Turn & Burn (10 page)

“What happened?” He caught the distraught woman by the arm. They halted beside our table.

“Jackass keeps asking me to show him my tits,” she sobbed. “Then, he just reached for them. He and I were the only ones back there.”

I turned to look toward the hallway that led to the garage area, wondering who’d had too much to drink already.

Kolby Barnes sauntered into the room. “Guess nobody can take a damn joke anymore. Anybody feel like tendin’ bar?”

Richard rushed over. “Unless she has proof, you need to shut her ass up and get her out of here.” He glowered at the caterer.

Someone had to break the stunned silence, but I doubted Richard would care to hear my thoughts.

“We can tend bar.” Phillip piped up from the edge of the room, jerking Harry’s sleeve. “C’mon, Harry. Tell the man.”

Harry looked from the scowling team owner to the caterer. “I run a bar in one of the Radisson hotels. Can’t predict who can and who can’t handle their liquor. We’re here, so why not? Let her go and she can have our tips at the end of the night.”

“They’re my friends,” I explained, making hasty introductions. “I work for Harry. He agreed to drive the Tiptons up here tonight because I didn’t have room for them and all my crap in my car. You might as well take advantage of them, Richard. They have to hang out till Ernie’s ready to leave, anyway.”

When Richard agreed, Phillip looked like someone had handed him a winning lotto ticket.

I offered to take them back to the bar so Richard could get back to his guests. As soon as we were alone in the corridor, I turned to Phillip. “Your hero’s an asshole. And I got a problem with you, too, because it’s your fault I’m even here. So, I guess you two kissed and made up?”

Shame darkened Phillip’s brown eyes. “Not everyone knows love when they see it, Shelby. Sometimes, it doesn’t look the way you think it should.”

Nothing I’d want on a T-shirt
.

I
squeezed Harry’s arm. “How was the trip?”

“Phillip and Ernie sat in the back seat. He enjoyed talking to the old guy. Francine’s nice as she can be. Traffic, on the other hand, was a nightmare. The rain caused a couple of wrecks.”

When we reached the garage, no one was waiting for a drink. Harry eyed the bar setup and began rearranging the space to suit him. “So, you threw a rock into still waters. What do you think will happen next?”

“Nothing. I’m going to have a miserable Christmas and y’all will be having hot make-up sex, so you’d better appreciate the sacrifice I’m making for true love.” I held up a hand when they exchanged a heated glance. “Just don’t enjoy anything here. The natives are restless and half are already plastered.”

“We know.” Phillip shoved a few beers deeper into a cooler of ice. “But Shelby, this peek inside NASCAR is my dream come true, so thank you. For everything. If you ever need anyone prosecuted for a crime in South Carolina, I’m your bitch.” He grinned.

“Not getting off that easily.” I shook my finger at him. “If I ever get arrested for murder, I expect you to throw the case.”

“Damn.” His eyes rounded. “Please do your killing on this side of the state line. I did have to take a vow, you know.”

“That’s gratitude for you.” I huffed, then leaned close to whisper in Harry’s ear, still watching Phillip’s face. “At least tell me you sealed the deal.”

Harry laughed and darted a grin in Phillip’s direction. The attorney’s cheeks reddened. “Oh, yeah. It took about three hours and a gallon of lube, but he’s all mine now.”

“I’d love to hang out, but I think Francine and Doris have history, and Mom took her comment about treating me like a daughter personally, so I might have to referee.”

“There’s probably a few wrenches around if you need a weapon. We’re good. Shoo!” Harry motioned me away.

Harry and Phillip would be fine. Time to check on Francine. 

When I returned to the main room, Richard held his glass aloft. I tiptoed past to slide into my seat, hoping he’d stop talking soon. The food smelled delicious and I was famished.

“And so, it tears me up to announce that Roark’s decided this is his last year.”

Jamie made a half-hearted wave to acknowledge the applause and mingled groans. His wife wore a big smile. I searched for Dale, but there was no sign of him. I eyed Mom. How much longer would she and Dale stay?

