Page 79 of Danger

“Ready for what?” Now I turn to face him, wondering what he could possibly mean. Ready to marry Danger? Ready to take over my father’s company? I perk up a bit, wondering if this is exactly what he wants to tell me.

He makes me happy when he says, “I’m ready to retire, and I know you’re more than ready to take over Grander Racing when I do.”

I smile, for the first time tonight. “I can’t believe you’re going to retire so soon. I thought you’d stay on til’ the day you died.”

He laughs, moving closer. “I think this year’s been good on you. I also think Danger’s been good on you as well. You just seem so much happier.” His eyes stare at me. “Well, tonight excluded.”

“I just have a lot on my mind.”

My father takes a flute of champagne from a passing waiter’s tray. “Monterey, I wish I had some sort of great pearl of wisdom to bestow on you right now, but I haven’t got anything.”

I smile wide. “It’s ok, Dad. I’ll be fine.”

“I will say this, don’t wait to tell the person you love that you love them. Because I wish everyday I would have told your mother. But, instead I let her walk away and it still pains me everyday to think about how I should have told her I loved her in the end.”

“But, you’re happy with your life, right?”

My father sips his champagne before answering, “Sure, sometimes. But there’s always something that feels like it’s missing from my life.”

“I never knew this.”

He laughs, swatting away the words he has said like a little fly buzzing around. “No importance. But, I know you love Danger, don’t you?”

I stare at the glass of bubbly in my hand, afraid that if I meet my father’s eyes I’ll break down. “I do, a lot.” My shoulders slump at my confession and my father motions to a chair beside him. I take the seat and he holds my hand.

“Then tell him. You never know what he might say. I can see by the way he stares at you that he’s got some serious feelings for you.”

I smile, trying my best to believe the words my father says. “Ok.”I blink. “Dad, what do we really know about Danger?”

My father taps his chin as he thinks. “Not much. Runaway. I remember him saying once his dad was a driver.”

“His father?” I let the fact that his father was a driver absorb into my brain. “Anyone we know?”

“I don’t think he ever made it to the big times.”

“Ah, ok.” At just this moment Danger enters the ballroom, looking sexier than sin in an all black suit. “There’s the man of the hour. I guess I should join him.”

“Remember what I said, don’t wait.”

I smile, squeezing my father’s arm as I walk away.

I cross the ballroom, my eyes glued on Danger, my nerves on high alert. My hands shake as I set the flute of champagne on a table as I pass by.

“You look, wow,” Danger says as I reach him. He wraps an arm around my waist, tucking me into his side.

“You look pretty good yourself.”

“Missed you at the race today.”

I bite the inside of my cheek, stalling for an answer. “I just didn’t feel like dealing with all the media and fans today. I wasn’t feeling too well.”

He moves to where he’s standing in front of me, both hands on my arms. “Are you feeling ok now.” I feel like he’s ready to place his palm on my forehead.

I pull away just a bit. “I’m fine.”

He stares at me for a second, studying me. “You kind of don’t look so hot.”

My mouth opens at his words. “Danger, how could you say that?”

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