Racing Hearts

by Dena Blake

“Are you sick?”

  “My allergies are just acting up.” Ignoring the mild heat radiating through her body, she went to the water cooler, filled a paper cup, and downed a couple of pills. Rubbing her face wearily, she slid down into the chair. “I think you should consider putting another car in the race, just in case.”

  “And who would you be wantin’ me to let drive it?”

  Sam gripped the arms of the chair and did her best to hold her temper. “You can let the man in the moon drive it for all I care, Paddy. But you need to have someone else in that race besides Brad.”

  “And if that one out there turns out to be the man in the moon?” He pointed at Drew through the window.

  She paused for a moment, peeking over her shoulder. “Then, so be it.” Sam had done all she could to let Paddy know she was ready. The next move was his.

  “Is there something going on with Brad I should know about?”

  “I don’t think he has the best interests of the team in mind anymore.” She hesitated. “He and I aren’t going to be seeing each other personally in the future.”

  He sprang up from his chair. “Has he done something to hurt you?”

  “Are you serious?” Paddy wasn’t usually concerned about the minor details of her life.

  “Tell me if he has, Samantha, and I’ll take care of it.”

  He was serious. Could her father actually be that clueless? Never seeing the endless barrage of woman accompanying Brad in her absence? Not to mention the countless number he’d chosen to take to bed in her stead.

  “No. Not this time.” She shook her head and smiled in irony. “This time it was all me.”

  Paddy dropped back down into his chair and went back to his papers. “I’ll consider it. Now you best get back to work.”

  She gripped the chair again and let out a heavy breath. That’s it? No more questions? He didn’t even make eye contact. As always, going any further with the conversation would be too personal for him. Too much like a real father.

  * * *

  Drew stood out in the drizzling rain across from the garage, waiting for Sam to leave. The rain she could do without, but the lowering temperature was a welcome change from the constant heat they’d been stricken with the past few weeks. She took out her phone and posted another Tweet.

  Awesome test drive today! @kellehermotorsports #NASCAR #notwilkerson.

  She wanted to get as much exposure as she could, and if she pissed off Wilkerson in the process, all the better.

  The rain hadn’t fazed Sam at all, who was drenched to her shoulders, ringlets of red clinging to her face, and tiny droplets of water threatening to leap off the tip of her narrow nose. Drew needed to be near this woman, near enough to touch her, have her touch her in return. But when Drew had hauled her into her arms, she’d felt her body stiffen, straining to keep her distance. She’d wanted to shake her, to ask her if she’d felt nothing the night before. Maybe Sam was a cold, calculating killer.

  The better part of an hour passed before Sam left the garage. Drew wiped the moisture from her face and sprinted in to see Paddy. She had to make it quick. Sam would be back soon.

  Drew pushed open the office door, and Paddy shifted his gaze up from his paperwork.

  “Are you going to let her drive?”

  “I’m thinkin’ on it.”

  “It’s one sure way of ruling her out as a suspect. If you wait until the morning to spring it on her, she won’t have time to fix whatever she’s tampered with, if that’s the case.”

  Paddy scowled. “I don’t want her hurt.”

  Drew pressed her hands to the desk and leaned forward into Paddy’s space. “If she did something to the car, she won’t race.”

  “But if I’m right, she could get hurt.” Paddy matched Drew’s stare. “I can’t very well offer her a chance and then snatch it back away.”

  “No, you can’t.” Drew pushed back off the desk. “But then at least you’ll know one way or the other.”

  “What do you think I should do?”

  “I think you should let her drive.” Drew turned to leave, but stopping just short of the door, she slapped at the doorframe. “It’s not an easy decision, but other people are in danger here. Two drivers are already dead, and your own son is paralyzed.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  When Sam entered the garage the next morning, she seemed pleased to see both Brad and Drew dressed and ready to drive.

  The office door swung open, and Paddy stood in the doorway. “Samantha, you’re late.”

  “With the new car coming in last night, I didn’t get finished checking it out until after midnight.”

