I’d given a silent cheer at that. Lewis was clearly on my side, even if Dad had been sucked in by Jared’s lies.
I lifted my head at a tap on my door. Without opening it, I knew it meant Jared had arrived.
“Come in,” I called out, my voice monotone.
Tess poked her head around the door. “You’ve got a visitor, miss.”
“Judas, is it?” I said, loud enough to make sure he could hear me.
Her lips twitched. “Close,” she said. “It’s Mr. Kane.”
“I think I’ll stick with Judas.”
My response widened her grin. Tess had been with my family forever, and she was more friend than employee. Her sisterly solidarity at a time I needed it the most lifted my spirits a little.
She opened my door wider, and there, on the other side, stood Jared. Despite the pain in my heart, the love I felt for him crashed over me like a deluge of rain in the middle of a monsoon. It stole all the breath from my lungs.
He stepped inside, slowly, tentatively, probably wondering whether keeping a safe distance was the sensible option in case I threw something heavy at his head. Oh, I thought about it, but instead, I just stared, saying nothing, waiting for him to do the heavy lifting.
Tess beat a hasty retreat, closing the door behind her with a quiet click. Jared took another couple of steps, then stopped with still about ten feet between us. He didn’t close the gap. Instead, he walked over to my dresser and picked up the chair. He set it down, keeping a safe distance, and relaxed into it.
“Your mom said I could come up.”
“Right.”
“Can we talk?”
“Isn’t that why you’re here?”
He stroked his chin, covered in the stubble I adored. Dark circles framed those gorgeous melted-dark-chocolate eyes of his, brimful of sadness and anxiety. A deep urge to go to him welled up inside me, but I quashed it. He didn’t deserve my pity. He deserved a punch in the face.
“That picture of me with Roxy is bullshit. There’s nothing going on between us.”
I snorted. “So unoriginal. A monkey could have written that script.”
“It’s true, Ley.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and glowered at him. “You told me on the phone you missed me, knowing that photograph had already been printed, that I was bound to see it. Have you any idea how much that hurt?”
“I didn’t know anything about the photograph until I landed in France and your dad showed me.”
“Oh, how convenient,” I scoffed.
“I’m sorry you had to see it.”
“You’re sorry? Urgh!” I picked up my pillow and threw it at him.
He easily batted it to one side before it got anywhere near his face. Fucking drivers and their fucking perfect reflexes.
Oh, did he just grin?
He thought this was funny?
“You’re a cheating bastard, Jared Kane, and I hate you. You’re just like every driver in the paddock. A fucking man-whore who can’t keep it in his pants.”
He rose from the chair and sat on the edge of my bed. Such a move either made him extremely brave or extremely stupid. I had a snow globe on my bedside table, well within reach. Dad had bought it for me when I was little. The only thing that kept me from smashing it into Jared’s skull was the thought that his thick head might break it, and that snow globe meant a lot to me.
More than the two-timing fucker perched on the edge of my bed.
“I haven’t cheated, Ley. Not with Roxy. Not with anyone. I haven’t looked at another woman since I met you that very first day in Spain.”
He reached for my hand.
I snatched it away.
“You have to believe me,” he pleaded.
“I don’t have to believe anything. But, okay, I’ll give you a hearing. Pray tell, Jared, what was so important that you skipped out on your responsibilities to my father, and to me?”
“Roxy needed my help.”
“Why? Why did she need you? Why did you pick her over us?”
I sounded terribly childish, but I couldn’t help it, as though I no longer had any control over what spilled from my lips.
“I didn’t pick her over you. How could I? No one comes close to you, Ley. You’re the only one I want.”
“Then what did you do with her?”
He rubbed the space between his eyebrows. “I helped her with a problem.”
He was being purposely vague, and that only served to piss me off even more. “What. Fucking. Problem?” I punctuated my words with as much irritation as I could dredge.
He shook his head, blew a heavy breath through his nose. “It’s to do with Noah.”
