Before I could reply, she was out the door and gone. Glancing down to Deuce, I shrugged. “Are you ready for your dinner date?”
Deuce jumped up and barked as he wagged his tail. With a chuckle, I gave him a good pat and replied, “I feel the same way, boy.”
DRIVING UP TO THE SECURITY gate, I gripped the steering wheel harder.
What am I doing? I swore off all men and here I am again. Having dinner with Malcolm Wallace!
Stephanie and I had googled Malcolm after I accepted his invite. Needless to say, I wasn’t surprised to fi
nd out he was quite the ladies’ man. His reputation for being fast in and out of the racecar was evident.
Yet, here I am, about to have dinner with him. Maybe it’s the idea of seeing him again that was the driving force behind me being here. I wasn’t about to deny the strong attraction I felt for him. That’s never happened to me before. Of course, it could be from all the stupid romance books I’d been reading nonstop. Did he really make my stomach drop or did I imagine that? Why was it so hard for me to catch my breath after speaking to him?
I needed answers to the questions floating around in my head. That was the reason I was here. That and I couldn’t stop fantasizing what his lips would feel like on my skin.
My window rolled down as the security guard smiled. “May I help you?”
“Um . . . yes!” I exclaimed a little too excited. “Paislie Pruitt. I’m here to see Malcolm Wallace. He’s expecting me.”
“Oh yeah, yeah.” Turning, he yelled for the other guy, who popped his head out.
“James! I’m taking Ms. Pruitt in to see Malcolm.”
James gave a thumb’s up to the other security guard who turned back to me. “Just follow me and I’ll show you where to park. Malcolm is most likely waiting for you.”
With a smile, I nodded and said, “Okay. I’ll follow you.”
Driving down the tunnel, I held my breath until we got to the other side. People were everywhere. I couldn’t believe all the RV’s set up and all the people hanging out and having a good time. I tried to do a bit of research before this dinner and I found out a little about this world. I knew they would be qualifying tomorrow, then the next level down from NASCAR, the Xfinity Series raced that Saturday and then the big race was on Sunday.
The security guard pulled down what I was guessing was Pit Road and parked. Parking next to him, I dragged in a deep breath before exhaling it. “Okay, it’s not like it’s your first date, Paislie. It’s just dinner. Nothing else. Unless . . .” I shook my head to clear my thoughts. “No. No! Dinner only.”
The knock on my window had me letting out a scream so toe-curling, I was positive the glass almost shattered.
Peeking through my half-closed eyes, I saw Malcolm standing on the other side of the window with his head cocked to the side and the most adorable smile I’d ever seen.
Damn, what is it about a crooked smile and dimples?
“God, be with me tonight and for once, keep me strong,” I whispered before opening the door.
“Were you really in there just now talking to yourself?”
I let out a nervous giggle. “No, I was ah . . . praying.”
His eyes widened as I cursed under my breath. Way to scare him off, Paislie.
“Praying? About what?”
“Strength.” No! No not strength!
“For what?”
Shit!
“No . . . no wait. Okay, I wasn’t praying praying . . . well I was . . . I um. Shit.”
There went the stupid grin again. “You were talking to yourself,” Malcolm said as my knees wobbled and my stomach felt as if I was on a thrill ride.
With a nervous laugh, I nodded my head. “Yes. I was talking to myself.”