Opening Up

by Lauren Dane

  PJ watched, heart in her throat, as Asa busted his ass in that Fastback. He was so damned good. Intense. His concentration was fantastic, but it was his reflexes that made him so very masterful.

  Fearless, he dominated the track like he dominated her in the bedroom.

  She paused, smiling at that silly bit of internal narration, but it was true. Asa was totally in charge, and it was the sexiest thing she’d ever seen.

  He came in second in the first heat and first in the second. They brought the Fastback in, switching out with Duke and his stock car.

  Asa worked the team for Duke, like Duke had for him, but every once in a while he looked back over his shoulder at her, and it sent all sorts of pulses of goodness through her.

  Not that it kept her from noting how much his army friend Mick didn’t like her. He was not having any PJ in his life. Not one bit.

  Which was too bad, because she was there. Period. But she hated it when people didn’t like her for secret reasons! She hadn’t done anything to him at all, so what was up his butt?

  She’d just have to give it time and space. Maybe he was jealous at how much time Asa spent with her or some other stupid guy thing. Maybe he didn’t like blondes. Or he thought she was too young or too whatever. Maybe she’d find out just what his deal was.

  For the time being, though, there were fast cars racing, which was sort of like her birthday or something. The smell of fuel and burning rubber, the chitchat, the overwhelming noise levels as machines hummed, roared, idled, and everything in between all around.

  A lot of her time as a child had been spent on a track, off to the side watching or in the bleachers if it was a big track. It was like homecoming to be there.

  CHAPTER

  Thirteen

  Twisted Steel was second overall, with Asa ranked highest by one and a half points.

  Grinning, he strolled over and kissed her after he’d come off the track.

  “Congratulations.”

  He kissed her again. “Thank you. I’m just going to wash up and change my shirt. I’ll meet you in the main tents with the food.”

  She’d seen Audra head that way just a few minutes before. “All right. I’ll see you in a bit.”

  She put a little extra sway in her walk as she headed out.

  The crowd in the main tent was energetic. Lots of gearheads. Mechanical geniuses. These men and women loved car culture. They loved racing and celebrating the old things as well as the new.

  Some of them had come to accept her in the months she’d been doing custom work around the Sound. Some she knew second- or thirdhand from Colman as well. Others were like Mick. Suspicious of her. Most of them would be all right once they got to know her better. The rest? It didn’t matter. She was with Asa.

  Still, it was nice to see all sorts of friendly faces, so when she went in, PJ let go of that discomfort with Mick. It was time to relax and have a drink with her friends.

  Audra held up a beer. “Just grabbed this for you. You have great timing. Tom and the guys are getting us food.”

  PJ took the beer and her stomach growled. “I was on my way to get a burger hours ago and then I got waylaid.” Or rather Asa had kissed her and she’d forgotten about everything else.

  Tom returned with a tray of burgers and fries. “I just got us a bunch of everything. I figured Asa would be hungry too.”

  “He didn’t eat before the race. I know that much.”

  Tom grinned, waggling his brows. “You do, don’t you?”

  Audra punched his arm and he pretended it hurt.

  “Who’s the hot man-meat with Asa?” Audra asked.

  PJ turned and stifled a groan. “That’s Mick. I don’t know much more than that he was in the army with Duke and Asa. They’re all close friends.”

  “Now why don’t you tell me the real story and what he did to make you not like him?” Audra didn’t miss much, PJ had to give her that.

  “I have no idea what you mean.” PJ attempted a prim tone.

  “You went all disapproving and your eyes narrowed just a teeny bit. I’ve known you since before you had boobs. I know when you’re repressing something.”

  Ugh. How much did she not want to do this? “I’m going to grab us another round. I’ll be right back.”

  “No way.” Audra shoved Tom. “Tom can go. And then we can talk.”

  Tom groaned but headed off, and the two them bent their heads together so PJ could speak quietly and be heard, relating the story about how Mick had acted.

  “He doesn’t like me. I don’t know why. Maybe Asa dated his sister back in school or maybe Mick hates women in general. Maybe I did something I wasn’t even aware of to offend him. Whatever it is, he’s not a PJ fan.”

