by Gina Wilkins
She wasn’t the only one who had accused Jesse of spoiling Kent, but Jesse didn’t seem to mind. He seemed grateful that Kent had hired him, giving him a tidy income in addition to his military retirement and a job that seemed to fit his personality very well.
Smelling like soap and shampoo, his hair still wet and his face freshly shaven, Kent had swapped his dashing uniform for a pair of jeans and a blue polo shirt embroidered with his sponsor’s name on the chest. As far as Tanya was concerned, he still looked just as dashing.
“Now,” he said, smiling into her eyes as he approached her, “I feel clean enough to kiss you hello.”
As many times as they had kissed, it seemed rather strange that her heart would trip just then. But it did. Maybe because it seemed like so long since their last embrace.
His mouth covered hers with a hint of tentativeness that was new for him. He was usually so confident, so certain of his welcome.
Maybe she had taken his kisses a bit too much for granted in the recent past. Maybe that explained why this one made her pulse race and her knees weaken. She clung to his shoulders for support, her eyes closed as she allowed herself to experience every nuance of the long, thorough kiss.
“Wow,” he said, his voice hoarse, when he finally emerged for air. “Now that was a kiss.”
Her smile felt as shaky as her knees. “I’ll say.”
He glanced toward the bedroom. “So, uh—”
“Your coffee is getting cold,” she cut in, backing away. “And I know very well that you have a lot to do this afternoon. I heard Amy talking about your schedule.”
He sighed regretfully. “Actually, I do. I told Neil I’d be a few minutes late, but that’s hardly long enough for what I’d really like to be doing, instead.”
She gave him a look that told him to behave himself, then motioned toward the table, on which sat the steaming mugs, the plate of lemon bars and the vase full of fresh daisies Jesse had provided for the weekend. “I made decaf. I didn’t think you needed any caffeine after that race.”
“You’re right. I’ve got enough adrenaline pumping through me right now.”
She wasn’t sure whether he intended that as a double entendre, but she let it pass, anyway, sliding into the bench on the opposite side of the table from the one he had selected. She watched as he took a sip of his coffee, nodded in approval, then arranged two lemon bars on the plate she had set out for him.
“So tell me why you’re here,” he said, wiping powdered sugar from his fingers with a paper napkin. “Not that I’m complaining, of course. I was just surprised to see you.”
“I had always planned to be here for the race Sunday,” she reminded him. “But I was able to clear my calendar a bit earlier than I expected, so I decided to come today for qualifying. Cappy and Jesse helped me arrange everything for a surprise for Valentine’s Day. Like I said, I’d hoped to be here a bit earlier, so I could see you before the race, but I’m glad I was able to watch most of it in the hauler. I got to see you win. That’s always exciting.”
“I really am glad you came. I missed you.”
She looked down at the lemon bar on her plate to avoid meeting his eyes for a moment. “I didn’t like the way we left things between us before.”
“Neither did I.”
“And—I missed you, too.”
He reached across the table to cover her hand with his. “I’m glad. Happy Valentine’s Day, Tanya.”
She smiled tremulously back at him. “Same to you. I brought you something.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
Sliding out of the booth, she shrugged a little. “I bought it weeks ago. I wanted to give it to you today.”
“I have something for you, too.” He disappeared into the back of the motor home while she dug into her oversized purse.
The wrapped package was sitting on the table when he returned with a small package of his own. They swapped, then sat looking at their respective gifts for a moment in a slightly awkward silence.
Tanya thought nervously that hers looked about the size of a ring box. Before their quarrel, she had half expected Kent to present her with an engagement ring for Valentine’s Day this year. He wasn’t the most subtle guy in the world, and he had certainly been hinting that way.
Two weeks ago, she would have said without hesitation that she would happily accept his proposal the moment he asked. Now…well, now things were different. She wasn’t at all ready to face that question just yet. Not until they’d settled a few things between them.
“I’ll go first,” Kent said, probably to break the ice. He picked up his gift and tore away the paper while Tanya watched anxiously.
A moment later he looked up with a bright smile. “Tanya, this is great.”
“You really think so?” She’d had a heck of a time trying to think of something to buy for the man who already had so much. But because she was used to looking for things for her father, who was in much the same boat, she’d gotten creative.
“It’s amazing. I’ll treasure this.” He carefully turned the pages of the first edition 1948 book of World War II stories. Maybe because of Milo’s vaunted service in the military during that time, Kent had always had a fascination with World War II and had a growing collection of military memorabilia. She had thought this would be a nice addition.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it. Thank you.” He nodded toward the box in front of her. “Why don’t you open yours?”
Nervously, she tore at the tape, taking her time to pull away the red and silver paper. As she had expected, there was a jewelry box inside. She hoped Kent didn’t notice that her hands weren’t quite steady when she opened it.
Relief outshone pleasure when she saw the diamond drop earrings inside. “Oh. They’re beautiful.”
