Page 86 of Spin Control

“You know what, hell yeah,” I say, laughing as I kiss her. “I’ll happily show you my pole position.”

“Pretty sure it’s this one, actually,” she says wryly between kisses, making me laugh again.

I’ve never had this much fun kissing anyone before. I’ve never felt this right with anyone before. I pull back and look directly into Elizabeth’s eyes—still dark, but no longer cold. I think of that drawer in my mind with her name on it that has never fully closed. There’s no compartmentalizing Elizabeth Jacobs. And now I know why.

“I’m falling in love with you.” I’ve barely thought the words before they’re out of my mouth, but they don’t feel rushed. There’s a calm certainty deep within me. Even if this confession is met with silence, I won’t be offended. She can take all the time she needs.

So when Elizabeth says, “I think I’m already in love with you,” I blink, wondering if I’ve just hallucinated. “You are?”

Her mouth twitches with amusement. “Wesley Fitzwilliam Grant, is that so hard to believe?”

“Shit,” I say. “Full government name. That means it’s serious.”

She looks at me thoughtfully. “I never told you mine, did I?”

“You did not, Elizabeth W. Jacobs.”

“It’s Wren.”

“Wren,” I repeat softly. “Fitting that you’re named after a bird that sings year-round.”

“Because of the playlists?”

I grin. “You have one for every situation.”

“Crisis specialist,” she says with a shrug, and I’m so overcome with emotion that I have no idea how I was containing it. I hug her to me and whisper, “I’m falling in love with Elizabeth Wren Jacobs.”

She sighs, a pretty, dreamy sound. “What are we going to do?”

“We’ll wake up tomorrow, and the whole world will learn that I adore you, and that because I am fine as hell and completely irresistible, you’ve decided to tolerate me. I won’t stutter when I confirm that we’re together, and David will send out a release about the contract extension I just signed. You’ll go to New York to escape all this insanity. I’ll race. And then I’ll get on a plane and come straight to you.”

Elizabeth stares at me as if I’ve just said all that in a foreign language.

“What?”

“Did you just say you signed a contract extension?”

“Oh. Yeah. That happened. I can’t tell you a damn thing about the terms because all I was thinking about was you, but I’m sure a copy is in my inbox. Do you want to read it?”

“No,” she says, laughing. “But holy shit.”

“Marcus might be losing his marbles.”

“I’d only agree with that if he didn’t offer you a contract. Also: you’re coming to New York?”

“I just decided that,” I say honestly. “I’m about to have three full weeks off and there’s no way in hell anyone is keeping me from you. I’d prefer heading to a private island, but hey—at least Manhattan is an island.”

Elizabeth snorts lightly. “You don’t have to do that. I have a feeling things will get worse before they get better. New York is probably the last place you want to be.”

“Only place,” I say. “Wherever you are, I’ll be there. Besides, I’m not worried about the press. They love me.”

“How could I forget that you’re a media darling.”

“I have no idea, Jacobs,” I say, stealing a kiss. “It’s Wes Grant 101.”

Elizabeth takes a deep breath. “Okay, then. It’s a plan.”

“I have another one,” I say. “You, me, bed. Effective immediately.”