Chapter 124.

The racing spot was louder than Kylie remembered.

Engines roared somewhere beyond the concrete barriers, music thudded from a cluster of speakers near the makeshift bar, and laughter rose above the crowd every few seconds.

Maya walked beside Kylie, holding her phone up as she filmed the cars and bikes lining up beneath the floodlights.

"This place gets crazier every time," Maya shouted over the noise.

Kylie opened her mouth to say something. She kicked against it, then closed it.

They continued walking through the crowd.

Kylie lifted her phone, searching for a good angle. She had barely found one when Maya suddenly stopped.

"My boyfriend is over there." She pointed.

Kylie followed her gaze.

Maya was already smiling. She pointed toward a group of people standing beside one of the cars.

"See you later."

Kylie nodded absentmindedly. "Yeah. Go."

Maya disappeared into the crowd.

Kylie looked down at her phone. She adjusted the camera, and then she heard a familiar voice behind her.

"You’re back."

Her fingers froze. She slowly lowered the phone.

Christian stood several feet away.

He had a drink in one hand, his jacket hanging loosely over his shoulders, and that familiar grin already spreading across his face.

Kylie’s stomach performed an irritating little flip. She hated that.

Christian noticed her expression. "Hi."

She galred at him, before rolling her eyes at him.

He took another step toward her. "I was wondering when I’d see you again."

Kylie glanced around, then back at him. "You shouldn’t be here." She scoffed pitifully.

Christian’s eyebrow lifted.

"This isn’t where a Sinclair should spend his nighttime." She added.

For a second, Christian simply stared at her. Then his grin widened. "Wow."

Kylie frowned.

"She finally knows my last name."

Kylie rolled her eyes. "I’ve known your last name."

Christian laughed softly. "And you still treat me like shit?"

Kylie eyed him. She folded her arms sternly across her chest. "You don’t expect me to worship you because you came from old money, do you?"

He looked at her for another moment. He shrugged liggtly, and then changed the topic. "You look good."

Kylie glanced down at herself. She was wearing a fitted black top with jeans and boots, nothing particularly special.

"Thank you."

"You’re welcome."

She looked around again.

Christian’s smile softened. "What?"

"Nothing." She shook her head absentmindedly.

"You’re looking around like you’re expecting someone."

"I’m not."

"Sure."

Kylie gave him a warning look.

Christian took another sip of his drink. "You came here with Maya?"

"Yes."

"Where is she?"

"With her boyfriend."

"Convenient."

Kylie narrowed her eyes. "What does that even mean?"

"Nothing."

"You’re annoying."

"Mostly just to you."

Kylie words left her lips immediately. For the first time, she had no comeback. Slowly, she decided to swallow it down.

His eyes lingered on her face.

The noise around them seemed to fade for a moment.

Kylie looked away first. She shouldn’t be standing there. Not with him, and definately not again.

She turned. "Come with me." She ordered, already irritated.

Christian blinked. "What?"

Kylie grabbed his arm. "Come."

He laughed as she pulled him through the crowd. "Where are we going?"

"Somewhere quieter."

"Ouu!" he laughed jokingly. "That sounds promising."

"Don’t make it weird."

"I haven’t said anything."

"Your face did."

Christian grinned.

She continued dragging him forward until they reached the darker edge of the racing grounds.

The alley ran between two old industrial buildings. It was poorly lit, with only a faint yellow light spilling from a fixture above the rear entrance.

Kylie stopped.

She released his arm.

Christian looked around, then at her. "Well..."

She cut him off. "Keep shut."

"I didn’t say anything."

"You were about to."

"Maybe."

Kylie folded her arms.

Christian stepped closer. The playful expression on his face slowly disappeared.

"What are we doing here, Kylie?"

She looked away. Her toes practically folded at the sound of his lowered velvet voice. "I don’t know."

"You dragged me here."

Kylie rubbed her arms lightly, and sloly looked back at him. "I know."

"So you must know something."

She swallowed.

The last time they’d been alone together, things had gone further than either of them had planned. And she’d spent far too much time afterward pretending she hadn’t thought about it.

But she had.

More than once.

Christian watched her carefully. "Kylie."

She looked up.

His voice was quieter now. "Did you miss me?" he asked, without a trace of playfulness in his voice.

Her lips parted. She almost laughed. Rather, she scoffed. "Don’t flatter yourself."

"That wasn’t a no."

She rolled her eyes.

"Are you avoiding the question."

She looked toward the mouth of the alley, then back at him. "I shouldn’t be here with you."

"Probably not."

