by Amy Gregory
Her son was magical to watch, but in this race she could see what a difference there was in his riding. He was smooth before, but now he was graceful. He had good control before, but now he rode as if his bike was an extension of himself. Dallas drifted through the corners effortlessly. Honor had spent enough time trackside over the years to know he was moving even faster than before.
When he flew through the air, clearing the triple, the other boys cheered for him. Honor’s eyes caught Eli making a fist. She knew from hearing him so many times before, that the “yes” was said loudly as Dallas landed. From the opposite side of the track, Honor saw the pride he held in her son and…the muscles in his arms flex.
No, don’t go there.
She tore her gaze away from the gorgeous devil in his well-loved 501’s and continued to watch Dallas. There were so many places he’d pulled away, riding faster than the other rider, that he had very quickly come to the point he was about to lap the Highlends boy.
Scott took the inside line forcing Dallas to the outside. As he rode around at an angle into the berm, the momentum would carry him around the corner. However, Scott didn’t turn and tried to force Dallas to the ground by cutting him off. Brody screamed at the kid to knock it off. Dallas bobbled for a split second, and Honor heard the engine rev as he hit the throttle to straighten back out and pass Highlends again.
For three more grueling laps it continued. Each lap Dallas would pull into the lead more and more, and each time they got close, Scott would pull something less than honorable. The men around the track weren’t being subtle in the least, their favoritism glaringly clear. Honor hated that the other kid felt like he had to resort to being an ass to slow Dallas down, but his stunts weren’t acceptable.
She breathed a sigh of relief after it was over, and she made her way to the finish line where Dallas and James stood with Eli and his friends closing in, too. The pride on James’s face warmed Honor’s heart, almost as much as the beaming smile on her son’s. She could hear the two talking a mile a minute as she drew closer, saw their excited expressions, and arms waving wildly as they spoke.
“Great job for our boy out there, huh?” Joey winked as he walked Dallas’s bike past her.
She nodded in agreement. It wasn’t a question he needed an answer to, just simple praise given as he continued walking toward the shop. The “our” ringing louder in her head than how Joey had probably meant it. Honor made it to James’s side just as Scott’s father did and the discussion quickly heated between the two men.
“Scott, you were always a good kid, but what you did yesterday and then out there on that track just now—that’s wrong. You have never raced like that before, and if I were you, I’d think long and hard before you pull that crap again,” James said with a narrowed eye. “You don’t want that black cloud hanging over your name or you’ll go nowhere. I can promise you that.”
“I don’t get what this proves anyway, other than you think the sun rises and sets in that little shit’s ass.” Scott’s father hissed waving a dismissive hand at Dallas.
Carter pulled Dallas to his side, and she watched as Eli stepped into the other man’s space, lined-up evenly with James. The anger brewing in both Eli and James was palpable.
Honor started forward, and Jesse pulled her back by both shoulders. “James and Eli will handle this, honey. Don’t you worry.”
She felt her blood pressure starting to climb. Jesse continued to keep his hold on her and squeezed randomly in support as hurtful things were shouted at the two men defending her son. She’d had to fight for Dallas so many times over the years, it was foreign to sit back and watch someone else do it for her. With her teeth clenched tight and her hands fisted at her sides, she continued to listen to the older Highlends rant about her son.
It infuriated her that he was not taking any responsibility for his son’s actions. No wonder the boy had no concept that what he had done was wrong. The father was actually pissed that an eleven-year-old beat out the fourteen-year-old, never mind the whole reason behind the impromptu race in the first place.
Honor actually felt sorry for the younger Highlends boy. He stood off to the side, quiet and distant. She smiled a sympathetic, motherly grin in his direction, and the poor kid just lowered his head. Well, at least there was hope for one of the boys to become something better than their father.
“Get off my property, and you’re not welcome back here,” James said, the heat simmering in his words. “Now, if your younger boy wants to stay or come back in the future, we’ll work something out. But, you’ve burned your bridges here, Scott. And you better learn really fast, that news of this will spread, and it will haunt you.”
