High-Speed Hunger (3 page)

Chelsea’s Bar and Grill was the best place for a good time in their neck of the city. “Bad to the Bone” by George Thorogood resounded through the place when she took her seat at the staff table. Everyone was laughing at something or shouting to each other over the music.

Several couples had gathered around the pool tables, and a group of drunken girls bumped and grinded on the small dance floor in the center of the room. Tonight, they were celebrating Bobby’s win from earlier in the week.

Everyone except Tyrone.

He sat next to Pop who was saying something in his ear at the other end of the table, but his dark eyes were locked on Eileen. When his sexy mouth curved up, a shy smile touched her lips.

“When you’ve had enough…I’ll be here waiting.”

How could she not think about those words from the other night? The guy was a stud, had an accent that made her wet with every word he spoke, and he seemed like a true gentleman. The complete opposite of Bobby.

And
he could cook.

A waitress brought a round of whiskey shots to the table. Eileen couldn’t help but notice how Bobby eyed the girl with outright lust. How could he do that right in front of her, and the entire team? It was clear, he didn’t give a shit about her feelings being his girlfriend, or the fact she was his boss.

Bursting with anger and resentment, she looked away and tried to think of something else. Again, she glanced at Ty—expecting him to be staring at the waitress’ tits in that skimpy tank top—only to discover his attention lay elsewhere.

He’s staring at me like that again. Why does he make me so hot?

Her heart
kathumped
, and she turned away.

Her father swayed in his chair beside Ty, his face red from too much drink and eyes glazed over.

“Pop, you’re gonna pass out.” An instant headache pulsed behind her eyes. Why couldn’t she just have one night to enjoy without playing babysitter?

“Nah.” He swiped his hand out in dismissal, knocking over a full shot glass. Whiskey splashed across the table surface. And just when she thought nobody seemed to notice, Ty reached over and took away the other shot.

Her father glared at him. “I've been drinking whiskey long before any of you fools were born.”

She shared an amused glance with Ty.

“Let the old man do what he wants. Besides, the party’s just getting started!” Bobby hollered, grabbing a shot glass and throwing it back. Jennifer giggled from her seat across the table and did the same. But she choked on the strong drink and turned red. Like a teenager on her first outing, the girl pounded the table with her fist and screamed.

“Fuck, yeah! Take it down, baby!” Bobby cheered.

Eileen groaned. Now she’d have to take care of Pop
and
Bobby. She had enough shit on her plate and knew too well what he was like when booze ruled his bloodstream. Having him try to seduce her in a drunken stupor wasn’t her idea of a romantic night.

“Do you race, Eileen?” Ty asked, raising his voice above the others.

“Nah, little LeeLee don’t do anything fun,” Bobby interrupted.

The expression Ty gave him was nothing short of murderous, and it gave her a little ego boost. Still, it made the situation even more awkward.

Having seen and heard enough, she got up and went over to her father, who was now unable to hold his head up straight. Leaning down, she whispered, “Let me take you home, Pop. You know they won’t let you sleep in the bar.”

He burped and then eyed Ty. “See what I—
hiccup
—go through? My girl here is always frettin’ and whinin’….”

“That’s not fair.” She sighed, embarrassed by his behavior.

Ty chuckled and smiled at the old man. “Whining or not, your daughter is right, and she’s the boss, too.”

She mouthed
thank you
to him, needing all the help she could get.

“Fuckin’ hell. Fine.” Her dad stood up, pushed his chair against the table, and almost toppled her over when he fell forward.

Ty got up right away and gripped Jonnie’s elbow, holding him steady. Eileen noticed Bobby was deep in conversation with Jennifer, and it pissed her off knowing he just wanted the money Pop paid him to race. But her father didn’t realize that, and she didn’t have the heart to tell him.

“I’m taking Pop home,” she shouted to Bobby.

He thrust his palm up to silence her, and continued his conversation with Jennifer.

“I’ll help you get him to the car,” Ty said.

Embarrassed, she didn’t look at him. “Thank you.”

They dragged Jonnie out of the bar and into the parking lot to her Camaro. Pop bounced between them, tripping over his own feet.

