Racing Outside the Line: A Love Story at 190 Mph (16 page)

"I’m sorry, baby. I wouldn’t have let you come here if I had known she was going to do this."

She was still his fiancée and what was I? His mistress? He had told her he loved her, did he love me? Did I love him? I mean, I had always loved him, but that was a teenager’s love, an unrequited love, did I really love him for who he was right now? The truth was I didn’t know. I hadn’t stopped thinking of him in the same terms I had always thought of him, like a seventeen-year-old in love with a man four years older than her and infinitely cooler than her. He was a different person now, and I sure as hell liked this guy a lot, but did I love him? Had I ever really loved any man? I couldn’t remember ever feeling like I didn’t want to live without someone, except my parents, that is. But shouldn’t being in love with a man feel just like that? If there was anyone on the face of the planet I could consider spending the rest of my life with, it was Seth, but was it ridiculous, undying adult love?

"Say something, Lexie." I could hear the worry in his voice, and it sucked me away from my inner debate on the meaning of love and back to the issue in front of me.

"It’s okay, Seth. I can handle it." I sure hoped I could. "You and I both know that I’ve been through worse and lived to tell the tale." At least
that
was completely true. "When is she showing up?"

"She won’t be here until race day, so early Sunday morning."

I nodded to show that I understood. He pulled back from our embrace and looked down into my eyes. When I didn’t immediately look up, he placed his finger under my chin and tilted my face toward his. "I’m not ever going to let you go again, you know that, right?"

I let the fear that I felt show in my eyes as he looked intensely into them, "Promise?"

"I promise," and I knew he meant it as he leaned down to capture my lips in another bruising kiss. Just as we were gathering steam on another make-out session, someone nearby cleared their throat loudly. I jumped and pulled back, but Seth kept right on kissing me. When he realized I wouldn’t let myself be drawn back into the kiss, he sighed heavily and pulled away. "Alexis, this is Gene." He let go of me as I stepped forward to shake hands with the man Seth referred to as his coach mama.

"Hmmm, firm grip, none of that girly, I’m pretending I have no strength crap, that’s a point for her in my book, Seth."

Somewhat confused, I looked back over my shoulder at Seth who was now leaning casually against the motor coach. "Gene likes to keep score on people, it’s how he tells you when you’ve done something good or done something stupid. I’ve been in the negative for quite awhile now, haven’t I, Gene?’

"Ahh, that boy ain’t nothing but trouble, you watch out for him… Alexis, huh, I don’t like that name, mind if I change it?"

"Lexie… I suppose that’ll do until I can come up with a fittin’ nickname. I’ve got ‘em all down pretty good. Wyatt in there was easy since he controls the gang, I call him Earp. Not so original, but it suits him well. Desmond’s Peaches, since he likes everyone to think everything is just peachy keen. That boy can spin anything to make it look good. Seth here’s always been the same ole boy, definitely the center of attention, so he’s Princess."

I laughed out loud at that. "That does suit him."

"Boy, you done good," he complimented Seth, "she’s sure a pretty little thing ain’t she?" I could feel the heat rush to my cheeks as I shied from the compliment. It felt odd to be complimented by this man who hardly knew me. "Here I was worried you’d look like Peaches, what a curse that’d be."

Seth pulled away from the motor coach and came up to drape his arm around my shoulder possessively. "You need your glasses old man, she’s not pretty, she’s completely beyond beautiful." He kissed my forehead as he looked down at me smiling.

"Gene!" came Wyatt’s booming voice from the door to the motor coach. Seth and I jumped away from each other instantly.

"Earp!" He exclaimed walking over to shake hands and hug Wyatt. "It’s been nearly a month since you been out here. What’s been keepin’ ya so busy?"

"You know, trying to keep the kid in uniform, tough work."

"I can imagine that. Interesting situation you let happen under your roof here," he inclined his head in our direction.

"I know—I didn’t see it coming this time."

"Then you’re a damn fool, Earp! You just lost two points for that one. How could you miss the way these two look at each other? Got me gagging a hundred feet away."

Seth laughed and commented, "He hasn’t really been home much to see it, Gene, and I hid it better this time."

Desmond shoved past Wyatt to get out the door. "Gene, I’m starving, what’s for dinner?"

