Liam reached his hand in the pretzel bowl and was about to pop one into his mouth when his hand froze in midair.
He could only see the back of her, but Liam knew it was Colby by the confident way she strutted over to her friends.
He watched silently as she exchanged hugs with everyone.
“I didn’t think you were ever going to show up!” Gonzo leaned into Lila. “Hey, beautiful. It’s good to see you.” He pulled her into a hug and kissed Lila on the cheek.
“You better stop that before your girl gets pissed.” Lila winked. “Hey, Bree.”
Bree knew she had nothing to worry about. She snuggled a little closer into Gonzo’s side. “Hey, Colby. Hey, Lila! I didn’t know you were back in town.”
“Just got in today. I’m only here for a few days,” Lila said.
Zander chimed in. “Gimme some of that!” He reached over and hugged Lila. “Is it possible that you get prettier every time I see you?”
Lila giggled. “It absolutely is!”
Gonzo rolled his eyes. “The bigger question is, not only did you get Colby to come out but how the hell did you get her to dress up?”
“Hey, you know me.” Lila laughed.
“Oh, c’mon. You guys act like you’ve never seen me in a dress,” Colby said.
“I count three times in my lifetime,” Zander joked.
“Whatever.”
“I won’t let them rag on you like that, Colby. No matter what us James’ girls wear, we kill it. Even those ugly old coveralls,” Lila said. “Now, can somebody buy a girl a drink?” There wasn’t a shortage of men in the bar trying to fulfill her request.
“You missed the toast,” Gonzo said to Colby. “Your dad just left about five minutes before you came.”
“He was smart. He got in and got out,” Colby said, only half-joking.
Gonzo ignored her remark. “You made it before the owners left, so I guess that’s all that matters.”
“They’re still here?” Colby asked as if she didn’t care one way or the other.
Bored with the conversation, Lila figured it would be an excellent time to go to the bathroom. “Hey, I’m going to run to the ladies’ room.”
“I’ll go with you.” Bree laughed. “This beer has not been kind.” They walked off while Gonzo scanned the room for their hosts.
The restaurant was still pretty full. He glanced around the room. “They were sitting right over there.”
“Where?” Colby asked.
He pointed in the direction of Liam and Brian’s table.
She turned to see where Gonzo was pointing and felt as if she were hit center mass when she stared into a pair of eyes staring right back. Why was he always looking at me?
“Can you get me a beer?” Colby asked. She had no idea why Liam unnerved her, but she didn’t want him to know it. Colby wasn’t sure who, but someone placed a drink in her hands. Her eyes never left Liam’s. “I suppose I should go talk.”
“Yep,” Gonzo agreed.
“Wish me luck.” Colby squared her shoulders and started to make her way over to his table.
*****
Liam watched as Colby walked toward him. She looked hella different now that she wasn’t wearing coveralls. She was even more attractive than he initially thought, stunning actually. She had curves in all the right places. She wasn’t very tall but had legs for days. There was one thing that remained the same—those eyes. They burned into his. She held his gaze and didn’t seem to be the least bit flustered.
Colby walked up to his table. “It would be considered bad manners if I didn’t come over to say hello.”
Liam stood. “I am sure Brian will be happy that you were able to make it.”
His voice was deep and smooth like a fine brandy. It set her nerves on edge. “Is it okay if I sit?”
“My apologies. Please.” Liam nodded to the empty chair next to his.
Colby seemed to take a moment to think about sitting next to him or parking it in the chair opposite him, eventually choosing the chair he offered.
Offer the man an olive branch. “Where is Brian?”
“He should be back shortly.”
Colby didn’t want things to be awkward with her boss’s brother. She decided to clear the air. “For some reason, we got off on the wrong foot, and I’m not sure why.” Colby extended her hand. “Maybe we can start over.”
Liam placed her soft hand in his.
The hairs all over Colby’s body immediately stood up.
“You have the most intense pair of eyes I’ve ever seen,” Liam said as if studying a lab rat.
Colby broke eye contact and slowly pulled her hand out of his. “Me? I think that would be you.” She laughed nervously. “Just tell me what you’re looking for instead of trying to look deep inside my soul to find it.”
Liam smiled. The kind that reached his eyes and Colby could have drowned in them.
“I can’t help but be a little curious. I’m not quite sure I’ve ever met anyone like you.”
“Curious?” Immediately, her defenses went up. Colby raised a brow, then crossed one shapely leg over the other.
Liam was drawn to the movement.
“What does that mean exactly?”
Unabashedly, he pulled his eyes away from her legs, bringing them back up to her face. For a minute, Liam thought he had lost it, but he quickly found his train of thought. “Most of the women I know aren’t interested in cars to this extent.”
Colby tensed. Her guard went all the way up. Here we go . . . the sexist bullshit. Liam was about to disappoint her. “Maybe you should try meeting different types of women.” If he said, what was a woman like her doing in this industry, or some variation, Colby would scream the entire building down.
“Maybe, but you have to admit that you’re kind of an anomaly.”
Damn. He did it. Colby leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. “That sounds a bit sexist, don’t you think?”
