Racing Heart, page 12
I’d love to have my own pub. I’d pull my weight just like my staff. I know that sounds like a pretty pathetic dream, but I’d love to be my own boss.
My tea starts to awaken me enough to get my arse moving and into the shower. I might have a stroll down to the track then.
It’s weird how I never liked motorsports - it never even captured my attention when it’s on the telly, but since meeting Finn and coming to races - I love it. It still scares me; I still think they’re going to come off when they take the bends. I have seen a couple of minor crashes. It amazes me when they actually walk away from what seems like a horror smash. As Finn said, though, most of the time, they look worse than they are.
Once I’m out of the shower and refreshed, I throw on a pair of denim shorts, a bandeau top, and just as I get myself comfy in the deckchair outside, my phone rings.
I feel the frown crease my forehead when I see its Maria on the other end.
“Hey. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I’m trying to find my way into this bloody place.”
“You’re here? Oh my god. I’m so happy.” I squeal.
“You can scream as much as you want when I’m out of this bloody car until then, you need to guide me in.”
Excitedly, I gabble down the phone, telling which way to come around and tell her I’ll see her in two, then hang up the phone.
I’m so excited, I jump for joy. My girl has come down to spend the day with me. I’m assuming Charley is at her grandparents and Maria is at a loose end if she’s made the trip here to me. I only mentioned that she should have a day out and away from all the stresses, but I didn’t think she’d take me up on it.
I see the yellow of her small Volkswagen Mini come around the corner and jump from my seat. She gets out of the car and stretches before I run to her and bombard her with hugs, happy that we’re here together. Loosening her from my tight hold, I look down and see Charley in the back seat.
“What’s going on? How come she hasn’t gone to the wicked mother-in-law?”
“Don’t get me started on that friggin woman. I hate her. Just as I got Charley ready to take her, she rang me and said she wouldn’t be having her this weekend. No excuse as to why, or even a valid reason, so I had the shitty job of letting her down.”
Taking a gasp of air, she carries on with her rant.
“So, I told her we’d come to see Aunty Jordan instead. Then I had to find my way around here. Ugh, what a day already.” Maria shrugs and opens the door to the little diva and lets her out of her seat.
“Hello, beautiful.”
As soon as she’s out of the car, she runs towards me and throws herself at me. Bending over, I pick her up and hug her to me.
“We’ll have more fun, won’t we beaut.”
Charley nods, smiling.
“Come on, let's go inside; I’ll get you a drink, yeah?”
With her hands securely around my neck, she squeezes me. I take her inside the trailer, sitting her down on the couch, before putting the kettle on for my best friend.
Once I’ve made her a coffee, I grab another deckchair from the boot of my car and put it at the side of mine for Maria. We sit down, enjoying the warm sunshine, while Charley plays in the grass, so Maria and I can talk.
“Do you want to go to the track? I can show you around and introduce you to Finn’s crew.”
“Oh my god, if they’re all as sexy as that bad boy, then yeah, you can.”
Shaking my head, I can’t help but grin at her answer.
“Drink up then, and we’ll go down.”
“Charley,” her blonde hair swishes as she turns to me, “Do you want to go and see some bikes, babe?”
She scrambles from the ground and comes over, shouting yes excitedly.
“Come on, then, baby girl.”
Putting Maria’s mug inside the trailer, I slip my flip flops on and lock up. With Maria at the side of me and Charley in my arms again, we make our way down to see Finn. I hope he’s not on the track, so I can introduce him to Charley.
As we walk into the garages, the sound of revving engines is loud and makes Charley, who’s now holding my hand, stop dead. I can see how it would frighten her a little bit. It is really loud. I pick her back up and keep her close, while we make our way around to see if Finn’s in here.
A familiar voice from behind me gets my attention, but it’s not Finn.
“Hey, gorgeous.” I swing around, seeing Braydon and smile.
“Hi.”
Coming towards me with a smile on his face, he stops with a look of shock when he sees my best friend's daughter in my arms.
“Who is this? I didn’t realise you were a mom.”
“Idiot. She’s not mine, she’s more like my surrogate niece.” I look down at her, “Charley, say hello, babe.”
She turns her head up at her name and in her sweet voice, she answers.
“Hello.” Swiftly, she buries her face into my chest, hiding away.
“Braydon, this is Charley, and this is my best friend, Maria.”
Turning towards her because she hasn’t spoken yet, I notice Braydon has made an impression on her, as she stares. He does have very pretty, striking blue eyes though… I can see why she’s dumbstruck.
Nudging her with my elbow anyway, I whisper. “Maria.”
“Hi. I’m Maria, Jordan’s best friend.”
“Pleased to meet you, Maria…” Braydon smiles holding out his hand, but she still seems to be in a trance.
“You’ll have to forgive my friend, she’s not very subtle.”
“Fine by me.” He shakes her hand before turning again to Charley. I hand her over to her mum and shake out my aching arms.
“Bray, where’s Finn?”
“Still on the track, he’s coming in a second, darlin’.”
Looking between the two of them almost smitten, my eyes roll so high, they’re almost in my head.
