Monterey
I wish I could slap that smug smile off Danger’s face, and then kiss away the pain. Is it sick that ever since my father hatched this hair-brained idea for Danger and I to pretend to be engaged that I can’t stop thinking about Danger sexually?
It is sick. And I hope to cure this infliction the longer I hang around him.
It’s already helping. He wants to propose at a race?
I can’t imagine what a proposal from Danger Hudson would even be like. I can picture him, his cocky grin, and him saying the words, “Want to get married?” No romance. No nothing to it.
I bet he doesn’t even have a romantic bone in his body.
My eyes travel down to the bulge in his pants at the mention of the word bone. Oh my god, I’m staring right at his...bone.
Eyes up.
I lift my eyes to meet his. “Always so full of yourself.”
His eyes never leave mine while he stuffs some eggs in his mouth and chews, and then he says, “This is one thing I know you’ll say yes to.”
I smile, putting a little more butter on my toast. Two can play this game. “Only because I’m being forced.” I give my father the evil eye.
“Oh come on, Monterey. It really is the only way.”
My stepmother flutters into the kitchen, dropping next to my father with her hands outstretched like she’s sporting wet nail polish, and knowing Lindsey, she most likely is.
“What did I miss?” Lindsey’s bubbly personality stops as she stares around the table. To say she married my father for his money is an understatement. But, it’s ok that she and I are nearly the same age and that most of her parts are fake, including her personality, because my father had a clause put into the prenup, and if they ever divorce she’ll get nothing. But, she came from nothing and really has no other option. So, she’ll play the part of doting wife as long as the money keeps flowing.
“I’m thinking of asking Monty here to marry me,” Danger blurts out.
Lindsey’s bright blue eyes grow wide as she tries to determine if he’s joking or not. “I… well, congratulations.”
“Yes, apparently they’ve been secretly dating for a while now,” my father says. Very interesting that he doesn’t trust his own wife with the fake plan.
But I guess the fewer people who know the truth the less chance of it getting leaked to the press.
Showtime.
I smile, leaning in closer to him. “Yes, and we’re so happy.” I’m trying my hardest not to sound so fake, but I know I’m failing miserably.
“That’s great,” Lindsey says. “Just great. Danger and Monterey, I would have never put the two of you together, but now that I see it I see how well it works.” Lindsey’s a sheep. Anything anyone says she’ll blindly follow along.
My father puts his arm around her. “Dear, why don’t you have a little breakfast.” That’s my father’s way of telling Lindsey to shovel some food in her mouth and shut the hell up.
I’m not saying I don’t like Lindsey, but well, there’s really nothing to like. She’s an empty shell.
I’m not even sure why my father married her.
Danger’s quiet as he eats and I remove my arm from around his shoulders. There’s a time and place for PDA’s and right now at family breakfast isn't it. His eyes meet mine as I shift myself back into place.
It’s almost like he wants to ask me to put my arm back, but I know he never would. Not with an audience. So, instead he continues eating like he’s not going to get a chance to ever again.
I don’t know much about Danger before my father signed him. All we really know are a handful of things. He’s a damn good driver. He hates being tied down. He causes more trouble than I think he’s worth. And he hails from Los Angeles.
I think that’s why he got into trouble last night.
He’s on his home turf, or something. But, luckily for us, we were able to get Sandi, his PR agent, all over the story and no one has figured out that Danger was even arrested last night.
At least, I hope it doesn’t get leaked out.
It wasn’t splashed all over this morning’s newspaper. So that’s a good sign.
“What do you have planned today, Monty?” Danger asks me. “Will you be coming to the press conference?”
He knows I’ll be there. “Of course.”
He smiles, and it almost looks genuine. “Good.” I don’t know why this makes him happy, but I don’t have time to try to figure him out.
He’s like the world’s toughest jigsaw puzzle, and I do not have the patience to even attempt solving it.
The press conference is always the same ol’ thing. Millions of raving fans trying their hardest to get Danger’s attention. And when I say fans, I mean women. Lots and lots of women.
Half dressed busty blondes mainly, pushing their tits as close as they can to Danger’s face. Most shout things like, ‘Danger, marry me’ or ‘Danger, put a baby in me.’ It’s all very gross if you ask me, and now we have to act like we’re an item.
And I’ll be honest here, I’m not quite sure how or where I should be standing in front of the media so confidently, they could be as relentless as a firing squad. Every reporter wants a piece of him.
He walks toward the press conference table full of microphones like he owns the crowd. Like he was born in the spotlight, and I swear he was. Like the whole world wants his story, and I have to say I’m a little intrigued as well.
Who is this man?
He came out of nowhere, and now he’s captured all the hearts of the women of the world. He’s got the looks to drop panties with a small smile. I’ve never seen anyone who looks as good as him.
Seriously. Why does he have to be so freaking handsome?
I’ve never seen anyone who has such poise and precision in all things. Even his smile is deathly.
I see why he’s called Danger.
Must have been a woman to give him that nickname. Because this man is dangerous. I’ll be sure I take good care of my heart and not let him anywhere near it.
Danger moves to sit behind a table of microphones as he scowls at Thad Jeffries sitting next to him.
I dislike Thad. A lot. The fact that I once dated the asshole makes it a billion times worse. Danger, however, hates him for a completely different reason.
They’re rivals. Racing has never seen a bigger rivalry than the two of them.
Thad used to drive for us. He was a proud member of Grander Racing, and our top driver.
We dated and life was good until it wasn’t. Until the moment I walked in on him and two other women.
Yes, two.
My father didn’t take kindly to Thad and he left the team. This was over a year ago. And I have to say, there isn’t a part of me that misses that man.
Thad’s blond hair ruffles in the wind and he uses a hand to smooth it down. “I love racing, and yesterday’s race was a pure testament to how much I love the sport,” he says into the microphone like he’s reciting something his team wrote for him word for word.
“Ha,” Danger blurts out. “That’s a load of horse shit.”
I shake my head, trying my best to get his attention.