30. Jameson
jameson
. . .
The air blows brisk in Chicago this time of the year.
Spring has always been my favorite here, especially as it signals the return of the open track in Romeo’s territory.
I haven’t raced since Vegas, three months ago, and I’ve been itching to get back out there.
Also, my priorities haven’t changed, no matter how much Sam tries to tell me she doesn’t need me to pay for her last year of college.
After her team won the NCAA Championship, she had some big decisions to make.
True to form, my girl made a pros-cons list with each of her decisions.
Now that we’re a real team, she then brought the lists to me, and we went over them together before making a decision.
Sam is waiting for one more year to enter the draft.
She’ll be a senior with even more guaranteed ice time this year.
As long as she stays healthy and uninjured, she should do well.
Even if she were to get hurt, I would still use my connections through Romeo to make sure she was still eligible.
A talent like Sam’s deserves to be seen.
I feel her before I see her. My body is so in tune with everything about her that it reacts when she’s within a dozen yards of me.
Turning, I catch sight of her walking between two of our best friends over to where I’m waiting for my turn to race.
She’s smiling at something Braysen says, and Luca wraps his arm around her shoulders.
My jaw clenches and my eyes narrow on my friends.
“Easy there big man,” Braysen jokes, giving me a knowing grin.
Sam’s gaze jumps to mine and I see her shake her head. “He’s your best friend. Calm down.”
When she’s finally within reaching distance, I grab her arm and yank her into my body. “Still don’t like him touching my fiancée.”
Luca scoffs. “Technically, Sam was in my line first that day, so she was my best friend before yours.”
My body tightens and my vision turns red. I go to grab him, but he dodges behind Braysen fucking laughing. I lunge for him again, but this time Sam’s arm wraps around my waist.
“Kane! Seriously.” She huffs before shooing the guys away. “And really, must you taunt him with stupid shit? You know he gets jealous.”
“That's why it's so funny to tease the big caveman, Sam,” Luca calls, as he and Braysen move away to wrangle in the last bets for Romeo before everything settles in.
“I’m gonna kill him. Did you see his smirk when he was rubbing it in that he met you first?” I ask, feeling my hands clench.
Sam shakes her head no, her eyes wide. “Ah, no. I wasn’t paying attention.”
I glance down at her in disbelief. “How could you not see he was doing it on purpose?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I was too caught up on the fact that you called me your fiancée.” Her hands land on her hips, her blue eyes blazing bright.
My lips tip up and I cup her jaw with my fingers. “Get used to it, Pretty Girl.”
Her blonde hair tosses around her shoulders when she leans back out of my grasp. “Not funny, Kane. This is the second time you’ve mentioned a ring to me.”
My mind goes back to the night she came back to me and I remember exactly what I said to her. I meant every fucking word of it. Leaning down, I kiss each corner of her mouth, before giving the same attention to her pouty lips. “I’ll see you after the race, Sammy.”
I hug her once more, then move to head to my spot, my hand slapping her ass for good luck. She smirks at me over her shoulder and sticks out her tongue. My head tosses back on a laugh, because it's exactly the type of response I’d expect from her.
Slipping behind the wheel, I fire up the engine before driving out to the starting line.
The car idles, the engine roaring underneath me.
One of the girlfriends of a racer stands off to the side, a flag in her hand.
I focus on her hands, watching for the signal, my foot hovering over the gas, and my hand flexing on my gear shift.
The flag twirls. She raises it above her head before slamming it to the ground.
Instinct takes over and my foot presses down hard on the accelerator.
The car lurches forward, and I move easily into the inside lane, before there’s a mass bottle up at the start.
Jerking my steering wheel, I cut off another guy trying to slide into my space.
My tires grab the road just as we make our way into the first turn.
The Chicago skyline flashes in my side window before disappearing behind me in a plume of dirt and gravel.
Holding my position, a red Porsche 911 and I stay neck in neck, battling it out for the lead, a black Mercedes tight on my bumper.
Smiling to myself, I lightly tip the wheel, causing my back end to swing back and forth.
The other car backs off an inch, which allows me to gain momentum and take the lead, forcing the Porsche behind me.
Headlights flash in my rearview, trying to distract, but my focus is already on the last two curves.
There isn’t space for two cars to pass through, the narrow bend barely allows for one car.
