Page 94 of Burnout
“I’m really impressed by you too,” he says and my heart flutters. He’s complimented me before, but this feels more important. I want to hear him explain all the ways he finds me impressive someday, but not right now.
“I’m impressed by you too. It’s a really noble thing you did, taking care of your brothers. Still taking care of them.”
He shrugs it off. So very Knox.
“Was racing always what you wanted to do?” I ask him.
“Yeah. I stopped for a few years with everything going on. I didn’t have the money or the time to be traveling to races. I thought I was done for good. I’d made my peace with it, but then Hendrick moved back home, and he encouraged me to get into it again. Told me I’d always regret it if I didn’t give it a shot.” He smiles in a way that makes me realize how everything they’ve gone through has created this tight-knit bond between them.
And it’s forged him into this amazing man who would give up everything for the people he loves. It’s seriously sexy.
I want to ask him more. Specifically, about his dad and what showing up at the track means, but Knox brushes his lips over mine and smiles, and I don’t want to drag him back to a place that I know is touchy.
“What are you doing Sunday?” he asks.
“I have no idea. Why?”
His smile turns into a smirk. “I want to take you somewhere.”
“Okay.” I don’t even need to know where. I want to be pretty much any place he is. I’m absolutely addicted to kissing him, but I’m also falling for him a little more with every new tidbit I learn.
THIRTY-ONE
When Avery pulls upto the house on Sunday, I’m loading the bikes into the back of my truck.
She gets out looking a little bleary-eyed and tired, but gorgeous as always. White tank top, jeans, and she’s got a black beanie pulled down over her ears.
“I know you don’t really like coffee, but I didn’t want to show up empty-handed,” she says as she steps forward and holds one out to me.
“Thanks.” I take it and drop a kiss on her lips.
She looks over the bikes in the back. “What time did you get back last night?”
“Not too late.” It was just after midnight when I got home from the freestyle event in California, so I am technically tired but I’m too excited about today to need caffeine to function.
“Do you want help unloading? I don’t know what I’m doing, but I can lift heavy things.”
I shake my head and smile at her assumption. “You can help unload when we get where we’re going.”
“Wait.” Her lips pull into a wide smile. “We’re riding?”
“Yep.” I finish strapping down the second bike.
Her smile falls into hesitation. “I don’t know how to ride.”
“Good thing I do.”
She tells me about her weekend while I drive and then we fall into a comfortable silence. It’s a nice feeling being with Avery. She’s as happy staring out the window and taking in the scenery as I am. And I think it’s because she doesn’t need or expect things from me in the way so many other people do in my life that I find myself wanting to know things about her.
“What part of Texas are you from?”
The window is down, letting in the cool morning air, and it whips her hair around her face. She tucks a strand back as she answers, “A small town just outside of Houston.”
“Do you miss it?”
“I miss my family, but other than that, not really. I feel bad, though. My brother sat through so many practices and meets for me and I don’t get to do the same for him.”
“Music, right?”
