Quarter Mile Hearts

by Jenny Siegel

  “But… what is he going to do?” Aaron looks as perplexed as me because I don’t have a fucking clue. All I know is I have a monster of a headache starting and need to get out of the sun.

  “Fuck knows.” I throw up my hand. “I’ll be in the office if you need me.” I march past them and feel three pairs of eyes watching my retreat.

  I shut the door to the office and sit down with my feet on the desk, turning on the fan and hoping to get some relief. I close my eyes and that helps a bit until I hear the door open and close as someone comes in. My guess is Beth, and when I peer out of one eye, I see I’m right.

  “You okay?” she asks and perches on the edge of the desk, reaching out to take my hand. With a heavy sigh, I sit up and look at her.

  “What the fuck am I going to do?” I drop my defenses and let her see how worried I am. “We can’t lose this place. How could he be so stupid?”

  “I don’t know, Storm, but we’ll figure something out.”

  I nod distractedly because I know what’s got me all bent out of shape, and he’s standing out there going over Kyle’s Camaro with Aaron.

  “What’s up with you and Max? Aaron said you were holding hands this morning and making goo-goo eyes at each other and then you come back and it’s like you want to knee him in the balls. Again.”

  That gets a smile out of me; it was generally how I always felt around Max.

  “Did you know my dad asked the hospital to call him? After the crash, they called him and he saw my dad in the ER.”

  “That was good of him. No?”

  “Well… I suppose it was but he never told me.”

  “And that’s a problem why exactly?”

  “How can I trust him if he keeps things from me.”

  Beth arches an eyebrow. “Did you just listen to yourself? That is what you’re bothered about. So, he didn’t tell you that he went to the hospital. It’s not his fault your dad was up there in the first place. He was just trying to do something good, and you’re giving him shit for not telling you. Honestly, Leigh, you need to give yourself a good shake. Max Morgan is head over heels for you and I know you feel the same way. Don’t ruin whatever is going on between you because of something so stupid.”

  “But…”

  “But nothing. You’re just looking for excuses. Get over yourself and trust him. I want you to get out there and make up with him.” She points her finger in the Max’s direction, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen Beth so mad.

  “Fine. I will, but first, I have to do something.” I push up from the desk, still keeping an eye on the other two. “Cover for me.” I move past the desk, but Beth stops me.

  “No way, I’m coming with you. You’ve got that look in your eye.”

  “What look?”

  “I’ve seen that look. You’re up to something, and I’m guessing you don’t want them to know.” She jerks her head in the direction of Max and Aaron. “So I’m coming, too.”

  “Okay but don’t say a word,” I warn her before walking out of the office.

  We haven’t gone two steps when Beth calls out from behind me. “We’re going to get sandwiches for lunch. Want us to pick something up for you?” I groan and whirl around to glare at her, and she flashes me an innocent smile.

  “Yeah, that could be good.” Aaron rubs his stomach. Trust him to be hungry. “Tuna mayo for me.”

  “Yeah, I could eat.” Max nods in agreement. “Surprise me.” And he looks at me. When his eyes collide with mine, I forget that I’m supposed to be mad at him and return his breathtakingly gorgeous smile. It takes him by surprise, and he gives me an odd look. Damn, I’ve set an alarm bell ringing; he was obviously still expecting me to be mad and not smile at him like I’d won the lotto.

  “Won’t be long,” I call and hurry Beth outside before Max can work out that I’m up to something. We reach Beth’s car as Max stands in the doorway looking at us, squinting through the sun. Hurriedly, I jump in and pull on my seat belt while she takes her sweet time and Max starts to walk toward us.

  “Drive.” My voice is almost a shriek and head jerks up in time to see Max break into a jog. She turns the ignition and floors the car out of the lot, sending gravel flying as her wheels spin. Max breaks into a flat-out run and Beth squeals, as she turns hard on the steering wheel and onto the main street.

  “That was close.” She breathes heavily and eases her foot off the gas and gives me a quick look. “Where are we going anyway?”

  “Tom Anderson’s lot.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I’m going to talk to Tom Anderson, and I’m betting he’ll be at the car lot.”