“Really? How?” Liam could see her temper rising. It was not his intent but damn if she wasn’t even sexier when riled up. Instead of correcting her assumption, he popped another pretzel into his mouth.
“You honestly don’t see how sexist and condescending you were?”
“No. I had a question, and I asked it. I think I was pretty straight forward.”
Colby unleashed all of her pent-up frustrations on him. “The average man can’t understand why I like working in the garage or my love of cars and racing. More than likely, it’s probably because I’m better at it than most of them. I learned a long time ago that my job is not to massage the male ego, especially since it seems to get hurt so easily.”
“Just so we are clear, nothing about me is average. Absolutely, nothing.” He let his words hang in the air to make sure she understood. “Furthermore, I think you assume too much about me. I was merely stating the obvious. You are one of the very few women in the business. Judging by the respect of your colleagues, and what I saw today, you’re a hell of a talent—even if you haven’t yet learned to reign in your temper.”
“I don’t have a temper.”
Liam took a sip of his beer. “I can read you like a book.”
“Oh, can you?” She scooted up to the edge of her seat and worked to keep her facial features blank. Colby rested her arms on top of the table, which put her breasts on full display. She didn’t miss his quick glance at them. Wasn’t that the reason she wore the dress in the first place? Even if subconsciously? For some strange reason, Colby wanted Liam to see her as a woman.
Her nipples hardened, and that space between her thighs tingled. Her voice betrayed her. It was husky. “What am I thinking now?”
“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 w
ould 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 does that seem to bother her? he wondered. There were too many crosscurrents flowing around them. It was hard to get a handle on them all.
Brian managed a half-smile. "I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Great.” Colby’s voice was unnaturally elevated. “Yes, you will.” She nodded then stole a quick glance at Liam. “Have a safe flight back tomorrow.” Colby made a hasty exit from the building almost as quickly as Lila.
Brian picked up his beer, turned it all the way up, and drained it.
The woman had obviously rattled him. “So, that’s Lila?” Liam asked.
Brian was shaken. “You ready to go?”
“You need to learn to mask your feelings better,” Liam responded.
Brian was irritated. “You need to take your own advice. Let’s not pretend I didn’t interrupt whatever the hell that was between you and Colby?”
“I don’t know what you think you were interrupting, but she and I were just getting to know each other.”
“Yeah. Mmkay.” Brian didn’t believe that for a second, but he didn’t have the space in his brain to entertain it. “I’ve already left my credit card information with the management. They’ll send me the final bill tomorrow. I’m going to the car.” Brian didn’t wait for Liam to answer before getting up and stalking off.
Liam was out of his element. From beginning to end, this entire situation felt like something from the Twilight Zone. Business was business, but this was that mixed with a lot of other shit.
He sighed and rose from the table. Liam left three crisp hundred-dollar bills for the tip then followed his brother out to the car.
*****
Liam got into the back seat and closed the door. As soon as he was settled, the driver pulled off from the restaurant parking lot to take them back to their hotel. Liam didn’t return Brian’s negative energy for energy. Instead, he asked calmly, “What was that?”
Brian wondered if Lila was why he received a congratulatory call from Anthony shortly after closing the deal. Was she a spy? Did Anthony send Lila to mess with his head? Brian slid a hand down his face. “Of all the places to run into Lila? Here? In this town?”
Liam was matter-of-fact. “I would agree. Seems like there’s a lot of unfinished business between you two.”
Brian sighed. He gazed out of the window. There was a long pause before he spoke again. “I was going to marry her. Bought the ring and everything.”
Liam
knew that Brian had been hurt by Lila but was surprised at that revelation. “I’ve never heard this before.”
“I never told you.”
Liam was genuinely shocked. They didn’t always agree, but Liam thought they shared the important things. “Why?”
“I knew she wasn’t the type of girl you and Dad would approve of me marrying.”
“I’m an asshole. I’m skeptical of everyone, but why wouldn’t I have approved? What don’t I know?”
Brian was done with this conversation. He didn’t want to talk about Lila.
Liam wasn’t ready to let the matter drop. He needed to know what he was dealing with. “She was your first love, but you never mentioned her until your breakup, and, even then, you were drunk as a skunk.”
Brian remained silent.
Liam continued to prod. “She is beautiful.”
“You noticed that?”
“Kind of hard to miss.”
Brian released a breath. “Lila has always commanded any room she was in, only back then she didn’t know it. We met my junior year. Even though she was a few years younger than me, she had a wickedly brilliant mind. She was the reason I rarely came home during breaks and also the reason I graduated on time. She tutored a few students as part of her work-study. Lila had a reputation for being able to help the helpless. Since I was struggling in a couple of my classes, I figured I would give her a try. It took one session for her to turn my life upside down.”
“That powerful?”
“Yeah.” Brian nodded as his mind flashed back to that time.
“I don’t get it. If Lila was the one, why didn’t you ever bring her home?”
Brian’s expression said you know why. “Dad would never have approved. I didn’t want to deal with the she’s not right for you bullshit.”
“You’ve said that twice. What the fuck does that even mean?” Liam was perplexed.
“C’mon dude. Let’s just say we didn’t grow up in the most progressive house.”
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