I had been kidding myself if I thought this would be easy. Definitely kidding myself when it came to Kelley. He was never keen on me driving for him, he made that abundantly clear, yet I pushed. I should have gained a clue the moment I saw Jo, I should have taken the outright declaration when he brought her to dinner at Roberts, yet I pushed. My mother was right, I was stubborn, even in the face of a relationship I could see, I chose to deny. That one track mind my parents used to always tease me about, my tunnel vision. I had forced myself into his life, and into his bed. The effort was all mine. Why was I choosing to be blind?
I tipped my head to the sky, closed my eyes and tried to focus. I felt a drop, then another drop, then another. I started hearing it on the tin bleachers all around me, like a symphony. I opened my eyes and the sky opened up on me, Oh my God! I stood up and ran as quickly and as safely as I could down the steps. Fortunately, our garage was the closest. I made a sprint across the tarmac and came to a dead stop in front of our door.
“I thought for sure I would be alone at this hour.” I looked up at a man I had never seen before standing in the doorway, lit from behind and wow, he was beautiful, raw. He had wavy chestnut brown hair and bright yellow eyes, a full mouth, a strong, rigid square jaw and a sort of kind smile. The smile lines around his mouth said he smiled quite a bit, but that remained to be seen.
“Uh,” I decided right at that moment, not knowing who this person was, that I was going to declare myself. Kelley won’t do it, Robert won’t do it, I sure as fuck will. “I was running the simulator tonight. Went up to the bleachers to look at the sky and got caught in the rain. I’m Makayla.”
“Makayla,” he said slowly, “I’m Aidan.” Aidan, I thought, yes, Aidan, that fit. He reached out a hand to me, I looked at his forearm, roped, hot, his long strong fingers gritty with motor oil. I shook his hand and probably blushed like a school girl, but who the hell cared, it was raining, I was wet, it was late and I had no idea who the hell this Aidan was.
“Well, come on in Makayla, don’t want you catching a cold.” I followed him into the garage. He tossed his gloves onto a workbench, a half stripped motorcycle in the center of the floor. I looked at him curiously, and before I could turn my filter on my mouth said, “We don’t know each other Aidan, do you work for the team?” He looked up and chuckled.
“You could say that.”
“Why have I never seen you before?”
“I’ve been busy.” He returned. “The bulk of my responsibilities lie outside the garage.” His gaze was direct and intense but kind and his eyes sparkled like amber glass.
“I like your bike.”
“Thanks, it’s an old Indian, she’s my baby. Although, every time I take her out it seems it starts to rain. Starting to wonder if it’s not me that’s to blame, or the bike. Would you like to have a drink with me Makayla, while we wait out the rain?” I looked down at my watch and listened to the rain that still pounded on the roof and shrugged.
“Sure.”
“Great, follow me.” He started to walk towards the back of the garage, to a door I had never seen open, the door with the family plaque, Cooper. He turned and smiled, knowing as he opened the door that I’d feel like a fool. I opened my mouth in shock and snapped it shut, not sure what to say, then I opened it again.
“Is this your office?”
He opened the door and flipped on the light. There was nothing special about it, I mean it was just an office, just like Robert’s only bigger. But, I looked to the walls, lined with pictures, rows, and rows of pictures. Previous teams, Pole winners, Podium shots, and in all of them, Aidan was front and center. I looked at the pictures and back to Aidan, then back to the pictures.
I knew I was missing something, but my mind would not let me make that connection, the team was owned by Linus Cooper. He moved to a rolling mini bar he had behind the large wooden desk and grabbed two rocks glasses. I walked along the wall inspecting the photos.
“That’s my father there,” he pointed out as I looked at a pic of the podium at Monte Carlo, dated the year after my dad died. Charles Cooper stood with one arm around Aidan the other around Sergio Cantata, Daddy’s rival. The driver Cooper replaced him with after he died. He went on to win two years in a row before hopping teams. I felt my lip curl as I thought about it and backed away from the picture.
“He was old school, it was all about business. It started as a passion for cars but became something else. Last year he backed away, thankfully, leaving me to it. He pulled most of the financing and took one of the cars, but what I have left I think is better than anything he ever had. You only need one car when you have someone like Kelley driving it, and a man like Robert designing. We are going to rebuild this team from the ground up. You drink Whiskey, Makayla?”
“Um, sure,” I replied with a shrug, not really sure if I drank whiskey or not, I’d never had whiskey, but I was willing to give it a try, for Aidan. He poured himself a healthy glass of dark amber liquid. “Just a bit for me,” I said.
“Ok,” he said nodding his head, handing me a glass with half as much liquid.
“So you’re, um.” I don’t know what to say or do, thankfully he saved me from myself.
“Aidan Cooper,” he said with a knowing grin. “This is my team, those are my cars, those are my drivers and you are apparently my newest secret weapon.”
“Oh,” I managed to choke out as I cleared my throat. This is the big boss, I didn’t think he knew about me. I put the glass to my lips and took a small sip of whiskey to drown the awkward moment. Fuck! It was like fire sliding too slowly down my throat. I did everything I could to fight back any sort of physical response my body was trying to dish out. I swallowed it down and pursed my lips, trying to smile at him with all my might but I knowing my eyes have given me away.
