Page 23 of Austin

He blinks at me a few times and rubs a hand on his head where I hit him. “You think I’m good-looking?”

“Oh, shut up.” I step away and around the desk just in time for Bryce’s door to open.

His dark eyes are aimed right at Austin. “In,” he says.

Austin rolls his head from side to side before following Bryce in.

I can hear their muffled voices on the other side. I know I should be at my desk to get back to itemizing the notes from the meeting, but it’s way too tempting. So, instead of doing the right thing, I place my ear against the wood door and listen in.

Bryce is talking, “How does she know you race? Don’t lie to me, Austin, because I saw the way you were looking at her, and it’s not because you want in her pants.”

Okay, I’m going to pretend that doesn’t oddly lift my ego.

“She was at the race this weekend. She made her way into my car, and I drove her home,” Austin replies.

I could punch him for making me sound like a pit floozy.

“You fucked my assistant?”

“I said, I drove her home. That’s all that happened.” Austin seems pretty adamant to explain that there is nothing going on between us until he adds, “I kissed her though. In the janitor’s closet.”

“Jesus Christ, Austin, you’re gonna cause us to lose our company.”

“I’m not. I’m good. I have everything under control.”

“This is just like you—”

“Save it.”

“Save your ass, you mean. Now, I have to go tell my editor-in-chief that a temp is going to be working with him on the biggest local story they have coming up. You do whatever that girl wants to keep your name away from any of this,” Bryce states. “And no more racing, Austin. I mean it.”

I hear feet moving toward the door, so I rush back to my desk and get to my seat just as Austin flings the door open and slams it shut.

His blue eyes are glaring wildly at me, like an animal ready to attack his prey. Little does he know, I’m no prey.

“Take me to your next race,” I demand.

“I’m not racing anymore.”

“Bullshit. You and I both know you can’t stay away.”

He swallows as he appraises me to figure out what I’m up to. “Even if I was going to race, I wouldn’t bring you.”

I nod my chin toward the door. “You heard the man. Do whatever the girl wants,” I say with a smile. “I want to go to the next race, and I want Beckett to drive.”

Austin curses under his breath. “You’re still sticking up for that asshole?”

“I’m still sticking up for you, so what does that mean?”

He inches closer to the desk. His large hands are splayed wide on the top of the glass as he leans close, too close for a boss to be near an employee. Still, I can’t help but be drawn by the darkness in his eyes as he stares deep into mine.

“You’re crazy,” he states.

My heart starts racing again. Visions of the last time we were this close run through my mind.

Just an hour ago, in a closet, this man was devouring me. And, if I’m correct, my body liked it. My brain, however, is smarter. I know to stay away from him. He might be wealthy and absolutely gorgeous, but he’s everything that is wrong with good-looking, wealthy men. He’s so arrogant.

While my body and brain are at odds at this moment, my heart is singing its own song. One that’s in tune with a ’69 Chevy Camaro as it whips across a finish line at a hundred twenty-five miles per hour.