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But I wanted to drive my car. It was time.

Mariah.

I had a lot to do to get her ready. But there was something else I wanted to do too. I drove Frannie home just as it was getting dark.

She woke up when the car stopped, her big eyes blinking at me shyly.

The damn girl was like a cartoon character. Cute, sweet and sexy as hell.

I reached out and pulled her into my arms.

“Are we home?”

I nodded.

“For now.”

She blinked again. Clearly she didn’t get what I was hinting at. It didn’t matter. I’d show her soon enough.

I brushed her hair out of her face.

“How do you feel? Sore?”

She blushed, looking away and nodding.

“Yes, a little.”

I smiled and kissed her temple… then her ear… then her neck. I was instantly hard, just from kissing her. I wondered if my cock would ever learn discipline around her.

I kind of doubted it.

“I’ll pick you up around lunch tomorrow. There’s something I want to show you.”

She smiled at me sweetly. She was so shy.

I realized how much I liked that about her.

“Alright.”

I kissed her again, long and slow and deep. Then I walked her to her front door. I leaned against the building, watching as she unlocked the front door.
 

“Do you need anything? Food?”

“No, I have some stuff.”

“Do you need to go out tomorrow morning?”

“No.”

“Good.”

I grabbed her one more time, taking what I wanted. Well, part of what I wanted anyway. What I really wanted was to take her upstairs and keep her up all night riding my cock.

But I had shit to do, and she was tired. I ran my knuckles over her cheek and smiled at her.

“Sleep well.”

Frannie

The sun was bright overhead by the time I opened my eyes. I glanced at the clock. 9 am. I must have been more tired than I’d thought.

Besides, Jace had told me to rest.

I blushed.

Not told. He’d commanded me.

I stretched and pulled out my phone. I’d already gotten a text.

Good morning sweetheart. Pick you up at 12.

Sweetheart. He’d called me sweetheart.

I sighed and got out of bed. I had a boyfriend. For the first time in my life I had a boyfriend.

I think I did anyway.

I padded out to the kitchen and put the kettle on.

“Look what the cat dragged in.”

I looked up to see Becky laying on the couch. She’d obviously slept there all night. She looked terrible.

“Becks! Are you okay?”

Her eyes were red. She’d obviously been crying.

“He broke up with me.”

“Oh no, I’m so sorry!”

I went to sit beside her, trying to ignore the empty bottle of wine on the floor. Scratch that.

Bottles.

“He tried to get me to fuck one of his buddies.”

I stared at her, my mouth wide open.

“That’s- awful.”

She shrugged, rolling to her side.

“He never loved me. I’m an idiot. He- he did things.”

“Like what Becks?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

I chewed my lip, not sure what to say to help her. She’d always been kind of fragile. I knew her family life had been rough. That’s why she wanted to be rich. She thought money would protect her.

Maybe if we’d been closer I would have told her that it didn’t.

I knew that from experience.

“Where have you been anyway?”

“My Gran. She got sick. But she’s okay.”

“What about the guy?”

“He uh… he came up there to get me.”

Becky sat up, looking awake for the first time.

“Frannie! He drove six hours? Each way???”

I nodded.

“No one’s ever done anything like that for me. He must love you.”

“I doubt it. I have to get ready though. He’ll be here soon.”

The kettle went off. Becky followed me into the kitchen.

“I’m happy for you Frannie.”

I looked at her. She meant it. I could tell. Suddenly I felt bad about all the things I’d thought about her. She wasn’t a gold digger. She was just scared like the rest of us.

Scared of being abandoned.

The doorbell rang and I froze.

“Oh my God. He’s early.”

Becky shoved me towards the bathroom.

“Get dressed. I’ll handle Prince Charming.”

I grabbed clean clothes and practically dove into the bathroom. I showered and changed in less than five minutes. I dragged a comb through my wet hair and walked into the living room.
 

“Brothers? Sisters?”

“No.”