“Good whiskey,” he said with a wide smile, taking the glass from my hand and setting it on his desk.
“Yep,” I managed to choke out, half laughing, feeling like an idiot for more than one reason.
“I’m glad I finally get to meet you Makayla. This is not the way I thought it would be, but sometimes it’s nice to meet people when they are out of their element.” I looked at him, my eyes wide thinking, Oh no, he thinks I’m awkward.
“I just, am not a big drinker, that’s all,” I tried to explain.
“Oh no kid, I don’t want you to worry, it’s ok. I’ve heard nothing but good things about you.” He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes on me.
“Really,” the words rushed out from shock, “from who?”
“From your uncle,” he said as if it should have been obvious, “and Kelley,” he finished.
“Huh,” I huffed with more attitude than I should have.
“Is there tension there I should know about?” Oh, crap! Put your professional head on Makayla. What are you doing? You don’t complain about your boss, to your bosses’ boss. And you don’t complain about Kelley.
“Oh no,” I blurted awkwardly trying to diffuse. “Never mind, it’s just, you know.”
“No, Makayla, I don’t know. But I’d like to. I am very hands on with my team, if there is a problem, I want to solve it.”
“If you’re so hands on, how is it that I have never seen you before?” His face lit up and he nodded in appreciation of my catch.
“Let’s just say I was on an extended vacation in the off season. Still doing a bit of networking, always really, but none the less, I am back now, and my hands are ready.”
“There is not a problem between me and Kelley, he just,” I paused for a moment and thought, “he thinks I’m hesitating, I just don’t see it.”
“How can you not see it Makayla, it should be right there in the data, in black and white.”
“Well, I guess,” crap, he was right. This was not going to earn me any brownie points.
“He has shared your hesitation.” I winced and he continued, “I’m interested to see for myself. Maybe you and I can
get into the simulator tomorrow and work on it.” Oh my God! He really was hands on.
“I, Uh,” I cleared my throat and collected what few thoughts were left. “Isn’t there a party tomorrow?”
“That’s right, the new kid. Chase, right?”
“Yes, Chase,” I replied not at all bitter.
“I’m sure you and I can still get in a few runs in the morning if we wake up early.” I had been doing that every morning for months now, no reason I couldn’t do it tomorrow too.
“Sure, I’d like that.”
“Great.” He tipped his glass to me then back to his lips taking the rest of the Whiskey into his mouth and it slid down so smoothly, just like it was water. No reaction whatsoever, how did he do that?
***
I met Aidan at the simulator just as the sun was peeking over the hills. He looked like he just rolled out of bed and it suited him. His hair was wild and windblown, jeans faded, eyes sleepy.
“Did you study the course?” He asked as I stepped into the simulator.
“Yes” I answered, getting settled and adjusting the wheel.
“Good, we won’t do that course then.” I looked back at him and he was smirking, his eyebrows high, daring me to protest.
“Ok then,” I muttered in reluctant agreement.
“Rockingham,” he said and the wall of screens before me came alive with a track level view of Rockingham Raceway. The course was plotted on a little map in the corner of the screen as a guide but it quickly disappeared. I pulled the headphones over my ears, “Hey,” I questioned.
“I want you to focus on my voice; I will be your guide. No maps, this is a listening exercise. Do what I tell you.” His gravelly voice was quiet but demanding and I knew we weren’t negotiating. I did just as he told me driving blind I followed his instructions as they carried over the speaker in my ear.
Chapter 15
The Chase
The party was pure Ina, the yard decorated with black and white checkered lanterns hanging from all the old trees, the tables were dressed in Cooper Racing livery. There were corrugated steel troughs piled with ice and seafood.
I was aloof but cordial to Kelley, not that he even noticed. He managed to not mutter a single word to me while he worked the party, fully in networking mode. He hardly paid me any mind, merely nodding when I caught his eye and whenever he saw Chase and I talking he would move in the opposite direction.
Chase was nice enough. He was cute. Well, cute wasn’t really the right word, he was smoking hot, and he was well aware of it, I didn’t really like that. He was smart and personable, which I wasn’t expecting. I got the feeling that he had taken a slight shine to me, but as I quickly found out, he seemed to take a shine to anyone with a pretty smile pointed in his general direction.
I stood at the edge of the driveway watching the party as the sun began to set. The sky was beautiful, painted pink and orange, flossy clouds drifted slowly across. There was a swarm of people around Chase, which I told myself I should get used to. I watched him smile that easy smile, he loved the spotlight, it was clear the attention wouldn’t be a hindrance. I just hoped he would keep his focus or it would become a weakness.
I didn’t see how it was possible to resist all the attention that was about to fly his way, in the form of women from all over the globe, all makes and models. I wasn’t sure because there was no real baseline to judge from, but female drivers didn’t generally garner the same accord. In fact, many from the old guard were still suspicious of a woman’s ability and were quick to dismiss the idea of female drivers’ altogether.
