Supercharged Love(32)

The race is over in a blur, and I’m the clear winner. Ryder meets me at the finish line where people have started to gather offering their congratulations. I smile preoccupied, searching, trying to spot her through the crowd. Leigh is still there, hanging back, trying to blend into the background, but it’s impossible; everyone fades to black when she’s around and she is all I see. But I’m not supposed to. She has made it clear that she’s doesn’t want me and I decided I wasn’t going to waste any more time trying to convince her. Tonight is all about finding a girl to help me forget about Leigh.

A pretty blonde hovers near the hood of my car while Ryder collects my winnings. Without thinking about it too much or talking myself out of it, I walk over to where she stands with a coy smile on her face. Wrapping my arm around her waist, I tug her into my arms. With a delighted squeal, she comes willingly. I dip my head to the crook of her neck and nuzzle the sensitive skin. As I draw back, my gaze collides with Leigh. Her emerald green eyes glitter with anger and her face twists into a scowl.

I’ve well and truly burned my bridges with her, but this is the way she wants it. A man can only take so much rejection, even me. So I school my features into a mask that gives nothing away. Flashing her a smirk, I dip my head to the blonde’s ear. It’s a dick move, but I can’t help it.

“Let’s get out of here.” I tug on her hand and don’t look back at Leigh. If I do, I’ll change my mind about my method of forgetting all about her and go back to pining after her, or worse, chasing after her and making a fool of myself.





Chapter Sixteen




One year later.



Many things can change in the span of a year. Meghan, or Sugar as she will forever be known, now starts the races. Turns out she likes that Causey is the best racer around, closely followed by me. I’ve become the master of keeping my feelings hidden and keeping the act of Max ‘Manwhore’ Morgan going. I know what Leigh thinks of me; she may not speak to me, but she comes to the races. Aaron and I have become friends. Well, when she’s not around, of course. He might be a friend of sorts, but he’s still her cousin and I know where his and Beth’s loyalties lie. He let slip about my nickname once, and I laughed it off, acting as though I wasn’t bothered, but it hurt. Will I ever have the chance to show her it’s all an act or has she written me off for good?

Since that night when I took the hot blonde home, it’s become a pattern. Not that I take them all home, but they are always blondes; that way if I do fuck them, I don’t picture her face. The morning after that race when I was sneaking the blonde out the apartment, I caught Causey sneaking back into Meghan’s bedroom.

“See you scored in more ways than one.” He winked at me, and I flipped him my middle finger.



***



Leigh and I continue to pretend the other doesn’t exist until one night we’re standing on the quarter mile facing off.

“You’re finally racing tonight, Aaron?” I call out. Aaron, Beth, and Leigh turn around to face me, but it’s her I focus on. I know from gossip that she doesn’t date anyone; she’s still as unobtainable. A shield surrounds her, preventing anyone from getting too close. I also know I’m partly to blame for that.

“Yeah, he’s racing.” She answers for him, her tone full of irritation reserved only for me.

Finally, I can address her. “Leigh Storm.” It also gives me an excuse to let my eyes run over her gorgeous body. She’s come straight from work—no makeup, ripped jeans, and a tight white top that clings to her body, over curves I dream about tracing my hands over night after night. I have an urge to take off my jacket and insist she put it on. I don’t want these dicks staring at her. Long legs that I keep imagining wrapped around my waist. “Fancy seeing you here.” I can’t help it; I want to get a rise out of her.

It works and she steps closer. “Why wouldn’t I be here?” She challenges me, and I can’t help my smirk.

“Didn’t think it was your scene.” I cross my arms over my chest and she does the same. I try not to stare at her tits, which her arms have pushed up; it wouldn’t do to piss her off any further.

“I work in a garage, my dad is Hank Storm, and I’ve grown up in this town. Why wouldn’t this be my scene?” But I don’t answer her. Instead, I fuck with her some more.

“You racing?” I ask. She has never raced before despite her obvious love of cars and the fact she’s at nearly every race. Without missing a beat, she answers.

“Yeah, I’m racing.” Aaron’s eyes bug out and his head jerks to look at Beth whose mouth is hanging open. They were clearly not expecting that.