Ride: A Driven World Novel Read online

“I knew it! Who is she?”

  “Her name is Holly. She’s Earl Padgett’s cousin.”

  Earl was another up-and-coming racer who just turned professional. This year would be his first Supercross season. I’d seen Holly, an attractive brunette with long wavy hair and curves for days, cheering for him from the sidelines. My brother could do worse, looks wise.

  “So, what do I need to do?” I sighed, caving to my brother’s puppy dog look. He’d stood by me when I was at my lowest, preventing me from leaving the sport entirely, and confronted anyone who dared to say anything derogatory about me. The least I could do was help him meet a girl.

  “Just help keep conversation flowing. Earl already said she was coming with him to the bar tonight. I’ve met her a few times, but I always seem to get tongue-tied around her. Help me. Keep things light and casual, and maybe my nerves won’t get the best of me,” he said, his face full of hope. “Oh, and help keep the groupies at bay.”

  “Now, that’s asking a lot,” I teased. Matt had grown in popularity in the last year as his ranking shot up. Girls flocked to his tanned, blond good looks, many of them willing to stomp their best friend for a chance just to stand next to him. “I’ll be your wingman, Matt. Just don’t expect me to make nice with anyone else.”

  “You’re the best sister ever,” he exclaimed, swooping me up and spinning me around.

  “Ew! Put me down, you tool. You’re all sweaty!”

  He gently dropped me down, his hands resting on my shoulders as he looked me closely in the eye.

  “It’s all going to go away eventually, you know. You don’t need to be afraid forever.”

  “Says the guy who was just warning me away from Finn Hawkins.”

  “That’s different,” Matt said softly, a contrast to his enthusiasm a moment before. He dragged me to him in a side hug. “Anyone but him would probably be fine.”

  “We’re not going to find out anytime soon,” I said, stepping back. “Besides, I’ve decided to stay single until you’re done racing. Then I’ll find some nerdy guy with wire-rimmed eyeglasses and a sweater vest. There’s nothing sinister about a guy in a sweater vest.”

  “Just hurry and finish up here, then come back to the room to get ready. Don’t do anything complicated. I don’t want to show up too late and lose my chance,” Matt called as he backed away from me, shit-eating grin firmly in place.

  After showering, I dressed in the one semi-girly thing I brought with me. More to the point, it was less boyish than my usual tees and jeans. I wore a sleeveless, button-up red shirt that tied at the waist and a pair of black jeans, finishing it off with ankle boots that gave me a good lift to my already above-average height. My hair, which was simultaneously my crowning glory and the bane of my existence, swirled around my shoulders in a tousled mess. I used to spend hours trying to tame my curls, but since everything happened with Dalton, I either threw it up into a cap or in a messy bun piled on top of my head. There was no point trying to be attractive anymore. I didn’t want anything to do with men, especially the riders I saw day in and day out. A little voice in the back of my head whispered words about possibly running into Finn again, making my tummy flip with anticipation. I immediately squelched it and tied my hair into a

  French braid to keep it out of my face. I made a half-hearted attempt at makeup, putting on mascara, but didn’t bother with anything else, just as Matt suggested.

  When we arrived, the bar was packed with motocross riders and their teams. They cleaned up nicer than you’d expect after a hard day playing in the dirt. I was on high alert, but no one took any notice of me. Plenty of girls were eyeing my brother, but I might as well have been invisible. I gave a soft sigh of relief and followed my brother to the bar.

  Drinks in hand, we did a circle of the room while Matt scanned for Holly. He finally found her sitting in a corner by herself, a cocktail in front of her. Her face was etched with boredom, so I shoved Matt by the shoulder.

  “Go talk to her. You don’t need me for this. She seems lonely and would probably welcome any conversation. We might overwhelm her if we approach her together.”

  “You think so?” he asked, looking uncertain but tempted. “What about you? I promised to watch over you.”