I moved to the edge of the yard and watched the party from a safe distance. I heard tires on the gravel drive and turned to see the catering trucks returning only to be caught in a pair of strong arms while my back was turned.
“Come home with me” he whispered in my ear, wrapping his arms tightly around my waist, pulling me flat against him. These were the first words he had said directly to me all night long. I turned in his arms and tried to push away from him, but he wasn’t going to let me.
“I haven’t seen you in weeks.” I said through gritted teeth, pushing against his solid chest to no avail.
“I have been busy.” He said so matter of fact it pissed me off even more.
“I don’t think so.” I bit out
“You don’t think I’ve been busy,” he scoffed in question.
“I don’t think that is what has kept you away,” I returned and he stepped back, crossing his arms
“And what exactly do you think has kept me away?” Oh shit, here we go. Squaring off with Kelley, I can do this. He is wrong, not me. He lied, not me.
“Jo,” I said with a bite, expecting him to break down under the guilt, but he didn’t. He just shook his head with a confused look, raised his shoulders in a shrug and waited. I crossed my arms to mirror him and we stood, squared off.
“What about Jo?” He asked, giving nothing away.
“You live with her,” the words fell out in a rush and my hands swung forward. The look of confusion, then realization mingled into one of amusement and twisted in his full lips which just pissed me off more. “I went to your house,” I said hoping for a reaction and still getting none. “She answered the door. It was clear she is living there.”
“Yeah, and?” He said as if nothing was amiss and I’m floored. My mouth fell open and I could do nothing but look at him, astonished.
“And?” I asked, losing grip on my anger. “You lied,” I said through gritted teeth.
“I am staying at the cottage, Makayla, we talked about this remember? The night you spent with me,” he said, “at my cottage.”
“You never said you were living together. Lie of omission.” I accused, unable, or unwilling to let this go.
“Come home with me,” he whispered coming closer because Robert and Garrett were crossing the drive, heading towards Roberts garage. They disappeared behind the garage door and he wrapped his hand around my neck winding his fingers through my hair, pulling me within an inch of his mouth. “Come home with me.” He reached to wrap his hand around my arm and I backed away.
“We never even talked about it, we didn’t talk about anything, and you just disappeared.”
“Come home with me,” was all he said as he pulled me closer.
“Why?” I breathed, my heart pounding, feeling my body and my will begin to bend.
“Because I want you naked when I tell you how much I’ve missed you.” Oh Fuck. His words landed between my legs and I felt my will crumbling.
“I don’t have to do anything you say,” I managed in a breathy whisper, totally losing this battle. He chuckled low in his throat before stepping dangerously close and lowering his head to me.
“I’m going to play the boss card kid, and say yes, you do. Now, get in the car.” He demanded, any residual sweetness quickly draining from his tone. “Unless you would like to do this in front of your new team member and the rest of the party?” That I most certainly did not want. I stood firm, unsure of my next move but damn sure that he didn’t get to order me into his car, and by extension his bed after not talking to me for weeks and leaving out so much detail that I should have been privy to. “Get in the car, Kiki,” he said quietly as Robert and Garrett, came walking back from the garage.
“Kelley,” Robert called to him, motioning for him to join them as they headed towards the house.
“Makayla and I are going to take a ride,” he called, opening the car door, gesturing to me to get in. “We’ll be back shortly.” I looked up into his face, hard with determination and losing patience. I relented since he just promised to bring me back in front of Robert. We drove in silence for a few miles before Kelley opened up the car and then laid into me.
“What is this really about, Makayla?” I crossed my arms, squeezed my legs together and angled my body away from him. I wanted to be angry, I had prepared a speech. But damn if my body didn’t betray me the
moment he whispered into my ear. Damn him
“You,” I said, offering nothing else, frustrated and reeling but not because of Jo. I was relieved, relieved that what he said made sense, even if I still wanted a clearer explanation at some point. Right now I was just……mad. Mad because I wanted to be, mad because I felt ignored, slighted. Just mad
“Me,” he repeated flatly. “And this is supposed to give me insight? You better start talking.” I shifted and stewed for a minute before I burst.
“You left me.” My voice was soft, but not weak. “You disappeared without a word, avoided me like the plague, I run into Jo,” I wrinkled my nose, “and then…” I tried to tame the shake in my voice, the raw emotion that poured from every word, but it was too late. “Chase.” I choked out. “You couldn’t make it any clearer, Kelley.”
“What exactly is clear to you Makayla, because this shit is as clear as mud to me?”
“You don’t want me. You don’t want me to be your driver. You just don’t want me.”
“Wow,” is all he said for a long moment and I shrank. Fuck! He pointed the car at the on ramp and sped onto the M5, gliding seamlessly into the flow of traffic and his eyes slid to me. “Right now,” his low voice filled the car, “I want you in my bed, the rest I could give fuckall about.” His words shot straight through me and I froze in the seat.
“Where are we going?” I asked quietly, already knowing the answer.
“Home.” The finality in his voice told me to be quiet, but I’ve never been one to back down easily.
“You said we were going right back,” I pointed out.
The Curve Page 12
