RACERS

CHAPTER FOUR:The Challenge

ISABELLE'S POV

I had decided three things about Axel Moretti.

One, he was arrogant.

Two, he knew he was handsome, which made him even more irritating.

And three, I was never speaking to him again.

Unfortunately, the universe seemed determined to test that third decision.

“Belle, look!” Mia grabbed my arm, pointing toward the centre of the gathering.

Axel stood beside his midnight-blue car, talking to a group of guys. Everyone seemed to listen whenever he spoke. He wasn't the loudest person there, but somehow, he still commanded attention.

Annoying.

“Can we go somewhere else?” I asked.

Mia stared at me. “You've been talking about car meets for months, and now you want to leave?”

“I've seen enough.”

“Liar.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but a familiar voice interrupted me.

“Leaving already, sweetheart?”

I turned slowly.

Axel stood behind us, his hands tucked into his pockets and that irritating smile resting on his face.

“Unfortunately, I haven't found a way to make you disappear,” I replied.

Mia coughed to hide a laugh.

Axel's eyes flickered toward her before returning to me.

“You always this friendly?”

“Only with people who deserve it.”

“Then I must be special.”

“You must be confused.”

He laughed.

I hated that laugh.

Actually, that was a lie. I didn't hate it. I hated that it sounded so good coming from someone so irritating.

Axel nodded toward his car.

“So, what do you think?”

“About what?”

“My car.”

I glanced at the midnight-blue machine. “It's beautiful.”

His expression became smug.

“Finally, some honesty.”

“Don't get excited. I'm talking about the car, not its owner.”

His smile widened.

“Fair enough. Tell me what you would change.”

I studied the car more carefully. I wasn't a professional mechanic, but I had spent years reading about cars, studying modifications, and watching people work on engines.

“Honestly?” I asked.

“Please do.”

“I'd want to know more about the suspension setup before judging the modifications. A car can look incredible and still handle badly. And if you've modified the engine without properly balancing everything else, all that power won't mean much.”

For the first time since we'd met, Axel didn't immediately have a clever response.

His eyes narrowed slightly, not with anger but interest.

“You know something about cars.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Were you expecting me to think a steering wheel was a decoration?”

Someone behind him laughed.

Axel glanced over his shoulder before looking at me again.

“Careful, Isabelle. You might surprise me.”

“Try not to faint.”

He stepped closer to his car and gestured toward the passenger side.

“Come on. Take a closer look.”

I hesitated.

“Why?”

“Because you have opinions, and I'd like to hear them.”

“And if I don't want to?”

“Then you can keep standing there pretending you aren't curious.”

I hated how accurately he'd read me.

I walked toward the car, determined not to let him think he'd won anything.

Up close, the vehicle was even more impressive. I examined the bodywork and wheels, resisting the temptation to ask a dozen questions.

Axel watched me quietly.

“You really do love cars, don't you?” he asked.

I glanced at him.

“More than I like conversations with you.”

He chuckled.

“That's unfortunate. I was beginning to enjoy ours.”

“Get a hobby.”

“I have several. Racing is my favourite.”

“Explains the ego.”

He shook his head, smiling as though I were the most entertaining person he'd encountered all evening.

Then a voice called his name from across the gathering.

Axel turned, answered briefly, and looked back at me.

“Enjoy the rest of your night, sweetheart.”

“Don't tell me what to do, Moretti.”

He started walking away, then glanced over his shoulder.

“See you around, Isabelle.”

I folded my arms.

“Don't count on it.”

His smile returned.

“Something tells me I should.”

I watched him disappear into the crowd before turning to Mia.

She was staring at me with an expression I deeply distrusted.

“What?” I demanded.

She grinned.

“Nothing.”

“Mia.”

“Absolutely nothing.”

I narrowed my eyes.

She burst out laughing.

“You two are going to be entertaining.”

“There's no you two,” I protested. “There's me, and there's an arrogant man with an expensive car.”

“Of course, babe.”

I groaned and started walking toward the exit.

I didn't like Axel Moretti.

I didn't like his teasing smile, his confidence, or the way he seemed to enjoy every argument we had.

And I certainly didn't like the fact that, as I left the car meet that night, I found myself looking back toward his midnight-blue car one last time.

Because the worst part wasn't that Axel had noticed me.

It was that I had noticed him, too.

And something told me our story wasn't ending here.