“And in the Xfinity series, Jonny Jet will be drivin’ the number six car, while Colt Hannah takes the wheel of thirty-three. J.J. will split time with Marley Taggart. Marley couldn’t be with us tonight, but for those who don’t know, she’s Jesse Hancock’s daughter. And, because I figure the apple never falls far from the tree, Caine Hannah’s gonna be on the wrenches for their pit crew.”

I unrolled my silverware, peeking at my stepbrothers. Time to figure out how I planned to  rip Colt’s heart out and stomp it into bits. Now that I’d tasted blood, I was eager for more.

“Wait a minute.” I dropped the napkin. “Marley. Is that... is she....” I stared at Colt, but in my head, I flashed back to the day Dale had driven me to high school after I’d nearly been expelled. He’d told me a bit about Colt and Caroline’s mother, Robyn Mason, who’d given Colt to Dale, so she could pursue Jesse and a fresh start in life. Jesse had gotten Robyn pregnant with Caroline, but abandoned them both in order to look after Marley’s mother when her husband, another racecar driver, was killed in an on-track accident when Marley was just an infant.

Colt grabbed his drink and his eyes turned hard. “Yep.”

I recalled what Kolby said about someone putting the female driver into the wall. If Colt was gunning for Marley Taggart for personal reasons, I almost felt sorry for her. Almost.

I’d reserve my sympathy for Caroline. Why hadn’t Jesse helped her get a career, too, if women were welcome on the track now?

I darted a glance at the memorial wall, finding Brad Taggert’s name easily. I’d once thought of NASCAR as a huge, faceless entity. It suddenly seemed like a small and very busy beehive, making me appreciate how awkward it would’ve been for Dale to work with Jesse Hancock, even for one season.

I almost hoped he wouldn’t ask about the rift between his sons and me. The man had endured more than his share of family drama. For the first time, I understood why he’d avoided romantic entanglements for two decades.

“Now, it’s Christmas. Y’all eat, drink, and be fuckin’ merry, ‘cause come Valentine’s Day, it’s on!” Richard punched his fist above his head. The crowd cheered so loudly, trophies rattled inside their cases. An immediate line formed at the buffet table.

I aimed my smile toward Jonny. “Congratulations, guys. I should get your autographs now while they’re still free.”

“Why is Shelby famous?” Mom demanded. “Jonny, you promised to tell me.”

“Her You Tube channel has almost two million subscribers.” Jonny cut his eyes toward me. “What can I bribe her with, Mrs. Hannah? I want to be in one of her videos.”

“Flowers work on me every time. But, I don’t understand. What’s a You Tube?” Mom scrunched up her nose and her words were a bit slurred.

Jonny laughed. “It’s a website where people upload videos of all kinds of things. Shelby lets people sit in her car and talk.”

Colt tipped his chair back on two legs. “You mean, she don’t even race it? Who’d watch that?”

“For your information, ‘Barracuda Hemi’ is one of the most frequently searched terms on You Tube.” I didn’t mean to snap at Colt—well, I kind of did—but Caine’s steady stare was starting to get to me. “I record people like Ernie, who want to tell me a story that relates to the Barracuda.” I shrugged. “They tell me all kinds of stuff, about lost loves and missed opportunities, and somehow, their tale always intersects with the car. I call it the The ‘Cuda Confessions.” I jumped up. Caine’s dark look made my stomach knot.
So much for eating
. 

“I love them,” Francine piped up. “Ernie’s chomping at the bit for you to upload his.”

I nodded. “Couldn’t take the risk Dale might see it. I’ll put it up tonight.”

I drained my water glass, only to find Caine’s eyes still fixed on me. The servers circled tables on the far side of the room. Getting a refill would take forever.

“Excuse me. I think I’m going to find something with a little more kick than water.”

I’d hoped Jonny might help me slide my chair back, or even accompany me to the bar, but he pulled out his phone, offering to show Mom and Colt his favorite videos. To my dismay, Caine vaulted to his feet and grabbed the back of my chair.

“I’ll go with you. Too many hands-on types wanderin’ around.” He glared at my bodice.

