Adrenaline (Speed Series Book 2)(19)

“Oh yeah, yeah.” Turning, he yelled for the other guy, who popped his head out.

“James! I’m taking Ms. Pruitt in to see Malcolm.”

James gave a thumb’s up to the other security guard who turned back to me. “Just follow me and I’ll show you where to park. Malcolm is most likely waiting for you.”

With a smile, I nodded and said, “Okay. I’ll follow you.”

Driving down the tunnel, I held my breath until we got to the other side. People were everywhere. I couldn’t believe all the RV’s set up and all the people hanging out and having a good time. I tried to do a bit of research before this dinner and I found out a little about this world. I knew they would be qualifying tomorrow, then the next level down from NASCAR, the Xfinity Series raced that Saturday and then the big race was on Sunday.

The security guard pulled down what I was guessing was Pit Road and parked. Parking next to him, I dragged in a deep breath before exhaling it. “Okay, it’s not like it’s your first date, Paislie. It’s just dinner. Nothing else. Unless . . .” I shook my head to clear my thoughts. “No. No! Dinner only.”

The knock on my window had me letting out a scream so toe-curling, I was positive the glass almost shattered.

Peeking through my half-closed eyes, I saw Malcolm standing on the other side of the window with his head cocked to the side and the most adorable smile I’d ever seen.

Damn, what is it about a crooked smile and dimples?

“God, be with me tonight and for once, keep me strong,” I whispered before opening the door.

“Were you really in there just now talking to yourself?”

I let out a nervous giggle. “No, I was ah . . . praying.”

His eyes widened as I cursed under my breath. Way to scare him off, Paislie.

“Praying? About what?”

“Strength.” No! No not strength!

“For what?”

Shit!

“No . . . no wait. Okay, I wasn’t praying praying . . . well I was . . . I um. Shit.”

There went the stupid grin again. “You were talking to yourself,” Malcolm said as my knees wobbled and my stomach felt as if I was on a thrill ride.

With a nervous laugh, I nodded my head. “Yes. I was talking to myself.”

His eyes searched my face and I liked very much the way he was looking at me. My dark hair was pulled up into a simple ponytail. He had said to dress casual, so I did. Jeans and light-green shirt I knew popped the color of my eyes.

“You look even more beautiful than I remember.”

I felt my cheeks warm. “Let’s hope that trumps the talking to myself,” I said with a wink.

Malcolm’s smile grew bigger. “You hungry?”

Turning my gaze down to the ground, I found myself feeling something I’d never felt with a man before.

Excitement.

I was giddy to find out what he had planned and for once, I didn’t feel like I was going to be let down.

That’s when I noticed no Deuce.

“Hey. Where’s my date?”

With a long dramatic sigh, Malcolm shook his head. “Deuce wasn’t up for dinner tonight. Turns out he ate a little too much rawhide and isn’t feeling like himself this evening.”

With a pout I said, “Poor guy.”

Malcolm tried to appear somber.

With a raised brow, I asked, “Are you his stand in?”

His hand went to his sculpted chest. “If you’ll have me, I’d be honored.”

I snarled my lip up and shrugged. “I guess,” I sighed. “I was looking forward to that handsome boxer.” My eyes traveled over Malcolm’s body as I fought to keep the urge away to touch him. “I guess you’ll do.”

He tried to hide his amusement as he placed his arm out for me to take. “Let’s get this party started.”

The moment my body touched his, I felt it. Peeking up, I tried to see if Malcolm felt it too. If he did, he hid it well. We walked across the track as he helped me over the barrier and we started up the bleachers.

“Man, all I need to do is walk up and down these a few times a day and I’d be in great shape!” I said with a chortle.

We came out to where all the concession stands were and headed to another building with double doors.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

Malcolm opened the door for me and said, “Up.”

“Up is always a good thing,” I purred as I gave him a wicked smile and walked through the door. That time, I saw his reaction. Not only in his eyes, but in the way he attempted to hide the fact that he had to adjust himself.

He hit up as we stood there and waited for the elevator. “So, how long have you been turned on by racing cars?”

He looked at me with a somewhat surprised expression. “Turned on?”

The doors opened and we walked in. “Yeah. I’d have to think it was some kind of a rush that got you loving the need for speed. You must really enjoy it if you’re as good as they say. You’re turned on to the rush you get. Am I right?”

His eyes lit up and I wasn’t sure why. Maybe because I used the words turned on. Lord knows I was already looking at his perfect body. Damn, his ass looked good in those jeans.

Paislie. Stop!

“I guess you could say racing is a turn on. It’s more of an adrenaline rush than a sexual turn on, though.”