“With you?”I note.“I’ve yet to find it.”
His mouth curves up, and he shakes his head.I wish I could tell what he was thinking.If maybe I’ve impacted him the same way he’s impacted me over the last little while.Little things like this make me wonder if I have.But then he ghosted me, and…unable to hold his gaze, I peek through the car’s open door, taking in the rich black leather and clean smell.Heck, it looks brand new.He’s clearly taken care of the inside just as much as the outside.It’s beautiful.Absolutely beautiful.“
“Did you name her before or after I introduced you to Quasimodough?”I ask.
Bending closer, Ford crowds me even more and whispers, “What do you think?”
Something lodges in my throat.Esmerelda.The love interest fromThe Hunchback of Notre Dame.Is it a coincidence?That he chose a name related to my sourdough starter?Call me a lunatic, but I doubt it.Ignoring my racing pulse, I give in and turn my head toward him.We’re so close he could kiss me.Will he, though?Does he want to?
My tongue darts out, wetting my lips before I put some more space between us and give the car my attention once more.
“Hello, Esmerelda.”I run my hand along the edge of the window, then dip forward and peek inside the open door.The intricate stitching along the leather seats is gorgeous.I run my fingers along the seam, taking it in when I notice a bunch of crumpled bills on the dashboard.There’s at least five hundred dollars here.“What’s this?”I ask.
“It’s people’s way of appreciating Esmerelda.”
My brows furrow.
“Helps encourage people to show up, even if they don’t stand a chance of beating me or Rome.”
“Cocky,” I note.
“Confident.”
My mouth lifts.“Did you say Rome races, too?”
“He prefers to build the cars more than race them.”His smile broadens.“And it’s a good thing, too.He’s the only one capable of beating my ass.”Ford leans closer again, like he can’t help himself.“Don’t tell him I said that, though.”
I grin up at him.Okay, it’s official.Ford Harden is charming as heck when he wants to be.Not that I didn’t know it before, but tonight?Tonight, the man is a force to be reckoned with.
“But, yeah,” he continues, oblivious to my screaming ovaries.“Sometimes he races.”
“Like tonight?”
“Yeah.”
“You worried?”I taunt.
“Nah.”He chuckles.“I have my good luck charm with me, remember?”
With a laugh, I say, “I’m glad you’re confident.”
“This time, I’m being cocky,” he clarifies dryly.“Rome’s actually really good.”
My cheeks pinch, and I fight the urge to rub the feeling away.I can’t help it, though.Ford’s just so…
I shut down the thought before it has a chance to take hold and turn back to the car.“I bet it’s fun,” I murmur.“Racing.”
“It’s definitely a high,” he agrees.
I run my hand along the dashboard, appreciating the pristine black surface and translucent glass.Not even a fingerprint, let alone an actual scratch, mars the perfect surface.Well, except mine.I almost feel bad for touching her.I pull away slightly and bring my fingers to my lips.She really is his baby.“Seriously, she’s beautiful, Ford.”
“Yeah, she really is.”Something in his voice convinces me to peek up at him.When I do, I find his eyes locked on me.A loud horn blares.
“What was that?”I ask.
“Race is about to start.”
“Oh.”I move away and reach to close the door, but he stops me.With a question gleaming in my eyes, I turn to him.“What?”
