Quarter Mile Hearts(88)

Biting my lip, I give him a swift nod, and a smile starts to spread over my lips.

“You will?” His eyes glitter with happiness, and I nod again. It starts to sink in what I’ve agreed to, and my stomach explodes with a flurry of butterflies and excitement.

“I will.” His lips crash into mine, and his hand rests on the back of my head, keeping me pressed to him.

“I owe you a ring,” he mumbles against my lips.

“I already have one.” My thumb runs over the ring he gave me before the race.

“A diamond one this time.” His tongue brushed against mine.

“Okay,” I murmur, distracted by his kissing.

“There’s somewhere I want to take you.” He pulls back and stares deep into me.

“Where?” I ask, breathless.

He chuckles and brushes his lips against my neck. “You’ll see soon enough.”

“Break it up you two and give me a hug.” Beth is the first one to rush over to us, closely followed by Sugar, who grabs her brother, tears spilling down her cheeks.

“I’m so happy for you both.” She grabs me with her other arm to pull me into the hug, then Aaron comes over.

“Group hug,” he cries and squeezes me before pulling me into a hug of my own.

“Happy for you, cuz,” he says in a clipped tone, “but...” He pulls back and turns to Max, pointing a finger at him. “If you break her heart, I’m coming after you,” he threatens, and I have to bite my lip to stifle my laugh. It is sweet that Aaron is so protective, but there is no way he could take Max. Although they’re the same height, Max has way more muscle and would beat him to a pulp.

“Duly noted, thanks for the warning.” Max grins as Aaron slaps him on the back in congratulations.

My dad hangs back, and I rush over when I see him so he can envelop me in a tight embrace.

“Congratulations. He’s a good man.” He beams at me, and my eyes fill with tears. I nod and dip my head, but he catches my chin, tipping it upward before planting a kiss on my cheek. “Shh, I told you that he was worth staying for.” He looks over at Max who at that moment catches my eye. The smile that spreads across his lips does something funny to my insides. My heart doubles its beats as I return it with one of my own. My dad chuckles, which reminds me that he’s still standing there.

“I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.” He squeezes my shoulder and walks away, patting Max on the shoulder as he passes. They exchange a few words before he takes Nurse McCartney’s hand. Maria smiles and gives me a small wave as he leads her away.



• • •



By the time we’ve said good bye to everyone, my feet ache and my cheeks are sore from smiling so much. Thanks to Max’s surprise proposal, my head is spinning and I want him to myself. Aaron and Beth have left on some sort of road trip; Aaron was very vague about the details. The three of us had a debate about it, and I informed them that as much as I love cars, I want to kick back and relax on a deserted beach somewhere.

After a final hug and kiss from my aunt and uncle, Max drags me out to the car and helps me in.

“Have you not been drinking?” I ask as he holds open the door for me.

He laughs. “No, have you?”

“No. Stone-cold sober.” I wink at him; his eyes flare, and his lips crash against mine.

“Good to know,” he mumbles against my lips as he fastens my seat belt.

“Why do you always do that?” I’ve been wondering what his obsession with my seat belt is.

“You have no regard for your own safety, so I’m making sure you’re safe. I don’t want anything to happen to you.” I kiss him on the cheek, like I do every time he fastens me in.

“You’re sweet, you know that.” He turns to face me, and the look he gives me is anything but sweet; it sends a tremor of desire through me

“Sweet? I’ll show you sweet.” Slamming the door, he runs around to his side, jumps in, and tears out of the parking lot and onto the road that leads out of town. I can guess where he’s taking us, but I sit back and enjoy the ride. It doesn’t matter that it’s pitch black and I can’t see any of the scenery that flashes past the window.

Max’s headlights illuminate the road that leads to the quarter mile and a wide smile spreads across my face.

“What are we doing here?” I ask bemused that out of all of the places he could bring me it’s here.

“This is where it all began. You and me. When I first saw you and our first kiss.”

“You remember.” It makes my heart swell to know that he felt it that night, too.

“Of course, I do. You were beautiful.” He helps me onto the hood of his car and then climbs up beside me. “You didn’t even notice me.”