Page 50 of Burnout
It’s the same motorcycle he was driving the first night I met him. Even with my very limited knowledge of motocross, I knowit’s different from the dirt bike he uses to race and freestyle. It’s larger, but still sleek and very Knox.
He finds a spot and cuts the engine. He’s facing me, but I can’t see his eyes through the visor of the helmet.
Slowly, I start toward him. He gets off the bike and lifts his helmet in one fluid movement that makes my stomach flip. He looks like an advertisement for bad boys, and everything inside of me screams,sign me the hell up.
I really need to get it together around him. Yesterday when he pulled me into the pit and tackled me to keep me from throwing foam at him, I was rubbing myself up against him before I realized what I was doing. But intentional or not, I enjoyed it a lot. It’s probably pathetic that that’s the most action I’ve seen in months.
“Hey,” I say as he sets his helmet on the seat of his bike and takes off the jacket. I’m glad I spoke first because as I get a good look at him, my tongue goes dry. He looks divine. The black dress shirt he’s wearing pulls against his chest and biceps. It’s tucked into black pants with a simple black belt. His hair is messy, but somehow just makes his put-together outfit that much hotter. He cleans up nice.
I’m ogling him and trying to play it cool, but I’m not the only one enjoying the view. Knox’s eyeline is parked somewhere south of my chin. My skin prickles with awareness as his gaze roams over my tight dress. The way he looks at me turns my insides to lava and gives me a boost of confidence I desperately need for tonight.
“Hey,” he finally returns my greeting and meets my stare. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Why?”
He gives his head a small shake. “You look nervous.”
“No, I’m fine.” A generous stretch of the truth. “Just anxious to get inside.”
More like I’m anxious to hop on the back of his motorcycle and speed away from here, but for some reason I don’t want Knox to know that I’m scared.
He doesn’t look like he totally buys it, but he starts walking as he says, “Okay. Let’s do this.”
Once we’re inside the restaurant, I give him the basic rundown. “Bella Hunter, the activewear brand, has been sponsoring me for almost three years now. Kelly and Michael are here. Michael is my main contact, but Kelly is the head of the company. They’re just passing through on their way to visit a new store in California, so this should be pretty quick. Drinks. Maybe dinner. It depends on how many glasses of wine Kelly has. If she drinks a lot, she gets very chatty and will want to stay longer. If she doesn’t, she’ll want to get out of here quickly. She doesn’t strike me as someone who stays in one place very long. That’s probably why she travels so much. Oh, and whatever you do, don’t ask about her dog. She will talk for an hour straight about her pug if you do. Drunk or not. And?—”
“Hey.” Knox takes my hand and pulls me back. All the flutters in my stomach screech to a halt and my pulse picks up speed as his rough fingers clasp mine. “Relax. I’m not a social pariah. I can manage small talk and not embarrass you.”
“I wasn’t worried about that.” I wasn’t. I’m more worried that I’ll say the wrong thing. Like if they ask about practices and my knee. And what if they ask me about the article claiming I won’t manage to get back to the level I was at before my injury?
I’m not sure he believes me, but his grip loosens on my hand until my fingers fall free. My skin tingles in the spots where he was touching me.
“There they are,” I say when I spot our party.
I lead us through the busy restaurant. Kelly and Michael are both smiling at Tristan as he speaks, no doubt regaling them with stories of how awesome he is. None of them broughtsomeone, which now makes this a little more awkward that I did. It’s too late though. Tristan spots me first and his gaze goes straight from me to Knox at my side.
He stands and that draws Kelly and Michael’s attention to me, and they follow suit.
“Hi.” My smile isn’t fake, but I do make an extra effort to show them I’m happy to see them.
“Avery. It’s so nice to see you,” Kelly says, holding a wine glass in one hand and stepping forward to hug me with one arm.
Knox hangs back as we all say hello, then I open my stance to introduce him. Michael and Kelly both offer a hand. Tristan doesn’t but he tips his chin to him and says, “Hey, man. Are you lost?”
“Nope. I’m here for Avery.” Knox doesn’t give him the satisfaction of letting Tristan’s words have any impact on his demeanor, but I shoot daggers at Tristan for trying to make it uncomfortable.
“It’s so nice out tonight. What do you say we grab drinks and head out to the patio?” Kelly asks, looking between all of us for an answer.
None of us would be brave enough to go against her, but I’m thinking it might be good to make room for both Tristan and Knox’s egos.
As we follow them out, Knox whispers, “You didn’t tell me the Ken doll would be here.”
“You didn’t ask.”
He steps in front of me, blocking my path. His hazel eyes spark in warning. “Don’t toy with me, princess. Am I here in some fucked-up game to make him jealous?”
“No.” I’m slightly appalled he thinks I’d stoop that low. “I told you, I’m not interested in him.”
A muscle in his cheek flexes, but he nods and turns back to catch up with our party.
