Dirty Looks (Dirt Track Dogs: The Second Lap Book 1)

by Jameson, P.

  Damn, he’d missed having her around. He’d been so lonely over the years and that’s how he’d preferred it. But now, that same feeling of loneliness choked him, and he wished he had ridden out the storm with his sister. Wished he could have mourned with her and been around to watch her find happiness. Whatever the future held, he never wanted to be that low again.

  No more running. Ever. If he had to repeat the motto over and over again so his dumbass brain would get it, that’s what he’d do.

  “How about you hand over that bag, and maybe I’ll tell ya,” he bargained. His stomach growled at the mere idea of tasting what was inside. He missed his sister’s cooking almost as much as he missed her smiles.

  She pushed the bag at him, and he took it outside to the small picnic table Rider and Waldo used for breaks. He straddled the bench and Annie planted herself across from him as he started unpacking the food she’d made.

  “Red Cap busy today?” he asked.

  “Lunch was easing off when I left. Punk has it under control. So… do I need to ask how last night went? Or can I just assume by the black eye and split lip, that you and Drake worked things out?”

  Aaron smirked. “Yeah. I think we’re good for now. I explained a few things, and so did he.” He gestured to his face for emphasis.

  Annie’s expression became troubled. “I have to ask,” she began. “I… I know you wouldn’t… but I have to ask. The shifters you hunted, were they like us? Peaceful?”

  Aaron dipped the edge of his biscuit in the dark broth of the chili and brought it to his mouth before answering.

  “They were about as different from your group as possible. Nothing like DTD. They were terrible people who took advantage of innocents.”

  He took a bite, and his eyes closed just in time to see the relief on her face. Fuck, that tasted good.

  “Damn, sis. I think your cooking has gotten better over the years.”

  “Lots of practice,” she quipped.

  “Mm,” he grunted in agreement, using the plastic spoon to shovel some chili into his mouth.

  “So… what about the rest of last night?”

  “What rest?”

  Annie rolled her eyes. “The cute little fox, dummy. What’d she want?”

  Aaron frowned. “How’d you know she was a fox?”

  “The quiet one, Ragan, told me.”

  “Oh.”

  “So?”

  Aaron took several more bites before answering. “First of all, don’t mistake her for cute even though, yes, she’s small. She’s got balls the size of Texas.”

  “She showed you her balls?” Annie asked with a snort.

  Aaron gave her a dry look.

  “Sorry. I couldn’t help it. Punk’s rubbing off on me. But she can pull these things off with finesse, whereas I snort.”

  “Anyone who does stunt biking has some brass balls, is all I’m saying. But back to your question…” He set his chili down and looked out toward the street, collecting his thoughts. “She wanted to make a good impression on Drake, and she doesn’t feel it went so well.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because before she got a word in, me and him got into it.”

  Annie rolled her eyes. “Knew that was coming,” she muttered, but then added, “You did come here to kill them after all. And at Christmas. That deserves a beating, I’m thinking.”

  He gave a single nod. “It does. I’d do at least that if one of them boys came hunting my family. It’s why we’re even now.”

  But Drake would be watching him. He knew because it’s what he would do. He’d watch him until there was no doubt left that he was a danger. Lexington was right to want to distance herself from him, right to think that it could pit Drake against her.

  It was why they had to prove the vixens could be of value to the Dirt Track Dogs.

  “Annie… I need your help.”

  A frown curved her bow lips. “What is it?”

  “The vixens aren’t just here to race. They want into your pack.”

  “Into it how?”

  “They want to be Dirt Track Dogs. Want to pledge their allegiance to Drake and fall under his protection.”

  Her eyebrows shot upward, crinkling her forehead. “Wow. This has never happened before. We’re such a small pack, and a group of misfits at that.”

  “Let’s just say they appreciate DTD values,” he murmured.

  “Our values? Oh no.” His sister’s expression changed again, taking on a look of concern. “Are foxes like the cats? No fated mates? Forced matings?”