  New car? Drew didn’t know anything about a new car. She should’ve stuck around last night, but she’d done what Sam asked and given her some space.

  “Are you feeling all right?” Paddy gave her the once-over. “You look a little flushed.”

  “I’m fine,” she said.

  “Is the car ready?”

  “Yep. I checked it out last night.”

  “Well then, go get suited up. You’ll have to qualify.”

  “Me?” Her eyes lit in frenzied enthusiasm. Rushing to her father, Sam threw her arms around him.

  Drew couldn’t tell if the flash in her eyes was fear or excitement.

  “Ray should have her back from inspection any minute.” Paddy spun her around and pointed her toward the door.

  She pumped her fist into the air before darting her gaze from Drew to Brad and back again. Drew didn’t see any fear in her eyes, only pure excitement.

  “She’s a beauty.” Brad’s tone was less than enthusiastic.

  It was obvious he wasn’t thrilled that Paddy had bumped him this morning to let Sam qualify. And Drew wasn’t thrilled he’d brought in a new car for her to drive. It was very unlikely someone could’ve tampered with a brand-new car. Paddy was a smart man. Suspect or not, he wasn’t taking any chances with his daughter.

  “You heard the man. Get moving.” Drew gave her a shove. “You’re in the fourth heat.”

  “Yessss.” She hissed, catching a glimpse of the new car coming through the garage entrance. On her way to the bus, Sam made Ray stop the car and gave him a hurried kiss on the cheek.

  “What’s she so excited about?” Ray asked, pulling himself out of the car.

  Drew swiped her hand across the midnight-blue finish of the number forty-four hood. “She’s driving this baby today.”

  Ray spun around to Paddy. “I thought Brad was taking it out first.”

  “Change of plan.”

  “Are you sure she’s ready?” Ray’s forehead creased.

  “Don’t worry, Ray. She’s more than ready,” he said, heading across the garage.

  “At least let me check it one more time before she takes it out.”

  “Did it pass inspection?” he shouted over his shoulder.

  “With flying colors.”

  “Then leave it be.” Paddy threw up a back-handed wave and disappeared into the office.

  Drew caught Brad’s scowl. “What’s up with you?”

  “She shouldn’t be on that track.”

  “Why not?”

  “Racing isn’t a place for her.”

  “She can fix your car and warm your bed, but she can’t drive a race car? That’s a little archaic, isn’t it?

  Brad gave Drew a look she’d seen before. If she didn’t know him, she might be afraid. But Brad didn’t have the stones to challenge her. He was a shell of a man who had a nasty habit of preying on vulnerable women.

  “You afraid she’ll be better than you?”

  Brad’s eyes narrowed. “Mind your own business, Thompson,” he said, rushing out of the garage.

  “Sam is my business,” Drew shouted after him as she followed. She wanted to be there waiting when Sam qualified. She glanced up at the sky as she sprinted to the pit. The massive cloud cover would keep it cool today, but if a storm developed, the trials would be postponed for yet another day. Hopefully the rain
would hold off until tonight.

  When Drew reached the pit, she watched Brad lean into the car and pull on the straps. He seemed to be making sure the restraints were fitted tightly across Sam’s torso. Sam was listening to him intently but revealing no facial expression to indicate what he was saying. He was probably spewing a slew of passive-aggressive words laced with jealous intimidation in an effort to crush her spirit.

  Drew couldn’t stand the suspense. She had to know what the hell he was telling her. Bouncing around nervously, she popped Ray in the shoulder with her palm. “You got an extra headset around here somewhere?”

  Ray pulled one off the fence and threw it to her. “No mic, but you can listen. Make sure it’s set to channel nine.”

  “Thanks.” She pulled the headset on and listened to the low whisper of Brad’s voice.

  “Just take a deep breath. You probably won’t qualify, but make a good effort for Paddy.”

  Drew’s heart pounded in her ears. This was Sam’s only desire in life, and he was trying to convince her she couldn’t do it. “What an ass,” she said, rushing around the barrier.