I suddenly felt uncomfortable that everyone knew about Seth and me except my own brother. It made me feel really guilty. I shuffled my feet, bouncing from foot to foot and fidgeting with my hair.

"Now, now Peaches, don’t get your pretty little panties in a bunch, I’ll have it ready just as soon as y’all quit hassling me."

Anxious to get away from the group, I asked, "Do you need any help Gene?"

"Now aren’t you the darling. You certainly don’t belong with this unmannerly rabble." He walked over to a golf-cart vehicle that matched the one Desmond had picked Wyatt and me up in earlier. He pulled out several bags of groceries and walked toward the motor coach. "I don’t need a lick o’ help, but you can come keep me company while I get these beauties marinatin’."

I smiled, not sure whether he was just trying to be nice, although he didn’t seem the type to go out of his way to be nice to anyone he didn’t think deserved it, or if he was trying to give the guys an opportunity to talk about business without my presence, or maybe he was saving me from the uncomfortable moment I was experiencing being around Desmond and all the people who knew about us. It didn’t really matter what his motivation was, I was thankful regardless.

Inside the motor coach, Gene pointed to the dinette area, "Park yourself over there." Not quite sure what to say, I sat back and watched as he sped around the small kitchen taking out dishes and spices as he prepared several thick steaks for marinating. "So, you known Seth a long time, huh?"

"Yeah, for as long as I can remember."

"What was he like as a little one?"

"I don’t really remember. I’m actually four years younger than Seth, so I was too young to really notice. I just remember that I always thought he was the coolest guy. I used to follow him around everywhere when I was a kid… well, always really."

"He didn’t tell me much ‘bout you two, just that everyone’s gonna kill him when they find out and that this has been many years in the makin’."

"You could definitely say that. I’ve had a ridiculous crush on him since birth, practically. Timing was always off though." I shrugged not knowing why, I mean, it had been a huge deal, but now, it just didn’t feel like it was the worst thing that had happened. Now, Alexandria felt like the worst thing that we had to face.

"I hear ya. Timin’s the kicker ain’t it? But ya still got timin’ trouble don’t ya?"

I nodded, feeling a bit awkward about launching into a list of my personal drama, but there was something so comfortable about Gene, as though I could trust him.

"Oh, now, don’t you be sad about that thing. She ain’t nothin’ for you to be worryin’ about. Personally, I can’t stand the woman. Drives me batty. Don’t even pick up after herself. ‘Gene can you clean ma boots?’ ‘Gene, ma omelet’s got too much cheese for ma diet, can you make me a new one?’ ‘Gene, you didn’t pack ma clothes up right last time, can you be sure to do it right this week?’ Hmph! I do all that for Seth ‘cuz he don’t ask me to. That boy’d do for himself if he had the time, not her."

I couldn’t help but smile at the negative information I was receiving about Alexandria. I tried not to let it go to my head because it certainly wasn’t Gene’s opinion that mattered, the point to remember was that Seth had been in love with Alexandria. Perhaps, if given the opportunity of being near her again, he would remember what he had loved about her. Exasperated with myself and my pointless worrying, I shifted uncomfortably in the seat and looked toward the door in agitation.
Trying
not to worry and
not
worrying were two totally different things.

"I’m sorry, hun; I didn’t mean to make ya feel out o’ sorts about that woman." He took a step closer to me and placed his hand on my shoulder, "I can tell ya care for him like I’m thinkin’ he should be cared for." I tried to get the frown off my face, but I couldn’t. "Let’s take these tasty morsels on out to the barbeque and light em up. I’ll try to get Peaches out the way so you and Seth can have a minute."

I grabbed a plate of vegetables that Gene had prepared to cook on the barbeque and headed outside. Attached to the motor coach was a large awning where the guys were sitting in camp chairs with their feet propped up on a cooler. I could tell they were discussing something they didn’t want me to hear since they were immediately quiet the second I opened to door to the motor coach. Not knowing what to say, I was thankful that Gene jumped in. "You boys talkin’ ‘bout little ole me, is that why you’re mouse quiet all a sudden?"

"You guessed it," laughed Desmond, "we were talking about needing a new cook since you’re leaving us starving out here."

