Authors: Lizzie Hart Stevens
Tags: #Contemporary, #Sports, #Literature & Fiction, #Contemporary Fiction, #Romance
Can't Slow Down
For my Hart Beats:
I am so very thankful for each and every one of you. Your love and support truly means the world to me. Huge hugs to you all! xo
Can’t Slow Down
Copyright© 2015 Lizzie Hart Stevens
Cover Design by Michele Catalano Creative; Copyright © 2015
www.michelecatalanocreative.com
Formatting by Cassy Roop of
Pink Ink Designs
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means such as electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the author of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Except for the original material written by the author, all songs and song titles mentioned in the book Can’t Slow Down are the property of the respective songwriters and copyright holders.
I’M FOCUSING HARD
on trying to beat Level 4 of
Donkey Kong
when my mom and dad walk over to tell me goodbye. It feels different this time, although I’m really not sure why.
“One sec, Mom.” My thumbs are going as fast as they can, pressing the keys in a perfect rhythm.
“Yes! Got it!” I throw my arms up in excitement. “Sorry, Momma, I just
had
to beat that level!”
Mom kneels down on the floor so that she’s eye level with me and places her hands on my knees. She looks so pretty in her new blue dress and high heels. Her brown hair is curly today and she’s wearing makeup. Momma doesn’t always wear makeup.
“Coen, sweetie, Daddy and I are going to a wedding tonight. You’re going to sleep here at Aunt Sarah’s and we will pick you up in the morning.” I hate when my parents leave me with Aunt Sarah. It’s so boring. I’m not allowed to touch anything.
As if Momma can read my mind, she places her hands on my cheeks and looks me in the eyes. “You be a good boy and listen to your aunt, okay, baby? Dad and I love you very much.” She kisses me on the forehead.
There are lots of breakable things at Aunt Sarah’s. I’m not even allowed to get close to the wooden cabinets with glass doors that hold her special things. But I’ll listen to Mom.
I don’t want them to go, but I don’t want my mom to feel bad either. “I love you too, Mom and Dad. I’ll be good. I promise. See you tomorrow.” I stand up and hug Dad. He’s wearing a dressy button-up white shirt and a pair of black dressy pants and shiny black shoes. His hair is shiny, too.
“Love you, son. Mind your manners. We’ll see you in the morning.” He lets go of our hug and ruffles my hair.
“I will, Dad. Love you too.”
I sit back down on the couch and dive into the next level of
Donkey Kong
on my Gameboy. I can hear Mom and Dad saying thank you and goodbye to Aunt Sarah as they head out the door.
I’M AWAKENED IN
the middle of the night by the sound of the phone ringing. I rub my eyes and roll over to look at the digital clock.
3:32 AM
The phone isn’t really ringing. It was all a dream. Every fucking night, for the past nineteen years, I wake up at this time. It’s a constant reminder of what I lost that night when I was just eight years old. The time when I found out I would never get to see, hear, talk to, or hug my parents, ever again. The only two people in this world who cared about me . . . gone.
I swore that day that I would never love anyone again. I was left in a world of darkness and hurt when my parents were taken from me. They were hit head-on by a drunk driver on their way home from the wedding they were attending that evening. Killed instantly. Everything I’ve ever known, crashed into oblivion.
Aunt Sarah wasn’t thrilled about having to raise me and I can’t say I was exactly excited about it either. I spent my teenage years at the skate park with my best friend, Derek, and mowing every lawn I could. Not just to make money, but to get out of the house and away from my aunt and her insane list of chores. She basically used me as her personal slave.
I saved every last dollar I made and combined it with the money my parents left in their savings for me to buy my first car the day I turned sixteen. I spent every dime I had fixing up that old car. Dad would have been so proud. I used all of my free time reading up on anything and everything car-related. Engine parts, wheels, horse power . . . racing. I started picking up Derek on Friday nights and we would head over to Sulley’s Raceway. I felt at home there; still do, like I belong. I’m accepted for who I am. I eventually started working there a few months later.
What little time I had that wasn’t being spent at the track I spent either at the tattoo shop or the gym. The muscles and the ink really drew the ladies in, but I never could bring myself to commit to any of them for longer than a week or so. The longer they were around, the more attached they would get. And I couldn’t go having any of them fall in love with me. Love just ends up in heartache and pain.
And then I met Lexi Taylor. She’s the first one that has made me actually want to give the whole relationship thing a try. She’s gorgeous, fiery, and spontaneous. And the added bonus . . . her tits fit perfectly in my hands. Not too big. Not too small. Just abso-fucking-lutely perfect.
I’M SITTING AT MY
desk just finishing up work here at Sulley’s Raceway for the day. Finalizing next week’s schedule for the staff and making sure all of the supplies have been ordered. I can’t seem to stay focused or get out of here fast enough today. All I can think about is getting to Lexi’s to pick her up for our date. I’m not used to this whole dating thing, but she’s just one I can’t let get away. After all, running into the same beautiful girl three times in one day kind of makes it hard to stay away from her. Especially once I saw firsthand what a piece of shit her ex is. That dude is lucky he can still walk after the stunts he pulled yesterday. I feel this overwhelming need to protect her. Although I have a feeling she can hold her own if she has to, no woman ever
should
have to.
If my Aunt Sarah ever taught me anything, it’s that a real man should never cause a woman pain. He should provide for her and he should do anything to protect the one he loves. I only just met Lexi yesterday, so I would be crazy if I even
think
that I love her. But what I do know is that she doesn’t deserve to be treated like a piece of gum someone scraped off their shoe on a hot day.
Tonight I plan on showing her how a man
should
treat a woman. Candles, slow sensual music, and my undivided attention to her every need and desire. I can’t wait to have my hands all over her amazing body again. I’ve been aching for her all day.
I straighten up the stack of papers on my desk, stand up, and grab my keys on my way out. On my way down the stairs from the office above the press box I can hear the roar of the cars get louder and louder the closer I get to ground level. One loud rev of their engines while they burnout following the purring exhausts as they idle their way up to the starting line. Just as I’m walking out the door the lights flash, yellow, yellow, yellow, GREEN! The sound vibrates through my entire body and roars through the stands as both cars are at the opposite end of the track in the blink of an eye. The crowd cheers and I see Charlie, one of our maintenance guys, on my way to the parking lot.
“You’re not stickin’ around tonight, Coen? It’s ladies night!” he asks, waggling his eyebrows in excitement.
“Not tonight, Charlie.” I wink at him and grin as I continue walking towards my car.
“Ooh, say no more, my man! Enjoy your evening!” he shouts across the parking lot as I’m opening the car door.
“I fully intend to! Don’t worry!”
I hop inside and start the car and decide to text Lexi to let her know I’m on my way, turning up the air conditioner full blast. It’s a hot one tonight.
Hey there, Sweet Cheeks! See you in ten!
