“We have a board meeting,” Romeo said to me. “Have a drink. The old ladies will get the food set up. This won’t take long.”
I hitched my thumb over my shoulder. “I’ll hang with Kiss, Blue, and McKelle.”
“Good. But don’t leave.”
Having him want me to stay felt good, too.
Romeo left the room with the other board members, and I grabbed a soda and crossed the room to the pool table platform.
“Ryatt!” McKelle waved from the far side of the pool table.
I climbed three steps, approached Blue, and we bumped fists. Then I leaned against the rail separating the pool area from the rest of the room.
“What do you think?”
I tipped my soda to my lips and took in the main chapel. Laughter, music, good friends, and food. “I can see the appeal.”
“Are you ready for tomorrow?” McKelle positioned at the table, lined up her shot, and cracked the cue ball against a solid-colored ball. Her gaze lifted and connected with mine.
“I hope so. But I’m more excited to see you race.” I smiled around the rim of my cup.
“You’ll be choking on my exhaust and staring at my back tire.”
No. It wouldn’t be her tire. Not with the way her ass looked when she rode. But I didn’t vocalize my thoughts. Pretty sure most of the guys in here could pound me into the pavement. Although her ass might have me wrecking when I watched her instead of the turns and ending up in the run-off areas.
“Are the barriers padded? Air fences? What’s the safety protocol?”
“Oh god,” she laughed. “Don’t jinx us.” She knocked her final ball into the pocket. “There’re medics on site, but it’s not that crazy. Everyone is pretty chill. It’s just friendly competition, and it’s hella fun.”
Cruz vaulted over the rail next to me. “I’ve got a ten-minute break.”
He grabbed McKelle and whispered into her ear.
“What are you going to give me?” she asked him.
He looped his finger through her belt loop and tugged her toward the steps. “You have to ask.”
She chuckled, and my gut knotted.
“Wait.” She twisted in his arms, but Cruz kept his hands on her hips. “Ryatt, this is my boyfriend, Cruz. And Cruz, this is Ryatt. I told you about him,” she said to Cruz. “He’s coming to the track with us tomorrow.”
With a quick perusal, Cruz skimmed me from head to toe, smiled, and banded his arm around McKelle. One glance, and a quirk of his lips, was all it took for him to decide I wasn’t a threat.
“Good.” One word, then he turned his attention back to McKelle. “Nine minutes,” he whispered against her neck.
“We’ll be right back,” she said. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparked with mischief. I would kill to havea girl want me the way she wanted him. Not literally kill. In a place like this, that might be an option.
The boardroom door opened. Romeo and the other guys filed into the chapel. Jazzy stood on a chair, and her ear-piercing whistle screeched through the noise and chatter. “I need your attention.”
“We’ve never had an SaA like Jazzy. Ball buster with a badge.” Romeo laughed.
“Turn off the music,” Torch said.
“We’ve got club business.” Blade had everyone’s attention.
“What the fuck?” Cruz said. His voice lowered. “Blue, do you know what’s going on?”
“Looks like they’re calling for a vote.”