  “You’re crazy.” She shakes her head at me.

  “I don’t know what else to do. Besides, Tom seems okay. It’s just his son who gives me the creeps.”

  “I’m staying in the car, especially if Zach’s there.” Beth shivers, and I know exactly how she feels. I don’t relish the idea of voluntarily having anything to do with Zach, but if that’s what I need to do, then so be it.

  • • •

  Tom Anderson owns a used car lot in the next town over. It’s been there since I was a child and I used to go with my dad. Tom would send some business our way, but I’ve not seen him for years. Beth pulls into a ‘visitor’ parking space and kills the engine. Her Honda is facing the showroom, and I’m guessing it’s so she can keep an eye on me even without having to come in.

  “I won’t be long. If Aaron or Max calls, don’t tell them where we are,” I warn her, knowing full well that Aaron will start blowing up her phone in a couple of minutes, wondering where the hell we are and when we’re getting back with his sandwich.

  “I won’t.” She reaches for my hand as I go to climb out her low-slung car. “Be careful.”

  I leave her sitting, holding her phone, and make my way over to the showroom. The bell above the door buzzes, and after a minute of standing awkwardly, I see Zach walking toward me. A big sleazy smile plasters over his face, and right away, my skin starts to crawl. I hate the way his eyes slide down my body and back up again, like I’m standing there naked for him to ogle me. I have on ripped jeans and a dirty t-shirt, for fuck’s sake. I’m not competing in Miss World.

  “Leigh, what can I do for you?” He walks over, and for one horrible moment, I think he’s going to take my hand, so I take a step backward. He takes the hint and his hands stay firmly at his side.

  “I wanted to speak to your dad if he’s around.” I fight to keep my voice even and polite, which is a contrast to how angry I am inside.

  “Come on, he’s in the office.” If he’s curious about why I’m there, he doesn’t let on, but I guess he has a good idea about what’s brought me here. And it isn’t to buy one of his shady motors.

  Tom Anderson looks up from a pile of paperwork and sets his cigar down as Zach ushers me into the cramped smoke-filled office. I try my hardest not to breathe in the cigar smoke, but I can’t hold my breath any longer.

  “Leigh Storm.” He greets me like a long-lost relative, when really I hardly know the man. “Long time, no see. How’s your dad?” His face drops into what I’m sure he thinks is a sympathetic face, but it’s actually more of a sneer. That bastard. I cut to the chase.

  “That’s why I’m here actually. I want you to reconsider the bet.”

  “Hell, no,” Zach cuts in, and I cut him down with the filthiest look I can muster.

  “Zach,” his dad warns and focuses his attention back on me.

  “Why would I do that?”

  “He didn’t finish, he crashed and ended up in the hospital, surely that nullifies the bet.” I try to appeal to his better nature, if he has one.

  “Tell you what.” Mr. Anderson picks up his cigar and starts puffing away on it. “I’ll think about what we could do. You know, try and work something out.” He smiles, but again, it’s more of a sneer, and I know when I’m being dismissed. Even though it sticks in my throat, I manage to thank him.

  “I’d really app
reciate it.” And I even force out a smile, which probably comes across as genuine as his.

  Zach follows me out of the office and onto the lot. It is worse having him behind him because I can’t see what his beady eyes are staring at. No doubt my ass because I get a prickly sensation on my lower back.

  “Leigh.” His voice stops me in my tracks and the prickling sensation travels up my spine to the back of my neck, and just like the other night, all the fine hairs stand on end. I turn and see him watching me; head tilted to the side and the way he looks at me sends a shiver through me. He steps closer, and I fight the urge to turn tail and run back to Beth’s car and tell her to floor it and drive like a bat out of hell all the way back to Max. Instead, I stand rooted to the spot, not giving him the satisfaction of knowing that he has me rattled. “I can think of one way you can pay off your dad’s debt.” Stepping closer again, he reaches out and runs a strand of my hair through his long fingers. Revulsion courses through me and I fight my gag reflex and somehow manage to speak.

