Page 45 of Formula Fling

“What is that?” I ask in awe.

“A McLaren 720S Spider.”

“And it’s yours?”

Lex flashes me a playful grin as he swings open the door. “Yeah. Thought we’d take something a bit more… fun.”

I glance around, see the Urus parked in its regular spot. “Where did it come from?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper, as if the magical sports car fairies made a special delivery overnight.

Lex takes my overnight bag and moves to the back of the Spider. “One of the Crown Velocity guys brought it over this morning. Thought you might want to take it for a spin.”

As he opens the tiny trunk that has no room for anything more than our two small bags—I understand why he told me to pack light—I ask, “You’re going to let me drive that?”

He shrugs, like it’s no big deal. “Why not? She’s a beauty, isn’t she? Seven hundred and twenty horsepower, zero to sixty in two point seven seconds. You’ll have fun.”

“I can’t drive something that powerful. I might wreck it and I can’t afford… well, whatever the hell this thing cost.”

“Around two hundred and fifty thousand pounds,” he says, as if commenting on nothing more than the price of an apple in the grocery store.

I nearly choke, my palms growing clammy at the mere thought of driving something so expensive and powerful. “Lex… I don’t know if I can.”

His smile softens but his tone is determined. “Of course you can. Come on, Posey. It’s a car, not a bomb. I’ll talk you through it.”

I hesitate, glancing at the McLaren and then back at him. “What if I crash it?”

“You won’t,” he says confidently. “And if you do, well… I’ll get another one.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m serious.”

“So am I. You’ll be fine. Come on, it’ll be fun.” He tosses me the keys, and instinctively I catch them, the weight of the moment sinking in.

I take a deep breath to calm my nerves. “Fine. But if we die, it’s on you.”

“Deal,” he says, clearly enjoying himself. He takes my elbow and marches me to the driver’s side.

“You’re insane,” I mutter, eyeing the car nervously as he opens the driver’s door.

I expect a confidence-boosting speech but instead, his hand goes to the back of my head and he kisses me deeply. I immediately sink into it, unable to even think about pushing him away. Flashes from last night assault me, the three times we had sex, as if we couldn’t get enough of each other. The last one… Lex pulling me into his arms, spooning me until we fell asleep, holding me all night. Another assault to my heart because these are not the actions of two people having a fling. Truthfully, he should have returned to his room. I should have made him.

Lex pulls back and I blink away the hazy fog he created with that blistering kiss. “It’s automatic.” He sweeps his hand toward the open door. “Well, sort of. You can switch to manual mode with the paddle shifters. You’ll love it.”

His hand on my shoulder, I let him push me down into the driver’s seat. The interior feels like stepping into a spaceship—everything sleek and futuristic, leather and carbon fiber everywhere.

“Okay, first thing’s first,” Lex says as he climbs into the passenger seat. “Push the brake, then hit that start button.”

It takes me a moment to adjust the seat after I place the keys in the center console box and as instructed, push the button. I jump as the engine roars to life with a deep, guttural growl that sends a thrill up my spine. It’s like the car is alive beneath me, waiting to be unleashed.

Lex grins, clearly enjoying my reaction. “All right, just ease out of the driveway. It’s got a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, so you won’t control the shifts in automatic mode.But once we’re on the highway, I’ll show you how to use the paddles.”

I grip the steering wheel, my insides a mix of excitement and nerves, and carefully back out. The McLaren is surprisingly easy to handle at low speed, but there’s a coiled energy beneath the surface, like it’s itching to go faster.

When we hit the highway, Lex reaches over and flips a switch on the center console. “All right, now you’re in manual mode. Those paddles behind the wheel? They’re your gears. Left side downshifts, right side upshifts. Give it a try.”

I glance at him, hesitating for a second before pulling the right paddle. The car surges forward with a burst of speed, and I can’t help but laugh. “Oh my God!”

Lex grins. “Told you. Next thing, you’ll be begging me to get into the simulator to experience those g-forces.”

I hit the paddle again, and the car responds instantly, like I just gave it a shot of adrenaline. “This is insane!”

---