  “How can anyone not be a PJ fan?” Audra asked.

  They laughed, straightening up, and were changing the discussion to non-Mick-related topics when someone bumped into her. Ray something or other. She knew he worked at a body shop over in Lake City.

  “Sorry about that.” He put his hand on her shoulder, and when he didn’t remove it quickly she stepped back.

  He appeared to have gotten the message, but was still friendly. “It’s PJ, right? You did the paint on that Olds?”

  “Yes, that’s me.”

  “Amazing. Did you leave Colman?”

  She nodded. “I did. I started my own custom design shop.”

  “Really? Wow, congratulations. Things are going well, then?”

  Asa approached, talking with Mick and Duke. He scanned the crowd until he found her. She waved, smiling, and they headed over.

  “We just brought some food over less than five minutes ago if you want some of this. Tom went to get beers, so he’ll be back.”

  Asa kissed her, wrapping an arm around her waist. “I have a special request order coming up. The cook is a friend of my mom’s, so she takes care of me.” He stole some chips off her plate. “I’ll happily take a few of these, though.”

  “Who’s your friend?” Mick asked, tipping his head at Ray. His tone implied friend meant PJ banged him on the side or something.

  And PJ knew she wasn’t alone in that perception because Audra’s eyebrows practically hit her hairline. PJ reached out to squeeze her friend’s hand to keep her from jumping on Mick’s face and pulling his hair out.

  “Mick, this is Ray. He does bodywork for Andy Benton up in Lake City.” Duke winked at PJ. Duke was awesome and she would have kissed him in gratitude, but Mick would probably see it as her blowing him.

  They did that chin-tipping thing men did to say hello. Tom approached with beer and a bunch more food arrived at the table.

  Her phone kept buzzing and she finally checked to see her mother had left a message and two texts.

  She touched Asa’s arm. “I need to call my mom. I’ll be back.”

  “Is everything all right?” He brushed the hair back from her shoulder.

  “I think so. It’s been a week since I’ve checked in and she’s a little testy.” Her mother wasn’t one for being put off when she wanted to be heard. It was the one area in which Lenore Colman was actually aggressive.

  His concern faded into amusement. “I get that too. Moms are good at it.”

  She ducked out but didn’t go too far. In fact, from where he stood at the table eating and hanging out with their friends, he could see her leaning against a fencepost with the phone to her ear.

  After a glare at Mick, Audra said her good-byes to Duke and Asa and headed to another tent along with Tom and several others, leaving him alone with Duke and Mick.

  He would normally have asked PJ’s friends to stay and called Mick out, but he wanted to do this in private. Once it was handled, he’d talk to Audra because this situation had lost him some hard-fought ground with PJ’s circle.

  “Now that we’re alone, I’ve dialed Jesus, so he and I want to have a talk with you. Mind telling me why you’re being such a dick to my girlfriend?” Asa polished off his burger and paused to drink some of his beer.r />
  Duke had shifted so that he stood between Asa and Mick. The two had gone at it more than once over the years; that was how they worked through a lot of shit. But what had just happened needed words too.

  “You’re embarrassing yourself, Asa. Ask Jesus why you’re dating a goddamn Girl Guide or whatever she is.”

  Duke sighed. “What’s it to you anyway? You lay low for years and suddenly you’re back here ready to pass judgment on something you know pretty much nothing about.”

  Asa had to admit Duke said it better, and less angrily, than he would have.

  “What? Being gone means I can’t say what needs to be said? I had my own shit to handle.” Mick shrugged.

  Asa let Duke do most of the talking. He was better with people. “Yeah? How’d that work out for you? I mean that truly, because we’ve been asking you for a week straight and you don’t seem to want to answer. You in some kind of trouble and that’s why you’re starting shit? Keep our attention on that? What are you running from? Or hiding from? Let us in. We get that you’re hurting, but you can’t take it out on PJ. She doesn’t deserve it. She’s good people, and in case you haven’t noticed, she makes Asa happy.”

