Chapter 15

"So what's for breakfast, I'm starving?" You could always rely on Leon to break up a tense moment; he was definitely the comic relief in the team.

"Yeah, me too." Vince added, his stomach growling to emphasise his hunger.

"You're always hungry Coyote." Leon couldn't help but laugh at the noise Vince's stomach was making. It was a well known fact that if Vince didn't eat every couple of hours his stomach behaved as if his throat had been cut!

"How about we go out for breakfast? I'm really not in the mood for cooking and there's no way I'm letting Katy loose with a knife, she'd be in the Emergency room within the hour if I did that!" As much as Chloe loved Katy she had no wish to return to the hospital she'd only just gotten Vince out of. Katy had only cooked for Chloe 3 times in the whole time they'd known each other and each time she'd ended up having to take her to the Emergency room for treatment. The girl was a walking disaster area.

40 minutes later Chloe, Vince, Brian and Katy were standing in the driveway waiting for the Leon to finish getting ready. They'd been there for 10 minutes when Chloe decided to take action.

"Watch this," she told them as she walked towards Leon's Skyline. "I'll get him down."

Chloe opened the driver's door and started the car. Revving the engine she shouted to Vince "Baby, I'm going to take Leon's car. I'll meet you there ok?"

Before Vince had a chance to answer Leon was reaching in through the window and trying to get the keys out of the ignition.

"God woman, what the hell are you doing to my car?" Leon was breathing hard and trying his best not to shout. He'd been drying his hair when he heard the telltale sounds of his Skyline starting up. He knew that he wasn't in anyone's way so he couldn't understand why anyone was starting her up. He was half way out of the front door when he heard Chloe tell Vince she was going to take his car, 'so that's who's been driving her around' he thought as he rushed to grab his keys from the ignition before she could take off.

"You ready now then Lee? What took you so long?" Chloe had to fight hard not to laugh at the look of horror on Leon's face when he saw someone else about to drive off in his car. "Don't worry; I've been taking real good care of her."

"You've been driving my car?" Leon knew that it wasn't Vince who'd driven the Skyline. He hated the fact she was Right hand drive and moaned like a bitch every time he had to move her off the driveway to get his Maxima out.

"Only for the last couple of days, after I got her back from the warehouse. You know I wanted to respray her black but Vince wouldn't let me – he didn't think you'd appreciate it. One look at Leon's face told her that Vince was right; Leon would have quite probably killed her if she'd changed the colour of his car without his permission.

"So how are we doing this?" As funny as it was watching Chloe tease Leon about his car Vince was getting hungry and he knew it would be at least another half an hour before he actually got to eat.

"How about Brian, Lee and Katy go in the Skyline and we'll go together." Chloe had something she wanted to discuss with Vince but she wanted to talk to him in private.

"I can't drive properly yet babe, and I know you don't like driving my car." Vince was excited at the thought of spending time alone with Chloe but he wasn't sure how that'd work out.

"That's ok, we'll take my car. Katy bought it up with her this morning." Chloe pressed a button on her key ring and the garage door behind her slowly slid open to reveal a gleaming silver TVR Tuscan S. "I brought her over from England with me when I came back last year."

As soon as the garage door was fully open the boys rushed inside to get a good view of Chloe's car. Leon held his hand out for Chloe's keys and she reluctantly handed them over.

"It's only fair," he said. "At least I asked." Chloe knew he was only joking, the gleam in his eyes told her that but she still grumbled when she gave him the keys. Katy was the only other person who'd driven her car yet here she was handing her keys over to someone she'd only just met. Still, at least Leon could drive a right hand stick shift so her car would be safe.

Leon started the car and groaned with delight as the engine roared to life.

"Why Leon, if I didn't know you better I'd say you were having a sexual experience with my car." Chloe couldn't help but feel immense pride at Leon's reaction to her car. She knew it was nothing like the cars the team drove but she loved it. She'd bought it in England before her parents had been killed and it reminded her of happier times.

The journey to the restaurant was fun – Leon and Chloe played tag on the freeway and Katy kept everyone amused on the two-way radio regaling them with tales of Chloe's exploits in college. Between the laughter Chloe found the time to talk over her plans with Vince and was relieved when he agreed with her – what she was going to suggest would have major a major impact on the rest of the team and she needed to know that Vince would back her.