“Tell my boy not to worry about me,” he slurred. “My baby will get me home.”

Eileen exchanged a worried glanced with Ty but said nothing. When they reached the car, she opened the passenger door, and her father fell onto the passenger seat. She reached over and clicked the seat belt over him before pushing the door closed with a heavy sigh.

Eileen closed her eyes and leaned against the car. For once she’d like to enjoy a nice, sensible evening where she wasn’t playing caretaker. Since her mother died, all she did was work and take care of everyone else.

“You need a vacation.” Ty’s smooth voice cut through the silence.

When she opened her eyes, he stood so close he could lower his head and kiss her. “Are you saying I look rough?”

That notorious smile made her stomach flutter. “Nah. You could have the weight of the world on your shoulders and still be hot. But you can take on just so much before you fall apart.”

He was right, and he seemed to care for her. The guy was little more than a stranger, and yet, she felt like she’d known him for years.

Awkward silence dragged on between them.

He dug his hands into his jean pockets. That single movement made her realize this was the first time she’d seen him without coveralls hiding his physique. Blue jeans in a classic cut provided just enough proof he must have lean legs and a firm ass. A white button-up shirt accentuated his broad shoulders and dark skin. His jaw was clean-shaven and his hair layered in cornrows. But it was those dark eyes she couldn’t stop staring at. They seemed to say so much without revealing anything at all.

“You sure you want to leave Bobby here? I could take your dad home.”

“He can take care of himself, but thank you anyway.”

He didn’t need to know she worried about Bobby, too. She was the co-owner of a racing team and held everything in check. He didn’t need to know her life unraveled a bit more each day, like a frayed rope.

He stepped closer and leaned down, but when she realized his intention, she turned her face, and his lips brushed the corner of her mouth. Instant heat spiked through her, and even though she ached to kiss him back, she couldn’t do it. She wouldn’t cheat on Bobby.

He pulled away. “I’m sorry. I…. Never mind.”

She stared at his back while he strode off, his head low, shoulders slumped. The air in her lungs rushed out. It hurt to have him walk away.

When the bar door closed behind him, she decided to ignore the attraction she felt from now on. Even though the thought of being with him came to mind more and more each day, it would be best for them both not to act on it. Bad enough she’d slept with and dated the team’s lead driver, redoing her love life all over again with a crew guy seemed worse.

When she took her seat at the wheel, Pop’s loud snores and whiskey breath filled the confined space. With a heavy heart and more questions clouding her mind, Eileen turned the ignition and slammed the beast into gear, squealing the tires as she sped out of the parking lot.

Her father swayed, knocking his head against her shoulder during a sharp turn. He grumbled and pushed himself upright. “Where you takin’ me, LeeLee? Is it show time? Show me what ya got—” And gagged on that last word.

She cringed. “Please don’t puke. I’m taking you home to bed.”

He made a face like a petulant child. “I don’t want to.”

“Why?”

“Because your mother—
hiccup
—isn’t there.”

She glanced at him. For the first time in a long time, she was reminded of how lonely he must be. After her mother had died of cancer, her father had become a different person. After retirement, the passion he’d felt for driving seemed to dwindle with every gulp from the bottle. It hurt her to think what he must be feeling.

“You should go out more often, Pop. Start dating. I know you miss Ma. Hell, I miss her, too. But we have to keep living just like she would want us.”

“Bah.” He swung his hand out, and a finger hooked into her loop earring.

When the loop ripped out, she screamed and swerved. Searing pain burned through her earlobe. The car spun around, fishtailing on the pavement until they came to a sudden stop against the curb. Vehicles honked and veered past.

Determined to fight the pain in her ear, she gritted her teeth and tried to think of something else while she gripped the steering wheel.

“What you go and do that for? Oh, shit.” He dug in the breast pocket of his jacket and pulled out a hanky and pressed it against her ear. “I’m so sorry, baby. Damn it!”

“It’s okay. It was an accident.”

While he kept pressure against her ear, they stared at each other. “See what I gone and done now?” Even though he tried to be tough, she noticed his chin quivered. “Maybe that Ty boy was right. I should listen to you.”

