Grip (The Driven World) - Lacey Black Page 0,103

a big dirty smile on his face.

I just stare at him, not really sure what he’s meaning. He literally just won…

He drops to one knee in the middle of the dirty track and pulls a small velvet pouch out of his pocket. Inside, a small diamond ring falls into his palm, and when his eyes meet mine, everything else fades away. The crowd, the noise, the heavy dirt still lingering in the air.

“Lena, the moment I saw you at this very track, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. You are the best part of me, way better than I deserve.” He stops and looks at Oliver, smiling at our son. “Oliver and I were talking the other night, and he told me without a shadow of a doubt, you are the mother he was destined to have. You are kind and gentle, and he’s kinda hoping to have some little brothers and sisters soon,” he says, making me chuckle. “So, will you do me the honor of being my wife and Oliver’s mom? Lena Christine Stanley, will you marry us?”

I’m already nodding before he even has the words out. “Yes!” I holler, as he slides the ring on my finger. I’m wrapped in his arms, his son—our son—sandwiched between us and reaching for his dad’s nose.

“I love you,” he whispers. I can taste the dirt and sweat on his lips.

“I love you, Mack Cruz.”

“Thank you for making me the happiest son of a bitch in the world.”

I laugh and bat my eyelashes at him. “You don’t think I can top this?” I ask sweetly, but I can already tell his mind is headed straight for the gutter.

“Oh, you can be on top later,” he teases.

I shake my head and hand him his son. As he holds him in his arms, I help adjust the onesie he’s wearing, the big blue letters now visible to read.

Mack stops, reading the shirt, before his wide eyes fly back to meet mine. “Holy shit!” he hollers. “You’re…we’re…having a baby?”

I nod, ignoring the tears sliding down my cheeks.

He throws his arms around me again and kisses me soundly. “We’re having a baby!” he yells, receiving loud cheers of congratulations from our racing family and friends. He smiles down at me, his arm wrapping firmly around my shoulder. “Okay, you win. You topped it.”

I pitch up on my tiptoes, so much elation in my chest it practically hurts and whisper, “And I’ll be topping you later tonight.”

He gives me a wolfish grin, his eyes darker than ever. “I look forward to it, future Mrs. Cruz.”

THE END

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Are you interested in reading the bestselling books that inspired the Driven World? You can find them HERE.

Books Also by Lacey Black

Rivers Edge series

Trust Me, Rivers Edge book 1 (Maddox and Avery) – FREE at all retailers

~ #1 Bestseller in Contemporary Romance

Fight Me, Rivers Edge book 2 (Jake and Erin)

Expect Me, Rivers Edge book 3 (Travis and Josselyn)

Promise Me: A Novella, Rivers Edge book 3.5 (Jase and Holly)

Protect Me, Rivers Edge book 4 (Nate and Lia)

Boss Me, Rivers Edge book 5 (Will and Carmen)

Trust Us: A Rivers Edge Christmas Novella (Maddox and Avery)

~ This novella was originally part of the Christmas Miracles Anthology

BOX SET – contains all 5 novels, 2 novellas, and a BONUS short story

With Me, A Rivers Edge Christmas Novella (Brooklyn and Becker)

Bound Together series

Submerged, Bound Together book 1 (Blake and Carly)

~ An International Bestseller

Profited, Bound Together book 2 (Reid and Dani)

~A Bestseller, reaching Top 100 on 2 e-retailers

Entwined, Bound Together book 3 (Luke and Sidney)

Summer Sisters series

My Kinda Kisses, Summer Sisters book 1 (Jaime and Ryan)

~A Bestseller, reaching Top 100 on 2 e-retailers

My Kinda Night, Summer Sisters book 2 (Payton and Dean)

My Kinda Song, Summer Sisters book 3 (Abby and Levi)

My Kinda Mess, Summer Sisters book 4 (Lexi and Linkin)

My Kinda Player, Summer Sisters book 5 (AJ and Sawyer)

My Kinda Player, Summer Sisters book 6 (Meghan and Nick)

My Kinda Wedding, A Summer Sisters Novella book 7 (Meghan and Nick)

Rockland Falls series

Love and Pancakes, Rockland Falls book 1

Love and Lingerie, Rockland Falls book 2

Love and Landscape, Rockland Falls book 3

Love and Neckties, Rockland Falls book 4

Standalone

Music Notes, a sexy contemporary romance standalone

A Place To Call Home, a Memorial Day novella

Exes and Ho Ho Ho’s, a sexy contemporary romance standalone novella

Pants on Fire, a sexy contemporary romance standalone

Double Dog Dare You, a new standalone

Grip, A Driven World Novel

Co-Written with NYT Bestselling Author, Kaylee Ryan

It’s Not Over, Fair Lakes book 1

Just Getting Started, Fair Lakes book 2

Can’t Get Enough, Fair Lakes book 3

Acknowledgments

This book. The moment I heard K. Bromberg was inviting authors to write in two of her series worlds, I knew this was something I wanted to do. A challenge, if you will. The ultimate one, at that. It doesn’t get much better than Colton and Rylee and the incredible stories surrounding them. So, first and foremost, thank you, Kristy, for taking a chance on me and allowing me to enter this world you’ve created. These characters mean so much to so many, and I’m honored to have been chosen to keep their story going.

This book wouldn’t be what it is without the help of so many. My editing team – and yes, there is a whole team of eagle eyes who assist me. Kara Hildebrand, Joanne Thompson, Sandra Shipman, and Karen Hrdlicka. Thank you for helping me shape this story into something special.

The cover. Wowza. You can say it. Thank you, Golden, for a brilliant photograph, and to Charlie David for gracing the cover. You’ve both brought my vision of Mack Cruz to life through this photo. Deborah at Tugboat, thank you for designing a cover worthy of being a Driven World cover.

Brenda of Formatting Done Wright, thank you for always making my books look amazing through format. Valentine PR, thank you for tirelessly promoting my book and the world it’s in.

Kaylee Ryan, Holly Collins, Lacey’s Ladies, and my ARC team, thank you for listening, for your encouragements, and for your constant support.

To my husband and kids, thank you for always standing by my side and forgiving me when I submerge myself into my book world. It’s not easy, but we make it work together.

To all the bloggers and readers, thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I loved writing it.

About the Author

Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and three rowdy chickens. Lacey loves watching NASCAR races, shooting guns, and should only consume one mixed drink because she’s a lightweight.

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlaceyblack

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthLaceyBlack

Website: www.laceyblackbooks.com

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ALSO WRITTEN BY K. BROMBERG

Driven

Fueled

Crashed

Raced

Aced

Slow Burn