“I guess what you said earlier about not really believing in coincidences got me thinking. Maybe I should give you a chance,” I say, lightly brushing my hand over his tattooed bicep and looking up at him through my eyelashes.

Coen places his hand on the small of my back and pulls me closer to him. He looks deep into my eyes. My breathing hitches. “I can’t make you any promises, Lex, but if you just give me tonight, I guarantee you won’t regret it.” His lips brush against mine just softly enough to send shivers up my spine. Before I can even give it any thought, his tongue finds mine in a ravaging kiss. He’s devouring me like I’m a raw piece of meat and he’s a starving lion. I slide my hand down and squeeze his ass cheek. He lets out a low, carnal growl. He breaks our connection and rests his forehead against mine. We’re both sweaty and panting from the combination of the heat and lust. Coen opens his mouth to speak, but instead of his deep, sexy voice, I hear a voice I thought I said goodbye to last night.

“Wow, Lexi. Are you fucking kidding me right now?” It’s Patrick, and he looks to be in one of his wonderful moods. Awesome. “Is this the real reason you broke up with me last night? So you could go off and fuck this tattooed piece of trash without feeling guilty?” His voice is escalating as he steps closer, puffing his chest out like a damn peacock trying to stake his claim on me. He huffs in disgust. “I always knew you were a slut.”

I take a few steps back to distance myself from his awful alcohol laced breath. Before I can even think of a smartass comment back, Coen grabs Patrick by the throat and pins him up against my car. “You should think twice about who the fuck you’re calling a piece of trash, you low-life son of bitch.” Patrick’s face is starting to turn red, so Coen grits his teeth and growls in frustration as he lets go. I’ve never had a man stick up for me like this before. Patrick deserves to have a taste of his own medicine for a change. All of a sudden, everyone starts scrambling to their cars. I hear Derek yell, “Move out! Cops are here in thirty seconds!”

Coen pushes Patrick away from my car. “I better not ever see you up in Lexi’s face again!” He quickly kisses me on top of the head. “Lex, follow me. Make sure you keep up so the cops don’t catch you.” He runs and jumps through the open window of his car, starts it, and waits as I quickly get into my own. I look over and see the red and blue lights flashing about two and half blocks away. Shit! I wasn’t planning on racing twice tonight.

As soon as I throw my seatbelt on and start my car, Coen and I peel around the corner and down the back alleys, hoping to stay out of sight.

I’M RACING THROUGH the streets of town with Lexi tailing in her car. Thankfully, we managed to get off the quarter-mile just in time to give us a chance to shake the cops. After all the crazy-ass happenings of today, I never in a million years expected it to be her I was racing. I almost backed out when Derek told me what the payout was, but I never back down from a race. And besides, Derek kept encouraging it. Now I know why.

It’s completely dark out now, and the streetlights are on as I turn down Lexi’s street. My body is still tense from dealing with that fucking puny little loser that was running his mouth at Lexi. I should have put my fist through his face. Rolling my shoulders, I slowly ease up speed and pull up in front of Lexi’s place. Looking into my rearview mirror, I see her pull into the driveway.

I have to keep my feelings at bay with this chick. She’s really getting under my skin, and I can’t let that happen. Not now. Not ever. Thoughts of her stepping out of her car after the race flash through my memory. Her perfect tits framed in a tight fitting, purple v-neck t-shirt. Her amazing curvy ass, hugged in all the right places by a pair of denim shorts. Running her fingers through her luscious red hair. And those Chucks. Fuck! Most men would get off on a woman in a sexy pair of heels. I admit, I appreciate a hot pair myself, but give me a girl in a pair of Chucks any day.

I put my car in park, shut it off, and get out. After I shut the door I cross my arms and rest them on the roof of my car, watching Lexi get out. She tightens her ponytail and straightens out her clothes. Her cheeks are flushed. I’m not sure if it’s from the rush of having to speed through town, or because she wants me. She’s so fucking beautiful. As bad as I want to feel her body underneath me, I decide it’s best to get my thoughts in check before we go any further with whatever this is. I might be a bit of an asshole, but she did just break up with someone, and today has been all kinds of crazy.

Lexi shuts her car door, double checks that it’s locked, and then turns to look at me with those big, beautiful brown eyes. “Would you, uh, like to stay for a beer, Coen?”

God, if she isn’t making it hard to say no right now. Hard. That’s a good word for it. My dick is definitely twitching at the sight of her next to that sexy car of hers, remembering what we were doing in there earlier today. I clear my throat, trying to stifle the groan rising from deep in my chest thanks to my aching balls.

“I would love to, Lexi, but I should probably get going. It’s getting late, and I have to be at my aunt’s place early in the morning or she’ll be jumping down my throat.” I huff and roll my eyes.

“Oh,” is all she says, breaking eye contact with me and fumbling around with her keys. She bends her head down while running her hand over her hair. “Well, I guess I’ll see you—”

She’s cut off by the sound of squelching tires and the sound of a car door slamming. Before I even bother turning my head to see who this idiot is, I know. Looks like this twerp wants his ass kicked after all.

He’s barely taken two steps toward me before he starts yelling again. “Who the fuck do you think you are, putting your hands on me and taking my girl home?”

“I’m not your fucking girl any more, Patrick, and this is exactly why. Your crazy-ass fucking outbursts of rage. Now fuck off and go home!” Lexi yells from across the driveway.

I walk over to him, my boots loud on the pavement, cracking my knuckles. What if I hadn’t driven home with Lexi? She’s tough, but this guy is out to get her. I’m beyond mad, and grab him by the throat again, holding him just an inch or two above the ground.

“Look, you stupid little punk. I answer to no one. It’s none of your business who I am or what I do, and it sounds to me like Lexi wants you off of her property. So how about you take the fuck off before I pound your face into the curb.” I spit the words into his face and then drop him on his ass. “If I fucking see you anywhere near Lexi again, you are going to have bigger problems than that fucking shitty attitude of yours, asshole. Now fuck off!”

Patrick glares at me for a brief moment before he stumbles to his feet. I don’t take my eyes off of him. I want him to feel the heat radiating off of me from my anger. He goes back to his car mumbling under his breath. Just as Patrick’s car screeches around the corner at the end of the street, I hear Derek. He must have pulled in behind me while I was trying not to snap the twig’s neck.

“Hey man, everything okay here? Lexi, are you alright?” he asks, looking back and forth between Lexi and me.

“Yes, Derek, we’re fine. Thanks to Coen,” Lexi says, curling her luscious lips into a smile. She’s spinning one of the key rings on her set of keys around between her thumb and index finger. “Patrick is on one of his little drunken rampages and was trying to show his ass, that’s all.” Lexi shrugs. Sounds like she broke up with this asshole at the right time. No woman should have to put up with being treated or spoken to that way. She’s even stronger than I thought. She’s blowing this off like it’s no big deal. This is not okay with me. She shouldn’t be comfortable with him acting that way. I don’t trust that piece of shit, and fuck if I’m going to leave her here alone. That idiot will probably try to come back again later when he thinks I’m gone.