“We can take her out this week if you want?”
“Really?” I beam at him.
“Really.”
“Yay!” I clap my hands together, and he laughs at me.
“How can you be such a girl yet be so fucking cool with your car knowledge?”
“I’m just awesome. What can I say?” I shrug, grinning.
He’s staring at me again, and I’m starting to get hot.
“I brought you something,” I announce a little too loudly, jolting us back to the now. I reach into my bag and pull out a brand-new bar of Galaxy Cookie Crumble.
“Fuck, has that got—”
“Cookie in it? Yep. You haven’t had it before?”
“No, and I’m wondering how the fuck not.” His eyes are all lit up like a little kid. “Have I told you lately how amazing you are?”
“Not lately,” I say, handing it over.
He rips it open and breaks some off, putting it into his mouth. Then, he starts making that moaning sound again, and I’m squirming in my seat.
Maybe bringing him the chocolate wasn’t the best idea. I’m currently jealous of a bar of Galaxy chocolate.
“Fuck…that’s good. You want some?” he offers me through a chocolaty mouthful.
“No, I’m good. Thanks. I wouldn’t want to deprive you of any.”
“Sorry.” He grins. “It’s just me and Galaxy have this thing. It’s pretty serious.”
“Clearly.” I give him a teasing smile and love the smile I get in return.
“Come on then,” he says, putting down the chocolate into the center console. “Let’s get moving.”
Putting the car in drive and stepping down on the gas, he roars down the street.
Thirty minutes after leaving my place, we’re in a quiet village called Radclive, and Carrick is turning off the country road and onto a small drive in front of a set of metal gates.
Pressing a button on the steering wheel, the gates open, and then we’re driving up a curved long driveway. At the end of the driveway is a large Edwardian-style house surrounded by what I can only imagine is acres of land.
“Wow,” I say, looking through the windscreen. “Is this yours?”
“Yeah. This is home.”
He pulls up front and climbs out of the car, so I follow suit.
I’m a little nervous that he’s brought me to his house, wondering why I’m here.
“I’ll show you the house in a few, but what I brought you here to see is in the garage.”
I walk with Carrick toward a massive outbuilding, which is located on the side of the house. He pulls a tiny remote from his jacket pocket and opens one of the garage doors.
We go inside, and I find myself in a purpose-built garage—or I should call it a showroom.
I’m astounded at the number of cars he has in here. There must be thirty, minimum, with plenty of space for more. They’re mostly classic cars with a few modern ones.
“Wow, Carrick. This is amazing. I knew you collected, but…wow…” This place is like my dream come true.
“Thanks. I’ve got pretty much every car I’ve ever wanted, barring a few. But the one I wanted to show you is just down here at the end. It just arrived this morning.”
I walk behind him, my eyes trailing over each car we pass—a classic Mini Cooper, a Dodge Viper…
“Here it is.”
I turn to the sound of his voice, dragging my eyes off the yellow 1960 Lamborghini Miura, and—
Oh my God.
My heart slams against my ribcage. “Is that…” I take a step closer, my hands trembling.
“William Wolfe’s car? Yeah.”
I swing around to look at him. “You bought it?”
I can’t believe he did that. Why did he do that?
A stupid hopeful part of me wishes it were because of me, that he somehow realized this car is important to me.
“I didn’t steal it. Don’t worry.” He grins, pushing his hands into his pockets. “It was bugging me—what you said about it sitting there, not being used, and how Wolfe would have wanted it to be driven. So, I got in touch with the owner, and I told him I wanted it.”
“And he just said yes?”
“Not right away. It took some persuading.”
“How much persuading?”
“A lot—plus, a five-year VIP pass to the Prix.”
“Wow. Expensive persuading.”
“Drop in the ocean.” He shrugs, walking around to the front of the car.
Sometimes, I forget how much money he has at his disposal.
I walk closer to the car, the tips of my fingers trembling to touch it. “Can I?”
“Sure.”
Reaching out, I open the door. Then, taking a deep breath, I slide into the driver’s seat.