"See if I feed you, youngun!" retorted Gene.

"I’m just kidding, Gene." Desmond grabbed another soda from the cooler their feet were sitting on. "We were actually talking about the demise of Seth’s relationship with Alexandria. That ought to make you happy, Gene; you’ve hated her since day one."

"Lexie, hun, can you go get me my barbequin’ claws, I think I left ‘em in the sink."

When I got into the kitchen, I noticed that there wasn’t anything in the sink, so I started looking through all the cupboards. As I bent over to look in the cabinet under the sink, I heard the motor coach door open. I thought it was Gene, but I suddenly felt Seth’s arms around my waist as he came up behind me. I nearly jumped out of my skin. The moment I turned around, Seth’s lips were plastered to mine. I wrapped my arms around his waist wanting to forget about the mess we were in and focus only on kissing him, but he pulled away from me.

"I’m sorry, baby, I keep watching your face and wish I could pick you up and run away with you, but I can’t think of a way to protect you and take care of my obligations to my sponsors and everyone in terms of my annoying image."

"It’s okay, Seth, I really understand. It’s just a little difficult. I get a little worried."

"I swear to you, Lexie, you have nothing to worry about. There isn’t anyone on the face of the planet that I could want even half as much as I want you right this second." To illustrate his point, he kissed me again, but with more fire. I clung to him trying not to lose myself in the kiss, trying to remind myself that Desmond was just outside and couldn’t find out about us yet.

The door opened just then and Wyatt’s loud voice yelled in to us, "Gene says he was wrong and found his tongs in the drawer by the grill out here."

"Okay," Seth yelled in response, "we’ll be out in a minute. We have to clean up the mess we made tearing through everything to find the tongs."

The second Wyatt closed the door, I asked, "When did you become such a quick thinker? I barely remember my name when you’re kissing me."

He cocked an eyebrow at me, "That’s what I always hope for."

Rolling my eyes at him, I started to pull away with the intention of heading back outside, but he kept his arms around me making it impossible to move.

"The truth is that I had that excuse planned long before I started kissing you. As much as I would like to say that I’m invincible, I have to admit that you are my kryptonite, you weaken me."

"Really?" I reveled in the fact that I had that effect on him.

"You don’t have a very clear image of yourself or what you do to me," he replied as he tangled his hand back in my hair and pulled my lips toward his.

I gathered enough will power to pull away from Seth, but not enough to actually walk away. I rested my cheek against his chest and listened to his breathing as I enjoyed the warmth of his arms. He ran his hand through my hair as he placed little kisses on top of my head. "I had hoped your first cup race would be fun and exciting, not like this."

"I know. I’m sure there will be other exciting races in the future, so I know you’ll have plenty of opportunities to make it up to me."

"I certainly will," he kissed the bridge of my nose and we walked back outside.

I went over to one of the empty seats around the cooler-turned-ottoman and sat down, just barely picking up on whatever the guys were talking about in my absence.

"I just don’t know that it’s such a good idea," Desmond was saying.

"Why not? She’s not a kid anymore, Des; she can take care of herself and vice versa. Besides, we have that meeting tomorrow morning, so either she stays here with Seth or we all wake up much earlier than necessary to drop her off here at the track before heading into the city." I might not be too bright sometimes, but you better believe I caught on to that conversation very quickly. Wyatt was convincing Des that I should stay here with Seth, could that actually be what they were talking about or was I suddenly losing my mind.

"What are you talking about?" asked Seth.

Wyatt turned to look at Seth, "There aren’t enough hotel rooms. Des tried to book another one for Alexis, but there weren’t any available in the area. I was going to give up my room and stay here in the motor coach with you, but it makes more sense for Alexis to stay with you since Des and I are meeting in the morning with Itola about sponsoring you for next season."

How he managed to look so uninterested, I have no idea because it took every ounce of facial will power I had not to break out in a huge grin and fall to Desmond’s feet like a second grader asking, "Can I? Huh, huh, huh? Can I pretty please?" But, Seth managed to keep a calm face as he said, "You have a point, Dad, and don’t forget what traffic is going to be like tomorrow morning to get in and out of the track to drop Alexis off. It’ll be fine to have her stay here. I’ll keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn’t get kidnapped or anything."