41. Emerson
Emerson
“Holy shit!” My heart pounds out of my chest and time seems to stand still as I watch the scene unfold in seconds before me.
The BMW prototype a few yards in front of me runs over some debris and instantly pops their tire. The driver tries to recover but runs into the rumble strip and whips his car into a tailspin.
Holding my breath, I play a game of Tetris, working through the group of cars to find the next open spot I can fit through. The hood of the BMW breaks free and splits in two, sending it flying straight for Axel and me.
One of the pieces glides over the top of my car, and I almost let out a breath thinking it missed me when a thud sounds against the back of the car. “Dammit!”
With a quick glance behind me, I see it fall right in front of Axel’s Corvette, lodging straight into his front bumper.
“Yellow flag! Yellow flag! Get your ass in the pits, now!” Eddy shouts in my ear, and I slow down just enough to glide into the pits. Axel follows even slower behind, trying not to cause more damage to his vehicle.
As I inch closer to my pit stall, I can already see my crew waiting and a brand-new spoiler ready for replacement. I pull to a stop and, like a rubber band, they snap into action.
“Four seconds! Go, go, go!”
The sound of drills hums all around me as adrenaline courses through me.
Even with the yellow flag, I’m still going to have a few seconds to catch up to the rest of the drivers on the track.
And if Axel pulls out first, he’ll have a little bit of an advantage over me in the straightaway that the pit exits onto.
A thud hits the roof of my car just as Eddy shouts in my ear, “Go time!”
I shift into first, letting out the clutch and feathering the gas as I make my way through the pit lane. Axel is yelling at his crew as I pass, and my lips twitch up into a smirk. As soon as I make it to the end of the line, I shift gears and push down on the gas.
“Axel’s pulling out now, Em. This is going to be a close one. Maxton has pulled into the front position, so you’ll have to catch up. After that you just got to hold onto the lead.”
I scoff into my helmet. “That’s all?”
“Yep. Easy.” His laugh scratches into the mic. “Let’s go, Em. Bring us the win.”
The engine howls the higher I push it. Axel is inching closer in my rearview mirror, just as I manage to pass Maxton.
“Yes! Keep going, Em. One down. Now hold the line.”
Lap after lap, Axel and I inch forward and backward. Just like before, it comes down to the final lap. The adrenaline that courses through me, feels like tendrils of lightning tingling through my blood stream. It makes my heart thump at a tormenting pace.
It all comes down to the final curve.
Every thought, every fear, every worry goes still.
Only the growl of the engines fills the silence.
As we round the curve, I inhale a deep breath and imagine one thing, and one thing only.
Henley.
Our cars are dangerously close, and at any moment there’s a chance we could bump again. But I shift into a higher gear and begin to slide forward as we whip out of the turn. My car pulls in front.
I fucking did it.
Though we have a little bit of road left, I manage to box Axel out. When I cross the finish line, tears stream down my face.
Each tear washes away the hurt of the past. Paves the way for the bright future that is in front of me. The one with alluring hazel eyes and a heart of gold.
“Easy, easy!” I shout to my crew as they practically yank me out through my car window. I barely get my helmet and gloves off before I’m surrounded by the entire team. Champagne falls like rain all around us as I’m tossed into a sea of laughter and smiles.
And then the sea parts.
Before me stands my girlfriend, her wavy locks dripping with alcohol, and the most enchanting smile spread across her face.
It’s like when the sun peeks through the thick clouds after a stormy day.
A reminder that no matter how dark your life may seem, there is always light waiting to burst through and ignite you once more.
Henley is my light through the storm.
Tears glisten in her eyes as she runs and leaps straight into my arms. Wet lips collide with mine, and my body melts into her. Her taste hints of vanilla and spice.
But most of all, she tastes like mine.
The team hollers and whistles around us. Hen’s lips break away from mine as her infectious laughter fills the air—and my heart. I lean my forehead against hers and carry her away from the crowd.
“Em, where are we—” She breaks off giggling as I practically stumble my way through the pit tunnel until I find the door I want. Kicking open the stairwell, I carry us through the door then press her up against the wall.
She hums lightly into my mouth as I devour every inch of hers. Her fingers weave through my hair and her nails sting against my scalp.
“Em—”
“Hmm . . .”
Henley’s body arches into mine as I slip my palm underneath her shirt and run my fingers along her spine.
“Em—”
“Shhh . . .” I whisper quickly against her lips, pressing my hips against her. She whimpers, laying her head back against the wall. Trailing my mouth over the edge of her chin and down the slope of her neck, I feel her quickened pulse thump against my lips.
“Emerson.” She grabs a few locks of my hair and pulls. I know she’s trying to get my attention, but I’m too far gone.
“Yes, baby?” I smirk against the crook of her neck.
“We need to talk,” she laughs, still trying to tug at my hair.
