Page 85 of Start Your Engines

She parks outside the main building of Dunsfold Aerodrome, the airfield used in the BBC car television showTop Gear. I gape at the track with the curves and straights I’ve only imagined driving on. The grass surrounding the asphalt is mostly green, although the brown biting the edges reminds me of the hot summer I haven’t had much chance to enjoy due to racing.

I’ve conquered tracks worldwide, but I also grew up watching some of my favourite drivers onTop Geartake on this track. Childhood Connor bursts from my chest and tells me how this was one of his dreams I’d forgotten about. But the show doesn’t film here anymore. Maybe Senna wants me to drive her Porsche here. I love her Porsche, but I’d rather drive a Ferrari around this.

Something shiny and orange catches my eye. I gasp as I stare in awe at the Lamborghini Hypercar I’ve only seen online. “Only twenty of these were made! Where did you get it?”

I run to it, hold my hand out, but quickly pull it back. “Can I touch it?”

Senna chuckles behind me. “Of course. You can drive it, too. But don’t forget the other cars. They’re feeling left out.”

I’m so blinded by its beauty I hadn’t noticed the others. Next to it is an Aston Martin in gunmetal that makes me drool, and, next to that, a Bugatti in bright blue. It’s the colour of cloudless summer days.

I walk around the vehicles, staring in the window like a wide-eyed child outside a candy shop, waiting for it to open after school.

“Get in, then,” Senna says.

I whip my head around. “Which one? I’ve never driven any of these rare cars.”

“Whichever one you think you can beat me in.”

I jut out my head. “Beat you in?”

She presses her lips to mine, and for a second, I’m distracted by the heat of her body, her candy taste, and her hands under my T-shirt. Her breath tickles my skin when she pulls back and says, “Yes, Dane, beat me in. This is your surprise. When you were younger, you dreamed of driving the best cars. When we were karting as teenagers, your eyes lit up whenever you were allowed near a supercar. I want you to recreate that happiness and buzz you felt then. Try each car out. You’ve got until the sun goes down, and maybe we can race each other if there’s time. The helmets are in the cars.”

I grasp her hands tightly and cover her face in kisses. “You did this for me?”

“I called in a couple of favours. Jacs helped me arrange it.”

My pulse is out of control. It’s because of her, not because I have the opportunity to drive without the pressure of being judged. It’s not about winning a trophy to make a business prick somewhere happy. This is all for me, and she did this.

As I climb into the Lambo, I turn to her. “You said if I win, I find out if you’re wearing knickers.”

“He finally remembers,” she says with a smile. She folds her arms and licks her lips slowly. “If we have time to compete, then the bet is that if you win, you get to find out what’s underneath my dress.”

“And if you win?”

“WhenI win, I’ll come up with something. Don’t you worry, baby.”

“I don’t doubt that for a second, boss.” I give her a quick grin and reach for my helmet. All my dreams are coming true tonight, and it’s because of her.

CHAPTER 42

Senna

Emotions rushme as Connor parks beside me. He’s driven around the track for the last ninety minutes. Dusk is coming, and the transporter will collect the cars in about half an hour and return them to their owners.

As I stare at his beaming face and flushed cheeks, my heart threatens to burst from my chest.

“Are you too scared to race me?” Connor asks as he leans his elbow out the window. Damn, those forearms are good. Maybe he’ll use them to pin my hands above my head later.

“Sure, I’m shaking in my trainers.” I bend over so my ass is in the air as I look in the car, pecking his lips. “Are you sure you want to race, though? You could fit in a couple more laps.”

“Coults, I need to know if you’re wearing knickers, which anyone behind you would be able to see or not see right now.”

I laugh, and he pulls me further into the car with his hand softly on the nape of my neck. He takes the kiss deeper, and I relax into it. I would give anything to battle against him like we used to before it all went wrong.

He eases his hold, and I lean back. “Okay, if you’re sure. Are you sticking with this car?”

“The Aston is the best one, so yeah. It decided for me. Which one are you going for? Or will I have to be a gentleman and let you have the Aston?”

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