“Noah?” I frowned. “Your friend, Noah?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“Roxy has asked me not to say anything. Please, Ley, just trust me.”
“Oh, I bet she has,” I scoffed. “What a fucking surprise.” I clambered off the bed and stormed across my room. Flinging open the door, I gestured angrily. “Get out, Jared. And don’t ever come back.”
He didn’t move. Instead, he reached into his pocket, took out his cell and held it out to me. “Call her if you don’t believe me. Her number is in my contacts under ‘R’.”
I remained frozen to the spot. “No.”
“Fine.” He sighed. “I’ll call her. And I’ll put it on speaker, so you can hear the entire conversation.”
He stabbed at the screen. I wanted to knock the phone out of his hand and tell him he was wasting his time, but, equally, curiosity over where this was heading stopped me. Maybe he’d prepped her to lie for him. If so, I was going to enjoy embarrassing the pair of them.
“Hey, Jared.” Roxy’s throaty voice filled my room.
I winced.
“Rox, you’re on speaker. I’m with Paisley.”
“Oh, hey, Paisley,” she said brightly. “How are you, sweetheart? Everything okay?”
I frowned. If this woman was fucking my boyfriend, then she didn’t sound at all worried that he’d called her with me present.
“Hello,” I said, my tone short and snappy. “And the answer to your question is no, not really.”
“Rox, Paise thinks we’re sleeping together. Can you tell her that is absolutely not true, please?”
Roxy laughed, long and hard. “Oh my goodness. No, sweetheart, we’re not sleeping together. What on earth makes you think that?”
“There was a picture of us outside the hotel,” Jared interjected before I could form a single word. “You were upset. I had my arms around you. It made the European press. Paisley put two and two together and came up with sixty-nine.”
I glowered at him. He’d chosen that number purposefully. He returned my scowl with a wide grin.
Bastard.
“I totally respect your wishes, Rox, so I haven’t told her what’s happened with Noah. I know you’re scared of it getting out, but I’d trust Paisley with my life. Help a guy out here, will you?”
My heart leaped at his declaration, but I clamped down on the moment of joy. I wouldn’t let him pull me in that easily. I still had no clue what the hell was going on, and until I got a full and frank explanation, the jury on his dickishness was well and truly out.
“Jared, take me off speaker and pass the phone to Paisley.”
“Sure.”
He held out the phone. I closed my bedroom door and walked over, snatching it from him. I immediately turned my back—no idea why. It just felt right.
“I’m here,” I said to Roxy.
“Sweetheart, please believe me. I’m not sleeping with Jared. I’m in a happy, committed relationship with Boyd. Jared and I haven’t been close in that way for many years, but he is, and always will be, family to me. He’s my brother’s best friend, and he’s always been there for him, for both of us.”
“Then why did the two of you look so cozy in that picture? Why did he stay over there with you instead of coming to France?” I refrained from adding, “To
be with me”. It sounded so lame, whiny, so needy, and I wanted Roxy to think I was a strong woman who didn’t need Jared, or any other man, in my life.
Yeah, right.
Roxy was so quiet I thought we’d been cut off. I checked the connection. All good. And then she sighed, the sound full of resignation. I held my breath. Maybe now, I’d get the truth.
“I don’t know how much Jared has told you about Noah. He teaches at a school for autistic kids, an ambition he’s had since, well, forever. He’s worked hard for many years to achieve his dream. Then, about nine months ago, he hurt his back in a car accident, and since then, he’s suffered with debilitating pain that has gradually gotten worse. When he couldn’t stand the pain any longer, his doctor prescribed painkillers to help him manage when things became really bad, but he took more than he should have and became addicted to them.”
I had no clue where this was going, but I sensed she was on a roll, so I let her run with it.
