Old Flame, New Sparks

by Day Leclaire

  “You’re going to try and buy me out. You think that now Jinx is gone I’m going to be an easy mark?”

  Lucas shook his head. “Not at all.” He removed a folder from the briefcase he’d brought along and held it out.

  She stared at it for a minute before accepting it. “What’s this?”

  “It’s a contract.” He didn’t bother pulling his punches. It was the way he did business and most men he dealt with preferred it that way. If Kellie didn’t, she was out of luck. “A contract between me and Jinx.”

  Kellie stared in confusion at the thick sheaf of papers she’d taken from him. “I don’t understand.”

  Her gaze lifted to his and he winced at the expression he saw there. What was it about her? With every other woman he’d ever known, he’d been able to maintain a certain emotional distance. But not with Kellie. Never with Kellie. The only protection he’d had in his dealings with her over the years—dealings that were few and far between—had been the fact that she’d been intent on cementing her financial future by marrying a stock-car driver, no matter what underhanded method it took to accomplish her goal. Well, and the fact that she’d remained married to Jinx all these years. There were plenty of lines Lucas had blurred in his thirty-nine years. But that was one he’d never cross.

  “Jinx came to me shortly after he was diagnosed with cancer,” Lucas explained.

  Kellie moistened her lips, betraying her apprehension. If she’d been a different type of woman, he might have gathered her up into a reassuring embrace. But the circumstances were very different, not to mention about to become extremely volatile.

  “My husband signed this contract?” she replied, the question edged with disbelief. “With you?”

  Lucas nodded. “I gather he didn’t tell you?”

  “No.” She sank into the cushions of the couch behind her. “What’s this about, Lucas?”

  He took a seat beside her, careful not to crowd her. “In a nutshell, it’s a contract to add me as a new driver to your stable.”

  “You must be joking! Driving what car?” she asked sharply.

  “My own. The Number 121 car. That won’t change.

  I’ll still be sponsored by Wolf Sportsman.”

  “Why?” she demanded. “I can understand you going after Jinx when he was at his most vulnerable. He’d have made easy pickings. But why would Jinx agree to your proposal?”

  He chose not to take insult at her assumption, though it was difficult. “Jinx approached me,” he stated evenly. “He proposed the contract.”

  The words impacted like a physical blow, one she absorbed with a slight jerk. Her chin trembled for the briefest moment before she firmed it, her swift recov ery impressing the hell out of him. “Again…why? How do I know this isn’t some sort of trick or scam?”

  “Your HRI lawyers helped draft the agreement and can confirm that it’s legitimate and that he was the one who initiated the negotiations.” He waited for that to sink in before adding, “I can’t say why he made the offer. He refused to explain. I was hoping you could tell me.”

  For some reason the question elicited a powerful reaction. Her eyes widened and every scrap of color drained from her face. “I have no idea,” she claimed.

  It was a lie. He couldn’t say how he knew, but there wasn’t a doubt in his mind. He didn’t bother calling her on it. There’d be plenty of time for that when they started working together. “There’s more,” he said.

  She thrust a hand through her hair in tired frustration, loosening the knot so curls spilled in delightful disarray around her face. “Of course there is.” She visibly steeled herself. “What else?”

  “An old family friend approached me while I was in contract negotiations with Jinx. He wanted to be the main sponsor for the 121, but I was forced to pass since I have a long-term contract with Wolf. I nudged him toward Jinx since I heard the Number 56 car was looking for sponsorship.”

  “Jamie?” she asked, surprise clear in her voice. “You suggested a sponsor for Jamie’s ride?”

  Lucas nodded. “After meeting with Jinx they were really excited. The Number 56 car has quite a history and they liked the idea of coming onboard to help bring the number out of retirement. The publicity from that alone should make it well worth their investment.”

  Some of her apprehension faded, replaced with delight. “That was very generous of you, Lucas.” At his hesitation, her eyes narrowed. “Okay, I know that look. There’s a ‘but’ in there, somewhere. What is it?”

  “The sponsor is Food Basket.”