  “I can handle myself for half an hour. I’ll just grab that table in the opposite corner and put on my resting bitch face. No one will bother me.” I wasn’t nearly as sure as I made it sound, but I didn’t intend to stay any longer than I had to. I’d keep my eyes on Matt, and if it looked like he was flailing at any point, I’d step in. If he kept everything under control, I’d go back to Plan A and my room to read before calling it a night.

  I watched as Matt stepped up to Holly, a ready but almost shy grin on his face. She immediately brightened and offered him the seat across from her. I shook my head, knowing my work was most likely done. Nevertheless, I snagged the remote table and sat back to study the crowd while sipping my Diet Coke.

  I didn’t know many of the people in the place, though there were familiar faces. Matt and I used to race in Arizona, where we lived, outside Supercross season, until everything went to hell. I gave up the sport, but Matt refused to let me leave it entirely. He gave me the auspicious job of fixing his bikes, which I’d thrown myself into tirelessly. He rode so hard; it was more than enough to keep me busy and away from most of the sport’s riders, themselves. I got to watch races from the sidelines, still feeling the excitement, but it was bittersweet. I missed getting in the dirt with other riders, the thrill of jumping and hitting the backsides at high speed or rounding the berms and splattering mud all over whoever was behind or next to me. There was nothing like it. Matt and I had long been compared against each other, but it was agreed our skills were well matched. I always wanted to publicly kick his ass, but I couldn’t handle the four hundred fifty cc bikes he raced. Though we were of a similar height, as a woman, I was naturally slighter, and the best I could handle was two, most of the other female riders branded me a skank. The luster on my racing career dulled to the point, I no longer took joy in riding. I was probably better off. Life had become lonely, but at least it was safe.

  Safe. It brought Finn’s kiss to mind. That was the furthest thing from safe I could imagine. My brother was right, I should be careful. With the way my body responded, anything was bound to happen. I should have pushed him away as soon as his head dipped toward mine, rejected him outright, but his magnetism snared me. My mouth had talked a good game with him, but one soft breath against my lips had my knees buckling and the rest of my body screaming to be taken.

  The softness of his tongue in my mouth belied the fantasies I’d had about him when I was alone at night. I’d imagined him to be all rough edges, demanding and forceful, but just the right amount. He didn’t disappoint. A shiver ran through me as I relived the moment for the 300th time. I wondered what it would be like to be the object of Finn Hawkins’ sole, carnal focus. I’d never find out, but I was sure it was something for the books. I’d entertain that new fantasy as soon as I was alone in my room at home again, for sure.

  I glanced over at Matt to check on his progress with Holly. He seemed to be doing fine. Both wore big smiles and were laughing together. Though I’d enjoyed being invisible in the corner, I knew it wouldn’t be for long once these guys got enough drinks in them. I stood and made my way to the entrance, pulling out my cellphone to send Matt a text, letting him know I was getting an Uber back to the room. Just as I stepped across the threshold, I felt a light tug on the back of my blouse. I turned around, my lips parting and my heart starting that wild fluttering again when I saw Finn standing behind me with a smirk.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, cocky attitude still intact.

  “I showed my face, had a drink, and fulfilled my social obligation for the week. Now I’m going back to my room if you don’t mind,” I answered snottily. My bad attitude was the only defense I had against him. If I didn’t put him off quickly, I’d find myself right back in the p
erilous position I was in earlier that day, only this time, I’d be helplessly begging him for more.

  “I do mind. Have another drink with me. It’s still early. There’s nothing to do in the lovely city of Perris after dark.”

  “Sure, there is. I can catch up on my sleep,” I replied sourly.

  “Trust me, Kenni, the last thing you need is beauty sleep. If you get any more beautiful, the world couldn’t take it. At least I couldn’t.”

  I rolled my eyes. The words were nice, if not a little cheesy, but I wasn’t stupid enough to fall for it.

  “I’m not the pushover you seem to think I am, Hawk. I don’t want whatever it is you’re selling,” I said as I turned away and opened the Uber app on my phone. He stopped me again with his hand.

  “I’m not selling anything, Kenni. I swear. I just want to get to know you.”

  “You mean you want to use me to get under my brother’s skin.”