  Ignoring that opportunity to tell Duke and Asa what was up, Mick rolled his eyes. “Asa, what can you be thinking? I mean other than how taut those tits are. You’re her ‘what do I do the year after college’ fuck.”

  Asa was lifting Mick off the ground before he thought about it. Duke yelled at them both to stop it. Asa shoved Mick back as he set him down and he stumbled a few steps.

  “Chill the fuck out,” Duke said genially. But he kept his body between Asa and Mick. “This isn’t the place and your girlfriend is just across the way. I think she’s had enough bullshit for one day.”

  Asa glanced over but she was still on her phone, so he looked back to Mick and pointed. “You’re out of line.” Asa was surprised he’d managed to get the words out at all, given how hard he was clenching his jaw. “No one talks about her that way. You got me?”

  “No, Asa. I don’t get you. Who are you? This is… I don’t even know. Did you find her after the homecoming game?”

  A red haze slid over his vision and he stepped forward, his fist already in the process of cocking back for a solid right to the face.

  Duke shook his head. “Asa!”

  “What the hell’s going on?”

  Asa looked over his shoulder to find PJ standing there, holding her phone, red-faced because it was clear she’d heard at least some of the worst parts of that exchange.

  “Nothing at all. Just a misunderstanding I was clearing up.”

  The look on her face told him exactly what she thought of that line. “Okay then. Well, I’m going home now.”

  “What? Why?” Asa stalked over, taking her hands.

  Her gaze narrowed in a way that had him shifting his body, keeping his thigh in knee-deflection range. She pulled her hands from his hold and he frowned. But she wasn’t going to be swayed or charmed. Not right then.

  “There’s a crowd watching us. Your friend obviously has some sort of problem with me, and I’m way too tired to figure out what it is tonight. No, actually, I don’t care what his problem is since all this played out in public in front of our friends and the people I want to hire me in the future. And when I ask what’s going on, you tell me nothing. Not a fan of any of those reasons.”

  She looked around Asa to Mick, who flinched when he caught her expression. “And you? Eat a bag of dicks. Asshole. The fuck you think you are?” PJ gave him the finger and turned just as Audra approached wearing the look women get when a dude has seriously messed up.

  They headed to the parking lot.

  “Go on,” Duke urged. “Watch it, though. She has dick-kicking in her eyes.”

  “She needs to kick Mick, not me,” he muttered as he caught up to the women, who’d neared PJ’s car.

  “I’ve got it from here,” Audra said through her teeth to Asa when he stepped in their path. She was really, truly pissed and ready to defend her friend.

  Asa ignored Audra and spoke to PJ. “This is stupid. You don’t have to go. It’s a misunderstanding. He’ll change his mind about you once he gets to know you.”

  “Oh, okay then. I’ll just wait around for your asshole friend with no manners to judge me. Because that’s going to happen. Oh, wait, no it isn’t. He has no right, and you have no right to ask me to do so. I’m going home and I’m going to bed. Call me tomorrow.” PJ waved a hand over her shoulder as they got to her car just a few steps away.

  “Are you all right to drive?” He moved around Audra and then, exasperated, threw his hands up. “Audra, back off for a second.”

  “You can fuck right off, Barrons. I know you did not just talk to me in that tone.” Audra looked him over slowly and PJ rolled her eyes.

  “Audra. It’s cool. You go on back. I’ll call you tomorrow. It’s not a thing. I’m just done.”

  Audra hugged PJ and then stalked off after giving Asa a dirty look.

  He took a risk and stepped close once they were alone. “I don’t want you to go.” Which was odd. In any other circumstance he couldn’t imagine not having just said, Okay then, see you later, drive safe. But he didn’t want her to leave. He wanted her to sleep over like she had the weekend before. And he didn’t want her to feel bad because of Mick’s attitude.

  Her expression was more amused and less annoyed, which he appreciated, as he was risking his balls standing so close.

  “I watched you race, which was very sexy. I hung out with my friends and had burgers and half a beer. So yes, I’m cool to drive. I’m going home, where I plan to get into my pajamas and catch up on my DVR. Call me when you can.”