  “Jamie’s already partially sponsored by Gold’s Supermarkets.”

  “Gold’s is a small regional chain. Food Basket is national.”

  “And has a non-compete clause, I’ll bet.”

  Lucas nodded. “Gold’s will have to go.” He held up a hand when she started to argue. “There’s nothing to discuss, Kellie. You know it and I know it. Gold’s can’t offer anything close to what Food Basket can and Food Basket won’t allow one of their main competitors in this region of the country to have their name splashed across the same car.”

  “Gold has been with us since the start,” she protested. “They kept us going, almost single-handedly, after Jinx’s accident. They’ve also sponsored some of Cole’s rides since we brought him onboard.”

  “It’s all about the bottom line. And the bottom line says Gold’s can’t bring in the money Food Basket can. I’m sorry, Kellie.”

  Her mouth took on a stubborn slant. “Did Jinx know about this?”

  “Yes. We worked the deal together.”

  He’d never seen her appear so devastated. “Why didn’t he tell me?”

  Since she’d asked, he gave an honest opinion, not bothering to soften it. “I suspect for the same reason he didn’t tell you about any of this. He was too weak to fight you over his decisions.”

  She closed her eyes. This time she didn’t bother to hide her pain and sorrow. “Did he tell you that?” she whispered.

  Lucas shook his head. “He didn’t have to. These are huge changes, Kellie. I’m guessing he knew you’d resist them. A new driver, a new sponsor, having to drop your old one…”

  He wasn’t through. He hadn’t mentioned the final change, and this next part would hit her hardest of all. He could walk out and leave her in the dark. But he didn’t want her to read the contract and discover it that way. Better to give her all of it, every last nasty clause.

  “One last thing…” he began.

  “You have to be kidding.” A hint of bitterness crept into her voice. “This isn’t bad enough?”

  He lifted an eyebrow at that. “You think it’s bad to have me in your stable? To have a new sponsor of Food Basket’s caliber?”

  “No, of course not. It’s how—” She broke off, no doubt before she said something disloyal about Jinx. “What else, Lucas?”

  He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. He’d rather not be this close to her, so close he could inhale the sweetness of her perfume. But he wanted to watch her reaction, just as he wanted her to see how determined and immovable he’d be in regard to every part of what he was about to reveal. “This next part directly impacts HRI and my role within the company.”

  She didn’t get it, not at first. “Your role as a driver?” She released her breath in a gusty sigh. “You mean perks, don’t you? Darn it all, Lucas. Just how much did you finagle out of Jinx?”

  “This has nothing to do with my role as a driver and everything to do with my role as a business partner.”

  She shook her head in denial, but he could see comprehension hovering on the periphery of her expression. “I don’t understand,” she choked out.

  “Then let me spell it out for you. Shortly after Jinx was diagnosed with cancer, he sold me forty-nine percent of the business, to take immediate effect the day after his funeral. That’s today.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  KELLIE FOUGHT TO BREATHE. “No. He wouldn’t have done that.”

 
; “He would and he did,” Lucas corrected. He mentioned the price he and Jinx had agreed on, a fairly hefty number, but a fair one. “The funds sit in an escrow account until the end of the season. At that point there are three options, all within my control and at my discretion. Option one, I can collect my toys and walk away. The money reverts to me and you continue as you did before my advent. Option two, I elect to continue as your partner, maintaining the status quo, with you holding the majority shares of HRI.”

  “And option three?” As overwhelmed as she was by all the information he’d thrown at her, she couldn’t believe she had sufficient brain cells to ask.

  “Jinx offered me a bit of a sweetener.”

  “You must be joking! This outrageous deal you foisted on him isn’t sweet enough already?” It took every ounce of self-possession to regain her self-control instead of continuing to vent the emotions clawing for escape. Years of practice came to her rescue, allowing her to hold onto her dignity, if only by a thread. But at least it held. “Finish it, Lucas. What’s the sweetener?”

