Ever Fallen In Love (7 page)

"Wait, man.” King slapped the door shut. “You said she wanted to be with the both of us. I don't do against-her-will shit."

At least King had some sense. Not much, but some.

"Meg?” Tucker's heavy steps slapped on the tile floor. “Rodney, go to hell."

Megan ducked as Tucker's fist connected with Rick's face. Blood splattered all over the foyer glass and slate grey floors of the hallway. Crimson streaks blurred on her blouse. “Leave her the fuck alone."

Not wanting to see the ensuing fight, Megan scrambled back through the lobby and down the hall to her office. Her heart pounded and her knees gave out. She collapsed next to the couch and buried her face in her hands. The more she sucked in air to calm down, the harder it became to breathe. Her body quaked.

A strong pair of arms encircled her. “Shh."

"Let me go!” Swinging out with both arms, Megan fought off the embrace. “Just let me go."

"Whoa, little girl.” Tucker loosened his grip and turned her around. “I'm not him and I never want to be.” He brushed her hair from her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder. “Breathe, babe. I won't ever let him hurt you again. Breathe for me."

Megan folded over. The harder she tried to catch her breath, the more her lungs ached. She shouldn't succumb to the bones-deep need to curl up against him. Shouldn't want to lose herself in his kiss, but in the midst of the maelstrom around her, he offered the comfort she craved. She inhaled the woodsy scent of his soap then blew out a long breath.

"Want to tell me what's going on? How'd the fucker hurt you?"

Fat tears burned down her cheeks. “Same shit, different day. He wants the team."

"Son of a bitch.” Tucker rubbed his cheek on the top of her head as he stroked her back in long, languid strokes. The action did little to mask the tension in his voice. “Good thing you called me."

"I did?"

"Someone wanted you to get me. You came up on my phone. Shocked me, so I came running. Damn good thing I did."

"Thanks, Tucker.” She clasped his shirt in her hands and closed her eyes to calm down, basking in the safety of his arms.

Her heart slowed to a normal pace and she sighed. She rubbed her cheek on his chest. The man wore soft shirts. A knock interrupted the quiet moment. Megan opened her eyes and glanced over Tucker's shoulder. “Who's there?"

"Megan, it's King. Talk to me a moment?"

The muscle in Tucker's jaw tensed. “What in the name of fuck's sake do you want, King?"

"I need to explain. You can leave the door open. Handcuff me. I don't care. I just want to talk."

"Then say it from your side of the door,” Tucker snapped.

"Tucker. I'm begging you. Please?"

"You were in on this. I don't trust you for shit."

Megan drummed her fingers on Tucker's chest. Hiding wasn't going to solve her problems, but the shit had to end. “Open the door, Tucker, but stay right here.” Megan squared her shoulders and finger-combed her hair. “I'd love to know what the hell King and Rick had planned.” She unlocked the door and held it open. “You have thirty seconds."

"I don't like this, but I'm dying to know what's going on,” Tucker said through clenched teeth. He folded his arms, placing himself between Megan and King. “Make it quick, King. If I had my way, I'd smear your ass all over the place."

"Twenty seconds.” Megan fisted her hands on her hips. Tucker's jaw clenched and unclenched, but he stayed quiet. Good thing he could look somewhat composed. Calm wasn't happening for her. Not a bit.

"I'll be blunt. Rick wants you back."

"No shit,” Tucker spat. “Tell us something we didn't know."

Megan put her hand on Tucker's arm. “Let him finish."

"We all know he pulls stunts. It's his style. Apparently, he thought he'd come here, act smooth and you'd fall into his arms. For God only knows what reason, I thought you had feelings for me and I played along. I was wrong.” King plopped down on the couch. He leant forwards, elbows on his knees. “You probably know, but he bought out Tucker's contract. Well, what was left of it. About twenty-four hours before Guy let you go. Rick had Julia add another addendum stating you can't race for anyone other than Rodney Racing and if you do, it's breach of contract."

"Damn it all to hell."

"Chill.” Megan took Tucker aside. “You need to calm down. I love seeing you feisty and commanding, but right now I need to settle this. You getting angry isn't helping."

"Love?” he repeated before his soft gaze turned to a glare and settled on King. “I'm not leaving you alone with this asshole."

