Page 20 of Full Throttle 2

Her voice softened. “Yeah, I would. I know I was so adamant about keeping his room as is in the past, but Rodney wouldn’t have wanted that. He wouldn’t have wanted us to build a shrine to him. Honor him, yes. But we honor him every day in ways big and small.”

Cyrus nodded in agreement. “True. I’m proud of you for coming to that understanding.”

Colby took a deep breath. “It wasn’t easy, but I realized as long as I didn’t let go of the anger and need for revenge, I’d stay in this perpetual state of grieving. He wouldn’t want that. He’d want us both to not just live but thrive. I understand that now, which makes it much easier for me to let Aunt Faye sleep in there. I have no problem taking the couch.”

Cyrus wasn’t going to have that. Colby already looked too skinny and tired around the eyes. She was racing the next couple of weekends, and he had to figure out how to get his girl in tip-top shape. “Nah, we’re not doing that either. Like I said, we’ll figure it out.”

“Fine, but you’re not taking the couch.”Colby wouldn’t argue that point, so she changed the subject. “I know one thing; Lila is going to flip when she finds out her mother is here.”

Cyrus shook his head. “Lila’s not going to flip out because her mom is here. That girl’s going to flip becauseyoutold Faye she was at Brian’s.”

In a panic, Colby glanced around the kitchen. She knew it before asking the question. “I was still half asleep when Aunt Faye asked why Lila wasn’t in her room, and I told her she was probably at Brian’s. Is she on her way over there?”

“Yep.” There was a gleam in her father’s eyes as he stood up. “That reminded me...I might have a spot where I can crash while Faye is here.”

“Wait . . . what?” Colby was caught off guard. “Where? With Ben?”

Cyrus winked as he walked past her and out of the kitchen. “The things you miss when you’re not around. Move your butt, slacker. We’re late.”

Colby didn’t miss the sparkle. His eyes wouldn’t look like that if he were going to bunk with Ben. Then it struck her...Colby stood in the middle of the floor dumbfounded. Did her father have a girlfriend? When did he start dating? And if so, who the hell was she?

Colby rushed out of the kitchen to get dressed. Inquiring minds wanted to know, and she hoped to get answers on the ride to the garage. Colby also planned to find Gonzo as soon as they got there. He was supposed to be her eyes and ears. If he knew that her dad was dating and didn’t tell her, she was going to kill him.

Chapter Ten

Brian knew he was a lucky bastard as he quietly gazed across the room. The universe had gifted him another chance, and he planned to take full advantage. Life would be perfect if he could just get his business on track.

A corner of his mouth edged up as he admired the woman lying in his bed.Damn, she was beautiful.

It had been a little over a year since Brian and Lila rekindled their romance,andhe still couldn’t believe she had chosen him...again. He was the man Lila wanted to spend her time with and the one she made love to. They weren’t officially exclusive, but Brian wasn’t seeing anyone else, and he was fairly certain neither was she. At some point, when Lockwood was finally in a good position and he was more established, Brian would make Lila his. Until then, he'd work his ass off to get to that point. He hoped sooner rather than later.

Lila lay sprawled out on her stomach with her head resting on her arm. The sheets were bunched up around her waist while the rest of her body was completely exposed. The contrast between the white sheets and her silky-smooth dark skin left Brian rethinking his early morning meeting. His dumb ass should never have scheduled it, but Lila coming over was a spur-of-the-moment decision that went against her rules—no two-night overnight stays in a row. Dumbest rule ever.

Lila stretched and shifted positions.

Damn, those legs.They were dangerous and conjured a memory from a few hours earlier. It played vividly in Brian’s mind. He could still feel her luscious breasts pressed firmly against his chest while her legs were wrapped tightly around his waist as he thrust wildly into her.

Lila moaned.

Brian bit his lower lip. That sound was melodic. It was official; hewasobsessed and couldn’t resist one last kiss. He walked over to Lila’s side of the bed and kneeled low.

As she slept, Lila flipped onto her back and reached out to Brian’s side of the bed, only to find it empty and cold.

Her eyes fluttered open, disappointed not to find him lying beside her.

Brian swept Lila’s hair away from her forehead and whispered, “I’m here.”

She turned at the sound of his voice and smiled. Her tone was husky from sleep. “Morning.”

Brian grinned too. “Morning.”

A slight frown formed between her brows as she glanced at the clock on the table next to the bed. “Where are you going this early?”

“Remember I have that breakfast meeting with Glenmore Motors.”

It took a second for her to recall this appointment before she finally remembered. “What possessed you to schedule it so early?”

“Poor planning on my part. I forgot my girlfriend likes to sleep in.”

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