Racing to Love: Eli's Honor (24 page)

He was young and free, he didn’t need an instant family. And that’s all she had to offer him.

The small group walking back from the garage with
Dallas, and the dirt bike in the middle, caught her attention. They were all serious, trying to keep the mood somewhat jovial. Dallas started laughing animatedly, and Eli grabbed his upper arm, punching his shoulder lightly in fun then took him under his arm, running his knuckles over her son’s head. The rest of the group joined in the fun and games, their roar of laughter had a smile tugging at her lips. From a distance, their enjoyment appeared to be at Eli’s expense.

“You do know Eli adores that child, don’t you, Honor?” Karen asked, breaking back through her focus.

Honor swallowed hard. She must be transparent to the two women surrounding her, and it wasn’t lost on Honor that these women were his family, not hers. There was a subtle undertone of a warning in Karen’s question.

It hurt, but she answered honestly. “Yes, Karen. I do know.”

Molly rubbed her back. “You know he is falling for you too, right?”

“But Molly, I don’t date,” she rushed out. “I keep my son’s world as safe from pain as I can. He’s been through too much already.”

“That may work at home, Honor, with other men, in other circumstances, but you’re in a different place here. Those two are together twenty-four-seven, all three of you are. And I’m telling you, that man has never been happier. His whole personality changed after his wreck. He lost so much of the soul and the life that we all loved dearly. With you and Dallas, he’s finding his way back. He’s finally happy again.”

Honor could understand Molly’s concern, and she appreciated what was probably a compliment, but it only made the guilt even heavier to bear.

“But—”

“Don’t run away from something that could be a good thing for all of you,” Molly said, hesitation in her voice.

“Molly is right, Honor. We can all see the wonderful dynamic you have between the three of you. When Dallas is with me, that child talks endlessly of Eli. He thinks that man walks on water.” Karen smiled, the sympathetic grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.

“I know, Karen, I really do. You should see the two of them at home. But what if it doesn’t work out? How can I put
Dallas through that?”

Molly grinned like the Cheshire cat. “You realize you already know where your heart is?”

Honor furrowed her brow, the question catching her off guard, and waited for Molly to explain.

“You just referred to ‘
home’
…and not your house in Tennessee.” The light in Molly’s eyes danced, and Honor could see the wheels spinning in the sweet woman’s head.

Karen patted her arm and spoke softly. “Here they come, girls. Molly and I will be here for you if you want to talk, honey. Anytime.”

With Carter walking the dirt bike for Dallas, Karen opened her arms for him, gathering him close with the pure love and joy of a grandmother for her grandson. Honor watched as her son walked straight into the hug.

She barely got hugs when they were at home, and generally only in private. With the sunlight warming their faces, surrounded by a large group of people, the pride lit up
Dallas’s face. Accepting the affection Karen offered him as if he expected nothing less.

Pulling back, Karen raised an eyebrow and quirked her mouth. “You go kick his ass, you hear me, Son?”

Motion at her side caught Honor’s attention as Molly and Brody both slapped a hand over their mouths in perfect synchronization. From behind, James clasped Dallas’s shoulder.

“You know, Son, that’s a rare occasion.” James’s tension faded noticeably, the start of a grin replacing the frustration Honor knew he held against the other boy. “She never uses foul words unless she wants to really drive her point across. And only in the company of family.” James winked.

Her son’s face beamed, and Honor faked a grin at the joke until James gave her a nod as if to drive in his point.

A light breeze blew and a wave of chills rushed over her skin. Only she knew the bumps weren’t from the cold air.

Molly’s knowing smile in Honor’s direction was almost a smirk. Honor shut her eyes for a long moment to steel herself then did her best to paste on a smile of her own.

“Okay, you guys go fill in the spots on the track where we discussed. I want all eyes on my boy here. And you, Son,” James tipped his chin to
Dallas, the wicked glimmer of his eyes was infectious. “You. Go. Kick. His. Ass.”

A pained grin spread over her face as James and
Dallas did some made-up handshake she’d never seen Dallas do before. Just another nod at how comfortable he felt here, how accepted he’d become. Like James’s statement—almost as if he was one of them—like he was family. Then Molly proved her theory correct.

Nudging Honor with her elbow, Molly leaned in, her voice soft but full of love. “That’s from when Brody and I were kids. Dad’s been forever trying to teach it to Chance and the twins, but they’re little and haven’t gotten it down yet. Mom said he was tickled to death after he taught it to
Dallas.”

The air escaped from her chest as if she’d been punched in the stomach. Honor swallowed hard with no comment to Molly’s admission.
Dallas accepted James’s bear hug and turned in her direction.

“I love you, buddy. Be careful, okay?”

“I will, Mom.”

That was it. That was all she got before he turned with Carter and Jesse and walked to the starting line of the track. She let out a soft snort watching him walk away, though it didn’t upset her in the least. Eli squeezed her hand then let it slip away as he and Emery turned to follow them.

Her mind should be on the impromptu race. Instead, she had a hundred thoughts vying for attention as she watched the group.

“You know, I want to tell you something, Honor.” James’s words caught her. She let out an uneasy breath and gave him her full focus. “We’ve always interviewed applicants and have been very selective about who this school admits. That boy had been here two years prior to this, and we had no reason to think we’d have any problem with him or his brother. I have to say I’m truly embarrassed, and I sincerely apologize with all my heart, honey. I know this can’t be easy to watch.”

“James, really…please, no. Like I told Eli, unfortunately we’ve dealt with this before. It frustrates me, but his Uncle Mac always just glosses over it like it’s a part of racing—”

“It can be,” he interrupted. “I’m not saying it never happens. But it shouldn’t. It’s racing. I understand everyone is there to win, but it should be done fairly and with good sportsmanship. What happened yesterday was way beyond a bad pass, Honor. I’m just so thankful he wasn’t hurt more than he was.”

