Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 73568 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73568 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
I wince—he’s not irritated, he’s really mad. “I thought you were the one who tipped off the reporters,” I whisper dismally, understanding fully that he was not. “I thought you wanted to break up.”
“What in the ever-loving hell is wrong with you?” he snaps, rubbing at his tired eyes. “When have I ever given you any indication I wanted anything other than a serious relationship?”
A wave of guilt washes over me as I see the hurt in his eyes. “I thought you didn’t want me,” I admit, my voice shaking. “You were so distant the morning of the race, and I—”
“Distant?” he interrupts, stepping closer. “I was trying to focus! It’s not just a game for me, Posey. This is my career, my life. I can’t afford to be thinking about you because it distracts me too much and I don’t want to go out there and kill myself.”
“Oh,” I say quietly, the impact of those words hitting me hard. I could distract him to the point of danger, and I’m horrible for it, but that actually makes me feel better.
“It’s not fair not to give me the benefit of the doubt,” he says, his voice softening. “You can’t run away every time something bad happens. It’s going to be tough having this long-distance relationship, but you have to trust me. Now, I’m going to be gracious and say I could see how you might think those things, but what I still can’t understand is why you’d run rather than asking me to my face if I wanted to break up. It makes me think you don’t know me at all.”
“I was obviously wrong and I’m sorry,” I say, wondering if I’ve ruined everything.
He shakes his head wearily. “It was Ronan. He tipped them off.”
I stop short, stunned by the revelation. “Ronan? But why? How did he even know?”
“Because he’s an asshole,” Lex replies, the frustration evident in his tone. “And I’m an idiot for trusting him with the secret. I thought he was my friend but clearly I was wrong.”
“I’m really sorry he did that to you, Lex. It sucks when a friend isn’t who you thought they were.”
“Guess that’s how you felt when you thought I was trying to break up with you by ratting you out to reporters,” he says, a wry smile on his lips, but I can’t tell if that’s amusement or bitterness. He reaches into his pocket, pulling out the diamond bracelet. He takes my wrist and clasps it in place. “I love you, Posey. I don’t want you to run away. I want to figure this out together. I want you in my life, in my world, but it’s going to take work from both of us.”
My head swims, my vision blinking, and I grip his hands tight so I don’t keel over. “You… you love me?”
“Yeah,” he says softly, pulling me in and wrapping his strong arms around me. He kisses me on the head. “I do, which is why I was so mad. I thought you felt the same.”
I jerk hard, appalled he has doubts, and lean back to look him in the eye. “It’s why I ran, Lex. I love you too and it was too painful to think you didn’t feel the same. Your world is so out of my depth and it’s overwhelming and scary, and well… I freaked out. I won’t do that again, I promise.”
This time, his smile relieved but filled with tenderness. “It’s okay to be overwhelmed by it. I know this life isn’t what you ever thought you’d have, but I promise that I am going to be by your side and I won’t let you feel afraid again. I need you to trust me.”
And I realize, I didn’t know it before, but I sure as hell feel it in my bones now. “I do. I trust you.”
Lex bends closer and brushes his lips against mine. “Then shall we start over?”
I nod, kissing him back. “I’d like that.”
“Think I can bother you for a shower and some food?”
I jolt, remembering how tired he is and how hard the trip must have been on him. “Of course.” I pull away, point down the hall. “Bathroom’s down that way. I’ll make you some breakfast and—”
Lex jerks me to him, kissing me harder. I’m breathless when he nuzzles into my neck. “Let me clarify. You’re going to take a shower with me and then we can eat.”
“Oh, but I—” His mouth is on me again and then he lifts me into his arms. I know there’s no sense arguing with him, so I wrap my arms around my race car driver’s neck and deepen the kiss.
The implications of what just happened to me are not lost.
I just got my happily ever after.
Titans Racing is bringing a familiar face to their new team. Nash Sinclair left formula racing after a deadly crash but when he’s approached to fill an empty seat in one of their cars, he decides it’s time to reclaim the career he once loved. And his job isn’t the only second chance he gets when he realizes his ex-fiancée has joined the Titans’ team as their race strategy engineer. CLICK HERE to get all the details on Formula Chance, book two of the Race Fever series.