Page 26 of Driving Wild

“This is all too much, Cowboy; you didn’t have to.” Suddenly, I feel shy about all the trouble he’s gone to for this.

It may be the most romantic thing I have ever seen, and this man isn’t even my real husband. Yet he made the effort and that’s what means the most.

Wrapping my hands around his neck, I look up at this gorgeous man who, until today, I didn’t realize had a romantic bone in his body, but he just showed up and proved me wrong.

“Cowboy, how about you take a bath with me?” I say just as I turn and walk toward his bathroom.

Just as I get the water running and place my lavender oils in, his arms wrap around me, and I sink into his touch.

Slowly pulling my clothes off, I turn to see him staring at me with a look that I’m not sure I want to label. We’ve been having such a great time the last few days, and I don’t want to scare him off by saying, hey, umm Matt, I think I’m falling for you even though I said that I would never do that.

Pulling his shirt over his head, I start to unbutton his jeans, pulling them down his powerful legs, and then removing his boxers. He looks into my eyes, and for just a moment, I think he might say whatever is rolling around behind those eyes. But he bends to turn the water off.

Before I have a chance to warn him that the water is about as hot as a volcano, he sits down in the tub, wincing as he goes.

“Damn, woman, are you trying to burn all the flesh from my skin?” he asks, trying to get comfortable.

“I’ll have you know that sitting in a hot bathroom is good for your pores and helps keep your skin looking young,” I say before removing my bra and panties and joining him in the molten lava bath.

Sitting down, I lean back into his muscular chest and instantly relax for the first time today. Being with Matt, I find myself being more of myself. More than just the girl who people fear because she doesn’t give a shit what other people think and will tell you when you’re being an asshole. He makes me feel a little softer, and I think it’s because he doesn’t take life too seriously.

“This is nice, Cowboy; we may need to make this a nightly thing.”

“Ha, Red, I’m not sure my skin can take this every night. I’d lose a layer each time. But if it makes that smile cross your face, I will gladly endure it for you,” he murmurs, turning my head and kissing me slowly.

“So, tell me about your day. Was it a productive one?” he asks.

“Well, it was productive and frustrating all in the same phone call. Just when I thought I had found Mila another sponsor, they decided to withdraw just because she isn’t a big enough name. And when I tried to sell all her amazing attributes, they wanted nothing to do with her. By the end of the call, I was so frustrated with the man-child, I wanted to curse his family because they're the way any old men’s club would be.

“I get NASCAR is a good ole boys club, but at some point, women are gonna come in, and dammit, we need to be given the same opportunities as any man.”

Watching her talk so passionately about something and the love that she’s given to her position as Mila’s head PR person, I just feel so proud of her. I wrap my arms around her a little tighter and turn her face to me, kissing the worry of the day away.

Grace is one tough lady, and there’s a fierceness she shows just from talking. I know a fight’s coming with this sponsor, and I’m not so sure they’re ready for it. But I’m damn sure going to enjoy watching her put them in their place.

My girl is a warrior. Just the thought of saying that phrase out loud makes my breathing pick up some, and I’m hoping that I can keep it in check so she won’t pick up on me having a small freak out. But isn’t that just what Ryan and Tinley told me to do tonight? Have the talk and see if she’s on the same page as me. Can we make a real go of this? Or in less than two months from now, will she be walking away from me?

“Babe,” I say, getting her attention as she rests against my chest, sipping her wine. She is the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen, and when she removes the makeup, she is even better. This is the Grace who I always wanted, the one who doesn’t want to punch me in the balls at each turn, the one who smiles when she sees me not scowl.

“We need to have a talk before you go to Boston next week. I just want us to be on the same page when you go to war with your dad about this whole deal, okay?” I share, running my hand up and down her arms.

“Okay, I get that, Cowboy,” she replies, pulling her legs up to her chest and turning a little to face me.

“We just need to be on the same page about how we ended up in this situation.”

She looks at me like I’ve just thrown the black flag for us to come to a stop.

I move to position her on my lap, and she wraps her arms around my neck.

“Matt, let me be very clear, just in case that Southern head of yours doesn’t get it, okay? If you need me to, I’ll talk slowly, okay?” She sasses me because she knows I can’t resist her when she does.

Smacking her ass, it sends a squeal from her. I can’t help but want to punish her when that sassy mouth comes out. It has a direct line to my dick, and the more she sits on my lap in this tub, the more she’s going to get just that.

“I am going to tell my dad the truth. The reporter was looking for information, and I stepped in to protect what’s MINE. So is that okay with you, big man?” she asks, batting her eyelashes at me.

“So I’m yours then?” I’m desperate to hear her say the words that she told me she’d never say the night we put ourselves in this predicament.

“I’d say after this past weekend in Miami, my mind may have been swayed, and seeing you in another light has me shifting just a little. But that doesn’t mean that you don’t piss me off on the daily or get on my last nerve with your terrible music choices. You’re growing on me like a fungus,” she says.

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