“Fuck you, Noland.” The father turned, his face and neck red, and the vein in his forehead bulging. “Trust me, you’re right, news will spread.”
Honor’s shoulders sagged. The last thing she wanted was for something negative to spread about the academy. These people had done too much for her son to have bad publicity tarnish their school’s reputation.
“Hey.” Jesse pulled her close to his side. Without thinking about it, she melted into the brotherly support he offered. “Don’t you worry for one damn minute about what that jackass said. This school will not suffer one iota. James Noland’s name is revered in this sport.”
The worry made her face scrunch, and her lip curl. With a hand against her stomach, she shook her head. “Are you sure? This just got so out of hand, Jesse.”
“No, it didn’t. Not at all. That kid needed to be taught a lesson. He can’t play dirty and win. Most of the time when shit like that happens, I don’t care what sport you’re in, bullies like him get away with it. It takes a hell of an athlete, one with major balls, to take him down a notch and do it fair and square. He can’t complain that he lost. In all actuality, he had the bigger bike and what should’ve been an unfair advantage. It’s got to be a hell of a shot to his ego that a younger kid, on a smaller bike, whipped his ass. Just goes to show you how well Dallas rides.”
His voice had been light and easygoing, shrugging the whole situation off as if it was no big deal. She looked over the boyish smile, her brows drew close, and her face tightened, not knowing if she should believe him. Jesse’s smile only widened at her doubt.
“See that?” Jesse pointed to James and the other guys who had Dallas surrounded with their celebratory high-fives, the pats on the backs, laughter, and loud comments all congratulating her son.
They had him riding so high she didn’t think he’d ever come down.
With a deep, weighted sigh, Honor tilted her head. “Yeah?”
“James…well, and the rest of us too, we’re all excited about him. He’s gonna make it, Honor.”
There was no need to ask Jesse to elaborate. Honor knew what it meant. Turning back to face Jesse, her argument stilled when Eli’s arms came around her middle and pulled her back against the front of him. Startling her from behind, he squeezed her tight, his giddiness swirling around her. He’d taken her by surprise, but it was his touch that caused her to take in a sharp breath.
Fire washed across her skin in an instant wave of pinpricks. Heat flooded her cheeks at the claiming display of public affection. They were attracted to each other, they both knew it, but this move on his part, out in front of God and everybody made it so much more. The way he held her possessively, the way her arms naturally rested on top of his… It could’ve been considered very friendly, but the kisses he placed by her ear and on the side of her neck, took it well beyond the magnitude of friendship.
“Our boy did awesome, didn’t he?” Eli asked right before placing a kiss on her head.
He was so proud, he was almost ecstatic. Even though he still had her tucked in front of him and she couldn’t see his face, Honor could hear it in his voice and in his laughter. He seemed like he was on cloud nine, and immediately her thoughts went back to Molly and Karen’s earlier words. She didn’t know him to act any different than how he acted now, carefree and happ
y. Except for the pain that she’d witnessed him suffering with firsthand, he seemed like he had it all.
Jesse was watching her.
Something about those warm light brown eyes and the way he was focused on her, it was like he could read her. She had tried to act natural in Eli’s hold, but his gaze was too much, too all knowing. He tilted his head, and the tug at the corner of his mouth looked forced, like it was almost a silent plea for her not to hurt his best friend.
Unable to break eye contact with the normally laid-back cowboy, she nodded in Eli’s hold. “Yeah, Dallas was amazing.” Her voice cracked and the words were barely audible.
Emery walked close and snaked her arms around her husband’s waist. That was the reprieve Honor needed. When he looked down at his wife, she closed her eyes.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Honor had seen someone change right before her very eyes once before. However, this transformation wasn’t over some piece of world-shocking news like she’d delivered to Kolby years ago. Not even in the same realm.
When Dallas casually mentioned, as instructed by his older cohorts, the word arcade, Eli had gone from a man turning the big three-O, to a kid her son’s age in less time than it took to sneeze. An overgrown child. Absolutely, completely excited and immature, but he was utterly adorable.
