“You’re scared of my dad? Why?” He looks surprised.
“Because he dislikes me.”
“He doesn’t dislike you.” He brushes me off.
“He thinks I’m a distraction.”
“A distraction for whom?”
“You. And the rest of the guys, of course.”
“Oh. Right. Well then, you’re the perfect person to keep my secret ’cause you’re scared of my dad, so you’ll never give me up to him.” He smirks as he starts walking toward the building.
“Hey, now, hang on there. Because your dad scares the crap out of me is the exact reason that this is gonna cost you.”
Stopping, he turns back. With his head tilted to the side, he gives me an assessing look. “Interesting. Go on.” He gestures his hand at me.
“Well, if you do get your godly arse hurt here today”—that comment earns me an eye roll—“then I’m out of a job because your dad would have me fired quicker than I could say stop.”
He stares at me for a long moment, the tip of his tongue pressed up against his teeth.
He has a nice tongue. Can someone have a nice tongue?
I bet it kisses well. Among other things.
Now, I’m imagining me sucking on his tongue and then Carrick using his tongue on me and—
For God’s sake, Andi. Sort yourself out.
I snap myself out of my dirty daydream.
“So, you’re bribing me for your silence?”
I can’t get a read on his tone. He sounds too even, and now, I’m starting to worry that I might have said the wrong thing. Sure, I was joking, and he usually gets my humor, but he might not be getting it this time.
“Sort of,” I falter.
“Well, you either are, or you aren’t. Which is it, Andressa?”
“Are...” I give a lame toothy grin.
He stares at me for the longest moment. Then, I see a flicker of amused admiration in his eyes. “Blackmail. I’m impressed.” He grins as he puts his fist up and fist-bumps me.
I let out the breath I was holding.
“So, what’s this gonna cost me then?” He starts moving backward toward the door, so he’s still facing me.
“Hmm.” Pressing my lips together, I tap my finger on them. “I don’t know.”
“Sex? I can be your sex slave for a week. Hell, you don’t even have to blackmail me to get that. I’ll do it for free.”
I shake my head, fighting a grin. “You’re a sex maniac.”
“I’m not a maniac. I just love having sex. There’s a difference.”
“Sure there is.”
“Oh, Jesus. Please don’t tell me that you’re one of those people who doesn’t like having sex. Because if you don’t, then you’ve been doing it with the wrong people, and that means we definitely have to do it.”
“Of course I like having sex!” Okay, I said that a little too loud.
“Thank God.”
“And you and I are definitely not doing it.”
“Shame.”
I roll my eyes. “Why are we talking about this again?”
“Because sex is the most interesting thing in the world, and I’m awesome at it.”
He stops in front of me, staring down into my eyes. I feel his gaze sizzling into me. I’m suddenly struggling to find my breath and the ability to move.
Sexual energy is crackling between us. And I so want to act on it…find out if he is as good as he says he is.
But I can’t.
“No sex, buddy.” My voice comes out hoarse, so I clear it. “Just friends, remember?” I indicate between us.
“Ah, right. Of course. I forgot myself for a minute there.” In reproof, he clicks his tongue against his teeth. “And we’re not just friends. We’re best friends, Amaro. Get it right.”
“Sorry.” I hold my hands up in mock surrender.
We start walking again.
“So, come on then. Put me out of my misery. What’s my ransom?”
“I haven’t decided yet. I think I’m gonna pocket this one and use it when I really need something.”
“Well, make sure it’s something you really, really need ’cause you’ll only get away with bribing me once.” On a wink, he pulls the door open and gestures me through.
We approach the ticket counter. I see the guy behind the counter looking at Carrick like he knows him, but he’s just not sure where from.
I wonder how long it’ll take Ticket Counter Guy to figure it out.
“What racing sessions do you have?” Carrick asks him.
“We do a quick circuit, which lasts for up to fifteen minutes,” Ticket Counter Guy says in really good English. “Or you can hire for longer if you want.”
Carrick looks at me. “What are you up for?”
“You choose. I don’t mind.”
“We’ll hire for fifteen minutes. But we can add more later if we want?”
“Sure,” Ticket Counter Guy says. “Just tell the marshal, and you can pay for the extra before you leave.”
He prints off our tickets while Carrick and I argue over who’s paying.
“Seriously, you’re not paying, Andressa.”
“Come on. You pay for everything. Even when we go out drinking, you’re always paying for everyone’s drinks.”
“How much did you earn last year?”
I’m taken aback. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
He leans in close to my ear. The feel of his body millimeters from mine sends me spiraling.