Flat-Out Sexy (12 page)

He was feeling fine, and he was ready to win himself a race.

TAMARA didn’t think she was going to have any fingernails left by the end of the race. She had bitten the entire right hand down to the quick, ruining a costly French manicure.

Beth glanced at her curiously from her seat next to Tamara and said, “You have nail polish flakes on your lip, Tammy. Are you alright? I’ve never seen you bite your nails.”

Swiping at her lip, Tamara tried to remember what it felt like to behave normally so she could emulate it. Her kids were sitting on the other side of Johnny, and Hunter was glued to the edge of her seat watching the race. Petey was working his way through a bag of cotton candy. “I didn’t sleep much last night. Dating is really difficult and I felt guilty about bringing Geoffrey down here only to break up with him.”

Beth glanced out at the track, then over at her again. “But you said he was unpleasant about the whole thing, which shows his true colors. You should feel good that you didn’t invest any more time into someone who clearly isn’t worth it.”

“I know. But you know how we are as women. We want to fix everything.” She did feel bad about Geoffrey, though she wasn’t really sure why. Maybe it was just guilt that she had dumped him, then jumped into bed with another man about a minute later.

“Lord, that’s the truth.”

But the true reason for her stress was the number 56 car out on the track, and the man who was driving it. Elec was having an amazing race, sitting in eighth place out of forty-three cars at three hundred and fifty-three laps, which had him on the radar of the announcers, who kept referring to him over and over as the up-and-coming rookie. It was unnerving to be sitting there, watching, worrying, wanting him to do well, wanting him to be safe, yet feeling an undeniable anxiety that she was just another notch on the bedpost of Elec Monroe. Which shouldn’t matter. The whole thing was ludicrous and she didn’t like any of the feelings swirling around inside of her.

What the hell was the matter with her?

The announcer’s voice came from the TV in the suite behind them. “What a great race so far for Hinder Motors. In the top ten, they have four cars right now. Ryder Jefferson in the lead, Ty McCordle right on his tail in second, Foster Davis in seventh, and the rookie Elec Monroe running in a very respectable eighth right now.”

Both announcers were retired drivers and the second one said, “Very impressive. Hinder Motors must be very pleased with these performances, and I’m telling you, while Elec Monroe in the fifty-six car has shown a lot of promise and was always assumed to be a real contender in the near future, this kid is on fire today.”

Kid. Tamara winced.

Beth turned to her. “Do you remember Elec Monroe? I think you met him a few times.”

As if she could feel
any
more uncomfortable. “I met him a few times when Pete and I were first married. Then I actually met him again last night at the fund-raiser.” Tamara took a sip of her diet soda. She seemed to have lost all the spit in her mouth.

“What did you think of him?”

Tamara swallowed hard and almost choked. Eyes watering, she gave a little cough. “He seems nice enough. Quiet. Not comfortable mingling.” But very, very comfortable one-on-one. The mere thought made her want to crawl under the seat and die. After she had an orgasm.

She just wasn’t cut out for this.

“Well, you know his father stabbed Johnny in the back.”

“I knew there was some animosity, but I don’t really know what happened.”

Beth lowered her voice. “I can’t tell you right now because it sends Johnny’s blood pressure through the roof, but let’s just say it wasn’t pretty and it’s not the kind of thing that these men will ever let go.”

Great. “I’m sorry to hear that. I thought they were pretty good friends at one time.”

“They were, which makes it all the worse,” Beth said.

Tamara caught herself tearing off her pinky nail with her teeth and stopped. She picked at her—Elec’s—golf shirt in the warm sun and tried to ignore her aching feet in her stupid heels. Fortunately, Elec’s jeans were too long and they covered the bulk of her shoes so no one had noticed and commented on her strange choice in footwear. She was tempted to dig through her overnight bag and pull out her gym shoes, but that would just draw attention to her.

Sitting in the hard seat watching the cars loop around lap after lap for two more hours, Tamara ran through three diet sodas and the rest of her fingernails. By the time they were entering the final three laps under the lights after one of the longest days of her life, she knew this wasn’t going to work.

She knew it. Hated it. But knew it.

She was kidding herself that she could go out with Elec. Her in-laws would be hurt and angry, Suzanne thought he was playing her, she was worried sick about their age difference and about protecting her kids. It was too much to tackle when she had a whole handful of responsibilities and stress factors in her life.

It was impractical to get swept away in something that could only end badly.

She needed to tell Elec she couldn’t go to dinner with him.

But first, all be damned if he wasn’t taking advantage of a backdraft and going for a pass on the two cars in front of him. Tamara sat forward, alternating between watching the track and the TV screen.

“That was a good move,” Johnny conceded to her right. “Look at the rookie go.”

She was looking.

And he was going. Right on past the five and four cars.

Nails digging into her jeans—his jeans—Tamara finally remembered to breathe when Ryder and Ty crossed the finish line one and two, and amazingly enough, Elec came in third place.

Hunter was jumping up and down and whooping, showing an amazing amount of energy for a kid up way past her bedtime.

Beth said, “Oh, my. That’ll get some talk going.”

Johnny said, “Holy sh—shooters. The kid can drive.”

Petey stuffed a handful of popcorn in his mouth.

And Tamara wanted to fight the urge to do as her daughter and leap up off her seat and cheer for Elec.

She couldn’t stop herself from blushing though when the sports-casters interviewed a grinning Elec climbing out of his car as to what made the difference in the race.

After thanking his sponsors, his team, and Hinder Motors, Elec looked straight at the camera and said, “Not to mention the good luck kiss I got from an amazing woman before the race.”

“Oh, really?” The female sportscaster smiled at him in amusement and stuck the mic back in front of him. “Care to tell us who she is?”

