Bad Boy's Last Race Read Online Free Page A

fixed on mine as she speaks. I try cracking a smile, but it only makes her eyes tighten further. “C’mon, kids, let’s go.”
    “Aunt Sophie, what’s a condom?” the boy asks.
    The girl bounces around him. “I want a condom!”
    Sophie swears again under her breath. “I’m so sorry. They’re a bit of a handful.”
    “No, it’s all right. Cute kids. Nosy, but . . .” I pluck the box out of the boy’s hand. “How about you let me clean those up, huh?”
    “I’m Jack,” the boy announces. “That’s Ella, and that’s my aunt Sophie.”
    “Nice to meet you. I’m Jagger.” I press my hand to the back of his shoulder to steer him back toward Sophie. “And it’s good to see you.”
    I fix my gaze on her, doing my best to look warm, inviting. Not the usual shit-eating swagger I prefer, but she looks so stricken . . . Like seeing me has rattled her. I’m afraid that if I move too quickly, she’d dart off, like a deer.
    Finally, she snatches Jack’s hand and break the gaze. “Well, this has just been a delightfully awkward two minutes, but it’s time for us to go.”
    “Sophie, wait.”
    Her shoulders stiffen. C’mon, turn around, let me work my magic . . . She swivels, slowly, but won’t look at me. “Ella. Now. ”
    “How long are you in town?” I ask.
    “Too long.” She holds her free hand out. “Ella, come on. ”
    “Maybe we could . . . grab a drink sometime?” I ask.
    “Nope! Don’t think so.” She storms past me and hoists Ella up into her arms.
    “Sophie, c’mon.” I let my grin widen and tucked my hands in my jean pockets, doing my best James Dean cool. “Where are you staying? At least let me take you out.”
    “We live at 51 Willow Lane!” Ella announces, wriggling against Sophie’s hip. I stifle a laugh.
    Sophie squeezes her eyes shut. “Wow! Great job, honey. I see we need a refresher on that whole ‘stranger danger’ business.”
    “Please. I’m harmless.” I scrub a hand through my short hair. “Listen, it’s great to see you. If you’re going to be in Ridgecrest for long . . .”
    Sophie shakes her head. “I really don’t need this. I don’t need . . .” She blows out her breath, sending a tuft of her gorgeous red-gold hair floating. “You’re very charming. But no, thanks.”
    “Charming? Just charming?” I spread my hands at my sides. “Tell you what. You come to my race Saturday, at the warehouse district, and I’ll show you there’s plenty more than just charm under my hood.”
    “I know perfectly well what’s under your hood.”
    But there’s a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. That’s all I need. That smile, that hint that maybe, just maybe . . . “Think about it, Sophie.” I glance down at the kids. “Bye, Ella. Jack. Go beat up lots of bad guys.”
    I don’t realize I’ve forgotten the condoms until I climb into the driver’s seat of my Firebird. I look toward the gas station, debating. But there’s Sophie at the counter, her gaze sweeping over my car.
    I don’t want to brag or anything—but she looks just a little bit impressed.

3
    Sophie
    D arla waltzes into the kitchen , jolting me awake. Shit. I must’ve fallen asleep reading again. I force myself to sit up and feel the outline of my textbook embedded into my cheek. “Evening,” Darla calls, tossing her purse into the kitchen table chair opposite me. Then she notices the pot bubbling away on the stove. “Ooh. Dinner? I could get used to this.”
    “If that’s your way of asking me how long I’m staying . . .”
    “Hey, come on, Sophie. You know I don’t care.” She frowns and grabs a wooden spoon. “Uhh, how long has this been cooking for?”
    “Shit.” I hop up, yank the spoon from her hand, and use it to shoo her away. “I was trying to get through this fucking incomprehensible paper on electroshock convulsion therapy—”
    “Language,” Darla chides. Then she blinked a few times. “Wait. Where are the kids?”
    “Next door. I’ll go get