Caine didn’t approve of my outfit? How amusing.

The line at the buffet blocked the hallway that led to the garage. I smiled at a random guy, hoping he’d let us cut through, but Caine grabbed my hand and tugged me toward a door I hadn’t noticed. “Alternate route.”

The door opened onto a dark room, but he jerked me inside. When he spun and the door slammed, I realized my mistake.

“What are you doing?” My heart took off at a gallop. Even in complete darkness, my body noted every muscle, plane, and bulge, using the heat from his big frame like some supercomputer, calculating the distance that had to be closed before his body touched mine.

I took a half step back, only to collide with the door. Two sharp reports sounded. Vibrations through the panel told me his hands bracketed my head.

A soft tickle of breath slid across my cheeks.

“Tryin’ to remember why I ever thought I loved you.” His voice came from a spot near my ear. He leaned closer, but all he did was inhale.

Why you... what?
I blinked, even though I couldn’t see a thing. I’d be damned if he thought he’d just drag me into a dark room and pin me to the wall like his plaything. 

“Love? Is that what you called it when you recorded me when I thought I was alone? Listen, Caine, I’m no expert, but I think you might be doing it wrong. Love’s not a felony. Those recordings, on the other hand....”

Something touched my face and ran through my hair. I stiffened while he traced the bones below my eyes with the rough pads of his thumbs.

“I know it was wrong. So, we’re even now? You feel like I humiliated you, so you paid me back by tellin’ everyone we know how much better off Dad would be if I’d never been born?”

I bit back the retort on the tip of my tongue. I’d assumed that everyone at Ridenhour already knew the story.

Because that was the defining moment of Macy’s life—when she got stuck having me. I was her great tragedy and she told everyone so five minutes after meeting them. I was sure that was the way she and Dale had connected.

I’d heard their story from Caroline, and Mom, and Ernie—three people who were close to this family. But, if Dale had protected his sons by not telling every casual acquaintance, friend, or co-worker that neither Caine’s nor Colt’s mother wanted their son, I didn’t feel triumphant. I felt small.

Not short. Small.

“While you were on a roll, why didn’t you tell ‘em she killed herself, too?”

My heart wrenched at the pain in his voice. “I didn’t know, Caine. I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah, I bet you are.”

Not five minutes into my plan and I was the one apologizing? Fuck me, this was going well.

“I wish to God I’d never done it. Those videos of you in your bed, with your hands between your legs, and Colt’s name on your lips? They hurt me more than they could ever hurt you. I destroyed them. I did tell Colt, but I swear to God, no one but me ever saw them. I wanted some kind of leverage in case Macy started milkin’ Dad for every dime. In case she didn’t really love him.”

He’d been protecting Dale. How nice. If my mother felt the least bit protective of me, we could’ve had this little chat four years ago.

Even I’d thought Mom hadn’t loved Dale, but had married him for security.

His lips came down on mine. I made no move to evade. I’d show him he had no effect on me. I even said the words inside my head while he touched his lips to mine.

I felt nothing.
That’s what I’d say when he stopped fucking my throat with his tongue.

Except, he didn’t shove his tongue in my mouth. I barely felt the pressure of his lips—just their warmth. He stood there, not touching me, yet every molecule of heat in his big frame sank through me. I’d been fucked without feeling this much heat.

“Don’t.” I slapped my hands against his chest and shoved, for all the good it did.

He shifted. Pain shot through my toe. He moved his foot off my shoe, but not before the night of my eighteenth birthday came back to me, in all its painful glory.

“Hey, can you dance? Me, neither. Tell you what. You grab a shower, and I’ll find some music, and we’ll just step on each other’s toes, okay?”

He pulled away, but the electricity flashing over my skin told me he hadn’t moved far. His breath still stirred my hair.

“Shelby, you and your mama came out of nowhere. But I stopped looking at those tapes as soon as I saw that you loved Colt. I tried to warn you not to fall for him, but you didn’t hear me. You never heard anything I said. Except when I said it like this.”