“Over the last couple of months, the painkillers haven’t been relieving his pain, probably because he’d taken too many and his body had become accustomed to them. I kept telling him to go back to his family doctor, to discuss a proper treatment plan, but he said he was too busy at school. Then last Tuesday, out of the blue, he called me. Said he needed money for his medication. When I questioned him, his pleading turned aggressive. He said some horrible things to me. I knew that whoever this person was, it was no longer the brother I knew and loved. I ignored his request for money and immediately got on a plane back to California.
“When I arrived at my brother’s apartment, I found him lying unconscious in the bath with a needle sticking out of his arm. I called nine-one-one, and they took him to the hospital. Turns out my brother had gotten himself hooked on heroin after the prescription medication stopped easing his pain.”
“Oh no.” My heart went out to her, and to Noah, the truth slowly opening my eyes. Of course Jared would have wanted to be there for his best friend at a crisis moment in his life.
“The doctors suggested rehab, but the waiting list was endless. My only hope was to get him into a private facility, but the fees were way out of my reach.”
“And that’s when you called Jared,” I guessed.
“Yes. He’d become concerned when he hadn’t been able to get a hold of Noah during his trip home. He was actually on his way over to my brother’s apartment when I called him from the hospital. He came to my rescue, our rescue, calling up some people he knew who managed to find a place for my brother. I have no hope of affording it, but Jared has insisted on picking up the tab for however long Noah needs treatment. You see, Paisley, Jared is one of the most kind, loving, generous people I know.”
I shook my head. It was a lot to take in. “But why the secrecy?” I asked, cutting my gaze to Jared. “Why did you ask Jared to keep quiet?”
“Because if the school where my brother works finds out he’s addicted to hard drugs, they won’t let him teach. He’ll lose everything he’s fought so hard for, and it’ll crush him. I’m terrified what that might mean for his long-term recovery. For now, they think he’s dealing with a family crisis. They’ve agreed to a sabbatical. My only hope is that the rehab facility works and he gets his addiction, and his pain, under control.”
I honestly didn’t know what to say, so I plumped for, “I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you,” she said. “Please don’t be hard on Jared. Everything that man does comes from a good place. He’s caring and has a kind heart. I asked him to keep this to himself, and despite the fact he probably knew it would cause him problems, he respected my wishes. I’d ask you to do the same, although you owe me nothing.”
“I won’t breathe a word,” I promised.
“Thank you. Let’s try and get together soon, yes? You mean the world to Jared and, therefore, to me. I want to get to know you better.”
Well, aren’t I the biggest bitch in the world?
“I’d like that,” I said quietly.
“Take care, sweetheart.”
She hung up. I turned around, slowly, holding out Jared’s phone. He took it from me and slipped it into his pocket.
Oh, man. I have a lot of apologizing to do.
Throwing myself at Jared, I wrapped my legs around his waist—my trademark move—and knitted my hands in his hair. I kissed him, pushing all my love, my reverence, my apology into that one kiss. I hadn’t nearly gotten my fill when he drew back.
“Does this mean what I think it means?” he asked.
I nodded, my vision blurring with tears. I blinked them away. “I’m so sorry I thought the worst. I should have known you’d never cheat on me. I should have trusted you.”
He eased me down his body, then cupped his hands around my face. “I could never cheat on you, Ley. Not with anyone. You’ve shown me things I didn’t even know I was missing: laughter, zest for life, fun, warmth.” He dropped a kiss on my forehead.
The tenderness in that small gesture lifted my spirits and sent my heart soaring.
“I love you so goddamn much,” he continued. “You’re the other half of me. The better half. The day you fell at my feet and then kissed me is a day I’ll be forever thankful for. For so long, I fought my feelings for you, but my reticence was based on my long-held beliefs rather than the facts in front of me. Gradually, you wore me down, and I’m so fucking grateful you’re such a tenacious bitch.”
He smiled, and so did I.
“Y’know, when I crossed the finish line today, it occurred to me that, without you, the victory was hollow, flat. I need racing, and I need you. Only the two things together complete me.”