The boxier Corvette behind me is going to have a tough time without scratching rock.
My fingers tighten on the wheel, holding it firmly to the right, as I take the curve, finding the sweet spot in the middle.
Gunning out of the turn, the front of my car lurches, the back tires spinning as I drive for the finish line.
I can see the flag waving in the air, signaling the end.
Shifting into gear, my foot presses the pedal to the floor.
The world outside my windows blurs in lights and color.
My adrenaline peeks, and I feel the rush of my impending win.
There is no competition as I race over the finish line.
Loud cheers erupt around me, the crowd heading over to celebrate the last race of the evening.
I only have eyes for Sam, who is still standing off to the side with Braysen and Luca.
Prowling towards her, I watch as her blue eyes widen, catching onto my intention.
I need her. Sam bites her lip and rushes over to me.
She launches her body into mine and I catch her easily.
Both of her legs wind around my waist, her arms circling my neck.
One of my hands dives into her long hair while the other grips her ass.
Our mouths crash together in a frenzy, our tongues meeting and dancing together.
The crowd fades away until it's only her and me.
When Sam pulls back first, it's to take a breath. Her eyes are now shining, her cheeks are flushed, and her lips are extra red and puffy. Exactly how I love to see her. “I love you, Pretty Girl.”
Her legs squeeze me tighter. “I love you too. That was one heck of a race, Kane.”
“Alright we get it!” Braysen calls from nearby. “You love each other. Put my friend down now.”
Sam giggles, looking over her shoulder at our small crowd.
Beside the guys stand Romeo and Kalai. Setting Sam back on the ground, I turn her in front of me, my arms across her chest, and walk her over.
Everyone congratulates me and Romeo on the race.
I watch everyone interact, seeing my two worlds collide into something amazing.
“Not bad,” the man says before shaking my hand. I smirk at him. His not bad just made him a half a million dollars richer tonight. “Chicago seems to agree with you.”
Glancing at Sam, seeing her happy, relaxed and enjoying herself, has my heart squeezing in my chest. “It would seem so.”
“Maybe you won’t be giving it up as soon as you think?” he says, and this time, I shrug. I love racing. I enjoy the adrenaline and the win. The cash is nice too.
My gaze fixates on the woman who holds my heart inside her body. Who has already given me so much. I like racing, but I’d give it up tomorrow if she asked me. If her job and her dreams make it impossible to continue, I have no problem putting down the keys.
“The future is always changing,” I tell him noncommittedly. Romeo is a smart business man. He is also a husband as of two months ago when they finally tied the knot, and now he’s also a soon-to-be father from what Kalai has shared with Sam.
“I’m in talks with the PWHL team in New York. We’re thinking of becoming season ticket holders.” Romeo scratches along his jaw and I bust out laughing. The man instantly took a liking to Sam just like his wife. Both were there to see her team in the NCAA tourney.
“Always a good investment.” I slap him on the shoulder, and we walk toward our women.
My hands slip around Sam’s waist, and I bend down, trailing my nose up her neck to her ear. “Let's take a drive.” She turns over her shoulder and mischief sparks in her eyes.
“They're having a party for you, we can’t leave.”
Smiling behind her head so she can’t see me, I whisper, “They won’t miss us if we’re a little late.”
Her body relaxes against mine and she turns in my arms, her hands circling the back of my neck. “Okay. But a short drive. Kalai has been talking this place up and it's our last night out.”
My face sobers and I lean down pressing a quick kiss on her lips. “I loved being in Chicago with you, but I am ready to get home to our little girl.”
Sam nods. “Me too. Let's celebrate tonight, and tomorrow, we get all the Dylan hugs and kisses."
I kiss her forehead and squeeze her hard. “Sounds good to me, baby.” I really can’t wait to celebrate with her later.
Taking Sam’s hand in mine, I tug her behind me to my car.
After opening her door and helping her in, I catch Braysen’s attention with a whistle.
He tosses a box in the air, and I catch it, pocketing the contents easily before throwing it back.
The transaction is quick, and when I slide in next to Sam, she’s none the wiser.
“Where are we going?”
“Just a drive around the city.” I shrug. “We didn’t get much sightseeing in.”
“We’d have to leave the hotel room for that.” She smirks and I take her hand in mine, kissing her knuckles.