His expression was inscrutable when he watched her lift one of the baubles out of the box. Had he somehow sensed what she’d been thinking?
“I had hoped you would like them,” he said quietly. “Since they match the necklace I gave you last year, and you wear that a lot, I thought you might.”
“I really do. They’re lovely. Thank you.”
“I forgot to get you a box of chocolates.”
She laughed a little and shook her head. “That’s okay. I don’t need the extra calories, anyway. And you know how little willpower I have when it comes to chocolate.”
He didn’t respond to that. He was always telling her that she didn’t have to worry about her diet; he liked her curves. Of course, being a normal woman with a normal amount of vanity, she kept an eye on the scales to make sure her figure didn’t get too curvaceous, which it could if she didn’t watch herself.
“About your gift,” he said after a moment, and she tensed, wondering if he was going to ask her what she had expected when she had so gingerly opened the box.
“What about it?” she asked when he didn’t immediately say anything else.
After another pause, he exhaled lightly and shook his head. “I’m glad you like them.”
She could tell that it wasn’t what he had planned to say, but she was feeling a bit too cowardly to pursue it any further. “I really do. Thank you.”
Silence fell between them again.
Tanya wasn’t looking forward to his reaction to her next words, but she cleared her throat, anyway. “There’s something I need to say—and I’m not sure how to begin.”
Kent frowned and set the old book carefully aside. “Just say it.”
She moistened her lips. “It’s about…tonight. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think I should stay somewhere else. Not here in the motor home, I mean.”
The only sign of his reaction was a slight narrowing of his eyes, though she knew he wasn’t being nearly as calm as he looked. “Why?”
Hoping she could make him understand, she spoke quietly. “I just think it would be best, at least for now.”
His jaw flexed. “I thought when you came today—”
“But you don’t want to spend the night with me until you’ve decided whether you’ve completely forgiven me for lying to you,” he finished for her, just a hint of bitterness in his tone.
She didn’t like the way he made it sound—as if he still believed she was setting herself up as his judge. Trying to decide if he was still worth her attentions. “It isn’t like that. It’s just that we still have a few things to work out between us. Probably nothing major—at least, I don’t think so. I just think it’s better if we take things slowly, to make sure we’re on the same wavelength.”
She hated falling back on platitudes, but she couldn’t think of any other way to say it. She didn’t want the explosive physical attraction that had always been between them to cloud the other issues between them. Even if they hadn’t quite verbalized what those issues were, exactly.
“Something has changed between us, Kent,” she said more candidly. “I don’t know what it is, and I don’t like it, but it’s there. You can’t deny it.”
He looked as though he wanted to try, but then he gave a little nod. “Maybe,” he muttered reluctantly.
“I think we need to resolve that before we move on, so that it doesn’t crop back up to haunt us later. Don’t you?”
Still frowning, he shrugged. “Whatever you think best.”
She didn’t like that answer, either, but it would have to do for now. “Fine. So I’ll stay—”
“You’ll stay here. With me,” he cut in. “Oh, don’t worry, I’ll take the couch. But there’s not an empty hotel room anywhere in this part of the state this weekend. And having us out looking for a bed for you is just going to start a wave of speculation that neither of us wants to deal with right now. We’ll take this at your speed, Tanya, but we’ll do it in private, without having the rest of the world know our business.”
Though she wasn’t entirely convinced of the wisdom of his suggestion, she did agree with wanting to keep it private. “All right,” she agreed hesitantly. “I’ll stay here.”
“At least you trust me that much,” he grumbled, not looking notably appeased by her concession.
She wanted to tell him that she trusted him completely. That she always had and always would. But until she could say those words with absolute sincerity, she knew the problems between them had not been solved.
“TANYA! THIS IS A NICE surprise. I didn’t think you were going to be here until Sunday.”
Tanya returned Patsy’s hug of greeting warmly. “I got away early. I was hoping I’d find you here, since the guys are all so busy. I hope I’m not interrupting you in anything.”
Standing back to allow Tanya entrance into her motor home, Patsy shook her head. “Actually, I’ve been on the computer all day doing paperwork for our Nationwide team, and my eyes feel like they’re about to cross from all the close-up work. I was just about ready to take a break. I’d love for you to join me. Can I get you anything?”
“No, thanks. Kent and I just had coffee and some lemon bars Jesse made for him. Then he had to go to another team meeting, so I thought I would come see you.”
“I’m so glad you did.” Patsy shook her head as they sat on the deep, comfortable couch, facing each other. “That Jesse spoils Kent terribly. I think he does more cooking for Kent than I do for Dean.”
“Oh, I doubt that,” Tanya replied, knowing how much Patsy loved to fuss in the kitchen when her busy work schedule allowed. “But Kent is lucky to have found Jesse.”
“Yes, he is. William—the man who’s driving our motor home this year, I don’t think you’ve met him yet—anyway, he’s nice enough, but not nearly as conscientious as Jesse. Dean keeps threatening to try to steal Jesse away.”
