48. Kye

FORTY-EIGHT

KYE

"As much as you want her to go everywhere with you, I am not putting Bailey in your death trap car every time," Daisy said as she threw more clothes into a bag.

"You're going to have to give me more than twelve hours to childproof my life, Daze," I said, lying back in her bed as she packed. After the break-in and us being together, she agreed to stay with me for the rest of the week at least, but I would be working to convince her to stay longer. "I'll get a new car. It's still going to have to be fast, but it will be safer. Promise."

She rolled her eyes and headed back out, not waiting for me to follow.

"You don't have to childproof your life," she said, grabbing the bags she packed for Bailey and heading out. I grabbed the bags from her, still trying to keep up. "I can't expect you to buy a new car."

"No? Want me to steal one from Holt today instead?"

"You aren't stealing anything, Kye."

I laughed, dropping the bags and grabbing her from behind. I walked us to the car and spun her around, lifting her up onto the back.

"What's actually wrong, Daze?"

"Nothing. Nothing, I'm happy, but…"

"But?"

"But someone is still after me and I don't know why. What if they hurt Bailey? Or you?"

"Or you," I added.

"Sure. Yeah, that, too."

"It will be okay, Daze. Bailey will always be with one of the guys or me for now, and I will always be with you."

She gave a small smile. "What about when I'm at work?"

"I can set myself up there if you promise endless strawberry milkshakes."

"You can talk to Carly about that."

"Well, that's going to be a no, then. I was hoping I could seduce you for milkshakes." I pressed a soft kiss to her lips, but she held on. Her hands fisted into my hair and held me close. I groaned, the sting of her pulling on my hair already turning me on. I loved how she grabbed me and held on. I would have always thought I would need soft hands, but I needed hers. I like the demanding touch, and the strange way I felt in control and out-of-control at the same time.

I could feel her smile against my lips. "I forgot you liked all that."

"All what?" I said, already forgetting what we had been talking about, as I searched for her lips again.

"All the teeth and nails, and apparently, hair pulling."

I leaned in harder, my hands grabbing her hips to hold her against me. I was nearly crawling over her onto the car when her hands pushed against my chest as she started laughing.

"Down, boy. We have somewhere to be," she said, laughing as she wrapped her arms around me and slid down off the car.

I dropped to my knees, already grabbing her legs to lift her back onto the car.

"Kye!" she yelled, laughing as she grabbed onto me again. "What are you doing?"

"You said down. I assume you meant to go down on you?"

"I absolutely did not. I have neighbors! And you can't miss all this at Holt today, so you better go get in the car so we can go get ready."

"Fine," I groaned, but I grabbed the bags, following her to my car. She laughed more, getting into my car, to go to my apartment, to then come with me to my work event.

It felt like Daisy really might be mine this time.

There was never a point in my life I thought I would get to be this happy.

Two hours later, I was standing on the track, watching as Jax, Quinn and Chase pulled up, lining their cars up next to mine. The sea of cars was nearly endless today, Holt's yearly track party only growing each year, and I figured this was going to be one of the biggest yet.

The entire place felt like home to me, since the track was one of the places I came the most when I was in town.

Daisy got out of Quinn's car, choosing to ride with her since I had to be here a little earlier. Bailey was right behind her, both of them smiling as they headed my way. My smile fell when I looked down at the thin, short dress Daisy had on.

I immediately looked at Chase, who gave me a sly smile and grabbed Bailey, taking her off to the side with Quinn and Jax.

"Get over here," I said, pulling Daisy around the cars until we were partially blocked from everyone else.

"What's wrong?"

"What the hell is this dress?"

"What's wrong with it?"

"It's the hottest outfit I've ever seen. And the thing is so thin, I can make out every inch of your body through the fabric. Did you do it to kill me?"

"No, I did it because it's hot."

I leaned down and kissed her hard. "I think it's torture, and I'm dying to know what you have on under this."

"I bet you can guess."

"Daisy," I groaned.

"Kye." She basically purred my name and ran a hand over my chest.

"You're making it hard to think about racing."

