The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (67)

“I expect these back.”

“Sure.” I took the keys and didn’t waste time skipping down the stairs and out the front door. Ever and Jamie were nowhere to be found. I shrugged it off and hopped on my very own bike. I couldn’t wait to call Gruff and thank him. Suspended in disbelief, I held my breath as I slowly slid the key in the ignition and turned. The vibration of the engine roaring to life chased away my worries and fears.

Mine.

It was all mine.




“You staying out of trouble, girl?”

“No.” I snorted and laughed. “Not really.”

Gruff grunted, accepting my words as the truth. After spending some time admiring my new bike, I parked it in the garage and returned the keys to Thomas as promised. Now I was lying on my stomach, kicking my feet back and forth as I talked to Gruff.

“I still can’t believe you gave me your bike.”

“My knee has been giving me trouble. Figured you’d put it to better use than I can. It’s got some new parts, which I’m sure you noticed.”

I did notice. In fact, I lost my shit. “I wish I could have been there to help.”

“Me too, kid.”

“Maybe I’ll see you this summer?” I couldn’t disguise the hope in my voice.

“I’ll be here,” he answered noncommittally. It was hard to take offense. Gruff was just who he was. “So have you been applying to colleges?”

“A few. Brynwood doesn’t really play around,” I grumbled, which earned a rare chuckle from Gruff. I had put in a few applications under duress but had no intention of going. The only future I could accept was me professionally racing. College couldn’t do squat for me.

I heard a few voices in the background and waited while Gruff responded to them. When he returned to the line, it was to say goodbye. As I reluctantly hung up, I realized I never even got around to telling him that Thomas had confiscated my birthday present. I decided it could wait and started on my homework.

A couple of hours later, Rosalyn came to my room dressed in a killer blue dress and silver strappy heels. Her hair had been French rolled, and diamond teardrop earrings completed her look.

“Thomas and I are meeting friends of his for dinner. Don’t wait up.”

I had an odd sense of déjà vu as she walked away. I watched her go and stood there long after she’d gone before finally closing my door.

Tyra had texted about seeing a movie, and I had about thirty minutes before she’d be here, so I changed into jeans and my Days of Thunder T-shirt before throwing on my utility jacket and heading downstairs to see what I could find for dinner. I wasn’t crazy about paying movie theater prices for popcorn and candy.

I heard them whispering, and when I entered the kitchen, Ever and Jamie stopped and stared.

“You know it’s a felony to make a girl this uncomfortable.”

Jamie’s eyes bucked. “You’re still expecting us to be gentlemanly?”

“I never expected any such thing.” I decided to grab an apple and hoped it would be enough. “What were you two talking about?” I questioned with a mouth full.

“Business que es nachos,” Jamie answered with a cringe while Ever chose to stare.

“Let me guess.” I giggled. “You got a D in Spanish?”

His eyes hooded at my teasing. “It was pass-fail.”

“And your teacher was pretty?”

“Not really,” he said with a smirk. “But I am.”

Shaking my head, I stole a peek at Ever and felt my tummy clench when I realized he was still watching me. “Why are you staring at me?”

“Because there’s nothing else in the room that interests me.”

My chewing slowed for a moment as my skin heated, and my panties became damp. “Am I supposed to be flattered?” A knowing light entered his eyes when I shifted, but he said nothing. “I’m going out,” I said quickly as I backed away. “Could you tell Charlie?”

“You mean the cook?” Ever mocked.

Mr. Hunt had recently insisted I call him by his first name when he complimented me for not being so uptight. All I’d done was thank him for a great meal. It seemed a shame that gratitude among the elite was a rare occurrence.

“He has a name.”

“And now I know it.”

I contemplated tossing my half-eaten apple at him when he stood and closed the distance between us.

“If you throw your food at me, you won’t be going anywhere but over my knee.”

I didn’t expect his kiss. It was soft, brief, and almost sweet. A noticeable contrast to the threat that made my heart, and something else just as forbidden to him, to contract.

“Meet me in the garage in five.”

“Is that an order?”

“Does it need to be?” he tossed over his shoulder as he exited the kitchen.

I watched him go and hated the sigh that left my lips. I’d forgotten Jamie was still in the room until he spoke. “You should stop pretending you don’t want him. He’s made it clear he won’t reject you.”

“He kissed me.”

“And made you want more.”

“Screw you.” I tossed my apple at him, which he caught and took a huge chunk out of.