Page 44 of The Duke of Daring (The Untouchables)
“Well, that is our intent, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” She touched his sleeve, and he pretended the movement didn’t send a jolt of desire straight through his belly. “But you’ve given me so much more. These are experiences I never would’ve been able to have without you. I’ll remember—and treasure—them forever.”
He stared at her, thinking they were far too close, but realizing he couldn’t move away without falling from the vehicle. Was she speaking of everything they’d done together or just this—the racing, the shooting, the gambling?
She turned her head, but he saw the blush creeping up her neck.
Hell.They’d done a good job this morning of ignoring that the other night had ever happened. And yet now there was a…thingbetween them. What he didn’t know was if she regretted that event or if, like him, she secretly hoped it might happen again.
Which it bloody well couldnot.
They sat in mostly awkward silence as they waited their turn. The next two races ran. She lost the first wager and won the second. Finally, it was time for him and Greene to pull up to the starting line.
Nevins’s younger brother started each race by firing a shot into the air. He asked them if they were ready. Andrew nodded, then looked over at Greene, who nodded too.
Andrew tipped his head over toward Miss Parnell but kept his gaze on his team. “Lean with me on the turns, and hold on.”
She gripped the side of the phaeton just before the gun fired.
Andrew drove his team forward, and they leapt from the line to an early lead. The course wasn’t terribly long and featured two turns, the second of which was quite sharp. It had tripped up many a less-experienced driver.
At the first turn, he miscalculated slightly, and they lost a bit of their lead. On the straightaway, Greene nearly caught up to them.
“Faster!” Miss Parnell yelled.
He realized he wasn’t driving quite as fast as he would if she weren’t with him. From the corner of his eye, he saw Greene pull up alongside him.
Gritting his teeth, he decided he didn’t want to lose. Not that he ever did, but especially not today. He wanted to win—for her. As she’d said, she would likely never have the chance to do this again, and he wanted it to be a memory that made her smile. “Hold on.”
He increased their speed as they approached the second turn. “Lean into me!”
Her body came up against him, and he took the corner perhaps faster than he ever had. The wheels of the phaeton creaked, and he thought that the far side had lifted off the ground—an inch or two at least. His muscles clenched, and he sent up a silent prayer as they came around.
With the turn behind them, she sat straight again and cheered. “Magnificent!” Her laughter filled the air, and he couldn’t help but grin.
They’d pulled ahead of Greene through the turn, and now Andrew widened their lead. When they crossed the finish line, it was a clear win.
Beside him, Miss Parnell gulped air. “That was absolutely exhilarating. Thank you.” Her eyes were glossy with excitement, her lips curved into an enchanting smile.
“You don’t look remotely like a gentleman right now.” No, she looked like a beautiful woman he wanted to kiss. “Pull yourself together, because we are about to be mobbed.”
Sure enough, gentlemen rushed toward the phaeton shouting and laughing. “Damn me,” Charles said, grinning. “That was the finest corner I’ve ever seen.” He looked at Miss Parnell. “It’s a testament to his driving that you didn’t fall out.”
“And Smitty’s balance,” Andrew said, laughing. “Charles, you would have fallen out regardless of who was driving.”
Charles’s smile didn’t fade. “True.”
Andrew climbed out of the vehicle and watched as Miss Parnell did the same. She was quickly surrounded, and Andrew grew nervous as men slapped her back and jostled her. He didn’t like their proximity and started toward her to provide a buffer.
Greene approached him before he could reach her. “Congratulations. That was an incredible turn.”
Andrew didn’t take his eyes from Miss Parnell. She was smiling, but in that reserved way with her lips pressed together. “Thank you. You put up an excellent race.”
“I tried.” Greene’s brow furrowed. “Did you hear anything odd? I swear I heard a woman laughing.”
Andrew stopped cold, ice coating his neck. He pulled his gaze from Miss Parnell for a moment and looked at Greene as if he’d sprouted another nose. “No.”
“Ah well. Next time, I’ll choose someone closer in size to your passenger—though I was hard-pressed to find someone of Smitty’s short stature.”
