I grin beneath my helmet."Aye, let's give 'em a proper show."
The next sequence is where we earn our pay.With skillful precision, I swerve toward Keith's vehicle, coming within inches of his driver's side door before pulling away.He returns the favor, and our cars dance a deadly ballet of near-misses that would terrify any normal driver.My focus narrows to the mechanics of the stunt---the pressure of my foot on the pedal, the precise angle of the steering wheel, the timing of each maneuver.This is what I live for.The rush of adrenaline, the perfect control amid chaos.
"Coming up on the split point," Garrett warns through the comms."Thirty seconds."
I ease off the throttle slightly, preparing for the crucial moment.The quarry edge is visible now with the ramp jutting out like a challenge against the Highland sky.
"Twenty seconds to split," Keith confirms.
I glance at my side mirror, catching a glimpse of Gretchen in the distance.I swear can see her holding her breath.
"Ten seconds."
The wind howls around my vehicle as we maintain our parallel dance.The speedometer reads sixty-eight...sixty-nine...seventy.
"Five seconds.Ready, KB?"
"Ready," I confirm, my voice steady despite the adrenaline burning through my veins.
"Three...two...one...NOW!"
Chapter Fifty-Two
Gretchen
From my vantage point, and with the director shouting orders a few feet away, I have trouble hearing and seeing what's going on, especially with the two cars going so damn fast.Excitement and trepidation war within me in equal measure.Those sports cars are whizzing down the insanely curvy road as if nothing can stop them.Kirk knows what he's doing and does Keith, I'm sure.But my heart races at ninety miles an hour, and my pulse pounds in my ears.
Be safe, Kirk, please be safe.Come back to me in one piece.
The cars drift farther apart, and I notice Kirk's vehicle suddenly veering to the left, away from the quarry edge.Keith's car maintains its trajectory straight toward the ramp.My fingernails dig into my palms as I watch, barely breathing.
"That's it!"Garrett shouts beside me, his exhilaration palpable."What perfect execution!"
Keith's car hits the ramp at precisely the right angle, sailing through the air in a graceful arc that seems to defy physics.The sunlight catches the glossy paint, making the vehicle gleam like a bullet.For a moment, time stands still as the car hangs suspended over the quarry drop.
Then gravity takes hold.The car descends toward the massive airbag positioned below, landing with a bounce that makes my stomach lurch in sympathy.But it's a perfect landing.I can tell that from the crew's cheers and Garrett's triumphant smile as he watches the monitors.
Kirk's car, meanwhile, curves elegantly back toward the staging area, slowing with controlled accuracy.My entire body unclenches as I watch him bring the vehicle to a perfect stop.He's safe.He did it.
Hallelujah.
The driver's door opens, and Kirk emerges while showing off with a swagger in his step.He pulls his helmet off, and I can tell his hair is damp with sweat.His wide grin is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.Damn, he's magnificent.
I don't even realize I'm running until I'm halfway to him, dodging crew members and equipment.Kirk sees me coming just in time to catch me as I launch myself at him.
"Told ye I'd be fine, lass," he whispers into my hair.
I pull back enough to see his face and instinctively rove my hands over his shoulders and chest as if I'm checking for injuries.I suppose that's what I was doing, unconsciously.
"Don't you ever scare me like that again," I scold, though we both know I don't mean it.This is his job, after all, and he does it brilliantly.
"Scare you?That perfectly executed, completely safe stunt that went exactly as planned?"Kirk pats my ass and then squeezes it gently."Come now,gràidh, ye cannae tell me that wasn't bloody fucking amazing.And it made ye wet for me, I know.The scent of your desire is intoxicating."
"Yeah, okay, it was impressive," I admit, unable to stop the smile that spreads across my face."But that doesn't mean I have to like watching my fiancé drive at breakneck speeds."
Kirk tugs me closer and his lips graze mine."Admit to the rest,mo leannan."
I shake my head, struggling not to smile.But within seconds, I can't keep up the farce any longer.I whisper in his ear, "Yes, that stunt made so damn hot for you---and yes, I need you inside me soon.Very soon."
