondering if that dumbass came back here after I left. So come home with me, just for tonight. I’ll sleep on the couch, you can have the bed.”