  He was pretty sure that were their situations reversed, he’d be far less understanding. He kissed her quickly. “This isn’t like Mick. He’s usually ridiculously protective and mannerly. I don’t know what’s going on with him, but I’m going to talk to him right now.”

  She raised her brow but didn’t say anything.

  He opened her door. “I admire your restraint right now. I also need to tell you how hot it was when you flipped Mick off and told him to eat a bag of dicks. You’re a little bit crazy, aren’t you?”

  “Young and crazy. Asa, you’re going to have such a good time with me.”

  He snorted a laugh and hugged her to him, kissing her forehead. “I already do have a good time with you.” He remembered why she’d stepped away to start with. “Oh hey, is your mom okay?”

  “Yes, she wanted to make lunch plans. Thank you for asking.”

  “I’m going to kiss you. I’m giving you warning so you won’t maim me when I get that close.”

  “Take your chances, Asa.”

  He slid a palm around the back of her neck and held her close as he kissed her. She sighed into him, relaxing.

  “You’re lucky you’re so good with your mouth.” She kissed him once more and then got into the car.

  He closed the door and tapped on her roof before stepping back and watching her drive away, well aware of just how lucky he was.

  And then he headed back to where Mick was.

  “Just what the fuck is your problem?” Asa asked Mick as he approached where Mick stood with Duke, away from the main tent. Things had died down and people were back to drinking, so at least that much happened.

  “How old is that girl?” Mick asked.

  “I believe the term for females over eighteen is ‘woman.’ She’s twenty-five.”

  “You’re how old? Forty-five?”

  Asa flipped him off. “Thirty-seven.”

  Mick rolled his eyes. “She’s too young for you. She’s your midlife crisis and you’re her sugar daddy.”

  “Sugar daddy?” Asa barked a surprised laugh. “Is that what this is about? She’s got more money than I do. She’s a Colman. As in Colman Enterprises? She has her own business, which is successful. She’s not too young for me, and I’m not having a midlife crisis.”

&
nbsp; “Anything younger than a decade is officially too young. I have socks older than her.”

  “No, you don’t. You’re so full of shit.” Duke shook his head. “She doesn’t need a sugar daddy. She’s got talent. Real talent, and all the connections she needs on her own. Her family is more steeped in car culture than we ever will be.”

  Asa shoved Mick toward where the Oldsmobile was. “See that paint job? That’s her. All her. Triple metallic. Perfect. She doesn’t need me for this. She’s got it on her own.”

  Mick prowled around the car, peering closely at it until he came to a stop at Asa’s side again.

  “I’m impressed by anyone with that sort of skill. But she’s so young, Asa. Innocent. I bet she has freckles and polishes apples she takes to the teacher.”

  “And so what if she does? She’s a big girl. She knows how to say no, and that’s all it would take.” Not even that. He was in tune with her. Listened to her responses so he could avoid a situation where she’d have to say no in the first place.

  “Take my word for it, Penelope Jean isn’t doing anything she doesn’t want to do. I’ve come to know her over the last months. You owe her an apology and some chocolate.” Duke shrugged. “Also, she didn’t polish an apple for you. I seem to recall you got the finger and an admonition to eat a bag of dicks. She brings me cinnamon candy popcorn because it’s my favorite.”

  Asa laughed. “PJ is capable of handling herself, but in this case, you’re my friend and she shouldn’t have to. I won’t let you hurt her, Mick. She’s important to me.”

  Mick leaned against a light post.

  “Is this chick even your type? I’ve never seen you with a woman like her.”

  Duke spoke this time. “Interestingly enough, she seemed to be your type. Don’t think you looking at her ass was a secret. Something you want to tell us?”

  Mick blushed hard enough that Asa could see it even in the dim light.

  “I’ve never hid that I like women too. She just reminded me of someone for a moment. That’s all. She’s pretty, no lie. Great body. She’s just not your usual. Young. I jumped to conclusions and got protective and weird.”

  Mick slid a palm over his head. That sound, the scratch of skin on the stubble of the scalp their friend shaved regularly, was so normal, something Asa had heard during every situation imaginable.