Speed of My Heart (7 page)

With my step a whole lot lighter, I flew through the next several days, putting renewed energy behind my dance practices and trying to put the stress of the past couple of weeks behind me.

Cole had called the night after Marcus followed me out to the lake. I'm pretty sure Jack had given him a heads up on what had been going on; I just wasn't sure how in depth the description had been. We talked briefly about my taking out a restraining order, but mostly I just wanted to put the whole mess behind me, so I did my best to steer the conversation away from Marcus.

Now I was sitting on the swing on my front porch waiting for Cole to pick me up. He had been really vague about our date plans for the day. When I insisted he at least give me an idea of what I should wear, he had recommended something comfortable. Which, of course, for me meant cut-off jean shorts and a fitted tank top. I was looking forward to an actual date with Cole that didn't include my crazy ex showing up.

I was pretty sure that if Cole was still hanging around after having to deal with Marcus, he must either be a glutton for punishment, or almost as into me as I was him. I was hoping for the former. Cole and I had such a great time together the other night despite the mishap with Marcus; and then that kiss... it had been on replay in my mind ever since.

When I heard the crunching of gravel caused by Cole's red jeep flying down our gravel driveway, I found myself trying to calm the high rate of speed my heart had kicked into. I took a steadying breath as he got out and climbed the steps to the porch. I tried not to notice how, even just wearing cargo shorts and a worn t-shirt, he looked far better than any guy had a right to. Somewhere in the perimeter of my mind, I was relieved that I had dressed appropriately for whatever it was we were doing that day.

I smiled at him when he stopped in front of me and leaned against the porch rail.

"So you've come back for more?" I asked teasingly. "I have to say I was surprised you asked me out again with the way our last date went." I was joking, but part of me really did doubt he would ask me out again.

A slow grin spread across his face. "The way I remember it, that date ended very well."

I felt my cheeks heat up at his reference to our heated goodbye and I raised my eyebrows. "Well, I'm glad you have selective memory then."

He smirked at me. "Trust me when I say, that memory from the night eclipsed everything else."

I looked down, biting back the huge smile that was trying to break out on my face. When I looked up Cole was grinning at me. He
so
knew he was embarrassing me, and from the looks of it, he was enjoying it a little too much.

He held out his hand. "You ready?"

I stood, placing my hand in his, my stomach bursting with butterflies at the contact. "Absolutely."

*  *  *

Once we were driving down the road, I couldn't stand the suspense any longer. "So, where are you taking me? I'm dying of curiosity." I was not joking when I said that. Patience was not my virtue.

He flashed me a smile before returning his attention back to the road. "I kinda like keeping you in suspense. I think I'm just gonna let you wait and see."

"Hmm, can you give me a hint?" I hated to break it to him, but I wasn't big on surprises either.

He seemed to consider for a moment before saying, "Let's just say... I think it will be something you've never done before."

Hmm, something told me there was probably a good reason why I had never done whatever it was he was planning. My internal warning bells were sounding, but I tried to ignore them.

I glanced at his profile, admiring how incredibly sexy he was from any angle. "Sounds intriguing. But, I'd like to know how you would know what I‘ve done before. I mean, you haven't known me for very long."

Cole smirked over at me. "Trust me when I say, I think it's a pretty safe deduction."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "You may not know this about me, but I'm not a very patient person."

Cole laughed, a deep, husky sound that sent little tingles all the way to my toes. "Yeah, I can tell. But, trust me, this is worth the wait."

Realizing that I wasn't getting any more information out of him about where we were going, I decided to change the subject to something else that had been on my mind.

"So," I asked. "How much longer do you think you'll be in Russell Springs?" This was one thing that I really was curious about. I was loving hanging out with Cole and was already dreading the fact that he'd be leaving.

"Well,” he answered. “I'll probably go back to North Carolina sometime in the next couple of weeks. My arm seems to be healing well, despite my using it to punch your ex." He winked at me and I couldn‘t help but laugh. "I have some sponsor stuff I have to get back and take care off. Not to mention I need to be ready to get on the track as soon as this cast comes off."

I looked at him quizzically. "So, what made you take off to Kentucky anyway? Couldn't you have stayed in Charlotte and recovered? Not that I'm complaining,” I added.

Cole shrugged. "Yeah, I could have, but the press coverage about the accident and me being out of racing was intense. I couldn't even run to the grocery store without being stopped to answer questions. Not to mention, it was killing me hanging around the track and not being able to race. I made a spur of the moment decision to get away for a while, packed my bags and left." He glanced over at me with a half grin. "The next thing I knew I was sitting in a coffee shop, watching a beautiful girl who was avoiding my eyes like the plague. I've been trying to snag them ever since."

