Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 73568 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73568 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
The cars will already be there, waiting for us. They were trucked up earlier this morning while Ronan and I spent time in the simulator, knowing we’d be able to take the helicopter to the track. My thoughts turn back to Posey—how she’s driving up with Maeve, probably full of excitement to see me in the actual car today. I can’t wait for her to see me in my element, to feel that adrenaline rush as I push the car to its limits… and knowing that small part of me hopes to impress her.
But I need to get my head straight. I’ve been thinking about her too much, and it’s starting to mess with my focus. As much as I want her to be proud of me, I have to remember that my job—my career—comes first. There’s no room for distractions, no matter how tempting they might be.
The helicopter lands, and we all disembark, the noise of the blades whipping through the air above. The team’s portable garage is already set up, the cars gleaming under the late-morning sun.
I walk over, taking in the sight of Crown Velocity’s signature colors—a sleek combination of silver, black and a vibrant turquoise green—gleam under the various sponsor logos. The car is a work of art, every curve, every line designed for maximum performance. The body is constructed from the most advanced carbon fiber materials, the front wing meticulously engineered to cut through the air with minimal drag. The tires, provided by our tire partner, are ready to be put to the test, and the engine… well, that’s where the magic happens. It’s a beast, capable of pushing to over two hundred miles per hour, tuned to perfection by our engineers.
I run my hand along the side of it, feeling the smooth surface under my fingertips. This is where I belong—behind the wheel, pushing the limits, chasing that perfect lap.
But before I can get in and see what this baby can do with the upgrades, I need to go inside and gear up. I head into the portable garage where the team’s equipment is neatly organized. Ronan and I alternate usage of a small dressing room to change.
While a crash can result in serious injuries, the evil demon we never want to encounter is fire. Nomex is the name of the game, a flame-resistant, high-performance synthetic fiber that can withstand temperatures of eight hundred degrees Celsius.
Everything we wear is made of Nomex starting with an underlayer of long sleeves and trousers, followed by our race suit. Socks, gloves, racing boots… all made of the life-saving fiber. After putting in my communication earpieces, I tug on the balaclava—also made of Nomex—and ensure it’s secured tightly over my head and perimeter of my face so only from my eyebrows to my chin is uncovered.
I resist the urge to look around for Posey. I know she’s sitting somewhere in the stands, most likely with Maeve, to watch. Instead, I head over to the engineers where Ronan and I have a final briefing on the adjustments that were made based on simulator data. It takes about twenty minutes and then we’re ready to go.
Ronan is up first, taking his car out for a calibration lap. I try to focus on the big screen which shows him on the portions of the track I can’t see but fuck if I can’t help but look around for Posey.
I jolt to realize she’s not but twenty feet from me, just outside our portable garage. No clue where Maeve is. I glance around but everyone’s busy.
No reason I can’t go say hello.
Posey has her eyes pinned on one of the large screens showing the live feed of Ronan’s run. When she senses me approaching, she turns her head my way. Christ, she’s pretty and her eyes light up when she sees me. I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face. I’m supposed to be focused, but there’s something about her that pulls me in, makes me want to be near her.
My intent is only a quick hello, but as I get closer, something impetuous takes over. “Hey,” I say, my voice low as I reach her.
“Hey,” Posey replies, her smile widening.
“Wish me luck?” I ask, my eyes locking onto hers.
“Good luck,” she says softly, her cheeks flushing.
But that’s not enough. Before I can stop myself, I lean in, my hand slipping around her waist as I pull her close and press a quick kiss to her lips. It’s bold, and I can feel her tense slightly, but I don’t care. She’s too irresistible.
When I pull back, she’s looking around, clearly embarrassed. “Lex,” she hisses with a censuring look. “Someone could have seen that.”
“Relax,” I say with a wink, stepping back. “No one did and now I have a good-luck kiss to propel me forward.”