“Really? We’re playing this game?”
“Game? I don’t play those. But I am calling your bluff. You said you could read me like a book. So, read me?”
She was challenging him.
His eyes darkened. Liam inched closer, but the table between them prevented him from getting as close as he would have liked. “You’re intense and passionate.” He was almost positive that passion extended to the bedroom.
“I drive cars over 200 miles an hour. That requires a certain level of intensity and passion, so that’s not hard to figure out.”
“You like pushing boundaries and limits. What I don’t know is how far you’re willing to go.” Would she cross that line? If given the opportunity, would he cross it? Liam couldn’t deny his own curiosity about what she looked like underneath that dress. His mind wandered off into inappropriate places. Was she a screamer or a moaner? Did Colby make any sounds at all when a man was driving hard into her body?
No words passed between them as they held each other’s gaze, neither wanting to be the first to turn away.
Liam was about to say something he shouldn’t when Brian came back to the table, not a moment too soon.
“Sorry, it took me so long. I got stopped talking to a couple of the guys.” Brian looked from Liam’s face to Colby’s. Something was going on. He cleared his throat. “Is my brother harassing you, Ms. James?” Brian joked as he tried to temper the sexually charged energy between them.
Her mouth felt like cotton. Shit. What am I doing? Colby could not get caught up with her boss’s brother. Why, dear Lord in heaven, would you let me be attracted to this man? I haven’t had sex in eons, and I could literally strip naked, and away from Liam’s and shifted them to Brian. She tried to pretend that everything was normal and that there wasn’t any sexual attraction in the air. Her voice was a tad bit breathless. “Please, call me Colby.”cowgirl ride him in front of all of these people. She tore her eyes
“Colby it is.” Brian sat down. “I hoped we would have a chance to talk tonight before going into the garage tomorrow.”
Quietly, Liam sat back and finished off his drink.
Colby tried to hide the fact her heart was racing. She flashed Brian a brilliant smile. “You do realize I’m not an employee, right?”
“Don’t you think that’s something we need to change?”
Colby hadn’t been expecting that, at least not this soon. She sobered up pretty quick. A seriousness settled into the pit of her stomach. “Are you kidding?”
“No, I am not. We can discuss it further tomorrow, but I felt it was time to retire the ‘Colby’s not an official member of the team’ nonsense.”
Her face lit up. “I, I’m speechless! Thank you!”
“Tonight is about celebrating the events of the day, and tomorrow we can get into the details. Is that okay with you?” Brian could understand why Liam was mesmerized by Colby. He almost melted when she smiled at him. She had a confidence that oozed out of her, and it was damned sexy. It was a task to keep his eyes above her neck. Anybody who ever mistook Colby as one of the guys was delusional.
“Is it okay if I have a seat?” Lila arrived at their table full of smiles, then glanced around and froze. “Brian?”
The color drained from his face. “Lila?”
Chapter 10
“You two know each other?” Colby asked. Dumb question. It was evident that they did.
Was this some kind of sick joke? Brian hadn’t seen Lila in years. His chest tightened, air trapped in his lungs.
Colby caught a glimpse of his jaw clenching.
Brian had to clear his throat a couple of times before he was able to choke out any words. “Um . . . yeah. We met back in college.”
He was clearly thrown for a loop. Brian managed to regain some composure, but Lila did not. She stood frozen in place, clearly surprised.
What the hell is going on? Colby thought.
Lila snapped out of her stupor then nervously glanced between Colby and Brian as if she didn’t know where to look. Her voice sounded small, although it was loud enough to be heard over the noisy restaurant crowd. “Gonzo mentioned that Daughtry Racing had a new owner, but he never said who,” Lila said almost apologetically. As if making a decision, she inhaled deeply then looked directly at him. She rushed her words. “It’s good to see you, Brian, and congratulations.” Lila quickly spun back to Colby. “I came over to say that I was leaving. This headache just won’t go away.”
That was a lie, and Colby knew it. Lila had a story to tell, and once they were alone, Colby was going to get it out of her. For now, her cousin was in distress. “No problem. We can go.”
Lila put her hands up. “N-no. You don’t have to.”
If Colby were honest, she was happy to leave. In the span of twenty-four hours, the Lockwood brothers had seemingly upended everything and apparently everyone around her. “You came with me. You’re leaving with me,” Colby said with finality as she ignored the confusing feelings swirling around inside of her.
Lila nodded. Her voice was infused with sadness. “Okay. I’ll wait for you by the car.” She almost ran-walked out of the restaurant.
Colby turned to Brian and Liam. “I’m sorry. As you can see, I need to leave.” She stood. “Congratulations again on the purchase of Daughtry Racing.”
Brian’s eyes had been glued to Lila the entire time she’d been standing in front of him until she walked away and disappeared from view. He completely forgot he was sitting with Liam and Colby. He spoke almost as an afterthought. “Lockwood Racing.”
Colby’s eyes widened. “What?”
Slowly, Brian turned his full attention to her. “Yes. Now that I own the company, I’m changing the name to Lockwood Racing.” The excitement that sparkled in him earlier had vanished.
She swallowed hard. “I see.”
Liam watched Colby closely. Why