Becky was giving Jace the third degree. I almost laughed. He looked supremely uncomfortable. And she looked like a mother hen.

I decided I better rescue him.

“Hey.”

His eyes lit up as he stood, raking them over me.

“Hi beautiful.”

I blushed as he pulled me in for a quick kiss. Becky winked at me knowingly as we left. I rolled my eyes at her, hoping she’d be okay.

“Where are we going?”

He smiled at me.

“You’ll see.”

He drove me across town to a nice family area. We got out of the car and I followed him, having no idea which way he was leading me. There was a row of townhouses up ahead that looked new. We walked up to one and he slid the key inside it.

“So. Do you think you could live here?”

I turned around to look at him. My heart was thudding.

“It’s beautiful. But I can’t afford anything like this. Or sign a lease.”

He tilted his head to the side.

“It’s for sale. No lease.”

I swallowed. Did he want me to buy this place? Did he care about my money after all?

“I’ve been saving up.”

“Oh.”

I shook my head, trying to clear it. This was too much. Too fast.

“I’m supposed to go to Japan in the fall.”

“Okay.”

I stared at him. Was he giving up that easily?

“I’ll go with you.”

He meant it. He really meant it.

He wanted to be with me.

For real.

Chapter Sixteen

Jace

Frannie looked surprised as I showed her around the townhouse. A couple guys I knew had worked on the construction so I knew it was in good shape. It was one of the last units available. I’d been eyeing it for a while. But now I had a reason to actually move out of my Dad’s place.

“It’s very nice Jace. But I don’t understand. You want to buy this place?”

I nodded slowly, keeping my eyes on her.

“For us.”

“You want to live with me?”

“I want to marry you Frannie.”

Her jaw dropped. Obviously the girl had no idea how I felt about her. What did she think I was fucking talking about when I said she belonged to me?

“I don’t know what to say.”

I walked over to her, lifting her, backing her up until her back pressed into the wall.

“I told you. You’re mine.”

She swallowed nervously, looking like a frightened little bird.

“Don’t you think this is kind of fast Jace?”

“No.”

“I have to think about it…”

“You do? You sure about that?”

She inhaled sharply.

“Yeah. Um, don’t we have to be at the track soon?”

I let her slide down my body. There was no way she would miss my obvious erection.

“Yeah.”

I turned and walked out of the townhouse, feeling fury pump through my veins. What the hell did she want from me? I told her I wanted to marry her. Isn’t that what all girls wanted?

She followed me out meekly and waited while I locked the door.

“Did you call your doctor?”

“No- I must have overslept.”

I didn’t look at her. I had a sudden feeling that maybe I wasn’t good enough for her.

Maybe she didn’t want me.

I clenched my jaw and drove her to the Logan Raceway. This was the most important day of my life. And somehow, it was going horribly wrong.

If she didn’t want me… I didn’t know what the fuck I would do.

We drove in silence until I pulled into the staging area for the cars and pit teams. Clyde and Flannery ran over and started prepping the car.

Frannie and I sat there, not moving. Not looking at each other.

“Is this Flannery’s new car?”

“No, this one’s mine.”

I turned to look at her.

“I’m not the poor little dirt bag you think I am. I’ve worked hard. Just because I didn’t go to college doesn’t mean I’m not good enough for you.”

Her eyes grew wide and wet with tears.

“I don’t think that Jace! I don’t! I like you just the way you are!”

“You
like
me?”

“You know I do.”

I turned away. I’d been about to tell her that that wasn’t good enough. Liking me.

Not when I was already in love with her.

“You better go wait in the stands. It’s not safe down here.”

I didn’t look at her as she climbed out. As soon as the door shut though, I turned to make sure she’d done as I said.

I watched her walk slowly through the crowd of drivers and their pit crews. People turned to look at her, to check her out. But she didn’t notice. She looked sad. Miserable even.

That’s how a marriage proposal made her feel?

I’d show her I wasn’t a loser. I’d prove it the only way I knew how.

On the track.