  Paddy reached across the fence and grabbed her by the sleeve, pulling her back. “You can’t go out there. She’s ready to roll.”

  Drew heard the engine roar, and the car raced out onto the track.

  “Did you hear what he said to her?”

  Paddy didn’t bother to cover his microphone. “I heard it.” His voice was firm and deep. “Samantha knows what she can do. Don’t ya, honey?”

  “Sure do, Paddy.” Her voice was smiling, but Drew knew she was holding herself somewhere between the calm and the storm, waiting until just the right moment to let her adrenaline take over.

  “Now get out there and stay in this race.”

  “You got it.”

  “I thought you weren’t gonna let her on the track?”

  Paddy flipped his microphone up away from his mouth, hauled in a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “She’s got it in her mind to drive, and she won’t give up ’til I let her.” His voice was slow and deep.

  “She might surprise you.”

  Paddy gave her a pat on the back. “That one always does.”

  * * *

  Excitement tore through Sam, and her heart pounded wildly. Gripping the steering wheel, her hands trembled as she waited for the green flag. This was it. She was exactly where she wanted to be—driving a machine that could go from zero to one hundred miles per hour in under sixty seconds. Sam couldn’t resist this rush. The flag was down and she went flying.

  The race was on, but she was having trouble making it to the head of the pack. “I can’t get between these guys.” She waited for Brad to tell her where and when to shoot the gap, but he didn’t.

  “Aren’t you going to help her?” She heard Drew’s faint voice through the speakers in her helmet.

  “She wanted to drive. I’m gonna let her.”

  “What the hell’s wrong with you? Doesn’t she mean anything to you?”

  “When she’s on that track, she’s a driver. She should know what to do.”

  “I do know what to do,” Sam said.

  She heard flesh hitting flesh, then scuffling. Jesus Christ, are they fighting? “Hey! The race is only so long, guys.”

  “Tell her what to do,” Drew shouted.

  She heard Brad suck in a gasp of air and adjust his microphone. “Up your speed around the turns.”

  She’d already tried that once and felt the rear end start to slide. “I’m gonna spin.”

  “No, you won’t. Just ease into the turn and then accelerate out slowly.”

  She came out of turn number four and hit the gas. Pulling inside she flew through the chute before easing off for the next turn. Adrenaline flooded her. She did it. She was running with the big guys now.

  “That was good. Now remember, the fastest part of the track is after turn ten, but you’ll have to slow up for turn eleven. After you get around eleven, punch it to the finish. That’ll shave a couple seconds off your time.”

  “Got it.”

  Coming around turn eleven, she hit the gas and rocketed across the finish line, screaming in triumph. The adrenaline surge was so overwhelming, she was shaking. She wanted to fly around the track a thousand times more. The crowd was just a blur in her peripheral vision now. She’d never forget this mind-blowing sensation.

  She eased off on the gas, but the car didn’t slow. Her pulse raced faster. Shit. What do I do now? She couldn’t breathe. Calm down, Sam!

  “Whoooeee! Seventy-nine, point eight seconds,” Paddy howled. “ She’s gonna do it!”

  “Damn right she is.” She heard Drew’s voice, and her pulse steadied and pulled her back.

  “You can slow down now, sweetheart. You’re in,” Brad said.

  “Can’t. The throttle is stuck.” She jammed her foot to the brake—nothing.

  “Flip the ignition,” Brad said.

  She reached for it but stopped. I can’t do that. Her thoughts scattered. What should I do? Think, Sam, think.

  “What the hell are you trying to do, kill her?” Drew’s voice was faint.

  “What?”

  “Don’t do it, baby.” Drew’s voice echoed in her ears. “Take it out of gear and punch the pedal. Remember? You told me that yourself. Mechanics 101.”

  “Go ahead, hotshot. You take care of her.”

  “Give me that.” Brad’s voice was gone, and the speaker crackled.

  “It’s not working!”

  “Kick it harder!” Ray ordered.