  Aaron shook his head, the chili suddenly turning sour in his stomach.

  “Not like the werecats, but similar. At least for the clan they originated from. The males battle it out over the females of their choosing until a victor arises, then they’re given over to be bred.”

  Annie shook her head, staring away. “Bred?” she mouthed, as if saying it out loud made her ill. “Is this why you became a hunter? Because of crap like this?”

  “No. The Memphis wolves treated their females better than this. The Memphis cats, not so much, but… they were a wicked breed.”

  “But it’s this feeling, right? The feeling of someone being unjustly treated, and by someone with more power. That’s why you did it.”

  He nodded, because yes, she’d hit the nail on the head. He’d never been the type who could sit back and watch a bully have their way.

  Annie was quiet, staring at her hands where they twisted atop the table.

  “It seems like you got some of those DTD values yourself,” she said. “I can’t imagine the pack turning their back on someone who needed help. But that said, Drake won’t take risks with our people. He saves the risky business for the track.”

  “That’s what I wanted to ask you about.” Aaron leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the table. “Can they… can they race for a spot in the pack?”

  Using their abilities as currency was the only idea he had, and even he could admit it was a weak one.

  Annie pursed her lips, thinking. “Ella raced Drake to win a place in the club, but that was way back when. And at the time, she didn’t know they were shifters. Didn’t even know she was a shifter. But so much has changed since then. They went from five bachelors to a full-fledged pack with families and young. I’m not sure what Drake would say to a race-in now.”

  “Damn.” His plan was going from weak to on life support.

  She watched him, and no doubt she could sense how hard he was feeling this. It was no joke what they said about twins and their hooky intuition. For the millionth time, he gave himself the middle finger for damaging that bond by leaving Annie high and dry for so many years.

  “You really care what happens to those foxes, don’t you?” she mused.

  “I know it sounds crazy, Annie, but something happened to me last night. I felt something when Lexington confided in me. I felt…” He looked away trying to find the right words without sounding like he’d lost his marbles. But if he couldn’t say it out loud to his sister, then he might as well turn in his man card. “Necessary. I felt whole. Like all the dents and dings from over the years, she filled them in somehow with just her trust. And now, I can’t let her down. I have this… urge to have her back. Hold her up. Make things work. I feel responsible for her, and… I like it.”

  Annie’s slight frown turned down, down. Like it was a melting candle. And then suddenly her eyes grew big and round, looking surprised and oddly… excited?

  “Aaron,” she breathed. “You’re bonding with her.”

  “What? Like...? No. It’s not that.” His heart started a thumping rhythm that could rival a heavy metal song. Because Annie was suggesting…

  It couldn’t be that. He’d convinced himself last night it was just the beer and moonlight. But even as her words entered his mind, they were followed up by a hell, yes.

  “A mating bond?” he choked out. “Do they happen so fast?”

  The thought had crossed his mind in the heat
of the moment, sure, but he’d only been grasping at straws, trying to understand the feelings that had him trembling in the fox’s presence.

  Annie nodded.

  “It’s kind of par for the course. Unless you’re mating someone like Blister who was so steeped in denial, I needed a backhoe to dig him out.”

  Shit, he wasn’t settling down material. He wanted to be. Desperately even. But could he be any good for Lexington? He hadn’t been good for Mina, but what they’d shared was a pale comparison to what he already had with the fox. And things were different now. No more big city. No more shifter gangs and the wars that went along with them.

  Conflicting emotions battered him until his chest felt like exploding. Shock, denial, good stuff he couldn’t describe, and a whole lot of oh, shit. And then something that settled all the quarrelling inside him.

  That blushing grin she’d given him last night right before walking away. The sudden attraction he felt for her, she felt it too.

  “She knows, doesn’t she?”

  Lexington’s fox would have known right away that Aaron was her mate.

  Annie pressed her lips together, nodding.

