Chapter 16
Before he had known about her race, Marcus would’ve said there was no way on earth he was taking her home with him tonight. But once she had told him about her planned illegal midnight rendezvous, all bets were off. There was no way he was leaving her alone.
She wasn’t terrified either. If how fast she kept pace with his long stride through Upper Ten said anything, she was downright eager.
Horatio only looked slightly surprised to see them emerge from the blue room so quickly. “I’ll call down to the valet and make sure your car is waiting.”
“Thanks, Horatio.”
“My pleasure, Q.”
The trip down the elevator seemed to take moments.
Every second he held her hand seemed to pass quicker than the last. Marcus knew he was fucked.
Good and properly fucked. Being with Flynn felt like he’d plugged himself into a higher voltage of life.
Like everything was happening faster, the colors were brighter, and life was more interesting than it had been … maybe ever.
And he’d barely even kissed her.
Maybe this was why he’d avoided her. Maybe part of him had known that she would change everything.
The valet also did a good job of hiding his surprise. “Have a wonderful night, Mr. Quinterro, madam. Drive safely.”
He slid him another bill as he shook the valet’s hand. “Thank you.”
With Flynn inside the Porsche, Marcus had to remind himself to breathe before he got into the driver’s seat. She made him feel like a teenager again.
When he slid into the driver’s seat, he looked over at her. “You sure you want to go to my place?”
“You sure you don’t want me to go race?”
“Fucking right I am.”
“Same,” she said.
“Enough said.”
“Glad we understand each other.”
He shifted into gear and punched it. The car surged into the empty lane and reached the intersection in seconds.
Flynn’s laughter filled the car. “That’s what I’m about. You got radar?”
“Built in with jammers.”
“I knew I liked your style, Q.”
“Marcus. I’m Marcus to you.”
“Okay, whatever you say,” she said with a brilliant grin from the passenger seat.
“God, you’re fucking cute.”
“Cute?”
“It’s not a bad thing, and it doesn’t have anything to do with how you look.”
“Then how am I cute?”
“It’s how you act. You used to have this wild-child, devil-may-care bravado, but now … you’re just fucking cute.”
“Is that better or …”
He looked over at her. “Way better.”
“Really?” She sounded surprised. “Huh. Who would’ve thought?”
“You’d have to be a dude to get it.”
“Fair enough. I have never understood men.”
“What’s to understand?”
“That’s a conversation for another time.”
He glanced over at her, noticing her sudden reserve. “Why?”
“Because I don’t want to make tonight awkward when it’s so much fun.”
“Why would that make it awkward?”
She let out a long breath. “Because I don’t want you to think I have daddy issues and change your mind.”
He studied her in the glow of the city lights. “I’m not changing my mind, Flynn. And if you have daddy issues, I guess that’s a bridge we’ll cross if we come to it.”
“Really? I thought most guys ran the other way if that came up.”
“You don’t seem fucking crazy, so that’s a big help.”
Flynn’s whole body shook in the seat as she laughed. “I like how honest you are. No games. No bullshit.”
“I’m too old for that shit.”
“So am I.”
“Which is why you’re done street racing. I can’t pretend me saying that ain’t happening tonight is a one-time deal. As long as we’re doing this, you aren’t sneaking out on me in the middle of the night to race cars.”
He expected her to protest. But she was silent for several long moments.
“I already told you, it’s not a hard choice … and if what I’m getting instead is you, you’re not going to hear me argue.”
He was shocked it was so simple. No drama. No arguing.
“That easy?”
“Four years, Marcus. Waiting. Wondering if you would ever look at me and take me seriously. Wondering if I was crazy to think it was possible. You really think I want to crawl out of bed—a bed you’re hopefully in—and sneak around just to race a car and make some money?”
“You mean that?”
“I told you why I did it. And if anyone had really cared, I would’ve probably stopped sooner.”
“Well, I fucking care. And if it’s that easy, then great. You’re done. For good.”
“I know how you can make that a sure thing.” She slapped a hand over her mouth like she hadn’t meant to say that last part.
“Don’t tempt me, woman.”
Marcus had never in his life felt more certain that he was doing the right thing.
Like God himself had intended for this very moment to take place and he was just a willing participant.
Maybe he would get her pregnant and shut down any chance she’d ever street race again—at least for a while.
It was sounding like a better and better solution every minute that passed by, especially since she seemed more than into it.
“I’m not trying to.”
He had laughed more today than he had in years, he realized as he chuckled. “You don’t even have to try. How the fuck I survived four years of watching you, I will never know.”
“I guess timing is everything,” Flynn replied as the light turned green, and he headed for the tunnel. “Are your parents going to know I’m staying?”
“Only if you want them to. They leave me alone.”
“I don’t want them to think …”
“They won’t, and you’re not. I can tell.”
“Tell what?”
“You’re not a ho.”
“How can you tell?”
“Both doormen were shocked when I came to pick you up. Gerald said you never bring men home and they never come to pick you up.”
“He did not.”
“He did.”
“And here I thought, he was on my side …”
“He is. That’s why he wanted me to know you were a good girl. I think he was warning me. A bit protective, really.”
“I should’ve known. He totally disapproves of the Black Widow too.”
“Does he?”
“Yeah. He always tells me I need to find a nice boy and settle down.”
“I wondered if that was his way of vetting me.”
“Totally. And I thought they just liked your car.”
“I don’t think the car hurt either.”
“Marcus?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m glad you finally pulled your head out of your ass.”
His entire body shook with laughter. “Is that right?”
“Yeah. It would’ve sucked to have to find someone else starting on Wednesday.”
He looked over and threaded his fingers through hers. “That’s never gonna happen.”