Tamara wondered how her brain could still function when she was absolutely certain her heart had just stopped. If he said her name, she was going to beat herself to death with her soda can.

But Elec just grinned and said, “Nope. I’m not the kind of man to kiss and tell. But it was definitely inspiring.”

And for that, she could kiss him all over again.

But first, she had to cancel their dinner plans.

ELEC had never had so many mics stuck in his face or so many sponsor ball caps slapped on his head for photo ops. He couldn’t stop grinning, despite the endless questions and his personal discomfort with publicity. It wasn’t a win, but it was damn respectable and gave him confidence that he could come out strong the next week. Not even his sister running around looking equal parts frazzled and pleased as punch, like she’d won the race herself, could put a damper on his mood. It had been a good run for him, and he was feeling satisfied.

Starting the day off naked in bed with Tamara had set a positive tone and he was pretty much feeling it was one of the finer days of his life.

Then he read the text message from Tamara waiting for him on his cell phone.

It started out well enough, but headed south almost immediately.

Congrats on your finish! You drove a great race. ☺ Enjoy the moment. I know this is bad timing, but I wanted to give you plenty of notice … I can’t make next Mon. It’s just too complicated with my kids and work, etc. Maybe at some point in the future, but for now, I just don’t see it working out. I had a great time last nite, thx for everything.

Elec read it three times. It sounded crappier each time he read it. She was not only canceling their date, she was effectively saying she wasn’t going out with him. Ever.

Well, that sucked six ways to Sunday.

CHAPTER SIX

RYDER had just finished his victory interviews and was feeling downright good as he headed back to his coach. He had four wins under his belt and the season wasn’t even halfway gone.

It didn’t surprise him to see Elec Monroe standing in front of his coach, obviously waiting for him, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

“Hey, Elec, congrats again.” The rookie had driven a great race and Ryder was impressed with his aggressiveness.

“Thanks, Ryder. You, too. You’re having a great season.”

“Trying.” He stopped in front of Elec and waited for the real reason the guy was standing there looking like he’d finished last instead of third.

“So, uh, about Tamara …” Elec managed.

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry we were, uh, in your coach. That’s not cool and I apologize.”

“No big deal. Sex happens.” Ryder almost laughed when Elec winced. “You want to come in for a beer?”

“Thanks, but I’d better get home and shower. Maybe another time.”

“Sounds good.” Then his curiosity got the best of him. He was damn fond of Tammy and thought it was great that she was finally enjoying herself again after Pete. “So, you like Tammy?”

There was no hesitation. “Yeah, I do. But I asked her out and she said no. Then she said yes, then she just canceled on me in a text message. I don’t know what the hell any of that means.”

The poor guy did look confused.

“I mean, I thought we had fun and all, so why the brush-off?”

Ryder eyeballed the rookie. He did look miserable. It was amazing what chicks could do to a guy. Here Elec had just had the best finish of his cup career and he looked like he was going to toss his lunch. “I’m guessing that Tammy is feeling a bit embarrassed. She isn’t exactly a one-night-stand kind of girl.”

“Well, I made it clear that’s not what I wanted it to be.”

“She’s probably just worried about what people are going to think of the two of you hooking up. Tammy is a worrier, you know. Always has been.”

“She’s got nothing to worry about from me. I really just want to see her again, get to know her better. I’m really digging her, Ryder.”

Oh, dude. Ryder recognized that look and knew what it meant. Elec was whipped already. It happened to the best of men, and Elec had his utmost sympathy. “So don’t let her say no. Go after her.”

“I don’t want to come across as a stalker.”

“It’s not stalking if you happen to be at the same places she is.”

“True. But where does she go?”

Hell if Ryder knew. He thought that Tammy pretty much went to work and raised her kids. He hadn’t seen her out and about in years, which struck him as unfortunate. He was starting to really think Tammy could use someone like Elec in her life. “How about I throw a party and invite her?”

“That might work. You don’t mind doing that?”

“Hell, no. I throw barbeques all the time. Nobody will think anything of it. I’ll make some plans and I’ll give you a call.”

“Thanks, Ryder, I appreciate it.”

Ryder clapped Elec on the shoulder. “My pleasure, buddy. See you later.”

Whistling, Ryder stepped into his coach. It was a good day. He had won the race, and he was helping others. All in all, time well spent. His jubilant mood was snuffed out when his cell phone rang and he saw his ex-wife’s name on caller ID. Suzanne rarely called him anymore, and while he always felt a jump of anticipation at hearing her voice, he was also wary of what exactly she could want. Their divorce was somewhat of a mystery to him, and he didn’t understand her post-marriage any more than he had when they’d been wearing their rings.

“Hey, babe, what’s up?” he said as a greeting, heading to his kitchen. He was really interested in an ice-cold beer.

“Congratulations, Ryder. That was an awesome race.” Touched for some stupid reason that she would take the time to call him, Ryder paused in front of his refrigerator. “Thanks, Suz. A little skill, a little luck, and it worked out for me.”

“Well, I’m happy for you. You’re having a great season.”

Her voice was warm and honest, and Ryder was unable to resist poking a little. He missed Suzanne more than he generally cared to admit to himself, and he was thinking fondly of all the times he had won a race during their marriage and exactly how Suzanne had helped him celebrate. “Thanks. Though a victory just isn’t the same without your pie as my reward.”

She sucked in her breath. “Don’t go there, Ryder.”

“Why not?” Ryder dragged out a bottle of beer and popped the cap with the edge of his countertop. Suzanne had always feared for the safety of their granite counters when he’d done that, but he had always figured the whole reason they had spent an arm and a leg on the granite was because it was supposed to be indestructible. “You know the best part of winning was looking forward to your pie afterward.”