  “I don’t know where you got the impression I’m that kind of person,” he chided me, his hands turned up sheepishly.

  “I know all about your type. I’ve met too many of you to know there’s very little difference from one racer to another. So, thanks, Finn, but no thanks.”

  “That’s not what you said this afternoon.”

  “What did I say?” I frowned at him in confusion.

  “This.” He quickly slid his arm around my waist and brought me against him for the second time in less than twenty-four hours. Tracing the backs of his fingers softly against my cheekbone, he stared down at me, his own pupils dilated with desire. I should have torn myself out of his grasp and ran for the hills, but every cell within me was crying out for more. It had been more than a year since someone had touched me like that, firmly and close enough, I could smell the scent of his skin and the light fragrance of an earthy cologne. I was sorely tempted to lean into his neck, to fill my nostrils with the smell of him, imprinting it on my senses. Before I could succumb to the temptation, he dipped his head and brushed his nose against mine. My lips parted in anticipation of another delicious kiss, but it never came. Instead, I heard a rough whisper.

  “Come back inside, Kenni. Give me just an hour of your time. If you still want to leave, I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

  I already knew where I wanted to go, but he was a dirt bike rider, and I’d declared them all off-limits when I decided to keep working with Matt. I conjured up more images of bespectacled nerds in sweater vests as he held his hand out to me, but it was no use. I took his hand, not even thinking twice.

  His smile was positively wolfish as he led me back to the table I’d just left. My self-preservation instincts started to tingle, a figurative red sign over Finn’s head flashing Danger! Danger! But I paid it no mind. I was caught in his orbit, at least for the next few moments, while I had something with real alcohol in it. I wasn’t big on drinking in public, but I would make an exception tonight. I didn’t think I’d make it through a whole conversation without embarrassing myself. Not planning to get drunk, I ordered a vodka tonic with lime—a nice sipping drink I could linger over while humoring Finn and indulging my crush in one fell swoop.

  “And what can I get for you, Hawk?” The flirtatious southern drawl from our server had me rolling my eyes.

  “I’ll have a double Crown,” Finn requested as he handed over his credit card. She looked down at it, visibly swooning as she looked at his name as though to prove it really was him. He smiled politely at the waitress before turning back to me. “So, what should I know about Kenni Michaels?”

  “There’s not really anything noteworthy,” I began, gearing up to draw my lines firmly between us by calling out bullshit. “Other than I’m no pushover. What are you trying to accomplish, Finn?”

  “You’re assuming I have an agenda.”

  “Of course, you have an agenda. You practically begged for a little of my time. Something tells me you don’t do the whole begging thing.”

  “I don’t need to,” Finn said, one eyebrow cocked and an eye on our server as she returned with our drinks and a huge smile. He looked at me as if she proved his point. I didn’t know if I should be relieved or insulted.

  “Fine.” I crossed my arms over my chest, intending to stare him down. He looked at me as though I was a cute kid.

  “Why are you so distrusting? Who did this to you?”

  My heart caught in my throat, and I quickly blinked away tears that came to my eyes unexpectedly. I squeezed my eyes shut as Dalton’s strawberry blond hair and freckles floated across my vision. I took a quick sip of my drink, trying to pretend I was fine.

  “Nobody did anything,” I lied evenly. “I told you, I’ve spent almost my entire life in this sport and know tons of racers. They’re either all flash and ego or threatened by my skills. The only question on my mind is, which are you?”

  “You should be careful coloring people with a broad brush, Kenni. You never know what you might paint over.” His eyes burned into mine as he lifted the amber glass of whiskey to his lips.

  I sat transfixed as he pressed his full, soft lips to the rim, feeling my jaw slacken when the tip of his tongue peeked out to capture a stray droplet on his upper lip. I swallowed in sympathy, a gesture that didn’t go unnoticed by Finn, who grinned devilishly. I tried to shake off his burgeoning charm.

  “I trust my instincts,” I claimed, believing anything but. If I’d learned anything in the last year, the last thing I should trust was my own judgment.

  “Damn, you’re a tough crowd.” Finn winced before taking another sip of his drink. In a split second, his eyes were on mine like lasers. “You said you used to race?”