  “No thanks. I’ll wait to hear what your dad decides.” I peer around Zach and see Tom standing outside, still smoking his cigar.

  “Zach,” he bellows. “Leave her alone.” And walks back inside.

  “Catch you later, Leigh.” He winks at me and follows his dad into the showroom.

  • • •

  Max is pacing outside the garage when Beth’s car pulls into the lot. He looks like a man possessed; his usually styled hair is standing on end from where he’s been tugging at it in frustration. I don’t even get to open the door when he yanks it open and manhandles me out.

  “Where the fuck have you been?” His dark eyes flash with anger; never have I seen him this pissed.

  “To fix things.” I tug my wrist out of his grasp and glare back at him.

  “Fix it. How?” The muscle in his jaw continues to tick.

  “I went to see Tom Anderson, okay.” I throw up my arms in defeat, not wanting to fight with him.

  “On your own?” he rages.

  “No, Beth came with me.” Max’s head jerks up to glare at Beth who gives him a little wave before running over to Aaron.

  “Where’s my sandwich?” Aaron calls over, and I curse my stupidity for not at least stopping to get something.

  “They didn’t go for a sandwich,” Max shouts, the exasperation clear in his tone and on his face. “They went to see Tom.”

  “And.” Aaron slings an arm around Beth as he walks over to where we now seem to be congregating around her car. I perch on the hood and try to ignore the way Max is glaring at me and the anger that is radiating off him in waves.

  “What have you done?” Max growls at me, and as sexy as it is, I wish he would stop doing it. It just makes me think inappropriate thoughts, like when he’s hovering over my body and sinks into me, all the way to the hilt. My cheeks flush and a cocky smile spreads over his lips because he knows what’s put that look on my face.

  “Nothing. I asked him to reconsider the bet.”

  “And?”

  “And he said he’d think about it.” There isn’t much they can say to that, not until we know more.

  “What did Zach want outside?” Beth opens her mouth and lets her belly rumble, clearly not noticing the shake of my head.

  “Nothing.” I shrug, but I avoid looking at anyone, especially Max, and it’s a dead giveaway. He sits beside me on the hood and crosses his arms over his chest, the sleeves of his t-shirt pulling tight over the well-defined biceps. The black pattern of his tattoos distracts me, and I notice the pink lily on his elbow, the only splash of color in an otherwise black sleeve.

  “Tell me.”

  “It was just Zach being an ass; he said he had an idea of how I could settle the debt.”

  Max’s eyebrows climb into his disheveled hairline. “No fucking way,” he grinds out and springs off the hood of the car to stand in front of me, blocking me from Beth and Aaron. He stares down until I finally drag my eyes up from picking at a frayed thread on my jeans to look at him. Pain flashes in his eyes brought on by Zach’s suggestion, and it does something to me. Max is just as vulnerable as I am; why I didn’t see that before, I don’t know. It is all just an act for him—this image of a player, manwhore, ladies’ man. However you dress it up, he’s really looking for that someone special but doesn’t want to get hurt. Like me. I push off the hood and press my hands to his chest. Dark eyes watch me but soften the longer I hold his stare. Prying his folded arms away from his chest, I step closer, so our bodies brush together, and wrap his arms around me. My hands reach for his face and cradle it between my palms, pulling it slowly downward.

  “As if I would,” I whisper as my lips touch against his and my tongue slips past his lips and into his mouth. With a groan, his arms tighten around me and pull me closer still. Our kiss carries on, Aaron and Beth fade into the background, and even the worry about my dad and what the hell is going to happen disappears.

  “Erm, uh.” Aaron clears his throat, which is his way of telling us to knock it off. And it works, we pull apart, but Max keeps his arms wrapped around my shoulder, tucking me into his body, and I don’t let go of him. Having him close reassures me and makes any doubt I have about saving the garage disappear.

  “So what happens now?” Aaron doesn’t know where to look and his eyes keep darting about. He’s never seen me with anyone before, so I can understand his discomfort. That, and he thinks of me as a little sister.