Chloe and Leon screeched into the car park at the same time – they'd made a bet half way there that whoever was last to the restaurant had to pay for breakfast. Not wanting to lose the bet Chloe leapt over the top of her car door and ran to the door of the restaurant.

"I won", she panted as she leant against the building. "Looks as if you're paying for breakfast, Lee."

Vince couldn't help laughing at Chloe's antics – she'd skidded to a halt, killed the engine and leapt out of the car before Leon had even got his car door open. After all the tension of the past few weeks it was great to hear everyone laughing.

"Not fair, you didn't even have to open your car door." Leon wasn't impressed, first Chloe had kept up with him all the way along the freeway then she'd beaten him to the restaurant door.

"Just another advantage of having a t-top! Besides, your fat ass couldn't keep up with me even if I'd been driving Vince's car. Admit it Michaels, you're getting old and well, you're kinda outta shape." Chloe was laughing so much that she could barely get her last comment out. She knew how much Leon prided himself on his physical fitness but she also knew he'd take the comments with good humour.

She was right and Leon immediately pounced on her, slinging her over his shoulder and running towards the large fountain in the middle of the car park.

"Oh hell, no. Put me down Lee, please. I'm sorry – your ass isn't fat, it's gorgeous. You've got a gorgeous, sexy ass." Chloe knew that if she didn't get herself out of the hole she'd just dug she'd be soaking wet within minutes.

"Hear that V, Chloe reckons my ass is sexy." Leon was grinning with delight as he held the squirming Chloe over the edge of the fountain. He'd no intention of dropping her in there but he wasn't going to tell her that.

"Is that right Chloe? You checking out other guy's asses already?" Vince could see the look of Leon's face and was more than happy to play along. It felt damn good to be able to laugh and mess about without Dom telling them to grow up or proclaim that they were embarrassing him.

Chloe turned her head so that she could whisper in Leon's ear and asked him to put her down.

Walking up to Vince and looking him straight in the eye she told him, "He might have a gorgeous sexy ass, Vince – but yours is the only one I want. Now stop complaining and kiss me."

Chloe had barely finished speaking when Vince pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Soft and gentle at first, it quickly grew more passionate. Chloe's hands were in his hair and she was practically climbing up him, desperate to get closer to him and have every inch of his hard body pressed against hers.

"Put him down Chloe, there'll be plenty of time for that later." Katy loved this new playful side of her friend but she was starving and knew that the boys were as well.

"Ok, Ok. Jeez just because you're not getting any there's no need to get stressed!" Chloe knew that the car park wasn't the most appropriate place to be kissing Vince but she couldn't help it – he did things to her that no man had even done and she loved kissing him.

Chloe waited until everyone was eating before she mentioned the conversation she'd had with Vince in the car.

"So guys, I've been thinking about where we're all going to live. My place isn't big enough for everyone and I don't want to stay at my parent's house much longer."

"I won't go back to the fort Chloe; there are too many bad memories there." Leon was determined that he'd never spend another night under that roof, sure he'd have to go and get his gear but he had no intention of ever living there again.

"What about you Vince? Do you want to go back to Dom's place?" Chloe already knew Vince's answer but she wanted the others to hear it as well.

"No way babe, not after everything that's happened but I do want to stay with you." Vince smiled and reached over the table to hold Chloe's hand. Just being with her made everything right with the world and touching her made him feel as if he could do anything he put his mind to.

"What about you Bri?" Chloe needed to know that everyone wanted the same thing before she offered what she thought was the perfect solution to the problem.

"Well, I don't actually have anywhere to live, I was staying at The Racers Edge but I doubt Harry'll take me back." Brian knew that Harry wouldn't take him back, he hadn't been keen on him staying there in the 1st place but it was all part of the deal the DA offered him.

"Well, I know that Katy doesn't care where she lives as long as there's plenty of room to party so I've got an idea." Chloe didn't know what the others would think of her idea but so far as she could see it was the only solution to their problem.

"I've been thinking for ages about selling my parents place and last week I got a call from a realtor who's got a client who wants to buy it. I was thinking about selling the house and buying somewhere new. The place would be ours, a fresh start for everyone."