The Fountain of Infinite Wishes (Dare River Book 5) (24 page)

“I don’t ask for much. But honesty and mutual respect is important to me.”

“Me too,” she said, standing a few feet from him with her hands at her sides. “I suppose we should go.”

“I suppose so,” he said, reaching out to push her silken brown hair behind her ear. “Although I don’t want to. I could stay here and kiss you all night.”

Her brow arched. “As tempting as that is, let’s go to dinner. I find myself hungry.”

“Not much of an appetite this week, huh?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Where are you taking me? You didn’t say.”

“It’s a surprise. Grab your purse.”

“Let me put the flowers in some water first,” she said, giving him the opportunity to study the sliver of her place he could see from his position in the entryway. A cherry-wood staircase led upstairs. The walls were decorated with either landscape or floral designs in bold metallic frames. There was a horse sculpture on the entry table and an Art Deco mirror above it.

“You can look around,” she called out. “I know your curiosity must be killing you.”

He laughed and headed in the direction of her voice. Her living room furniture was cream-colored leather piled with bright purple pillows crisscrossed with orange stripes. The den had a fireplace, and the mantel was lined with family photos. He picked up one of Shelby with an older woman she favored in looks and knew this had to be the infamous Louisa.
 

“That’s Mama,” she said quietly in the doorway.

“I figured,” he said, placing the photograph back. “Sadie and Susannah resemble her more.”

She rubbed the back of her neck. “I wonder what Mama thinks sometimes, seeing me and J.P., but him especially. Does she see the man who abandoned her? Don’t mind me. I’m…”

“It’s okay, Shelby,” he said, turning to face her. “Perfectly normal questions.”

“You’ve had them?” she asked.

He met her gaze. “Of course. It’s only human to have questions. Especially when there aren’t any obvious answers. I’ve wondered the same about my mother. I resemble my dad too.”

“Have you…well, ever looked in the mirror and wondered how much the likeness you share carries past looks?”

For a moment, he looked away, not sure of how much to share. She was vulnerable, and he didn’t want to heap more weight on her shoulders. “Yes, but I’m the same age as he was when he died. After this…I’ll be aging in a way he never had the chance to. It’s bothered me more than I like to admit.”

She wrung her hands—something Sadie usually did—like she was flailing to find an appropriate response. “I wish I could say something to make you feel better.”

He shrugged, as much to shrug off the downturn in the conversation for her as for himself. “It’s just the mind wanting to fill in the blanks.”

“It does, more’s the pity,” she said, crossing to him. “That doesn’t mean it hurts any less. We can go.”

He pulled her to his chest. “In a minute.”

She put her arms around him. “I’m fine.”

“You don’t have to be anything but what you are right now,” he said, running his hands up and down her back. “In fact, we don’t have to go anywhere. I’d be perfectly happy ordering takeout again and watching a movie.” He was feeling a little raw himself after those admissions.

“Don’t you have reservations?” she asked.

He thought about lying. For a second. “They can be canceled.”

“No, we should go,” she said, linking their arms and leading him to the door.

She picked up her purse and studied him. “I…didn’t expect it to be like this. With you. I mean I don’t really know you, but I feel…”

He looked deep into her eyes. “How do you feel?”

Her chest rose as she sucked in a deep breath. “I feel really good around you.”

Unable to help himself, he kissed her lightly on the lips. “I didn’t expect this either.” In fact, he’d shared more with her than he had with any woman. It was more than a little surprising how easy it had been to open up.

“How do you feel?” she asked softly. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

She worried her lip then, and he dug deep for the truth.

“I feel…calm in one moment. Happy when you smile at me. Intrigued when you play your Southern belle act. Hot when you kiss me.”

Her sudden blush delighted him.

“How’s that for honesty?” he asked.

She gave him a long look before drawling, “Not bad, honey,” and headed out the front door.

Chapter 21

When Vander pulled to a stop in front of a racetrack, Shelby turned in her seat and raised an eyebrow. They weren’t having dinner quite yet, it seemed. “What
are
you thinking?”

“I know you’re a woman who likes speed, so I thought this might get your mind off things,” he said, tracing her cheekbone. “This company specializes in providing a racing experience for novices with hot, dreamy cars. As far as I’m concerned, this is better than a regular Friday night date. Have you ever ridden in a Lamborghini Gallardo LP550?”

Her mouth went dry, and she shook her head. “No.”

“You sound breathless,” he said, looking very pleased with himself. “I take it you’re up for some fun.”

She let her imagination fly as she looked out the window at the circular track. Was she really going to do this? Heck yeah, she was. “Where do we start? Wait, I’m not exactly dressed for it.” She swatted him. “Why didn’t you
say
something?”

“So you could pack another suitcase or insist on shopping for race-appropriate clothing?” he asked. “Thanks, but I’ve experienced that routine already. Besides, they give you an outfit to wear. Trust me, you’ll look cute in it.”

He wisely got out of the car after delivering that comment. “Cute?” she muttered to herself. She’d show him cute.

He opened her door and lounged against the frame. “Afraid to get a little dirty?” he taunted.

She swung her legs out of the bucket seat but stayed where she was, running her hand up her legs as if adjusting her skirt, which had ridden up. She tugged on the material slowly, staring him down. Her internal temperature was rising to meet the hot, muggy air as his eyes made a leisurely sweep of her body.
 

She liked that he challenged her. No man had ever done that before. All her previous dates had consisted of meetings in coffee shops and restaurants, punctuated with conversation and food. In fact, she’d felt obligated to conduct that same worn-out dance with Vander, but he clearly didn’t want that. And this…

“Not if you’re not,” she said, taking the hand he’d extended to assist her out of the car.