I grinned, glancing over at him. "I'd say you've been pretty successful at that."

I stopped short when I realized Cole had parked his Jeep in what appeared to be a stadium parking lot. I could hear what sounded like the roar of cars coming from inside. And even though I couldn‘t see a track, I had a sneaky suspicion that was exactly what it was.

My eyes wide, I looked slowly over at Cole, who was watching me with amusement.

"Tell me you don't think you're getting me in a...
racecar
?" I was practically stuttering in disbelief because, really, he didn't know me at all if he thought I was setting one foot in a car that I was quite sure would be going at breakneck speeds. I couldn't find one redeeming possibility in that scenario.

"Come on, Mara. Live a little. You never know what will steal your heart in life if you don't open yourself up to the possibilities."

Cole's eyes were lit with such excitement that momentarily I forgot about my fear, and instead became entranced by the intense passion radiating off of him. It was obvious that racing kindled the kind of fire in him that not much else could compete with. I was pretty sure if I was ever going to truly
know
him, I'd have to be a little more open about this whole racing business.

I took a deep breath and smiled over at him nervously. "Alright, I'll give it a shot." I stopped and gave him a warning look. "But, only if you’re driving and you promise not to give me a heart attack with the speed thing."

I tried not to be dazzled by the heart skipping smile I was rewarded with. Cole slid his hand into mine, meeting my eyes with his. "Do you trust me?" he asked, suddenly all seriousness.

I thought about that for a second, giving myself an opportunity to really test the feeling out where Cole was concerned. Almost immediately, I realized that I did trust Cole. It was more of an intuition than anything, but the feeling was strong. And surprising, considering the fact that trust and guys were not something that I really believed in anymore.

I smiled back at Cole. "You know what? I do trust you."

A quick look of relief flickered in his eyes and he gave me a different kind of smile. One that was full of a meaning I couldn't quite identify.

Before I had a chance to really ponder it, Cole opened the door to his jeep, stepping out. "Well then, be prepared for the time of your life," he announced.

I tried to keep the look of doubt off my face as I climbed out of the car and walked with him into the large building that gave access to the track.

I said a silent prayer as we heading inside that I'd walk back out of the same building... alive. Judging by the sounds of engines roaring on the track outside, I'd need every bit of help I could get.

*  *  *

“They’re just going to let you drive one of the cars?” I asked once we were inside. Cole grinned over at me. “Yes, this is where I got my start.” Cole nodded to what appeared to be several classrooms to our right. “They have passenger cars here so you’ll be able to ride with me; let you experience a little of the thrill I get from racing.”

I swallowed. “Seriously? I could have taken your word on that, you know?”

Cole gave me a “look”, which I completely ignored. “I’m
really
nervous about this.”

Cole reached over, taking my hand in his and dragging me along with him. “You’ll love it,” he promised, and I could tell he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

I sighed heavily and let him lead me into what I was pretty sure would be a nightmarish experience.

CHAPTER 10

Before I knew it, we were out on the track and Cole had coaxed me into a scary looking black and red race car. Even scarier, I was being strapped into the passengers seat of the car with some kind of freaky five point harness that only further convinced me of what a death trap this was. Not to mention I had to climb into the beast
through the window.

Trying to get my mind off of what I was about to do, I took advantage of the close proximity to Cole while he was strapping me in, to let my gaze roam over his classically handsome features. It was hard not to admire the perfect angle of his jaw or the way his lips had just the right amount of fullness. I took a second to be jealous of his naturally dark eyelashes. Why couldn't mine be that long and sooty looking without the help of mascara? I studied his eyes as he concentrated on clicking all the straps into place and was more than a little mesmerized. They were the color of chocolate with hints of amber and so deep and clear that I could stare at them for days.

When Cole finished the business of buckling me into the death trap, he looked over, catching my eyes already on his. Our faces were just inches apart now; so close I could feel his warm breath on my mouth. And the part about getting lost in those eyes of his, I was pretty sure I was being sucked right into their depths at that very moment. I couldn't look away, couldn't breathe, couldn't even think straight. The only thing on my mind was how close his lips were to mine, how just the slightest move from either of us would cause them to brush. And then Cole closed those few inches and my eyes drifted closed as our lips touched. At first, soft and gentle, and then becoming more urgent and demanding; he had almost complete control of the kiss. Strapped into the seat so tightly, I wasn't able to lean into him or even pull back had I wanted to... which I didn't. And I found that strangely thrilling. Though, I was pretty sure had it been anyone else but him, I wouldn't have felt the same way. There was something about Cole that made me feel safe, even when I was vulnerable.

