Quarter Mile Hearts(52)

I gulp and nod slowly, watching how his dark eyes flash.

“So that when I’m fucking them, I’m not picturing making love to you. You’re this unobtainable fantasy that has fucked with my head for the last four years. When I used to rile you, I thought I had forever to show you how I really felt. To convince you that I was good enough, that it was all a front, put on for everyone. I thought I had all the time in the world to show you the real me.”

“I…” At a loss for words, all I can do is stammer. I had no idea he felt this way.

“Then you left and I never thought I’d get the chance again. So I kept up the act and never let anyone see the real me. Got so that I didn’t fucking recognize myself.” His chest rises and falls rapidly as he gets more worked up. “Then you come back spouting some shit about not dating racers. If that’s what it takes for you to be mine, then fuck it. I won’t race again.”

“You’d do that for me?” I reach out and touch his arm; his whole body seems to relax under my touch.

“Fuck yes.” He turns and takes hold of my shoulders, forcing me to look at him, to really look at him.

“I wouldn’t ask you to do that. What if you resented me for it?”

“No. You don’t get to decide that for me.” His hands move down my arms to rest on my waist as he steps closer. “How about it, Storm. Stick around. For me, your dad, Beth, and Aaron.”

“I promised I’d think about it; that’s all I can do.” It’s all I’ve thought about since my dad’s setback. It’s the first thing I think about in the morning and the last thought before I go to sleep.

We stand in the dying light in silence for a long time. Max draws me into his arms and rests his chin on the top of my head. My cheek rests against his chest, the beat of his heart thundering in my ear.

“You want to go to the quarter mile?” I break the silence, and he pulls back to look at me.

“You want to race?”

“No, I want to watch.” I lean up and kiss him softly on the lips.

“Let’s go, then.” He pulls his keys out his pocket, and we climb into his GTO before bumping down the dirt track.

“You should really get that fixed. It will ruin your suspension.” I wince as we bump over a large pothole.

“I’m on it with Causey all the time.”

“Why do you use a Subaru to race?” It’s something I’ve always wondered, especially as he drives a GTO the rest of the time.

“It was Causey who got me into them. He had one, and the first time I raced at the quarter mile was in a Subaru. I won and didn’t want to tempt fate by changing.”

“So they’re lucky for you?”

“I guess.” He shrugs.

“I remember that race,” I say quietly, and my fingers knot in my lap. He looks over at me, his brows rise with surprise.

“You do?”

“Yeah, it was the first one that I’d gone to. Only because Beth was interested in Aaron and he was there. I was more into the cars. I saw you and the way you looked at me… well, no one had ever looked at me like that.”

“You were beautiful. It took my breath away when I laid eyes on you.”

“But you went away with another girl.” I frown, remembering the jealousy I felt seeing him with her. It confused the hell out of me, and that’s when I decided I would never let myself fall for Max Morgan.

“What the fuck did I know? I told you it’s always been you. Even then. I drove Causey mad after that race asking about you.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, finally he told me to shut the fuck up about you, that I didn’t stand a chance. The more I saw you, the more I realized he was right. You were never with other guys, but then that night when I goaded you into racing… that was the start of our love-hate relationship.”

“I avoided you on purpose. Didn’t want to admi-”

“Admit what?”

“Nothing,” I squeak and realize that I was on the verge of telling Max that I’ve always liked him, past the obvious sexual attraction.

“No, you’re not getting out of it. I’ve bared my soul to you tonight and told you how I feel about you and always have. Come on, Storm, spill.” I glare at him for the use of my nickname, although when it comes to Max, he could pretty much call me anything and I wouldn’t care. I like hearing him call me that. Stopping the car in the middle of the road that leads to the quarry, he turns to me. “I’m not moving until you tell me what you were about to say.”

I throw my arms up in exasperation, but I can’t fight the shy smile twitching at the corners of my mouth. “I avoided you because I didn’t want to admit that I liked you. There. I’ve said it. You happy?” He reaches over the shift and takes my face in both hands drawing me closer to his beaming face.