Page 23 of Driving Wild

I take a deep breath and turn to face him.

“Matt, I know that I should have done this differently, but honestly, I didn’t want you to have to endure my father. You think I’m scary. Ha ha, who do you think taught me? I can tell you for damn sure, it wasn’t my mother; she’s as sweet as they come. She makes my teeth hurt.”

“I know you feel like you need to do everything alone, and I get it, really I do. Hell, you’re the one who decided to put this in motion by putting a ring on my finger. But I don’t want you to feel like I’m not with you,” he says.

“Cowboy, that may be the sweetest thing you could say, but this is something I need to do for myself—by myself. I need to explain to him exactly what’s going on and why. He doesn’t need to read any more papers and make judgments about me, and especially not about you.

“It’s a quick trip. I'll meet with him on Friday, and then my cousin, Cort, is having a fundraiser for his baseball team. He's the GM for now because he’s retired and living with Dylan and her sweet baby.” I can’t help but laugh at that to myself. I would never have dreamed that Cort would have ended up with the life he has now, but he couldn’t be happier, and the family that he has around him and his kid is amazing.

“Next time you think it’s a great idea to keep things from me, just remember that I’m not the enemy, okay? That’s all I ask,” he utters, reaching over to kiss my forehead before pulling away and walking toward the door. “Your dad may think that you’ve embarrassed the family name with this stunt, but just know right now that I will always be on your side no matter what.”

Well hell, just when I think he’s going to go all freak-out mode, he does the most swoon-worthy thing with that forehead kiss. Damn him.

Standing up and going back to the bathroom, I finish getting ready for bed. I pull on one of Matt’s shirts, and those butterflies are back in my stomach once again. I think I may be falling for my fake husband. The only problem is, am I willing to risk my heart with someone who I’m not even sure could give me his in return?

Walking to my bed, I go to pull the comforter back but come to a stop when Matt appears in my doorway in nothing but those damn gray sweatpants that he wears so well, showing off those deep V lines that make me weak.

“Red, don’t even think about sleeping in that bed anymore. First thing in the morning you’re bringing all your stuff into my room from here on out,” he states in his husky Southern voice, making those butterflies appear once again.

Looking at him, I bring out the sass because, let’s face it, the man loves that more than the sweet version of me that I was today.

“Is that right, sir?” I purr, putting my hand on my hips and bunching his shirt up so that he can see I have some of the smallest panties that I could find on. I thought about wearing none, but then thought this might be funnier in case he came back to my room. And I’m glad I did.

“Red.” He growls my nickname and comes to stand in front of me.

“Get that gorgeous ass to my room now.” He gives me one more chance to go willingly before I know he’ll go all cave dweller and carry me.

I peck him quickly on the cheek and sway my hips more than I would normally as I head out of my bedroom and into his.

I call over my shoulder as I get to his room, “You coming, Cowboy, or are you just going to stand in there with your dick hard as a rock for me?” I giggle to myself when he comes charging into the bedroom, throwing me onto the bed.

The week has gone by quickly, preparing for the upcoming race weekend and the long stretch we have ahead of us, leading up to the final four races. Our team is close to making the final four, and this win last weekend brought us closer to that number-four spot.

“Matt, you look like you have a fucking hanger in your mouth, man. I know you’ve been getting sexy regularly since Grace finally gave in, but damn, man, even I’m a little jealous,” Ryan remarks, coming to sit beside me as I finish up looking over paperwork for this weekend.

“Well, I’ll have you know, bud, this is my normal face. You just don’t get it during the week as much. But hell, Grace does make me smile more, especially when I can make a special trip to her office.”

“Dude, I do not need to know that!”

“Let’s just say, you may wanna knock before entering her office anytime soon is all.” I’m laughing as I get up to go.

I leave Ryan sitting by the desk as I finish up the inspection with my team and make sure that my seat is ready for the road course this weekend. The setup is always a little different for road courses than ovals, so I like to sit in the car and make sure that I’m comfortable with the position before I load it on the hauler.

Living in North Carolina, the haulers are already being packed to the brim for the next two weeks because of the long stretch we have at the end of the season. And being across the country, they had to load the road course car and then the Texas car. That will make for a long two weeks, but luckily, being a driver, I have the option to come home in between. And I would want that if Grace was going to be home, but next week, she’ll be in Boston while I’m in Texas.

Thinking about that kind of makes me wonder what our life might be like if we really made a go of this. I know she has a job here at Mac, and next season she’ll be traveling with Mila each week, so I’ll see her each weekend, which would be ideal if she wanted to be with me after these two months. Guess that’s one thing that I’ll decide in less than a couple of months now.

After packing all the items into the front of the hauler that I want on this trip, I head down to Grace's office to check on her.

“Okay, great, Mila. I’m so excited to see you next week, and thank you for coming to the fundraiser with me. I know that Cort will appreciate it,” I hear her say as I walk into her office, shutting the door behind me.

“Glad I’m able to come and not have a race that weekend. It worked out perfectly. I mean, how could I turn you down? Think any of those Boston Rebels will be there for me to stare at?” Mila questions with a playful tone in her voice.

Coming around the other side of the desk, I’m compelled to kiss the top of Grace's head, and I smile at Mila on the screen in front of me.

“What’s up, Mi? Causing trouble in the small show this week?” I ask.

“I’ll have you know, Matt, I have been very ladylike this week. Thank you very much,” she fires right back before she and Grace both break out into a fit of laughter.

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