  “Probably. Her animal is likely going batty on her right now, wanting to get closer to you. It was like this for Punk and Beast. Quick like this. No getting to know you, because you already feel so comfortable. But if Lexington is worried for the future of her friends, she might be struggling against the bond right now. She might not feel right until they’re secure.”

  Aaron swallowed hard. This was so much, so fast. He didn’t blame his fox for being confused about her instincts. Hell, he was confused, and he was the human with no animal driving him.

  But they had time. He’d fix her up with the dogs, somehow, and there’d be time to take things farther later.

  Annie stood from the table and started gathering his trash.

  “Take care of her, and whatever is meant to be will be. I’ve seen it plenty of times. These things have a way of working out.”

  Funny, but Aaron hadn’t seen a lot of things “working out” in his time away, so his sister’s words weren’t so easy to accept.

  “Does that mean you think Drake will take in the vixens?”

  Annie cocked her head to the side, thinking.

  “I honestly don’t know what he’ll say. But how about this? You and the foxes can ask him yourself, tonight. We’re grilling at six, me and Surge. You’re all invited.”

  Aaron arched an eyebrow. “You think the alpha will be cool with that?”

  “Bring drinks and—now write this down, it’s specific—sour apple Bubblicious. Do that, and your invitation will stand.” She gave him a wink as she tossed his used napkins in the trash barrel. “I can’t promise what he’ll say about the other though. This just gets you in the door, so be on your best behavior. Got it?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Bossy little sister.”

  “Only by four minutes,” she reminded.

  She wrapped her arm around his shoulders and then squeezed, reminding him what home felt like. What safe felt like.

  “I like them, Aaron,” she murmured. “I hope the others do too.”

  He grunted an agreement.

  “Oh! I almost forgot.” She rummaged around in her purse before coming out with an overstuffed envelope. Shoving it toward him, she said, “This is yours.”

  Frowning, Aaron thumbed it open to find a thick wad of cash inside. Twenties and hundreds.

  “No, Annie,” argued. “I’m okay for money and I have this job now. Rider’s paying. I don’t need you to support me.”

  She shook her head causing her curls to swing, and held her hand up to stop him. “I’m not supporting you, brother. This is your share.”

  “My share of what?”

  “Red Cap. I figure since I’ve kept it afloat all these years, and made it my own, I should buy out your part. Make it mine for real, on paper. That envelope right there contains your fair share of our family business, that is now solely mine. There are some papers for you to sign, but otherwise it’s a done deal. I even went and got you cash since I figured you hadn’t had time to open a bank account yet. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Aaron stared at the envelope. Red Cap was always Annie’s.

  “It’s exactly how mom and dad would’ve wanted it,” he murmured.

  “I figured you were ready to let it go for good and start your own path. This money will help.”

  “You didn’t need to buy it from me, sis.”

  Her sweet smile was sun shining on him. Always. She was always the sun.

  “I know, silly. I wanted to. Like I said, make it legal and start you off on the right foot back at home. It makes sense.”

  Aaron shook his head, grinning. “Sure, Annie-girl. If you say so.”

  She bent, pecking his cheek. “I do,” she said, and then heading for her car. “See ya later, brother.”

  On her way out, she passed Rider coming back from a parts run. Without a word, his friend yanked hard on the garage door and slid the lock into place.

  “Closing early,” he called.

  “Why?” Aaron had hoped for a full day’s work but with the envelope of cash in his pocket, he really didn’t need it as bad as he had before.

  “Waldo called. Says we need to get to the track ASAP. He decided to let the bikers use it for practice. Big mistake.” There was humor in his voice.

  “What happened?” Aaron gulped the rest of his lunch and tossed the bag into the trash.

  “The girls are tearing it up,” Rider said with a smirk. “Waldo’s spitting mad, I can tell. But he’s also impressed. And if they’re good enough to impress Waldo, this is something we gotta see.” He tossed Aaron the keys to his truck. “You drive. I gotta call Rod.”

