Page 49 of Danger

She stops smiling. “Did she?”

“No, she didn’t.”

“Oh, what’s your real name?”

I smile wide. “What do I get if I tell you?”

She swats me on the arm. “I’m not giving you anything.”

“No?”

Her eyes grow serious, and desire pools in them. “What do you want?”

I lean closer. I can almost breathe her in. “There’s so many things I want.” I capture her lips with mine.

She feels too good to stop kissing. I’ll admit a truth to you right now, I dig kissing this chick.

Her lips are soft, much softer than any I’ve ever felt before. There’s nothing more perfect in this moment.

I stare into her bright green eyes. “Dylan,” I whisper, not having said my real name in so many years. The last person to call me Dylan was my mom. And she’s gone now.

“I like that name.” Monterey’s smile could light the entire city. It’s really that powerful. I know another thing it could do… stop hearts.

Because I’m pretty sure mine just stopped beating there for a second.

My chest warms and I swear I can’t handle the emotions rolling through me so I do the only thing I can. I kiss her again.

And everything about my past I want to say to her falls away with the kiss. There’s so much I want to open up about, but I know I can’t.

She wasn’t raised like me.

She was raised in wealth, not filth.

We make out like teenagers who snuck out and are afraid of getting caught. I cop a feel over her shirt of each breast, and she pants short quick breaths as I do.

“Ready to get out of here?” I ask her.

She bites her bottom lip, not sure what will happen once we leave the track.

“Don’t worry,” I reassure her. “I’m not going to try anything tonight.” Even though I feel physically fine after the accident today, I don’t want to push my luck.

“Yeah, probably not a good idea. Besides, we have a busy day tomorrow.”

“We do?” I ask her.

“Yes, we have another charity event for the Carter Loves. They’re following the tour.”

“I still can’t believe I punched Cole Danforth.”

Monterey’s eyes meet mine. “Yes, you sure did.”

“Tomorrow night, see if you can get me a meeting with the two of them. I want to apologize to him.”

She nods. “Ok.” And then she rises to her feet, and I follow suit, swaying just a bit from the lightheadedness from standing up too quickly. “Are you ok?” she asks.

“Yeah, I’ve got tough skin.” And that’s probably the most true statement I’ve ever made.

We head to the hotel and Monterey’s exhausted by the time we get back.

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