He asked multiple times if Honor wanted to come, then asked if she was sure, and then began questioning if she really wanted to stay home alone. She calmly reassured Eli multiple times that she was just fine having an afternoon to herself. Seemingly convinced, once he was sure she was really all right, he couldn’t push Dallas out of the house fast enough. He damn near left the real kid in his dust.
Honor couldn’t help but chuckle listening to the two of them getting more and more excited, which she didn’t think was possible. They made their way through the kitchen, talking about this game and that one, which one was the coolest, and of course making minute wagers on the iconic Pac-Man.
Following them through the house, she shook her head the whole way. The volume continued to rise, along with their laughter and the argument over what machines to hit first. Neither one looked back as Eli grabbed his keys off the built-in desk and followed Dallas out of the door and into the garage.
Shutting the door behind them, she leaned against it, glanced up at the ceiling, and rolled her eyes. What the hell kind of monster had Jesse unleashed? She’d been worried about running out of time, now she was worried Dallas would never be able to drag Eli out of the damn arcade.
Her heart was about to burst. For a man who was always in control, a man whose temper she’d seen come to life in full force just that morning, he was also so cute it made her heart melt. Calling him cute though…she probably wouldn’t do that to his face.
She listened for the familiar SUV to start, and then waited for the garage door to shut. Running through the large open kitchen, she went to the front office and peered out the window, watching as the red tail lights made their way down the winding drive. Forcing herself to tame the antsy waves rolling through her, Honor bounced from foot to foot while waiting by the window a full ten minutes, just in case they turned back for any reason.
With a quick peek at the clock on the wall in his office, she sucked in a quick breath and darted around the furniture placed strategically right in her damn way as she hauled ass back into the kitchen. Hanging onto the counter, winded, and laughing at herself and at the kid Eli had turned into, she looked up as reinforcements arrived right on schedule in the form of Molly and Emery.
The three girls fell into an easy pattern of cooking, laughing, and drinking. Thankfully, when Honor found out it was Eli’s birthday and mentioned trying to throw together a surprise party at the last minute, she had more help than she knew what to do with. It was the least she could do for a man who’d changed her son’s life. Plus, it made her feel good just because of the man himself. Never the less, a tiny piece of her was nervous and hoping she wasn’t jumping off a cliff by surprising him like she was. Reaching for her glass, she swallowed that thought down once again.
Eli’s favorite food was Mexican, which made preparing a large quantity of food much easier. Keeping the party invites within the family and hosting it at Eli’s house made planning things simple. On top of that, she had casually mentioned that they were having burritos for dinner, just to lay some groundwork to cover her tracks. When she slyly un-sacked the groceries, he didn’t seem at all surprised at the items she’d purchased, even helped put them away in the pantry and refrigerator.
Twice though, she’d had to push Dallas out of the kitchen because the kid kept laughing every time he saw Eli pick up something Dallas knew was for his own party. Eli caught the contagious laugh, although he had no idea what Dallas was cackling about. It continued that way until one o’clock when Dallas gave her a sneaky grin and mentioned the A word that caused Eli to act like an overgrown spaz.
The radio was up and the kitchen was in full swing. Two pans of burritos and two pans of enchiladas were in the double ovens. Taco fixings and a large bowl of Honor’s homemade salsa were on the island, and the girls had three pitchers filled with alcoholic beverages. Well, mostly filled.
“Honor, honey, where do you want this?” Karen asked, walking in the door off the garage with a large vegetable tray in her hands.
Emery moved the platter of chocolate covered strawberries, and several bags of tortilla chips over on the island to make room for the tray in Karen’s hands, plus the one James was carrying loaded with fresh fruit and his wife’s famous strawberry dip.
“Oh my gosh, girls, it smells wonderful in here. You’ve all been busy.” Karen grinned as she kissed each one on the cheek. “Have you heard from the boys yet?”