  As they hopped in Rider’s Chevy and started toward the dirt track, the spot inside Aaron that felt familiar, that felt like him, settled even more, soothing the past that had been chipping away at him.

  He was finding himself alright. And quicker than he’d ever expected.

  Chapter Nine

  Lexington spent the morning getting a feel for the track. It was different than Mac’s. Looser, and more sandy. But that wasn’t what had her sliding all over the place and getting jammed in the fresh ruts her and the girls had created. She was having trouble concentrating.

  Angry Aaron had turned to mush last night right before her eyes.

  She hadn’t expected it. She’d been trying to create distance after his scuffle with the alpha, and angry at herself for not knowing who she brought with her for the first meeting. Angry and sad that the male she found so intriguing had a beef with the pack she wanted to be part of.

  But when she’d been clear what was at stake, he’d dropped the hard shell pretense. He’d listened to her plight, and as if they were old friends, he’d promised to stand back-to-back with her as they muddled through it.

  Besides Mac, she’d never known a male so willing to take on trouble with her. She’d only known males who wanted to take from her. Men with grubby grabby hands. She was beginning to think those men were the exception, and maybe these small town, home grown males were the rule.

  And if that was the case… she wanted one for her own.

  Him, her fox purred. Mine.

  Her animal’s insistent declaration was what had her so on edge.

  Having a mate was never a good idea before. Not for the females. Actually wanting one was completely new territory for her, and she couldn’t decide if she was up for it yet. Even if he’d given her the most epic whirlwind of butterflies when he’d dried her tears. Even though he’d shown her the utmost respect when pretending she hadn’t broken down crying.

  But she sure was curious about him. He was an entire iceberg and she’d only seen the tip.

  Gunning the engine, she surged forward.

  They were taking the straight, when she spotted Aaron watching from behind the fence. He’d joined Waldo, Mac, and Kit, and he wasn’t alone. Two of the males h
e’d been drinking with at Red Cap were there too.

  Lexington grinned. They had an audience.

  She accelerated, preparing to head into the first turn. She was just a hair ahead of Ragan on the inside. As her bike dipped low, Lexington flung out her left leg for balance.

  Focus, focus. Hold tight.

  Coming out of the bend, her back wheel fishtailed and she hit the gas hard to dig out of the rut. Glancing back, she watched dirt spray up in a huge arc, and let out a laugh. She might be riding bad, but the dirt don’t lie. She was ahead, and Ragan was wearing her mud.

  “Haha! Roosted!”

  Zooming forward, she was a full bike length leading going into the next turn, but Sera came out of nowhere, cutting her off on the inside before she could tighten up. Lexington was forced to the outside, and right into the bumpy ridge that sent her skidding sideways.

  “Aw, hell no.” She wasn’t getting put in the weeds while her man was watching. That just wouldn’t do.

  Coming around the edge, she did a brake check right in Barb’s line, forcing her to slow, and giving Lexington just enough time to get her momentum back.

  Kit waved the flag for the last lap, and Lexington felt the adrenaline course through her veins. She knew her girls would feel it too. They all liked winning, but there could only be one victor.

  Be fast or be last.

  She was neck and neck with Seraphina, her throttle pushed to the max as they jockeyed for position. The turn was coming and she had to block her out if she wanted the lead. To her advantage, Sera took the corner too wide, creating just enough space for Lexington to slip past, gaining her inside line once again.

  And now all she had to do was keep it. One last turn and she’d win this.

  She pushed her bike as hard as it would go on the straightaway, eyeing the others over her shoulder. She had this win in the bucket. As long as she didn’t screw up this turn.

  She took it tight and fast, sliding the entire way around the bend, and digging a rut so deep it would certainly slow the others down. Once she was clear, she opened the throttle wide, speeding to the finish, the dust in her wake her only The End.

  Boom, baby.

  Slowing, she brought her bike to a park and shut the engine off, waiting for the girls to catch up.