“I’ll be back…”
I make my way down the track and see the back of Finn. His back is tort with frustration, and his gloved hands are balled tightly into fists. Jogging down the steps to get a closer look, I manage to see around him and notice Caleb standing in front of him.
“Oh shit. Here we go again.” I say out loud to myself.
I don’t stop until I get closer to them, it’s only then I can hear the anger in Finn's voice as Caleb laughs at him. Grabbing my phone from my pocket, I pull up Braydon’s name and send him a quick text. With my phone securely in my hand, I head straight for them and jump between them.
“What is going on?” I shout at Finn and try to push him away.
“I’ve warned him not to push me, he’s had enough fucking warnings.”
“You’re not fucking big enough, mate.” He fires at Finn, “You know, sweetheart, maybe you should think of leaving that loser behind, he’s reckless.”
“I’m reckless? Fuck you.”
“You’re acting like a couple of over egotistical kids.” I step in before it gets nasty, but they completely ignore me.
“Fucking bring it, loser,” Caleb shouts over me. “You’ll end up just like your father if you’re not careful.”
Caleb stands before him egging him on. I stop and look at him in disbelief at the comment he’s just made. I don’t even have to look at Finn though to know he’s about to explode, but I do anyway. The colour has drained from his face, and if this was a cartoon, there’d be steam coming from his ears, and his eyes would have turned red. I turn away for a second hoping help is coming, when I hear Finn's hand connect with Caleb’s cheek. I move aside just in enough time as an all-out brawl starts between the two. Pushing and shoving each other, fists swinging between them. Braydon runs towards us at top speed and splits them up. It’ll take more than just Braydon, though. I have to admit, Caleb should never have spoken about Finn's dad like that. Before long, the rest of the crew come down and help him to split them up.
I can’t believe what’s just happened. I'm still standing here in shock, watching, helpless to do anything. Finn drops his guard, and Caleb’s fist comes over the top, connecting with the side of Finn’s head, pushing it to the side from the impact. A sharp gasp leaves me, and I cover my face. I’m not some sheltered little girl that’s never seen a fight. I grew up with brothers, and I work in a city pub, there’s always fights, but when it’s someone closer to home, it’s so much different. The only thing I don’t want is for Charley to see this.
Leaving Braydon and the rest of the crew, I walk away from him and go back to my friend.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Finn
Braydon stands between us and shoves me away from Anderson. That cunt is lucky I haven’t beaten twenty colors of shit out of him.
“He spoke about dad, Bray. I’m not taking that bollocks.”
“Fuck Finn, why couldn’t you walk away?”
“Because it’s not in here…” I shout, banging my chest with my fist, “To walk away.”
“What happened?”
“Where’s Jordan gone?”
“Don’t change the fucking subject.” He snipes.
“He started his normal shit on the track, I cut him up on a couple of bends to beat him, he didn’t like it. Now, where’s Jordan gone?”
“She went back that way; she’s probably in the trailer now.”
Spinning on my heel, I go after her.
“I wouldn’t blame her if she was halfway home now. Oh, and don’t blame me if you get disqualified for this.”
Slinging my middle finger over my shoulder at him, I carry on walking. I don’t give a fuck if I’m disqualified, at least he knows now not to fucking push me again when I warn him off.
Mom made me see a counsellor when dad died. I didn’t cope with his death very well. I had a lot of anger issues, times I’d rather forget. I don’t need to go back to that dark place anytime soon.
As I approach the trailer, I hear voices. I know Jordan’s voice, but I can’t place the other one. Opening the door slowly, I peer around it first, before acting like a bat out of hell. I take each step carefully until I’m inside the trailer and close the door. Jordan swings around to me as the click startles her.
“Hey.” I greet them both cautiously.
Recognizing her friend from that day at the bar Jordan works in, I raise a hand in a small wave. The small child shocks me though. She’s looking at me through big, blue eyes; she’s gorgeous.
“Oh, sorry, Finn, that’s my daughter Charley.”
“Maria, right?” She nods at me so I go on, “Could I have a minute, please.”
“Oh god, yeah, of course.” She picks up her daughter, placing her on her hip, and leaves us to it.
Jordan eyes me up and down, with a slight shake of the head in disapproval, but she makes her way closer to me.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” Lifting her hand, she strokes the tips of her fingers down the side of my face. “I’m not happy, you know. I just don’t get either of you. Why do men have to go around like they own things…?”
“He asked for it. He’s been asking for it for months. I don’t care if he talks shit about me. He pushes my buttons where you are concerned but no-one Jordan, and I mean nobody, gets to speak about my dad. That’s a line he should never have crossed.”
“Look at your face, Finn.” Moving to the side, she kisses my cheek and then my head.
“It’ll be fine, babe.”
My phone rings in my pocket, but I ignore it, pulling her closer to me, explaining to Jordan is more important right now. No sooner has it rang off, it rings again.
“For fuck's sake.”
Whoever it is, is blowing up my phone and is fucking impatient. Pulling it from the inside of my leathers, I notice it’s Dave, fuck.
“Jordan, please?”
“No more fighting?”
“Cross my heart.”
“Promise me?”
“I promise.” Jordan let’s out a sigh but nods. “Are we good?”