She grinned, taking a step back. "Hopefully that's not the only thing I'm making hard."

My mouth dropped. Somehow, her bold words always shocked me, but I loved them every time.

"Where are you going after that comment?" I yelled as she headed back towards the crew and Bailey.

"To watch you race."

I jogged to catch up to her, glad my sunglasses could hide the way I was staring the entire time.

"Before I raced, I was going to see if you would be fine if I took Bailey for a ride."

"In that thing?" she asked, looking back at the car I had today.

"That is one of the nicest ones we have here."

"It looks like it might fall apart."

I laughed, pulling her under my arm. "I wouldn't ask to put Bailey in it if that was a possibility."

"Why do you want to take her?"

"I think she would like it, and you know I won't let her get hurt."

"Kye…"

"Is that a reluctant yes? She'll be well buckled in, and I bought her a helmet."

"You bought her a helmet for this, too? When?"

"The other night. We measured her head."

Her mouth dropped open. "You what ? You two planned this?"

"Well, kind of. I told her I don't know if she can ride yet, though."

"I can't…You can't… You two are really going to be the death of me. I can already feel it."

"I hope that's a yes?"

"Yes, but I swear, Kye, if she gets hurt, I'm going to kill you."

"And I would let you." I leaned down to kiss her, surprised at how easy it was to be with her.

Daisy always was and always would be a magnet for me. I couldn't stop touching and kissing her if she was close.

"Sorry," I mumbled, pulling away and trying to focus back on the car and Bailey.

I waved her over, getting her helmet on and her buckled into the car seat. She was beaming the entire time.

"Now you do realize I go fast, right?"

"Yes."

"And you know that I spin the car in circles fast like I showed you."

"Yes!" she cheered.

Hell, she was adorable. Not an ounce of fear in her happy little face. If Daisy had told me she was my kid, I wouldn't have questioned it for a second.

"And what word do you say if you want me to stop?"

"Panda!"

"Alright. Let's go."

I had bought a small microphone, attaching it into Baileys helmet and connecting it to a headphone I could slip in my ear in case she did want to stop. I handed the other to Daisy.

"Here. Listen."

Her eyebrows furrowed, but she slipped it into her ear anyway.

I slid behind the wheel and looked back. For this one time, her seat faced me, and I could see the awe on her face as she looked around the car. It wasn't the same as my other cars I raced. This one wasn't gutted down to one seat, so there was still plenty of back seat for her to be strapped in, and that also meant it was slower, but that was fine for this.

I loved my nephew and niece. I couldn't wait for more in my life, but Bailey was different. She was like me. Even now, I could see it, and I wanted to help her use that to her advantage and not let everyone tell her it was wrong.

I had never let myself imagine having kids. It wasn't something that seemed possible with all the problems I had, but that was different now, too. Bailey didn't bother me. I could carry her and hug her. Daisy didn't bother me. The crew was fine with their hugs and affection. Even Liam and Lily didn't bother me.

I looked back at Bailey one more time.

I knew I was improving, but I didn't realize how far I had come. And now I had Daisy.

My chest squeezed, but I started up the car, revving it once before taking off.

I started off with a few laps around the small track, listening to her yells of happiness. Slowing down, I turned the car, forcing it to spin in circles, and loving the faint sound of giggling in my ear.

We parked as Daisy ran over, pulling open the door and checking over every inch of her, while Bailey recounted every second.

The crew gathered around, everyone listening to Bailey talk about us driving, and somehow I felt proud.

Fox stepped closer to me. "Looks like you have a kid."

"I think so. I mean, I hope so."

"You're good with it?"

"More than good. I don't know what you guys are complaining about. It's like a built-in best friend. Where is the problem?"

Fox's smile grew. "Oh, man, remember that when you have a baby to take care of."

I waved him off, trying to ignore that feeling in my chest again.

"Kye!" Ash yelled, heading around the cars to me. "Come on! Scout and my dad are already inside waiting."

"For what?"

She rolled her eyes, already grabbing me to drag me along. "The speeches, and all that boring stuff. Come on. All of you."