  “If I win the NASCAR Championship again, I have the option to purchase an additional two percent of HRI, giving me controlling interest.” There was no mistaking his satisfaction. “Fair warning, when I win the championship this coming season, I’ll be exercising that option.”

  Kellie shot to her feet and paced to the far side of the room before spinning to face him. “Controlling interest.” How could Jinx do this to her? He’d not only allowed the object of her greatest despair to wander in and take up residence on her couch, he’d invited Lucas in. Well, if Bad Boyce thought she’d simply surrender and allow herself to be forced into submission, he was in for a surprise. She lifted her chin and regarded him coldly. “At least Jinx didn’t sell cheap.”

  Lucas acknowledged her swift recovery with a fleeting smile. “No, you didn’t come cheap.” Before she could respond to the suggestive taunt, he continued. “You’ll get your money’s worth, both from having me on your team, as well as from our partnership.”

  “Is that all of it?” she demanded. “Are there any more clauses I should know about? Any more surprises?”

  “That’s all of it.” He stood. “I advised Jinx to tell you about the contract, but he wouldn’t hear it. Maybe he didn’t want his last few months to be contentious. And they would have been, wouldn’t they? I suspect you’d have fought tooth and nail to keep him from selling out.”

  “Wouldn’t you have?” She turned some of her anger in his direction. “Jamie should have inherited HRI. How am I supposed to explain his father’s decision when you take the business from him?”

  Anger gleamed in Lucas’s green eyes. “Jamie’s only eighteen. In February he’s going to climb into a stock car carrying his father’s old number in the toughest, most competitive racing venue there is. He’s not capable of running HRI and won’t be for decades, and we both know it. So, answer me this, Kellie. Are you really upset that I ‘stole’ Jamie’s inheritance?” He walked to the door and paused there long enough to spare her a final look. “Or your own?”

  He didn’t wait for her response, but left her standing there staring at his retreating back.

  “ANYONE WHO THOUGHT Silly Season had ended when Lucas ‘Bad’ Boyce won this year’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship hasn’t heard the latest news coming from the Boyce camp. Just today it was announced that Bad Boyce will become Hammond Racing, Inc.’s premier driver, increasing HRI’s stable of talent to three ‘dream teams.’ Even more astonishing, he’s purchased an astounding forty-nine percent of HRI.

  “Expect sparks to fly when HRI’s star, Cole Whaling, is obligated to share quarters with the man who snatched the NASCAR Championship away from him, forcing him to swallow the title of ‘second best.’ And expect those sparks to burst into flames when gorgeous businesswoman Kellie Hammond has her every move second-guessed by her new partner. Stay tuned, fans!”

  “THAT SON OF A—”

  “Stop it, Cole!” Kellie cut him off before he could launch into a full-blown tirade. The rest of the team and staff members sat around the conference table in watchful silence, listening avidly to their argument. “You’re not helping. It’s a done deal and nothing any of us can say will change that. The contracts were signed before last season even ended. All that’s left to do is try and make the best of it.”

  The driver glared at her, his hazel eyes gleaming with anger. Usually, he was Mr. Charm, himself. Charismatic. Boyish. Witty. With a flash of his deep-set dimples he’d always managed to get anything he wanted. Or anyone. At least, he was careful to maintain that facade in public. But in the decade he’d been Jinx’s premier driver, she’d learned that you crossed Cole at your own risk.

  “We can argue Jinx wasn’t of sound mind when he signed the contract,” Cole suggested. “Your lawyers should be able to find a loophole.”

  “My lawyers, in case you’ve forgotten, were also Jinx’s. They’re the ones who drafted this contract. It’s legally binding. And if you think I’m going to try and invalidate Jinx’s last wish, let me disabuse you of that notion right here and now.”

  “You’re going to just sit back and let him take over?”

  It infuriated her that he was stirring up dissension in front of the others. She should have anticipated that and cut him off before he’d worked up a full head of steam. “Boyce isn’t taking over anything. Yes, he’s now my partner. But he’s a driver, the same as you and the same as Jamie. I maintain controlling share of the business. My decisions will be the final ones.”

