Page 47 of Full Throttle

Colby swallowed. “Well, it can’t happen.”

She was tellinghimthat he couldn’t have her. That was a first, and it kind of irked him. “Why not?” Liam had a list of reasons a mile long of why they shouldn’t get involved but wanted to hear hers.

“The obvious is because you’re my boss’s brother.” Colby held his gaze then slowly exhaled.Might as well go full throttle.“Look, owning Lockwood Racing might just be a game or even a hobby for you and Brian, but this is my life. I’ve already explained to you how hard I’ve had to work to be respected. Others are allowed to do whatever they want without extra scrutiny, but not me.” Colby put her index and forefinger together but not enough to touch. “I’m this close to realizing my dreams.” She almost sounded desperate.

She was giving Liam a glance into who she was, and he had a feeling that wasn’t something Colby did easily or very often.

“I still can’t believe that I’m going to drive for Lockwood Racing.” She flirted around with a smile. “I’m actually going to have a shot at—” Her words broke off. Colby would never tell anyone the other reason it was so important to get on the biggest stage in NASCAR.

Liam wondered what she was going to say. Instead of interrupting to ask, he continued to listen intently.

“Have you ever heard of Tia Norfleet?”

“I can’t say that I have.”

“She was a controversial figure in NASCAR, but she was also the first African American woman to have a chance at racing in a major series. She got her NASCAR license in 2004. Two-thousand and FOUR!” Colby shook her head in disgust. “Tia never got a chance to drive even one lap around a course in a major. The good old boys made sure of it. It was a witch-hunt. And the smear campaign was unbelievable. It was ridiculous the way they slandered that woman’s name and pushed her completely out of racing.”

Liam lived in America. He wasn’t clueless about sexism or racism, but he hadn’t seen how it actually affected the lives of people who were hurt by it up close—until now.

“In two weeks, I will have a chance to do what no other person like me has done. I am going to drive in the Atlanta Cup. Do you know what that means? And not just to me, but so many other women whose dreams I carry?”

His admiration for Colby went up tenfold. Then the guilt of knowing she was not going to drive in that race hit him like a ton of bricks.

“That means . . . I can’t fuck it up. I have to be perfect. The scrutiny I’ll be under will probably be greater than anything I can imagine.”

He agreed.

“When people start digging, I want it to be crystal clear that I earned my spot on the track and not on my back. No matter how much I might want to explorethings, I can’t sleep with my boss’s brother.”

Liam understood completely. He didn’t like it, but he understood. “I get it.”

They remained silent for a few uncomfortable moments until a thought occurred to him and Liam chuckled. “Just so we’re clear, you’re admitting that youdowant to have sex with me?”

Colby seemed to relax and even crack a smile. “Of course, that is all you would hear.”

Liam’s smile faded just a bit. “Seriously. I admire your focus.” Colby’s admission left him feeling like he was about to miss out on a great opportunity. “You’re a special kind of woman.” He’d known it the first night their eyes met.

Colby held her breath as she watched him watch her. Liam Lockwood was a dangerous man. He had her forgetting everything she’d just said and wondering exactly how good it would feel to have him sliding in and out of her body.

Colby joked but not really. “Iamspecial, and don’t you forget it.” Although she said the words to him, it was more of a reminder to herself.

“Impossible.” Liam nodded.

Colby glanced out at the track. “Good. I’m glad we are on the same page.”

Liam respected what Colby wanted to do. Her points were more than valid. He would reign it in.

“Let me help you with this.” Colby moved to show him how to put on his helmet, then she did the same, ultimately signaling the end of the conversation.

Once Colby was confident that they had taken all safety precautions, she revved the engine. “I promised you a little bit of heaven. I think it’s time to dance with the angels.”

*****

“So, what did you think?” Colby was giddy with excitement as they pulled the car back into the garage.

Liam was an avid mountain climber and enjoyed outdoor sports, but he had to be honest, racing around the track at ungodly speeds was freeing. He literally felt as if he was flying without the benefit of a plane. “It was incredible.” Even now that the ride was over, he still felt the rush of adrenaline.

“You sound surprised,” Colby said.

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