Despite the stinging and pounding in her ear, Eileen forced a smile for her dear father. “That would be nice. I’m trying to keep you around.”

“I know. And I know I don’t pay you enough attention, LeeLee. But I love you, and I’m proud of you. Without you I woulda gone and killed myself drunk after your mother left us.”

The way he said “left us” sounded like she just packed up and left one day.

Biting back a sob, she didn’t want to imagine what could’ve happened. All that mattered was they still had each other. “I know. That’s why I want you to slow down. We have a racing team to run.”

A stunning smile lit his face, making the deep lines around his mouth more prominent. “I know, baby girl, but I want you to be happy, too. Racing isn’t everything.”

Tears filled her eyes.
Happy
wasn’t even in her vocabulary these days. “I want you to be happy, too. What about that mail lady? I see the way you look at her. Why don’t you ask her out on a date?”

He grumbled under his breath. “What would that beautiful woman want with a raced-out drunk like me?”

“Aww, come on, Pop. You’re handsome, a legendary racer, a great father…and you loved Mom with every bit of your soul. Melody would be a fool to say no to you.”

He made an annoyed face. “I’ll think about it.”

“Good. Now, let’s get you home. I have a busy day tomorrow.”

His boyish grin warmed her heart. “Yep, and I’m excited to see what you’re gonna do with that Ty boy. He’s somethin’, ain’t he? Good worker.”

The mere mention of his name sent her stomach aflutter. “Yes, he is.”

“Now, let’s get home, so I can bandage that ear up good and tight.”

Her eyes popped, and she shook her head. “No way in hell you’re fixing me up. I’ll do it myself, thank you.” With that said, she put the car in gear and drove off.

An hour later, she returned to the bar with one good ear and no puke in the car.

The rowdy atmosphere had quieted down since she’d taken her dad home. Just a few of the staff remained at the table. Jennifer and Ty were gone—maybe the ungrateful bitch decided him being black wasn’t all bad after all. The thought of him ogling Jennifer the way he’d looked at her made Eileen feel even worse. Jennifer wasn’t good enough for him.

Bobby was gone, too, and she didn’t give a shit.

“Get me a drink, will you Mak? I need to visit the ladies room.” She smiled at her lead mechanic and handed over a few bills. “Might as well clear up our tab while you’re at it.”

Mak stared at her bandaged ear. “What happened to you? Got tangled up with an ol’gater, did ya?”

Eileen laughed, thinking Pop could be considered prehistoric
and
dangerous. “Close enough.”

“Beer?”

“No. Something stronger, please.”

Mak seemed to have a guilty expression, but she decided not to question him about it and turned away from the table.

While she made her way to the other end of the bar, she eyed a couple making out in a corner booth. A new dash of hopelessness weighed on her shoulders. Too long had passed since she felt needed by a man. Even though her relationship with Bobby had lasted a year so far, the passion had dwindled months ago.

A noise coming from the ladies’ washroom made her pause. Sure enough, some lucky girl was getting laid in there. Deep, guttural moans resounded through the door and above the noise of the bar. How long had it been since she made love last? At least a month had passed, and even then, he had been intoxicated. But when the hushed words of a familiar male voice echoed from the room, a nauseating ball twisted in her stomach.

In a daze, she pushed open the door and stepped inside, careful not to make a sound. She rounded the corner where the stalls were and spotted Bobby’s boots standing behind a pair of high-heels.

“Oh, fuck. Yes. Harder.”

When she recognized Jennifer’s voice, tears pooled in her eyes. Although she should’ve known by their actions earlier this would happen, she didn’t want to believe he would actually cheat on her, and with the secretary to boot. Eileen choked back a sob, unable to stop herself from imagining how they appeared behind the stall door.

How could he do this to me?

“Yes, you like that don’t you? You dirty slut.” Bobby’s voice echoed hollow off the empty walls.

She couldn’t take any more. She wanted to scream and lash out, but it hurt too bad to deal with it at the moment. She needed to be alone.

Needed to cry in private.

Eileen ran from the room and past the staff, unable to be around them. They knew what was going down, and it hurt to know her staff chose to protect Bobby over her. She got in her car and sped off the lot.