Revved by Samantha Towle

the pity drive, you might have thought of the move yourself and won. You’re just mad ’cause I got there first! A strategic move is not cheating, Carrick.”
    He growls, which only sets me off laughing.
    “I beat the great Carrick Ryan, and he can’t take it!” I sing.
    He gives me an exasperated look, a hand tugging on his hair. “You didn’t win because you fucking cheated!”
    “Winner! Winner! Andi’s the winner!” I chant. Lifting my hands in the air, I move my body around like I’m doing a cheer.
    “Cheater!”
    “Sore loser!”
    I’m laughing so hard now that I have to bend over to catch my breath. I currently have tears in my eyes. I can’t remember the last time I laughed this hard. But I do remember the last time I did laugh, and it was with him.
    It’s always with him.
    I see his feet approaching, and as I lift my head, I find he’s standing directly in front of me, his face all shades of serious.
    I wipe the tears of mirth from my eyes with the backs of my hands, still chuckling. “Beat by one of your mechanics—and a female one at that. What’s this gonna do for your reputation, Carrick? This could kill your career. You’ll be ruined if this ever gets out.”
    His lips twitch. “Am I being blackmailed again?”
    I tilt my head to the side, grinning. Lifting one shoulder, I say, “Maybe.”
    He shakes his head. I can tell he’s desperately trying not to laugh, but his eyes are shining with it.
    “Blackmail, cheating, and now blackmail again. Who are you? And what have you done with the Andressa I know?”
    “Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think you do.” I wink, ticking his nose with my finger.
    He catches my finger, holding it.
    The instant my skin makes contact with his, it’s like something supercharged has just conducted its way through my body.
    I suddenly feel very alert and very aware of him.
    The way his chest is lifting on each breath. The parting of his lips as he exhales. How tense his body is. How very close he is to me.
    Everything is heightened. And the air thick all around us.
    I meet his eyes, and my mouth dries instantly.
    The laughter that was in them is gone and has been replaced with something else entirely.
    Something heated.
    It’s a heat I feel deep inside of me.
    His fingers slide over my hand, curling around it, gripping. “Andressa, you’re—” His voice has changed. It’s deeper, husky.
    “The winner?” I cut him off, trying to inject sass into my voice. But it didn’t work. I just sounded all breathy.
    I need to bring us back to where we were, but I don’t know how.
    He’s slowly pulling me in closer to him, closer to everything I want but can’t have.
    “Like no one I’ve ever met before.”
    Wow.
    And fuck.
    Fuckity fuck, fuck, fuck.
    I’m pretty sure he’s thinking about kissing me right now, and I really, really want him to.
    God, I want to kiss him so bad.
    My lips are readying themselves for the action.
    But I can’t. He’s a driver. I can’t get involved with him.
    I step away, breaking the moment, and my hand slips from his.
    I see disappointment flicker over his face, but I pretend not to see it.
    Putting my helmet down on the car, my hand still burns from his touch. I clasp it into a fist to rid myself of the feel of him. I clear my throat. “So, you owe me dinner, Ryan.”
    Dinner. Shit. I was supposed to lose, so I could pay for it.
    Could I be any dumber? I’m blaming my idiocy on the brain mush he is clearly able to reduce me to.
    Turning back to face him with my feelings firmly locked away, I offer a light smile, but I can tell it’s shaky. I just hope he can’t.
    He’s still staring at me, the look in his eyes unreadable.
    I hold my breath, waiting for him to speak.
    Lifting his hand, he runs his fingers through his hair. Then, his lips tip up into a soft smile. “Not that you deserve dinner because you cheated…but technically, you did win. So, fine, I’m buying. What are you in the mood to eat?”
    You. I