“We are talking.” I suck her supple skin, and she sighs. Success.
This time she grabs my chin and lifts my head to meet hers. “With our voices, not our mouths.” She shakes her head, eyes alight with mirth.
“Well, you can use your voice, loudly—if you so choose.” Hovering just inches away from her lips, I feather mine over hers. Tempting her to just give in.
Her bottom lip slips underneath her teeth, and I think I’ve won. Until she shakes her head.
“I have something to tell you,” she whispers softly.
Hen’s words are like a bucket of cold water, and I place her gently back on her feet. My skin begins to prickle as I wait for her to speak.
“They gave me an offer.”
My heart stumbles, but I put on my biggest smile and bring her in for a deep kiss.
“I’m so proud of you. I knew you could do it, Henley. They are going to be lucky to have you, and you are going to be New York’s next up-and-coming chef. I can’t wait to be by your side and watch it all.”
Henley’s lip wobbles. I brush hair out of her eyes, and her palm wraps around my wrist. Silently I watch as she brings it to her mouth and presses a kiss to the inside of my palm, then brings it to cup her cheek.
“They offered me everything I wanted. Full creative control—” She pauses, her other hand slowly sliding up my chest as she speaks. “The ability to hire my own staff.”
“That’s amazing—”
“A place for you and I to live that is just a block away from the restaurant.” Her hand snakes around my neck to tilt my head against hers.
“It’s everything I ever dreamed of—” She breathes. “But I realized something.”
“What?”
“My dreams have changed.”
My heart stops completely as I struggle to take in her words.
“I didn’t take the job.”
Emotion floods through me. It works its way up my throat and threatens to close it.
“Baby, I don’t want you to—”
She covers my lips with her finger and shakes her head. “I’m not giving up my dreams, Emerson. I’m making new ones. Dreams I want to make with you. At home.”
Tears slip down her cheeks. I brush them away, then scoop her into my arms once more.
“Are you sure? It would break my heart to know you might regret this one day.”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life. I could never regret what I have with you.”
When the day started, I honestly didn’t think this moment would happen. Couldn’t believe that she would choose Oakley Falls over New York. Now that she has, I’m bursting to tell her my decision. I open my mouth to speak, but she begins first.
“You know, when I was younger, I asked my mother why she stopped barrel riding.”
My eyes widen. “Gracie Cole was a barrel rider? How have I lived all my life and not known this?”
Hen lets out a breathy chuckle, but her eyes glisten with unshed tears. “She doesn’t ever really talk about it. In fact, I only found out while sorting through old pictures in the attic when I was in high school.”
“I’ve always loved Mama Cole, but this makes me love her even more. It also explains a lot about her fiery spirit . . . and yours.” I laugh. Earning myself a playful slap from Hen.
“Anyway,” she says, rolling her eyes. “Her answer was etched in my soul that day, and it was all I could think about while I was in New York.”
“What did she say?”
“She told me that, as a little girl, her dreams had always been set on barrel racing. She worked hard every day to achieve it, setting her sights on perfection. And she excelled. Far greater than she could have ever imagined. Then, she met my father.
“He loved watching her race, and was front row in the stands at every race he could. But the more competitive she got, the more time she spent away. The dream she loved the most had become less of a thrill. The sparkle it once had dulled.”
“This is starting to sound familiar.”
Hen nods in agreement and rubs her thumb tenderly against my cheek.
“So what happened next?”
“She stopped racing.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that,” she hums. “Mom told Dad that her dreams had changed. She wanted something new, a life with the man she loved on the land she loved with the family they would grow together.”
“That’s beautiful,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head.
“It is,” she sighs, bringing her gaze to meet mine. “Dreams change, Em, because people change. We’re human, we grow and evolve, and so do our dreams. I still want to cook, but I want to do it on the land I grew up on. Surrounded by the people I love.”
“Me too,” I breathe, and Hen gives me a curious smile.
“You want to cook, too?” She smirks, bringing a laugh bursting out of me.
“No, Trouble,” I smile. “My dreams have changed, too. As much as I enjoy racing, I want to be around the people I love more. Life is too short, and being at home reminded me once again of the feeling of being close to the people you love. I want to help my Dad carry out my Mama’s dream and watch people celebrate life and all its wonderful moments on our ranch.
” I gently pull her chin closer to mine.
“I want to spend every day of the rest of my life watching the love of my life bring light to everyone she meets.”
Her breath hitches, and I press a slow, intimate kiss over her lips.
“Does this mean—”
“It means, this was my last race, baby.”
“Em, I don’t want you to give up on—”
“Dreams change, my love. My new dream involves a very long and beautiful life with you.”
Tears fall down my heated skin, and Henley presses her lips over each of them, gently brushing them away. Then she says three little words that will forever be wrapped around my soul.
“Let’s go home.”