Frannie

I stood behind the fence, right behind Flannery and the rest of Jace’s team. Jace hadn’t looked at me once. But I couldn’t stop looking at him.

He was angry at me, that much was obvious.

But he was also hurt.

The thought of living with him… being with him. It was overwhelming. Wonderful but so far beyond what I’d imagined… I rubbed my hands over my arms.

I felt so alone without him.

How had that happened so fast?

Also I was scared. Scared something might happen to him. Scared he would change his mind.

Scared I would never get over him if he did.

Of that I was more than certain.

How could I ever forget him? His beautiful, deep eyes… his body against mine… his touch…

Or any of the other things he’d done to take care of me.

Right from the start he’d been doing it.

Maybe he did love me after all… he hadn’t said it, but it was there, hanging between us.

And I already knew I was falling in love with him.

The frenetic activity on the track picked up. I knew the race was about to start. Clyde brought a helmet over to Jace and he held it, not putting it on.

Jace walked over to me, his eyes blazing. He grabbed me, kissing me hard. A little roar went up from the crowd in the bleachers behind us.

He stared into my eyes for a second.

Then he was gone.

I didn’t even have a chance to say a word to him. I watched fearfully as he put his helmet on and slid into the car. Then he drove to the starting line. The other cars lined up beside him. They looked dangerous.
 

They looked like death on wheels.

Suddenly a man was beside me. I turned and looked up at him. He was older, very handsome. There was something familiar about him. But I’d never seen him before.

“You Frannie?”

I nodded.

“I’m Brian. Jace’s dad.”

His eyes twinkled at me.

“It’s very nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Mr. Singleton.”

“I told you, Brian! Now let’s watch my kid squash these suckers.”

We stood together as the flag dropped. The sound of the signal gun made me jump. Then the roar of the engines drowned everything out. I couldn’t have heard Brian even if we’d been shouting.

My heart was in my throat as they took the first turn. Jace was jockeying with a few other cars to take the lead. By the next straightway he was out in front, with two cars just behind him. They started battering his car, making him fishtail all over the track.

 
I turned around as they hit the next turn, covering my eyes.

I couldn’t bring myself to watch.

The crowd was screaming as they barreled towards the finish line. I almost didn’t hear the screeching metal.

It sounded like the world was ending.

It sounded like death.

I started to slide down to the ground. I felt strong arms lifting me up and holding me.

Then darkness.

Chapter Seventeen

Jace

Bright lights stung my eyes, making me wince. The room slowly came into focus. It was all white. I realized I was in a hospital bed. I felt like I was floating.

Fuck, I must be on a shitload of painkillers.

I saw faces- recognizable ones.

My dad, Flannery, Clyde. My heart started beating in my chest. Where was she?

“Frannie?”

My voice sounded like a frog croaking. I tried to sit up and reach for the water I saw on the bedside table.

“Hey hey buddy- slow down!”

My dad was there, his hands keeping me from sitting up.

“What do you want? The water?”

I nodded and he held the cup to my lips.

It was slowly starting to dawn on me that I was fucked up.

How bad, I wasn’t sure. All I knew was I wanted my woman. Now.

“Frannie.”

“I’m here.”

I turned my head and saw her. She’d been there all along, just on the other side of the room. Her arms were wrapped around her. She looked beautiful.

She was crying.

“How long?”

“You been out two days buddy. We thought we had lost you.”

I wasn’t looking at my dad. I was looking at Frannie.

She looked heartbroken and relieved at the same time.

“Did I win?”

She laughed through her tears and nodded. I grinned, leaning back. If I won, that meant I had a nice fat check waiting for me. And I wasn’t dead.
 

And my woman was here. She hadn’t jumped ship. That had to mean something.

My dad cleared his throat.

“Maybe we’ll give these two a minute alone.”

Clyde and Flannery walked over, kissing my head like I was a kid. I didn’t mind though. I just clasped their hands and smiled.

I turned to Frannie, still standing by the window.

“Come here.”