Page 86 of Rear View
Her expression lit the room as she counted things off on her fingers. “We secured the venue, the caterer, the photographer and the officiant. I wanna send out the save the dates in a few days. Give everyone from out of town time to make travel arrangements.”
“You’re killing it!”
She smiled and gestured between Xavier and me. “I’m assuming you’ll be his plus-one.”
“Damn right she will,” he cut in.
I trailed a finger down my throat and bowed my head to hide the blush burning my cheeks.
Sheila shimmied her shoulders and nudged Alec. “Told you.”
He laughed and tipped his glass in salute.
Turning back to me, she pulled out her phone. “We’ve decided to do paperless. Give me your email. I’ll send the info to you.” She shook her head. “Lord knows X’ll just lose it anyway.”
I snickered and told her what it was, before the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. A clawing feeling gripped my spine, as if someone was watching me. I glanced around, but half the attention in the place was fixed our way, drawn to my rally driver.
Xavier brushed my wrist. “You good?”
My smile was tight. “Yeah.”
His eyes tracked between mine. “Sure ’bout that?”
It’s just a bar, Ryah. Stop being paranoid.He’snot here.I sipped my drink and nodded.
“Xavier!” a group of guys called from nearby.
His gaze held mine while his head turned toward them, only releasing at the last moment. They closed in, clapping his shoulder before they asked him and Alec for autographs and pictures. I made to step aside, but Xavier caught me.
“Stay,” he said low.
I smiled and did as he said, but turned my back to the crowd, because the last thing I needed was my face floating around online. Yara dipped in, and their group fell into talk about the rally car, and a series of technical and mechanical things that soared way over my head. Sheila found me and playfully rolled her eyes at it all.
“Can we buy you guys a beer?” one of the fans asked.
“Appreciate it, but we’re on water tonight,” Alec said. “Gotta keep a clear head for tomorrow.”
Yara’s hand shot skyward. “You can buymeone.”
Xavier’s lip pulled up as he peered my way and winked.
My core clenched, and my mouth ran dry. God, he was sexy. Those eyes, that jaw and the black hoodie he wore that showed off his broad shoulders. He was everything I wanted. And I was desperate for him.
I needed a distraction. Fast. Ducking down, I took a selfie of me with my drink, then pinged it off to Zoya. Of anyone, my photo was safe in her hands, because the girl knew enough not to share it.
Less than ten seconds later, a shock-faced emoji arrived.
Zoya: IS THAT ALCOHOL???
Me: Sure is. I’m living dangerously.
I snickered. Or just actually…living.
Xavier side-eyed me.
“Z thinks it’s funny I’m drinking.” My stomach dropped because the words were out before I could stop them.Dammit, Ryah!
The music changed to a faster tempo, a fiddle playing wildly in the background.