James opened his arms for her, and before she knew it, she was walking into them without a second thought. Accepting the hug as if it was second nature. He ran a spread palm down her hair and patted her back. A pang hit her out of nowhere, and she shuffled back out of his hold.

That’s what it might have felt like to have a father love
her
.

Honor did her best to keep the tears at bay. She wasn’t an overly affectionate person with anyone other than
Dallas, but over the last few weeks, this loving, boisterous family was pulling her in.

What James just sparked in her?
Dallas needed that. He needed a father.

“So now that your man isn’t standing here?” James asked.

His quick change of subject and teasing voice had Honor pulling a quick breath. Embarrassed by his insinuation, but relieved at the change of subject.

There was a snicker from her other side. Honor whipped her head to Molly, whose smile looked like the cat that ate the canary. On their own accord, her jaw dropped open and her eyes went wide.

A fingertip from the other side of her pushed her mouth closed.

Stunned, she blinked at Karen as she put her hand back down. Turning back to Molly, she tried to silently tell her to quit chuckling.

“Seriously, Honor?” James snickered. “You really think it’s not obvious, honey?”

She felt the heat dance across her cheeks and then down her neck and chest. Tilting her head, she cringed. “Not you, too?”

Ignoring Honor’s embarrassment, Molly continued, “So are we still good with the arcade?”

Shifting gears, Honor blinked a couple of times, pausing to catch up at yet, another change in subject. Dizzy from the family’s ability to knock her off balance, she thought back to the last bit of information she had on their secret plans and nodded.

“Yeah, Jesse told Dallas to ask Eli about the arcade about one. He’s positive Eli will jump on it and offer to take him. If we can get them out of the house shortly after that, we should be good. I just need a couple of hours to throw together what had to wait to be cooked or baked. Carter told Dallas to try to keep Eli entertained for about three hours.” She glanced at Molly. “Then, get this, did you know Carter snuck him his cell phone so Dallas can text Jesse’s phone when they’re leaving?”

Molly was grinning as she nodded, and Honor continued with a smile of thankfulness. “I will say
Dallas feels very special. When Jesse and Carter took him aside, and they had their private powwow to devise a plan that included him, just made his day.”

She let out a huff. “But damn it—I want to ring Eli’s neck. We’ve been here almost a month, and he didn’t tell me his birthday was coming up? And a big one? I feel like such a heel. If it weren’t for Jesse saying something last night, I’d have never even known about it.”

Karen rubbed Honor’s arm. “No, please don’t, sweetie. We tried to tell you. Up until you got here, the last couple of years, Eli has been just getting by. He lives with an incredible amount of pain. Still, no matter how hard our daughter tries to convince him to investigate other doctors, he refuses. He works so hard here at the academy, but other than our musical dinner tables…that’s his life. He’s not the same fun-loving, ready to pull a prank with the boys, guy that he was before the accident.”

“At least, that’s how he had been until he came back from
Tennessee.” Molly hinted, nudging Honor with her elbow.

“Girls, they’re getting ready to start. I want to be at the finish line. You ladies spread out so you can help watch,” James directed.

Just like that, the tone of the conversation changed again. The loop from serious to fun and back was starting to make Honor woozy. At the rev of the two motors her mind was wiped clean of other worries, and she focused on one thing as her gaze followed Dallas down to the ninety-degree corner and through the first straightaway.

She wished Eli was by her side, holding her hand, or maybe with his arm around her waist for support.

With a gasp, she pushed that thought out of her mind as fast as it came.

Honor shielded her eyes from the morning sun so she could see as they rounded into the first set of whoops.
Dallas pulled away. He had several strong suits, but sailing over the small mounds was his specialty.

Her son was magical to watch, but in this race she could see what a difference there was in his riding. He was smooth before, but now he was graceful. He had good control before, but now he rode as if his bike was an extension of himself.
Dallas drifted through the corners effortlessly. Honor had spent enough time trackside over the years to know he was moving even faster than before.

When he flew through the air, clearing the triple, the other boys cheered for him. Honor’s eyes caught Eli making a fist. She knew from hearing him so many times before, that the “
yes
” was said loudly as Dallas landed. From the opposite side of the track, Honor saw the pride he held in her son and…the muscles in his arms flex.

No, don’t go there.

She tore her gaze away from the gorgeous devil in his well-loved 501’s and continued to watch Dallas. There were so many places he’d pulled away, riding faster than the other rider, that he had very quickly come to the point he was about to lap the Highlends boy.

Scott took the inside line forcing
Dallas to the outside. As he rode around at an angle into the berm, the momentum would carry him around the corner. However, Scott didn’t turn and tried to force Dallas to the ground by cutting him off. Brody screamed at the kid to knock it off. Dallas bobbled for a split second, and Honor heard the engine rev as he hit the throttle to straighten back out and pass Highlends again.

For three more grueling laps it continued. Each lap
Dallas would pull into the lead more and more, and each time they got close, Scott would pull something less than honorable. The men around the track weren’t being subtle in the least, their favoritism glaringly clear. Honor hated that the other kid felt like he had to resort to being an ass to slow Dallas down, but his stunts weren’t acceptable.

She breathed a sigh of relief after it was over, and she made her way to the finish line where Dallas and James stood with Eli and his friends closing in, too. The pride on James’s face warmed Honor’s heart, almost as much as the beaming smile on her son’s. She could hear the two talking a mile a minute as she drew closer, saw their excited expressions, and arms waving wildly as they spoke.