My heart expanded, flattening my lungs, leaving me unable to form a proper sentence, hence I only managed, “Love you.”
He brushed his lips over mine. “Promise me something, my little Pixie Ley.”
I gazed up at him with adoration. “Anything.”
“If you ever doubt me again, talk to me. Not your dad, not Lewis, not Angus or Devon. Me, and only me.”
I folded myself inside his arms, a place I knew I’d never leave. “I promise.”
Jared
Five months later
I fastened my cufflinks, the silver pair that Paisley had given me for my birthday a few weeks ago. Twenty-eight already. Only two years off thirty. Still, I reckoned I had a few good years racing left in me as long as I kept myself fit and healthy.
I wandered over to the window of our condo, a home we’d purchased together. It couldn’t be farther from Paisley’s clinical former home, nor my minimalist rented place. It was full of her personality, the living space jam packed with plants, the walls painted in bright colors. Patterned cushions and throws were strewn across the seating area. It wasn’t a huge place, but we bought it for the view and the decent-sized balcony, although being December in London, we hadn’t been able to use it much.
Tonight was our housewarming party. Paisley had been dying to show our families and friends what we’d done with the place. I’d flown my mom and dad over, as well as my sister, Keeley, my eldest brother, Marin, and their partners and kids. Sadly, Eric, my younger brother, couldn’t make it because of a work commitment, but he promised to try to get over before I headed off for winter testing in a few weeks’ time. Paisley’s parents were coming, too, as well as Dan, Lewis, Devon, and Angus.
And Noah.
He’d spent four months getting treatment for his heroin addiction, and while he accepted he had a long fight ahead, a constant battle he’d have to deal with probably for the rest of his life, he was doing great. Through an MRI scan, the doctors had discovered some tiny bone fragments from the accident. They’d operated to remove them, and since then, Noah’s back pain had significantly improved.
The door to our bedroom clicked open, and I turned around. My breath caught, and my stomach flipped, the way it always did whenever I set eyes on Paisley. I strolled over to meet her. My hands automatically gripped her waist, and I leaned down to kiss her. She must
have known I wouldn’t be able to resist putting my mouth on her because she was lipstick free.
“Ready?” I asked.
Paisley tilted back her head, met my gaze, and nodded. “I think so.” She held out a trembling hand. “Look at me. I’m crapping myself.”
I laughed. Paisley always had such a unique way with words. “You’ve met them before,” I said, referring to our few days visiting my parents during our summer break. “And they love you. Almost as much as I do.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Only almost?”
“No one could love you like I do.”
Her expression softened. “You are so getting laid tonight.”
I swept a hand over her ass, tightly encased in a fitted black dress that clung to her curves. “Goes without saying.”
She grinned, but her smile fell at the knock on the door. “Oh God, they’re here.”
“Relax,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple. “It’s going to be fine.”
An hour later, with the party in full swing, I stood off to the side, watching, my heart so full I feared it might burst right out of my chest. One thing I’d never been short of was love, but somehow, being with Paisley, that love had multiplied exponentially. Keeley’s kids, Ava and Bradley, hadn’t given Paisley a second of peace, but she didn’t seem to mind. For the first time, the idea of having kids of my own one day entered my mind. Not for a few years, though. I was far too selfish to share Paisley just yet.
Jack appeared at my shoulder. “Got a minute?”
I nodded and followed him into the kitchen area. I grabbed us both a beer, readying myself for a fatherly chat along the lines of “Hurt my daughter and I’ll rip you a new asshole”. Instead, he said, “I’ve signed Tate Flynn to replace Lewis.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Jesus. I thought he was happy with his current team, especially as the bastard went and won the championship.” I’d come in third, supposedly good for a rookie, but not nearly good enough for my own ambitions. I made no secret of my desire to be World Champion, and I didn’t plan on taking years to achieve that goal either. Winning was the only thing that mattered. No one remembered the guy who came second.
The Full Velocity Series Box Set Page 19