  “Yep, Women’s Motocross all the way. I raced a pink Suzuki two-fifty, with girly skull-and-crossbones as my logo. I tore it up on our circuit back in the day. You should have seen me. I was badass!” My laughter belied my belief in the horseshit I was selling.

  “Back in the day? That couldn’t have been more than a couple years ago as young as you are.”

  “Back in my glory days, I mean. I hung up my leathers two years ago.” I took a long, slow sip of my vodka.

  “I’ve been pro since I was fifteen. How have I never heard of you?” Finn asked, his genuine confusion scrawled across his features.

  “I was a pro rider, but not really experienced enough to make a mark at my age. I hadn’t heard of you, either, until Matt hit the Supercross circuit.”

  “I had a brief... pause... in my racing career a few years ago. We must have just missed each other.”

  “You should have kept going,” my brother’s voice cut into the conversation. He and Holly were standing there, looking at me like I’d just robbed the Pope. I gave Matt a dirty look but grabbed his appearance as the rescue it was. I’d started to enjoy insulting Finn as if it was a strange form of foreplay. I really needed my head examined.

  “Hey, Michaels,” Finn said, looking my brother up and down, then smiling his dumb toothy smile at Holly. “You looking for an autograph?”

  “Not from you,” my brother replied roughly. “C’mon, Ken. We’re leaving.”

  I took a last sip, giving an obviously insincere look of apology to Finn. Placing my glass back on the tabletop, I placed my hand over the top of his.

  “Thanks for the drink, Hawk. I’ll treasure the memory forever,” I said, giggling to myself. Perhaps I’d had more of the vodka than I realized.

  “As will I, Princess,” he said as he stood with me. It was as if time slowed to a crawl as he reached out for me. Pulling me gently to him by my arm, he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my mouth. I heard my brother begin to sputter, so after only a nanosecond, I jumped away from him, slapping his cheek for my brother’s benefit.

  Finn gave me a wry look as he cupped the side of his face, an infuriating grin slowly creeping across his lips, taunting me. I hadn’t slapped him hard, just enough to make a good show. He winked at me, letting me know the game was on.

  “You practically begged for that,” Holly sn
orted, earning a kiss from my brother. I grabbed them both by their elbows and dragged them away, resisting the urge to look back. I wasn’t going out like Lot’s wife.

  Two days later, I tossed the tennis ball against the wall over Ralph’s head, again and again, my mind nowhere near thinking about what he was saying.

  “Did you hear me, Finn? Ogilvie retired unexpectedly,” he said, snapping his fingers, trying to get me to focus. I looked at him mildly.

  “So? We knew he would sooner or later. The guy is like, thirty or something.”

  “Thirty-three, but that’s not why he retired. He fucked up his shoulder last season something fierce and just hasn’t been able to get it back to the shape it needs to be in to have another winning season.”

  “Thirty-three is amazing. Almost no one races that long.”

  “You’re still missing the point, numbnuts,” Channing chimed in from his place, leaning against the door frame to Ralph’s office. “With Ogilvie out of the picture and you in your prime at the vigorous young age of twenty-three, you have a straight shot at the championship.”

  “Bingo,” Ralph said, pointing a finger at me. I stopped bouncing the ball. “Aaron may have gotten old, but he dominated this sport like no one else. You were the biggest threat to ending his career on a high note. Now that he’s wiped out with his injury, his legacy is secure, and you, son, get to take his place. If you’re willing to work for it, that is.”

  I nodded as I squeezed the fuzzy yellow sphere in my fist. It was time to get serious, not that I hadn’t always been. I’d just allowed myself to be distracted the last few days with thoughts of a hazel-eyed blonde.

  “I’m ready,” I said soberly. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

  “But I am,” Ralph said, leveling his gaze on me. “You have to figure out what you’re going to do about this problem you have with Matt Michaels.”

  “I don’t know what his issue is,” I replied, gripping the ball tighter. “If I did, I could try to settle it with him off the track, but there’s no talking to him.”