“I don’t understand why you’re being so ridiculous,” Booby snaps, and I wonder if maybe I’ve been abducted by aliens and transported to an alternate universe. This is not my lifelong best friend I’m speaking to.
“And I think it’s ridiculous to believe I would give up my career I have worked for my entire life and my family legacy just to get married,” I say sweetly. “Racing is my entire world.”
Bobby just laughs. “Babe, you just posed naked for a gentlemen’s magazine. You’re the farthest thing from a respected driver. No one would think twice if you ended up on my arm, because you’re beautiful, and that kind of woman is expected to be a trophy wife,” he explains, and I feel like my head might explode. “But you’re not going to get DHR. That is mine, and it always was. Your dad won’t give it to you, because you wouldn’t know what to do with it. But he also can’t just not give it to you, because he’s handed you everything you’ve ever wanted your entire life, so he set this little ruse up. You get me, and I get DHR.”
“All in one neat little package,” I murmur softly.
“Ribbons and all,” he adds with a satisfied smile.
“We’ll see,” I say quietly as I tap my finger against the side of my wine glass.
“Adrienne—”
“This has been a lovely evening. Very illuminating. But I have an early call at the track tomorrow.”
“Addie—”
“I’d like to go now.”
He sighs and waves to the server to bring our check. Bobby pays the bill, then takes my hand and leads me back through the paparazzi to the valet, where his pretentious car is waiting for us. We don’t speak the whole way back to my house, but then again, I think we’ve both spoken plenty for one date.
He pulls through the gate and to the front of the house, then looks at me and sighs. “Don’t do something you’ll regret, Adrienne.”
“I won’t,” I reply just as seriously, leaving no doubt I will not be doing what he wants me to.
He walks me to my front door and places a kiss on my cheek while Manny watches from a discreet distance. It’s so much different than the invasive way King watches over me.
“It’s a done deal, Adrienne,” Bobby tells me quietly. “We both know it. You might as well give in now.”
“As you say,” I reply, and he rolls his eyes.
“I can announce our engagement and your retirement, or I can announce that I’m firing you because you’re a shit driver and a pain in the ass,” he says snidely. “Think on that.”
And then he’s gone.
I shut the door behind him and close my eyes, wanting nothing more than to crawl upstairs and into a hot bath and then bed. I lied. I don’t have an early call at the track tomorrow, but I do have a lunch date with my mom. An appointment I will definitely be keeping, because I haven’t seen her in ages and I love her tons. But also because she always manages to put my mind at ease. My mom is one of those who makes you feel like you can do anything, that there is no accomplishment too great for her child, but also if you manage to fall, she’s always there with a smile to help you back up again. With the mess I’ve made of my life lately, it’ll be good to spend time with her and find my balance again.
But when I turn around, King is standing there with his arms folded over his chest and an angry expression on his face.
“King—” I start. I want to explain that I’m tired, that my night was terrible and I need a bath and bed in that order. To sleep.
“Take it off,” he orders, and my body comes alive against my mind’s wishes.
“Please,” I whisper. “It was a bad night. I just want a hot bath and bed.”
He watches me, seeming to mull something over, and I think, just maybe, he’s going to let me go, but then his eyes harden, and I know I’m screwed.
“Take off the dress,fresa.” And like the idiot I am, I do.
I pull up my dress, inch by inch, gathering the clingy material in my hands as I raise it over the tops of my thighs and then higher, exposing my pussy and belly, uncovering my breasts, and then over my head. I drop the material to the floor and stand before him in nothing but my heels and jewelry.
“Now the shoes,” he says low, and I step out of them.
He holds out his hand for me, and I place mine in his and let him lead me slowly up the stairs. King walks me down the hall and into my room and on through to the bathroom. He doesn’t switch on any lights as he makes his way through the dark like a cat.
I watch as he pulls his T-shirt over his head and drops it to the counter before switching on the taps to fill my large bathtub. Maybe he’s going to let me rest after all. But then again, I should know better.
He gently unhooks my bracelet and places it in the dish I have on the counter for the bits and baubles I take off and then moves to slide each earring from my ears, dropping them in the dish as well. And then he opens a drawer, knowing exactly where I keep my hairbands somehow, and grabs one before turning me around to face the mirror. I watch him as he gathers the weight of my hair in his hands and twists it up on top of my head, securing it with the elastic. His eyes lock on mine in the mirror as he touches his mouth to the side of my neck in a tender gesture before he steps away from me, leaving me standing naked in front of him.