She nods, but her face doesn’t change. I know she’s angry with me, so I leave it.
“I’m not coming back down though, I’m gonna stay here and spend some time with Maria and Charley before they have to go home.”
“Okay, babe.” I fix my gaze on hers. “I’m sorry.”
A small grin pulls at the corners of her mouth, and I waste no more time, I kiss her like my life depends on it. Not an inch of her mouth isn’t covered, as I lick and suck, totally devouring her, like she’s my last meal.
“I don’t think you realize what you mean to me, Jordan Kennedy.”
She drops her hand down to my crotch.
“I have a fair idea, Superstar…”
“For once, I didn’t mean that…” lifting her hand to my lips, I go on. “I mean you as a person; you don’t realize just how far under my skin you are.”
“I know, I was just kidding, but I’ll take that as a compliment.”
The atmosphere in the trailer thickens between us.
“I could stay here and kiss you all day.”
As I put my lips to hers, that bastard phone blows up again.
“You’d better go.” She moans against my mouth.
With a kiss to her forehead, I turn away from her, leaving the trailer and nodding at Maria as I walk past.
As I walk back into the garages, Dave greets me, and believe me, it’s not friendly.
“Outside, son.” He grunts at me.
Great, here it comes.
“What the hell were you playing at?”
Rolling my eyes, I prepare to take the beat down I’m about to get.
“You owe me a favor. I’ve spoken to them. You’re not disqualified, but don’t fucking dare pull that shit again, you get me, Finn? I don’t like groveling, you know that, and I don’t expect to have to do it again. Now, whatever bullshit is going on, I want you to sort it out. I won’t do this again.”
“Thanks.” There’s not even any point in trying to explain. Dave doesn’t stand for excuses, so the best thing is to take it and swallow my pride.
“Get back on that track. We’re not finished yet for the day. You’ve got time to make up. You’ll be lucky if you make it back to the trailer before supper.”
I nod at him, but he’s already spun on his heel and stormed off. Dave is pissed, and now everyone is going to know about it. As long as Anderson keeps out of my way, I’ll be good.
Braydon helps me to roll my bike out back down to the track, smirking away as he helps.
“What the fuck are you grinning at, motherfucker?”
“Was it brutal?”
“What, with Dave? Yeah man. I felt like I was fifteen again and having my ass handed to me for getting into trouble at school by dad.”
“So, come on, fucker, who’s the hot piece of ass with Jordan?”
“Don’t let Jord hear you say that…” I smirk. “It’s her best friend.”
“I need you to find out about her for me.”
“Fuck off. Ask Jordan yourself, bitch. I swear to all that’s holy, you’ve got estrogen, not testosterone.”
Stopping my bike once we get to the track, I put my helmet on and kit up. Once I’m on, I kickstart my baby, letting her purr, before putting her through her paces again. As much as I’d like to take my tension out on the track, it’s best if I don’t.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Jordan
After the fight with Caleb, I thought the whole weekend would go downhill from there, but luckily, they stayed out of each other’s way. They played nice on the track and pretty much didn’t look at each other for the rest of the weekend. I’m so glad they did. I don’t think I could’ve gotten between them again. Finn, of course, won every round and took top points again. Securing his spot at the top of the leader board and a place on the podium. I’m so proud of him.
He’s spent the last week making it up to me for losing his temper. While he hasn’t been on the track and I haven’t been at work, we’ve spent a lot of time together. I love that we can do this.
We’re currently lying on the couch with Friends playing in the background, while Finn combs through my hair with his fingers.
“I can’t make it this weekend; I have to work and can’t get out of it. One of the girls is on holiday, so that leaves just the two of us. I’m sorry.”
“Hey, it’s all good. You can’t help working. I’ll miss you though.”
Rolling onto my front, I look up at him.
“How did we go from that first meeting in the pub to this?”
“How do ya mean?”
“Well, we barely go a day without seeing each other. It's like you’ve planted yourself into my life and made yourself a permanent fixture.”
Finn raises his eyebrows.
“Do you not want me to be?”
“Oh god, I don't mean I don’t want you here, I do. It’s like everything has gone on fast forward.”
“I like fast.” He grins salaciously.
“I can’t remember how boring my life was before you. All I did was work.”
“It’s a good thing I turned up then.”
Slapping his shoulder lightly, I shake my head.
“Don’t you feel like that? Is it just me?”
“Nope. You’re the best thing to ever happen to me.”
After an evening of chatting and sharing feelings, we fall into bed together. Lying in each other’s arms and drift off to sleep.
Rolling towards the heat that’s taking up three-quarters of the king-size bed I have, my eyes flicker open. He looks so peaceful while he sleeps, his long eyelashes fan out, his forehead free of creases. His tanned body is to die for, and the stark white sheet covers his legs, sitting just under his hips. My mouth waters with the urge to lick a trail from his groin, right up to his neck. Instead though, I resist it, I need a shower. I sit on the edge of the bed for a second until I wake up properly. With a last glance at the god lying in my bed, I stand, stripping off the small camisole. As I head for the bathroom, I slip the thong I’m wearing over my hips, kicking it off as I enter my en-suite.