  “We wait. At least until Tom Anderson comes back to us.” Max sounds calm, but I can’t help the ominous feeling that is growing in the pit of my stomach. I don’t know if it has escaped their knowledge, but Tom Anderson was also racing the night my Uncle Donnie was killed, and that does nothing to ease the ball of anxiety weighing heavily in my stomach.

  Chapter Twenty

  “Barbecue at our place, three pm,” Aaron reminds us as Max pulls down the garage door a little after one on Saturday afternoon. Not that there’s any chance we would forget with Aaron constantly reminding us. He wraps an arm around Max and one around my shoulders and pulls us close.

  “It’s your dad’s birthday, and he’s getting out for the day, so you two need to kiss and make up.” He looks pointedly at me.

  “Shut up,” I grumble and elbow him in the side.

  To say that things have been strained between my dad and me is an understatement. We have barely spoken since I’d found out what happened the night of his accident. As a result, visits are tense and I don’t stay long. It also doesn’t help that dad has cabin fever and is grumpier than normal.

  Neither Max nor I had told him that I went to see the Andersons. Beth and Aaron are sworn to secrecy as well. In my mind, there is no point in worrying him or getting his hopes up until we’ve heard back from them. But the wait is fraying my nerves.

  “My dad is picking Hank up from the hospital. Be there at three.” He tips his head in Max’s direction, who nods, assuring Aaron that I’ll be there.

  I am here, you know. I can speak for myself.

  Because today is his birthday, Nurse McCartney has taken pity on him and given him a pass for the day. So, after a long, hot, relaxing shower, I am dressed and sitting on the front step waiting for Max when he pulls into the drive. The appraising look he gives me as I walk to the car sends butterflies soaring in my stomach and warms me to my very core.

  “Nice dress.” He nods, flashing me a smile before pulling on his aviators and reversing down the drive. When I went to my closet today, thinking that I really need to buy more clothes, I found a sundress tucked away in the back. I don’t remember buying it, and I start to wonder if Beth has been sneaking clothes into my closet. But nah… that’s just silly.

  Max takes my hand in his, long fingers intertwining with mine, and places our joint hands on top of the gear stick as he drives. Just having him close and touching me helps push the whole business with Tom and Zach Anderson to the back of my mind. Aaron is right; I need to kiss and make up with my dad and focus
on having a good time. It is his birthday, after all, and we’ve never had a falling out like this before.

  By the time Max and I arrive, the barbecue is well under way, and by the noise coming from the backyard, everyone is enjoying themselves. Max grabs a drink for us on his way past the fridge, and when we walk into the garden, I make a beeline for my dad.

  “Happy birthday, Dad.” I hug him as best as I can while still trying to be careful of his injuries. “Any word when you’re being discharged?” Everyone knows how grumpy he has been. If anything, the nursing staff is probably desperate to get rid of him.

  “I think they’re talking about next week.” He smiles widely; it’s the happiest I’ve seen him in a while.

  “Best get the house tidy for you coming home then.” A broad smile spreads across my face because I’m looking forward to him coming home.

  “Have you been okay there on your own?” Concern creases his brow, and I love how even after all this time of living away from home, he’s still worried about me being home alone.

  “I’ve been fine. You know I don’t mind being on my own.”

  “Yeah, well, I’d feel safer knowing someone was there with you.” He frowns and I wonder if he would be so happy if he knew that for the past few nights I haven’t been on my own. That Max has been staying with me. Actually, I’m surprised that he doesn’t know already. Someone must have spotted Max’s car there overnight.

  “You’ll be home soon, so there’s no need to worry.” I give him a kiss on the cheek before he asks any more questions. “Now go and mingle with your friends; you’ll see enough of me when you get out.” I help him out of the lawn chair and watch as he wanders over to speak to some of his buddies, which leaves me free to find Max. But first, I duck into the kitchen and grab a beer for me and a soda for him.

  From across the garden, I spot him. It’s hard not to when I can’t keep my eyes off him. Like a heat-seeking device, my eyes are drawn to his. A smile spreads across his face which takes my breath away, affecting me in much the same way as it did the very first time I saw him.