Of course, he pulled her against his tall, hard body and ran a hand down her hip. “We can always shower later.”

She pursed her lip. “We can stop at a toy store and find you a rubber ducky because that’s the only company you’re getting in the shower later.”

He laughed. “I already have a rubber ducky, thank you.”

“Lucky duck.” Oh, the sparring. She was starting to crave their rapport like she did chocolate. Patting him on the shoulder, she stepped away and started walking toward the front door of the building. “Coming?” she called over her shoulder.

She knew he was right behind her. Heavens, her palms were damp. How in the world was she supposed to resist this man? She’d never desired anyone this much. This was the kind of man her Bible school teachers had warned her about. Except that wasn’t completely true. He was a good man, straight down the line, and that only made him more tempting.

They were met inside by a man named Luke, the driver who would be bringing her on a ride-along in the car of her choice. His official title was a professional drifter, which Shelby thought was a bit odd since it made him sound like a hobo.

She chose a lime green Gallardo and signed a whole stack of forms saying she wouldn’t sue them if the car turned into a fireball and she died. Wonderful thoughts. She said a prayer that everything would work out because she didn’t let fear rule her life. When Vander chose an orange McLaren 570S, she shot him a glance.
 

“You’re going for a ride too?” she drawled.

He rolled his eyes and scratched his signature at the bottom of his forms. “I believe in mutual fun on a date. Although I do like to watch.”

Her mouth dropped open, and she socked him again. “Are you crazy? Luke is…”

“Not listening,” Vander said with a grin. “Are you, Luke?”

The man shook his head, but she didn’t miss his restrained smile. “I’ll show you where you can change, Shelby. We have a few suits that will fit you, I think.”

She wanted to cringe, thinking about wearing a suit someone else had worn, least of all sweated in. Yuck. But she wasn’t going to balk. This was going to be so fun. Hadn’t she bought Pearl with her bonus because she’d always wanted a sleek, fast car? Growing up, she’d always played it safe. They all had. While they hadn’t had a daddy, their upbringing had been pretty conventional. One of the reasons she’d first wanted to work for Gail was because the woman lived large. But while she did things her own way always, she was still a successful, respected businesswoman.

Shelby secretly wanted to be like Gail. Minus all the ex-husbands, some of her boss’ more outlandish outfits—like the real snakeskin bikini, and unconventional ideas—like the recent cannon she’d bought to fire off at noon every day, her Civil War version of a church bell.

After donning the hideous yellow and white suit, Shelby emerged to see Vander already dressed in a red and black one.

“Didn’t I say you’d look cute?” Vander gestured to her and asked Luke, “Cute as a button, right?”

“More like a cat on a hot tin roof liable to dig her claws into you if you keep calling her that,” the older man said, handing Vander a helmet, which he tucked under his arm. Turning to Shelby, Luke quipped, “Here’s yours. Cutie.”

She shot them both the fish eye and took the black helmet he offered her. Again, she shut down all thoughts about someone else’s hair being inside the helmet.
Eww.

“Your man bought you extra drifting laps,” Luke told her, gesturing to the back door that led to a garage so palatial it felt more like a warehouse.

“You were that sure I was going to enjoy myself?” she asked Vander as they walked to the line of cars waiting for them.

It was like a scene in
Fast and Furious.
Heavens, she loved those movies.

“I had a hunch,” he said, “and I’m usually right about them. Part of the deal is a personal video of the experience. I can’t wait to watch yours afterward.”

Great. She was going to be screaming like a girl from the speed. “So you get to watch, after all,” she boldly said, falling into the fun of the moment.

“I like it when you talk back to me,” he said, his aquamarine eyes darkening. “I’m used to women fawning all over me.”

She could imagine that. “They probably fall into bed with you easily too.”

“I’ve grown more discerning.” He stopped her with a hand and zipped her suit up the rest of the way. “Have fun, Shelby.”

“I plan to,” she replied and rose on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

Luke walked her through the details of the car she’d chosen, everything from how it could go from zero to sixty in three point nine seconds to the fact that the V-10 engine was five hundred and fifty horsepower. He helped buckle her in and put on her helmet, saying they could communicate using the built-in communication system.
 

She took note of the video camera on the dashboard and crossed her hands to compose herself, doing her best to smile as Luke started the engine and drove them onto the track. Then Luke punched the gas. The tires screamed, and she slammed back against her seat. Everything flew by in a blur as she clutched the handle bars in front of her, her fingers gripping with all their might. He punched it again around the first turn, and she screamed. She couldn’t help it. It had felt like she was about to fall sideways out of the car.

“You ready to go full out, Shelby?” Luke asked, skillfully maneuvering the car as it thundered down the track.

“Okay,” she said, tightening her grip on the handle bars.

The engine roared as they shot forward. Her eyes frantically shot to the odometer, and she noted they were approaching two hundred miles per hour. Holy Moses! She screamed again as he took another curve, and that was pretty much how the rest of the drive went. Except she wasn’t really screaming from fear, it was exhilaration. Freedom. Luke let them drift a little once he let the speed drop some, and she could feel the pull of the car.

“I love this!” she shouted as he cruised around another curve.
 

She had lost count of the number of laps they’d made. Her face felt tight from screaming and smiling and shouting, and her body… It didn’t know which way was up anymore.

“Last lap, Shelby,” Luke said. “Shall we give it all it’s got?”

He’d been holding back? “Go for it!”

As the car shot forward, everything around her started vibrating. He whipped around the curves, making her squeal and laugh all over again. When he finally pulled to a halt in front of the warehouse, she sagged back in the seat. She had to make her fingers unlock from the bars she’d been holding.