She exhaled. "That’s not very convincing."

"I wasn’t trying to convince you otherwise."

She frowned.

Christian stepped closer. "I know what happened between us."

Kylie’s heart beat faster.

"I remember." He added.

Christian’s gaze dropped briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes. "I’ve thought about you."

Kylie swallowed. She looked met his gaze between her bangs. "How much?"

"Enough."

"That isn’t an answer."

"It is."

She looked away again.

Christian’s voice softened. "You’ve thought about me too."

Kylie remained silent.

He smiled faintly. "That much is obvious."

She looked back at him, and shook her head. Then she laughed quietly. "Convincing yourself I did is wild."

The sound changed something in Christian’s expression.

He moved closer, and Kylie froze. She didn’t step away. His hand lifted slowly, stopping just short of her face.

He waited, with one of his brows raised at her.

Her eyes remained on his, and she gave the smallest nod. His fingers brushed gently against her cheek.

Kylie’s breath caught.

Christian leaned closer.

She could feel his breath against her lips.

"Ask me to leave."

She stared at him. "Do you want me to?"

Christian didn’t answer. Rather, he kissed her in response to her question. The kiss was slow, deliberate, and familiar enough to make her forget where they were for a few seconds.

Kylie’s fingers curled lightly into the front of his shirt.

Christian’s hand settled at her waist.

She kissed him back, and then she pulled away. They remained close, with his hands around her waist, and her hands on his shoulders.

Kylie breathed out. "This is a bad idea."

Christian leaned closer. His hot breath fanned her ear, and he whispered. "Probably." He brought one of his hands to her neck, and drew an imaginary line there. "I’ve never been good at lying to you."

She smiled softly. Then she looked toward the entrance of the alley. "Someone could see us."

Christian glanced behind him. "You don’t want anyone to see us?"

Kylie looked back at him. "I might want to go home with someone from here. I won’t want you ruining it."

He smiled.

She pushed lightly against his chest. "Hear me?"

"I...." Christian caught her hand before she could pull it away.

Their fingers remained intertwined.

For a moment, neither spoke. Christian’s expression became more serious. "I want to see you again." he blurted out.

Kylie looked at him. "Again?"

"Properly."

Her eyebrows rose. "You mean..."

"Yes."

She knew exactly what he meant. Her pulse quickened. She had no words to reject him with.

Christian watched her face. "One night," he said quietly. "Just us."

Kylie looked away. The idea was reckless, complicated, and, annoyingly tempting. She wanted it.

That was the problem.

Since high school, she had never had one man twice and now, she was a breath away from saying yes to a man for the second time.

She turned back to him. "You really want that?"

"Yes." He nodded without hesitation.

Kylie studied him. "You’re not going to think we are somehing?"

"No."

"And you’re not going to become weird afterward?"

Christian smiled. "I might already be weird." He teased.

"Christian." She stared at him.

His expression softened. "I like being around you."

That caught her off guard. She looked away.

Christian squeezed her hand. "So?"

Kylie hesitated. Then she sighed. "Fine."

His eyebrows lifted, and his eyes glowed. He was a second awy from exploading from happiness. "Fine?"

"One night." She lifted a finger, showing him the ’one’.

His grin returned. "Really?"

"Yes."

"That’s a yes?"

"Don’t make me change my mind."

He immediately nodded. "Okay."

Kylie pointed at him. "And there’s one condition."

Christian’s smile faded slightly. "What’s that?"

She searched both eyes. "If we do this, your friend can’t know."

Christian blinked. "My friend?"

Kylie rolled her eyes. "I know you’re friends with Mr. Ashford."

Christian’s eyebrows rose.

"This is weird, but my friend is involved with him."

He studied her. He knew what she meant.

Kylie sighed. "And she’s really happy."

Christian’s expression softened.

"I don’t want my silly adventure ruining things for her."

Christian stared at her for a second. "Kylie, you..."

"Are you in, or out?"

Christian immediately raised both hands above his head. "I’m in."

Kylie nodded, letting out a quiet huff.

Christian lowered his hands. "So when?"

Kylie thought about it. "Not tonight."

His face fell dramatically. "Why?"

"Because I have someone I might want."

"Since when?"

She slapped his arm. "Since always."

Kylie glanced toward the racing grounds. "We’ll figure it out."

Christian nodded.

She started walking away, and he followed behind her. She stopped and looked over her shoulder.

"This is where we say good night." She told him.

"Good night Señorita."

Kylie looked back at him with a hidden smile. She shook her head, and turned back to the racing ground.