Page 17 of Driving Force

“Right, you might need some context on that.”

Ryan laughs again. “Honestly, I just thought you were saying, ‘Yes, that was the best I’ve ever had, and you, Ryan, will never get rid of me. I’m ruined for all other men.’”

There’s that smirk that I’m getting all too familiar with and loving. “Well, honestly, I thought that, but I was also saying yes to giving this a try. I can’t promise that I will be easy to be with, and I have a ton of questions, but we can try a relationship if that’s something you can see yourself doing.”

He jumps off the couch naked as the day he was born, like he won a major race, a smile crossing his face at this simple word. Yes, three letters, but it’s a step I wasn’t so sure of twenty-four hours ago. He kisses me with everything he has. I’m a little lightheaded by the time we separate, and I can’t think of a better feeling.

I have never been a relationship guy. With racing, I never had time. Or if I had the time, I just choose not to have them. The second that Tinley said yes, I couldn’t stop the smile from crossing my face.

Driving her back to school this morning, I already miss her, and she’s sitting right beside me. Reaching across the console, I can’t keep my hands off her. I want her with me all the time. Wow, am I sounding like a love-struck puppy, or what?

“Tinley, I want you to come to my race next week,” I say. I look over at her, and she’s staring at her lap and picking at her nail. “Tinley?” I try to get her to look at me.

“I’m so sorry,” she finally says, “what were you asking?”

“I said I’d like you to come to my race next week. It’s at Martinsville, which isn’t a terrible drive to make from your school.”

“Okay, yeah, I can do that. Would it be okay if I brought Grace with me? She’s still trying to figure out her next move with her degree, and I know she would love the exposure if that wouldn’t be too much trouble.”

“Of course, that’s fine with me. Bring anyone you like as long as I get to see you. That’s all that matters to me. Just let me know a final count by Thursday so I can tell them how many passes I’ll need to get.”

Pulling up to her house, that feeling of loss comes at me again. This may be the longest week of my life before I’m able to touch and kiss her again. Yet it will also give us the space to make sure that this is something Tinley can handle, with the racing schedule the way it is. It may be a few weeks or even a month before I can have her in my arms. I don’t want to start this out with her under the impression that my life is a normal boyfriend. I guess that’s why I don’t bring women into my world. It will take a special person to understand the amount of travel I do ten months out of the year.

Stepping out of the truck, I notice Tinley hasn’t moved. I open the door for her and help her out. I can’t help but lean down and kiss her tenderly. This woman is like a flame, and I’m a moth drawn to it whenever she’s near. Deepening our kiss, I wrap my hand around the back of her neck, tilting her as she moans so slightly that my tongue explores her so softly. When I pull away, she looks so beautiful with her large blue eyes shining up at me.

“Come on, sweet girl, let’s get you inside before I have your legs wrapped around me in your driveway.”

“Okay, that might be a good idea. I don’t think my neighbors would like that kind of show quite this early,” she says, smacking my ass as we walk toward the door.

“Honey, I’m home,” she says, stepping into the living room just as Grace comes around the corner with a cup of coffee in her hand.

“Well, if it isn’t Tinley Cash, doing the walk of shame bright and early and giving the neighbors a little show in the driveway, might I add,” Grace says with a smug smile. I laugh at how open this pair is and hear Tinley groan beside me. “Well, on that note, I guess I better be going.” Pulling Tinley into my arms, I kiss her again like a man who needs her as his next breath, and I could not care less that Grace is still in the room watching us.

“I’ll see you this weekend, kitten,” I say. Kissing her one last time, I head back to my truck. I feel I’ve left a little piece of my heart with the curvy woman taking up every waking minute of my brain. I never would have thought a woman would have so much power over me. Growing up, I was told when you find the right person, things will fall into place just as they are supposed to. The question is, is it her? Time will tell.

* * *

“Never in my life have I wanted to be a fly on the wall more than I did yesterday in that office,” Grace says as I turn around and walk toward my bathroom to get ready for my morning class.

Turning the shower on, I think about the last twenty-four hours—how his kisses made me want more, how his hands knew just how to play with my body. Running my hands over my lips, I still feel his kiss. Lost in my thoughts, I don’t even hear Grace follow me into my room. Turning around, I scream when I see her watching me.

“Spill now! Tinley,” she demands.

“Sorry, what? I can’t hear you. I’ve got to get in the shower.” Laughing, I jump in the shower, only to hear the seat on the toilet shut and Grace huff out a laugh.

“You know I’m your best friend, and I need details so you get to tell me while you’re taking a shower because I’m not going anywhere,” Grace states.

“Okay, fine. Honestly, it was amazing. I’m not just saying that because it’s been a long damn time since I’ve had an orgasm that wasn’t of my doing. He made me feel like I’ve always wanted. He didn’t care that I wasn’t stick-thin; he worshiped me, and let’s just say, multiple times and in multiple spots around his place,” I tell her.

“Well, from what I could hear outside the door, it sounded like he was very persuasive before you left Brad’s office. You better lock that down then,” Grace says with a laugh.

“Don’t worry. I did last night. We are going to try to give this relationship a go and see what happens. He’s got a lot of traveling coming up with the racing schedule, so we will see where I fit in his world. You’re going to Martinsville with me this weekend, just so you know. That way, you can be a part of that world for your future job, and I can get some time with my man. So, make sure you have no plans and tell that man of yours you’re busy.”

Grace jumps up from where she’s sitting and pulls the curtain from the shower. “Are you serious? That’s amazing. Don’t worry about the boy situation. I’m an independent woman, foremost. Thanks, Tin.”

And just like that, my day starts off great. I spend the rest of the morning with a smile on my face, and nothing can change that, not even yet another boring math class I have later in the day. Ryan McKenzie found his way into my heart, and time will tell if this was going to turn into a fairytale or just an epic one-time love story I can tell my grandkids—Hey, want to hear about when your Gigi went out with a famous race car driver before meeting your Pops?

The week had been a whirlwind from school, catching Ryan on the phone when he wasn’t busy getting his car ready for the weekend to trying to keep up with my girlfriends. I feel like I’m burning the candle at both ends, but I can see the end in sight. I only have two months of school left before graduation, so the clock is ticking.

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