"I'm glad you're right here, but this isn't your fight.” Megan turned back to King. “Why are you telling us? What's in it for you?"

"Things blew up in ways I never imagined. I had it figured you'd either give me the go-ahead or you'd show us both the door. I let my cock run the show because I thought you liked me."

Tucker snorted. “She's got more sense than that."

"I'm right here and I can speak for myself.” Megan slid her hand into Tucker's back pocket. If anything, the gesture would keep his temper at bay. “What do you want me to do?"

King snorted. “Poston probably wants you to hang me from the nearest flag pole. He's got an eagle-eye on you."

"This isn't about him.” Megan held her ground. “Not completely."

"Come on. You can't tell me I didn't have a chance until he started coming around. We had something."

Tucker inched away from Megan. “You had something...with him?"

"Tucker...” Her voice trailed off.

"And I suppose that wasn't supposed to happen, either?” Tucker's eyes narrowed. A combination of hurt and frustration swirled in the honey- and olive-coloured depths.

"Lots of things aren't supposed to happen.” She placed her hand on his chest, but he swatted her away. “King and I have never dated."

"Because she loves you, Tucker,” King interjected.

"Excuse me.” Tucker's mouth pinched into a tight line. “Butt the fuck out."

"Oh, fuck you. It's as plain as the nose on my face. Always has been.” King snorted and shook his head. “Now I see why you liked him, Megan. He's an asshole and he can't just accept shit. You two are so meant for each other. Make him work for it, though.” He shifted his weight from his left foot to his right. “As for my punishment, I'd like to keep working here, but I realise I destroyed your faith in me. I'll turn in my keys."

"Aside from an observation you know nothing about, you're taking this a bit too well.” Megan folded her arms. “What's the deal?"

King's shoulders slumped. “Every man has a breaking point. I found out today just how low I could go, and I didn't like it. I'm sorry.” He placed his Blitz badge in her hand. “Consider me for next season, maybe?"

"I'll think about it.” Megan sighed and accepted the badge then followed King through the lobby of Blitz. “But don't expect anything."

"Bullshit,” Tucker growled and shoved the foyer doors open. “A sack of fucking shit."

Megan groaned. “Just what I need."

King shrugged and his mouth kinked into a half-smile. “Keep an eye out for Rick, but keep Tucker closer when he calms down. Goodbye, Megan.” He dipped his head once and stepped out into the parking lot.

As King's truck disappeared down the road, Megan sat down heavily on the bench. The steel bit into her backside but compared to the rawness of her heart she barely noticed. King's proclamations sat on the forefront of her mind. Did she still love Tucker? She'd kept the necklace. Adhered to his rule. “
Once this goes on, it doesn't come off."
The tiny chunk of precious metal felt as much a part of her as her own arms or legs. She closed her eyes. What about when the fame came back? The man could drive the wheels off whatever vehicle he climbed into. When he got back into victory lane, would she be expected to step aside again?

Megan opened her eyes. “Hi, Janine."

"I called the law on Rick, but he left before they got here.” Janine sat down next to Megan and shielded her eyes from the late day sun. “King's gone, too?"

"Too? Who else left?"

The screech of tyres split the silence. Megan groaned. “Damn it, Tucker."

"Well, whatever you said really pissed him off.” Janine's eyes widened. “Oh my God. Are you okay? You've got blood everywhere. Did he hit you? I'm feeding his ass to sharks. Call my brother at Aquatics Inc. I'm on my way to feed Tucker to the God damned sharks."

"Take it down a notch.” Megan smoothed her hands over the front of her blouse. Another thing ruined on account of Rick. “Tucker punched Rick. It's Rick's blood."

"At least someone smeared his ass on the floor.” Janine wrapped an arm around Megan's shoulders. “Might be a little long, but I've got a blouse in the office you can borrow."

"Borrow? For what?"

"You're not dressed to impress.” Janine steered Megan into the building. “I've got the feeling you're not thinking about racing right now, and I'm pretty sure Tucker didn't leave here because he thought I'd do him bodily harm. You two live to aggravate each other."

"Hey, I'm always thinking about racing.” Megan stopped at the main desk and drummed her fingers on the black granite surface, leaving smudges. “Would you look into working Tucker into the Blitz fold? I'm thinking if he's gets a better publicist—like one other than himself or Julia—we can avoid any more of Rick's shenanigans. In the meantime, I'll see if I can find Tucker. You're right. His goals in life are to win a Daytona Five-Hundred and irritate the hell out of me."

