Page 4 of Truck You

She laughs and scrapes her foot across the ground like it’s a nervous habit. “Sorry to disappoint but racing already owns my heart.”

I mock being hurt, but really, I’m thrilled. A girl that loves racing as much as me is a rare find. Assuming she’s being truthful and not just saying all that shit to fool me. It wouldn’t be the first time.

“You know, I was really bummed you got knocked out a couple of years ago.” Her expression turns serious and a little solemn. “I would have loved to have seen you dominate the Sprint Cup. You planning a comeback?”

Huh, so she’s not lying.If Red knows about that, then sheknowsracing.

I shrug, suddenly uncomfortable with this conversation. I hate talking about the accident. I still race, but that accident messed me up more than I want to admit.

“Maybe.” I finally answer. “I’m racing again. Taking it slow. An accident like that can really make a man reevaluate his priorities.”

She nods and scans the surrounding area, looking at anything and everything except me. I hope my truth about racing didn’t make her uncomfortable. My brothers give me enough shit about me getting back in the game. I don’t need it from a stranger too.

Then she lifts her bucket of balls and smiles. “Do you like skeeball?”

My smile returns and I point over my shoulder at where my bucket still sits. “I love skeeball. It’s my favorite carny game.”

Her smile grows, and her eyes sparkle with mischief. “Care to wager?”

I cross my arms over my chest and take a step closer to her. “Are you challenging me?”

She pats my arms and grins like she thinksI’mbeing adorable. “You bet your ass I am.”

And just like that, she draws me in even more.

Chapter2

Caramel apples aren’t the only thing I find irresistible.

Sophia

Could I gawk more? I must look like a crazed fan with the way I keep staring at Mac.

Oh, my God. Mac Mutter.

Meeting him was bound to happen at some point this week, but I didn’t expect it to be on my first day in town. I’m not even inhistown. Or rather, village. I’m in the closest city that had a vacant room in a hotel because there are no hotels in Beaver.

Because there’s nothing in Beaver. From the research I did, there’s only one gas station, a small family-owned grocery store, and one restaurant. That’s pretty much it. Everything else in the area is scattered throughout the hills, at least a good ten-to-fifteen-minute drive from Beaver.

And yet here he is in all his handsome glory.

The TV didn’t do him justice. He’s much taller than I imagined, with broad shoulders and thick arms. His biceps flex with every move he makes, causing a riot of sensations to swirl around in my belly. Those strong, muscled arms look like they could lift me up as if I were as light as a feather.

He’s wearing a black t-shirt that fits snug across his chest, revealing every ridge and valley of his defined chest and abs. His waist is narrow, but I can’t see his hips or ass because he has his jacket tied around his waist. He’s wearing a worn pair of light blue denim with holes all over the legs that look like they came from hard work and not because it’s a design feature.

I look back up at his face to see he’s watching me check him out. The grin he’s sporting causes my face to warm.God, Soph. Don’t blush.With my fair skin, my face turns beet red when I’m embarrassed, and I am definitely embarrassed right now for being caught gawking at him.

But his smile is bright, and his dark eyes lighten just a tad at my perusal. His face looks just as good as the rest of him. A powerful, sharp jawline, freshly shaved, a smile that probably melts panties all over the country, and chocolate brown, playful eyes that look like they’re currently imagining what I look like naked.

Thank God I’m wearing a long sleeve shirt. My arms are probably all red and blotchy from how flustered I feel. Damn Irish genes.

He takes another step toward me. His body is almost close enough to touch mine. Then he lifts his hand and brushes a strand of my long, probably frizzy, red hair behind my ear.

“Are you checking me out, Red?” He smirks as his eyes settle on my mouth.

I suck my lips into my mouth and curl them between my teeth.Did it suddenly get hotter outside? My body is on fire.

I take a deep breath and do my best to smile like a sane person and not someone who’s crushing on a man she just met. “Just sizing up the competition.”

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