“Jess just called me about ten minutes ago and said he got their secret text from Dallas. They’re on their way.” Emery grinned. “And it’s a good thing, too. These two are damn near three sheets to the wind already.”
“No we’re not,” Molly insisted, then almost missed the counter when she went to lean against it.
Honor started into a fit of giggles. The harder she tried not to laugh, the harder she laughed, which turned into snorting and coughing as she tried to hide it.
“Oh hell, girls. How much have you had already?” James laughed, taking the two tipsy women under each arm.
“It’s totally my fault. I suggested we make fresh Margaritas and Sangria to go with the Mexican theme. Honor had the recipe for the Sangria, and it sounded good. I knew Mol was a lightweight, but hell, I didn’t know Honor was too.” Emery laughed.
“Amnot,” Honor said, her words all coming out mixed together.
Emery shook her head and pointed at her. “She’s had a glass and a half. Can you believe it? Damn skinny thing, I swear.”
“Well, there’s only one girl in this room that can hang with us big boys, huh?” James grinned as he reached out to give Emery a high-five. “Especially when these two are going to be asleep by eight o’clock.”
“I read you the recipe, just exactly like Honor wrote it down. You added more liquor than juice. It’s your fault, Emery.” Molly giggled.
“James, sit those two on the bar stools. And put the chips and salsa between them. Maybe we can get some food in their stomachs.” Karen grinned.
The room wasn’t spinning…yet.
And Emery was right. She’d only had a glass and a half of Sangria. But it was a very big glass and very strong Sangria. Oh, and she hadn’t eaten much today. Not a good combination.
Neither was the way Jesse read her earlier, nor was making herself at home in Eli’s kitchen with two of his best friends. When she let her thoughts drift to either subject, it only left her confused and struggling to figure out where she fit into the whole picture.
She hadn’t been drinking to get drunk, just a sip here while she chopped and stirred, a sip there while she rolled and spread cheese, but that added up to a lot of sips over time. Honor didn’t even realize how good she felt until Kare
n and James walked in and she spun to greet them, moving way too quickly for her head to keep up. When the alcohol-induced giggles started, it was too late.
She would be perfect if she could stay right in this moment with this feeling. A little fuzzy but not falling down drunk. A little hazy but nothing hurt to think about. Then it would be just perfect.
Brody, Erin, and Chance came in, sheet cake in hand. Thankfully. What was a birthday party without a birthday cake? However, Honor had no way of making a cake while Eli was around, so when Erin volunteered she gladly accepted. Looking at what she placed on the island in front of her, impressed her, though. Her own skills were limited to opening a box, and turning out an average cake that would taste perfectly fine, but the one Erin made looked professional. The swoops and swirls and piped lettering were fantastic, even with the one long divot. It looked about the right size to have been caused by Chance’s little five-year-old sized finger when he’d taken a swipe through the icing.
“Erin, this is beautiful.” Honor said then pointed at James, quite proud of her sentence that didn’t have one slurred word. “See, not drunk.”
The man shook his head with a shit-eating grin tugging at his mouth. “Sure, honey, if you say so.”
Acting as if she was trying to be quiet and failing miserably, Molly nudged Honor. She turned away from James to see the blonde sitting beside her slide their two glasses of alcohol closer to them. They’d been out of arm’s length, but now thanks to Molly, she could keep the happy feeling alive. Thank God Eli had bar stools with backs on them, otherwise she’d have fallen off laughing at Molly’s less-than-stealthy plot.
“Baby girl, arranging the chip bags like that doesn’t hide the glasses, we can all still see them,” James said loudly as he swiped the bags to reveal the glasses to Karen.
“Girls.”
Honor covered her mouth with both hands and tried to contain the giggles, but one sideways glance at her cohort and she was done for.
“Wait, don’t shut the door,” Carter rushed out as Brody was just about to close it behind him. Carter turned so he could fit through the door as he was coming in with a large cooler of beer in his hands and two little people in tow. “Thanks, man.”