  “For now,” Cole said. “If he wins the NASCAR Championship this next year, he’ll own a controlling share. He could replace you. Hell, he could kick you out and take over your job.”

  She’d already thought of that. “We’ll deal with that if and when it happens.”

  Cole kicked back his chair. “I suggest you start thinking of a way out now, before he takes this place down.”

  Kellie slapped her hands against the conference table. “You’re being ridiculous. Why would he want to take HRI down, even if he could?”

  “I don’t know. Do you?” Cole turned to face her, his eyes narrowed. “Any old grudges? Any reason Bad Boyce would want to harm HRI?”

  Oh, God. It took every ounce of control to maintain her cool. “Not a one. Lucas is coming onboard because it’s an excellent career opportunity for him. HRI is a strong company. We were second in the NASCAR Championship this past season. We’re about to launch a new driver who’ll be behind the wheel of one of the most revered numbers in the sport. The media attention from that alone is worth the price of admission. And Lucas knows it. Knows it and wants a piece of it.”

  Cole’s lip curled. “You mean, he wants a place to finish out his career.”

  “He’s not exactly a has-been, Cole. He’s only a couple of years older than you and he beat you out for the championship. I don’t think he’s going to be parking his ride anytime soon.”

  “Not until he wins this year’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship and takes over as owner of HRI.”

  “Enough.” She shoved back her chair and stood. Her gaze scanned the various team members and personnel she’d instructed to attend this meeting. “I asked all of you here to give you an update. Lucas is going to be moving in over the next week. I don’t want any trouble. We’re going to be a family—even if it kills us.”

  The door to the conference room opened just as Cole cut loose with a word that, even after all her years around rough-tongued men in garages, left her shocked. To her horror, Lucas stood there and one look warned he was far from happy.

  “Interrupting something?” he asked with deceptive calm.

  “Not at all, Lucas.” She slammed a hard-won detachment in place and modulated her voice to reflect it. “Please come in. I was just explaining to my employees the recent changes and additions to HRI.”

  “Our. Our employees.” His gaze shifted to Cole and chilled perceptively. Then his attention shifted to the rest of the gathering.
“If you’ll all excuse us…?” En masse, those seated at the conference table erupted from their chairs and made a beeline for the door. When Cole started to follow, Lucas shifted to block him. “You can go after you apologize for your language.”

  Cole stared in disbelief, his hands balling into fists. “You’re joking.” When Lucas continued to stand there, Cole shook his head. “Forget it. That’s not going to happen.”

  Lucas didn’t actually move, yet it seemed to Kellie that he grew in size, appearing larger and tougher and more dangerous than she’d ever seen him. “Oh, it’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of whether it’ll happen with you standing up like a man, or on the floor clutching a broken nose. Doesn’t make much difference to me which way it goes down.” And then he smiled, a feral baring of his teeth. “Who am I kidding? Laying you out would make my day.”

  The standoff lasted a full thirty seconds before Cole caved. “Sorry if I offended you, Kellie.” He shot her a swift, furious look over his shoulder. “Remember what I said. You can’t claim I didn’t warn you.”

  The instant the door closed behind him, Kellie turned on Lucas. “How dare you?”

  He regarded her with nearly the same amount of fury as he had Cole. “Funny, I was about to ask you the same question. You’ll have to get used to sharing the head of the table with your new business partner. From now on I’m to be included in all HRI business meetings. Got it?”

  How had he managed to put her on the defensive with such ease? “I was simply explaining the changes that will be occurring.”

  He lifted an eyebrow at that, honing in on the one flaw in her argument. “Since you don’t know what changes to expect, how can you inform our employees?”

  “They needed to be warned,” she insisted doggedly.

  “Warned?”

  She waved that aside. “Fine. Told.”

  “And I should have been there when you told them. That way we could have presented a unified front, as partners, while dealing with any questions they had. That way you could have avoided Cole’s causing dissension with that outburst of his. I only caught a portion of it. I’m sure there was a lot more that was a lot worse.”