  Sam couldn’t do it. She was frozen.

  * * *

  Drew listened for a change in engine tone. It didn’t happen. “Damn it, Sam! You heard him! Kick it harder!” Drew shouted into the mic.

  She heard the engine spike and then bump down to an idle. The car slowed, and Sam let it glide around the track. On the outside no one could tell there was a problem. Her voice was steady as stone, but Drew was quite familiar with the fear Sam was feeling. She had to be rattled.

  Brad barreled into Drew, throwing her against the fence. “If she’d turned it off, the throttle would have reset.”

  “If you kill the engine, you lose all power. Without steering and brakes, she wouldn’t have been able to control the car at that speed. She’s not strong enough.” Drew shoved him off.

  “That’s why you turn it back on.”

  “And what if it didn’t start?” Drew was in Brad’s face now. “I wasn’t about to take that chance.”

  Paddy got between them. “What the hell happened out there?”

  “You heard her. The throttle stuck.” Drew didn’t hide her concern.

  “And?” he added, impatiently waiting for an answer.

  “And it scared the hell out of her.” Drew couldn’t believe the man was so insensitive. That was his daughter out there. He had to know she was shaken.

  Paddy turned to Ray. “What’s happened with that car? It’s brand-new.”

  Sam pulled herself through the window opening and yanked off her helmet. The crowd that had gone wild as she went speeding around the track cheered as she took off.

  * * *

  When the race started, Sam had gotten lost in the euphoric feeling that flooded her. She’d been tempted to close her eyes and fly with the car, imagining she was on the fastest roller coaster ever built. But it was no roller coaster. It was so much better. She was in control, with no one else there to throw a switch and make the car come to a screeching stop. It was all her.

  When she’d eased her foot off the gas and the car continued to excel, her positive energy had thinned into pure adrenaline. It never occurred to her that something could happen to take the car out of her control. She wasn’t ready to die, and if Drew hadn’t been there, she might very well have done just that.

  By the time she brought the car into the pit, she could barely breathe. She’d told herself to suck in air, but she couldn’t get enough. With her heart thumping fitfully against her ri
bs, she thought it might explode any minute. She had to get away. She couldn’t let anyone see her like this.

  All her senses were completely full. The burnt rubber lingering on the track flooded her nose, the rumble of the engine still rolled in her ears, and her body ached. The force of the high speed had strained every muscle. Sam was physically fried.

  “Sam, stop.” Drew shouted after her, but she continued her rapid pace until she caught up to her at the curve. “Sam, come on. Let’s get back to the pit. They’re gonna start another heat in a minute.”

  Her voice shook. “I can’t go back yet. Not like this.” Sam stared down at her fingers, still purple and numb from gripping the steering wheel.

  “Here. Take my jacket.” Drew wrapped it around Sam’s shoulders. “I’m sorry about yelling the way I did.”

  As she stared out onto the empty racetrack, the memory of the fiery crash that paralyzed her brother flashed through her mind, and she shuddered. “I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t focus.”

  “That’s because when you’re out on that track, you’re a driver, not a mechanic.”

  “I can’t drive. I can’t work on engines. I can’t function at all anymore. I don’t know why Paddy trusts me with his cars.”

  Drew took her by the shoulders. “Because you’re damn good at what you do.”

  “I could have killed myself and taken a lot of innocent people with me.” Her tone was still and sober.

  “Half-a-dozen other drivers would’ve driven that car straight through the tires and into the wall.” Sam tried to turn away, but Drew took her face in her hands, demanding her attention. “You didn’t. You stayed calm and got it under control.”

  “Yesterday I put in a faulty part, and today this happens.” She struggled to hold back the tears welling in her eyes. “Stupid, amateur mistakes.”

  “It’s okay.”

  Sam shook her head. “No, it’s not. Don’t you understand? I almost killed my own brother, and now he’s paralyzed because of me.” Her eyes were wide and searching. “I can’t be responsible for hurting anyone like that ever again.” She sobbed, burying her head in Drew’s shoulder.