Chapter 142
Chapter 142:
Brinley’s eyes lingered on the sleek sports car, temptation tugging at her. Its raw power and precision far outclassed her current ride, and she knew it. But sliding behind that wheel would mean exposing just how much skill she’d been hiding from Austin.
“I’ll pass,” she murmured at last, shaking her head. “With how I drive now, handling something like that would only be dangerous p>
Austin didn’t argue. An easy smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Fair enough. Keep practicing—I’ll be right here p>
True to his word, he drifted toward the shade of a nearby awning, hands slipping into his pockets as he settled in to watch.
His calm gaze tracked her car around the circuit, steady and unrelenting. That unwavering attention unsettled her, and more than once she nearly botched a turn.
To mask it, she eased her speed, forcing herself to look clumsy—an amateur testing her limits.
Even so, the weight of his eyes—sharp, probing, impossible to fool—made her chest tighten. Her pulse quickened every time she thought about it.
Addi𝘤ti𝘷𝖾 ѕ𝘁𝗈𝗿𝗂𝘦ѕ oո
After an hour of circling the track under that scrutiny, she couldn’t stand it anymore. Brinley swung the car to a stop in front of Austin and pushed the door open. “I’m done. I just want to head back p>
Austin inclined his head, unbothered. “Then I’ll take you p>
She quickly waved him off, forcing a casual tone. “No need. I can manage on my own p>
“Get in the car,” Austin cut her off, his voice firm and final.
He swung open the Maybach’s door and shot her a look. “You don’t want tomorrow’s headlines to read, ‘Rising Real Estate Star Brinley Moore Caught Sneaking Around the Racetrack at Night,’ do you p>
Left with no choice, Brinley ducked inside and sank into the passenger seat. The Maybach glided smoothly away from the track, the hush inside the cabin pressing against her ears.
She kept her eyes on the blur of neon lights rushing past the window, her thoughts tangled and restless.
“You don’t want me to see how you drive, do you?” Austin’s sudden question sliced through the silence.
Brinley’s heart gave a nervous jolt. “That’s not it,” she insisted quickly. “I just… don’t like being watched p>
Austin let out a low laugh, not bothering to argue. Steering effortlessly, he veered onto a narrow, deserted road.
Brinley frowned, confusion creeping in. “This isn’t the way back to Hillcrest Villa p>
“I know.” His mouth curved faintly as he kept his eyes on the road. “I’m taking you somewhere else p>
Half an hour later, the car rolled to a stop outside a warehouse.
Austin stepped out, pushed open the heavy door, and revealed a compact racing simulator room gleaming inside.
Brinley’s eyes widened at the unexpected sight. “What is this place p>
“A little spot I use for practice,” Austin said, casually lifting two helmets and offering one to her. “Want to try it out p>
Her pulse quickened as she took in the setup. She knew how advanced these simulators were—down to the subtle grip of the tires and the roar of the engine, they mirrored the real track almost flawlessly.
“What’s the matter?” Austin pressed, one brow raised, his voice tinged with a teasing challenge. “Feeling nervous p>