"I'll grab that blouse."

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"I'm feeling the need for speed."

Tucker tightened the belts holding him into the race seat. He dragged air into his lungs and flipped the toggle to engage the engine. He glared down the short straightaway. “I can't beat his ass in person, but I can work off my frustration on good old Carolina dirt."

He gunned the Camaro's engine and sped off into the first turn. Dirt swirled around him as he cleared the second set of turns. The wheels came out from under him at both ends of the track but he didn't care. Tucker slapped the steering wheel. Anger and the sheer thrill of speed coursed through his veins. Damn Rick to hell. First the bastard pulled a fast one with the contract. Then he acted like he owned Megan.

Tucker grunted and mashed the gas pedal. He'd fucked himself the moment he severed ties with Julia. Then again it served him right for trying to do things on his own. With the chips down, people forgot their allies and acted for money. Knowing Rick, he'd probably thrown big bucks at Guy to get his way. Whatever.

Wiping the dirt from his face shield, Tucker surged into a turn once more. Getting the shaft from Rick didn't hurt as much as being away from Megan did. His heart was ripped raw, a ragged cry clogged his throat. She didn't trust him. Did she even want him for more than sex? According to King, she loved him. If so, why didn't she just say the words he wanted to hear?

"Damn it, Megan. I can't lie.” The vision of her streaked with blood was cemented in his mind. If something happened to her, things wouldn't be the same. She'd loved him back when he treated her like dirt and had continued to believe in him long after most everyone else gave up. Hell, she still wore the teardrop. Hadn't taken it off even when she married someone else.

Was it indeed love? She knew his pissy moods, laughed at his corny jokes, and kicked his heart into motion each time she smiled. Mussed hair and smeared makeup or dressed to the nines in her best evening gown—he didn't care. She fulfilled every wild fantasy. Tucker screeched to a stop. Clouds of dirt and dust billowed around him.

"I'm head over heels in love with Megan Noel Rodney.” He slammed both palms on the steering wheel and peeled out again. “Fuck me, but she doesn't feel the same way.” She had her rules against dating staff and he couldn't be seen at Blitz.

Fuck. Just when he figured out what he wanted from life, circumstances aligned to take it away.

In the space of a breath, the car jerked to the right and his back wheels went left. “Mother fucker!” Tucker yanked the wheel to the left to correct and try to keep out of the grass. When the vehicle came to a rest on the inner lane of the track, he disengaged the engine then wrenched out of the safety belts. “Son of a bitch!” He climbed out of the car and kicked the tyre. “I should junk you, you piece of shit."

"You always drive angry? Or just dirty?"

Tucker span around. Megan. She'd come after him. He shoved the momentary excitement aside. Duh. He'd brought her here. She knew his secret. Still, he sent up a quick prayer she wanted more than a talk or quick fuck.

"I drive emotional, darlin'."

"I know. You left ruts.” She pointed to the still-swirling dirt. “The deeper the ruts, the more angry you are."

God, she knew him so well. “It happens and I needed time to calm down. Best place is behind the wheel of a car.” Or in her arms. Shit. The way things were going, he'd better just plan on settling down with a sixty-eight Camaro. The purr of an engine beat the patter of footsteps walking away from him.

"So I see. It wasn't the car's fault you spun out. It's pre-programmed to make left and right turns.” She snickered. “Call it driver error?"

"You're not funny.” He bit back a snort and leaned against the fender of the Camaro. Okay, she'd made a humorous comment. The ache in his chest grew. “I assume you have my future planned out for me? Or am I relegated to not even being around you, too?"

"We can't be together at Blitz.” Megan folded her hands in front of her mouth and blew out a laboured breath. “Rick effectively tied your racing hands at the top tiers."

"Then why are you here?”
Please say it's because I mean something to you.
“I've had my nuts crushed for the day. I can't survive a second time.” When did he get so fucking sappy?

About the time he realised he'd lost the best thing in his life. So much for being a hard-ass.

She shrugged. “He controls your career for the next month, sure, but he doesn't control your personal life, does he?"

"Tell me you're not here because I'm forbidden fruit."