As our kiss deepened and I felt the warmth pooling in my belly, I found myself quickly becoming frustrated with the restraints, wanting desperately to be in his arms and not strapped securely to my seat. Cole pulled back slightly, breaking the seal of our lips and leaving me out of breath. I couldn't even help the slight whimper of frustration that him pulling away caused.

The corners of his mouth turned up at that and his eyes were on mine again, swirling with a wealth of thoughts and emotions that I would have killed to know. He sat back and looked down, tugging on the straps of my harness one last time before leaning back out of the car.

I let out a huge breath that I hadn't even realized I'd been holding, trying my best to get a grip before Cole climbed in on the driver's side. Luckily, I had a few moments to compose myself while he spoke with one of the mechanics that worked at the track. By the time he was strapped in, I had a reign on my emotions and was feeling my breathing pick up for a completely different reason. Just the mere thought that I would be flying around the track within minutes, had me on the fast track to a full out panic attack. I did my best to remain calm as I pulled on my helmet. But when the engine of the car roared to life, vibrating beneath us, it was all I could do not to struggle my way out of the complicated seatbelt and throw myself out of the nearest window.

Cole looked over at me with concern. He was yelling but I couldn’t really hear him over the engine. Mostly, I read his lips.

 "Are you okay?" he asked. He really did look worried. I could just imagine what he was seeing on my face: pure terror if it was reflecting anything I was feeling on the inside.

I forcefully swallowed down my denial and instead nodded.

His eyes remained on me for a few more seconds, and I imagined he was trying to decide whether I was being truthful. I looked away and focused my attention on the track in front of me, attempting to ignore how fast the other cars were going.

And then, I honestly can't tell you anything else about my first ride in a racecar, because my eyes were squeezed so tightly shut that I couldn't see a thing. My mind was consumed with the prayer I was reciting over and over in my head.
God, please don't let me die. God, please don't let my die.
I can tell you it was so fast that my stomach felt like it literally dropped from my body, and my breath was lodged somewhere in my throat the whole time.

After what seemed like an eternity, the car finally slowed and coasted to a stop. My body was so tense, I was literally sore. I slowly opened my eyes and looked over at Cole, who was grinning at me from ear to ear, totally exhilarated and euphoric from the ride. He was shaking his head in amusement at my if-I-can't-see-it-then-it's-not-happening reaction. It was obvious that racing was what made him tick, so I was really trying not to look
so
terrified. But if the way he was shaking his head at me was any indication, I was failing miserably. All the things about racing that terrified me: the speed, the loud engines, the danger —they were all the things that drove Cole.

I breathed in and out slowly, trying to recover my equilibrium. I felt dizzy from traveling in circles with my eyes shut tight. With the engine off, I was finally able to hear him.

"Mara, your eyes were closed the
entire
time. Next time, maybe I can convince you to leave them open for one lap at least," Cole teased.

My eyes widened. "Uh,
next
time?“ I practically spat out. "I hate to break it to you, but I'm not sure there will be a
next
time. I kinda value my life. I don't know If I want to look death in the face a second time. Plus, how in the hell did you know my eyes were closed? You shoulda had yours on the road, as fast as you were driving. We could have been killed!"

Cole laughed, flashing those gorgeous white teeth, and even through my panic attack, I sighed inwardly.

"Mara, we were going about half the speed I usually go on the track. I could have done that blindfolded." He reached over lacing his fingers through mine and using his thumb to caress small circles on my palm. "That was the introductory pace. Next time, I'm going to take things up a notch," he said in a half playful, half serious tone.

I looked over at him, earnestly questioning his sanity. But seeing the look in his eyes, I realized he wasn't referring to driving at all.

I raised an eyebrow at him, biting back a smile. "Is that a promise?"

The corners of his mouth turned up and his eyes lit with a predatory light that left me thinking any girl would be lucky to be his prey.

"Oh yeah," he murmured. "You have my word on that."

Well then, I
really
hoped he kept his word

*  *  *

Cole returned me home after taking me out to lunch, this time without the unfortunate luck of running into Marcus. It was so nice not having to worry about him showing up anymore. In fact, I hadn't heard a word out of Marcus since the restraining order was placed. I guess even he didn't want to end up in jail.

Once again, Cole's goodbye kiss was amazing, making me wonder how I'd gone my whole life without ever being kissed that way. Cole held me like he both wanted to muss me up and not break me —all at the same time. He had my body responding to the smallest of gestures. If he was this incredible to kiss, I couldn't even imagine what he'd be like when we upped the ante.

What was beginning to form a little tendril of fear in my chest, was the fact that I could see myself falling hard for Cole. Not a good idea when it was unquestionable that he'd be leaving in a few weeks. But then again, so would I. I shrugged the concern off and decided to enjoy him while I had him.