Tanya smiled. “Good luck with that.”
“Oh, we both know it would never happen. Jesse’s loyalties are completely with our son.”
“I was so excited to hear that Dean won the pole for Sunday. He must have been very pleased.”
“Oh, yes,” Patsy replied with a resigned wrinkle of her nose. “It’s got him convinced this season’s going to be The One. Of course, he’s been saying that for thirty years.”
“Thirty years and he’s still extremely competitive,” Tanya reminded her. “There aren’t many sports that make it possible to stay active for that long.”
“No. Athletes in other sports have the good sense to retire by this age,” Patsy muttered.
Tanya thought she’d better let that comment pass.
“Kent seemed pleased with third place.”
“I’m sure he’d have rather had the pole. He and Dean will fight for every position Sunday. Neither one of them gives the other an inch.”
“And neither of them would have it any other way.”
Chuckling, Patsy agreed. “That’s very true.”
“The second qualifying race just ended, you know. I heard on the way over here that Justin Murphy won it. That means he’ll start next to Kent, right?” Never having followed NASCAR very closely before she’d started dating Kent, Tanya had had to work hard to learn all the rules and regulations during the past year or so.
Patsy’s face hardened a bit at the mention of Justin’s name, which rather surprised Tanya since she’d thought Patsy had little more patience with the old feud than she did, herself. “Yes, that’s right. I just hope he and Kent manage to get through the race without any trouble between them.”
“I’m sure they’ll behave,” Tanya predicted with a slight smile. “Neither of them want to risk getting into trouble.”
Patsy suddenly straightened her shoulders and spoke in a lively voice, “You know what? I really don’t want to talk about racing, and especially about Justin Murphy, right now. Tell me what’s been going on with you. Do you have any new funny wedding stories?”
For a moment, Tanya had worried that Patsy was going to ask what was going on between her and Kent. But then she reminded herself that Patsy had more tact than that. Relaxing a little, she launched into an anecdote that soon brought out Patsy’s hearty laughter.
It was nice, for once, to have a conversation about something other than racing, Tanya thought, suspecting that Patsy felt much the same way.
“GUESS YOU’RE IN A HURRY TO get back to the love nest, huh?”
Kent cocked an eyebrow in response to his crew chief’s sarcastic question. Having just finished a joint interview with a sports-magazine writer, he and Neil were walking back from the press room toward the hauler. It had been a long day, both satisfying and frustrating for Kent, and he wasn’t up to dealing with one of Neil’s odd moods. “I’m just tired, Neil. I’m sure you are, too.”
“I thought maybe you and me could go have a couple of drinks or something tonight. Like the old days, you know? We haven’t done that in a long time.”
Though Neil made it sound as though they had once spent a lot of spare time together, the truth was that they really had not. It was only when Neil was between wives or girlfriends—or, like tonight, avoiding a woman who’d become a problem for him—that he’d wanted to hang out with Kent away from work.
“Thanks, Neil, but I’d better not tonight. Tanya’s expecting me, and Amy’s got a long day lined up for me tomorrow, starting pretty early. Rain check?”
His face sullen, Neil shrugged. “Yeah, sure. Whatever.”
“Besides, it’s Valentine’s Day. Don’t you and Erica have plans?”
“Yeah, I guess. I told her I’d take her out on the town later. She’ll be another couple of hours getting ready yet.”
Kent paused to study his crew chief more closely. “Look, Neil, if there’s something you need to talk about, I can—”
“No. I don’t want to talk. I want to have some drinks.” Neil motioned with one hand. “You go on. Spend some time with Tanya. Get some rest. You need it.”
“You should rest, too. You’ve got a long schedule, yourself, tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I will. See you in the morning, Kent.”
They parted at the hauler, where Neil went inside and Kent kept walking toward the motor home lot. He wasn’t sure who he was the most worried about at that moment, Neil or himself. He figured they both had grounds to be concerned.
It was getting late, but still he could hear sounds of the partying going on in camping grounds all around the track. The festivities started early here in Daytona, and continued even after the checkered flag dropped at the end of Sunday’s race. He could smell fragrant smoke from dozens of barbeques, along with what might have been an undertone of beer, a favorite beverage among some race fans. And a cacophony of music drifted from literally hundreds of speakers, adding an even more festive atmosphere.
It was a bit quieter in the lot reserved for drivers, owners and crew chiefs. Most of the children were already in bed, and the adults were resting up for the demanding weekend ahead. He heard some laughter and music coming from a few single guys’ motor homes, where poker games and video-game tournaments were among the entertainment of choice, but they kept the noise controlled, for the most part, out of courtesy for the families around them. Still others were probably out on the town, hitting the popular night spots for as late as they dared with the schedule ahead of them.
Kent had seen more than a few last-calls in his time, but he rarely had the urge now to carouse until dawn. Though he didn’t like to think that thirty was getting too old to party, he had to admit that quiet nights at home were beginning to appeal to him more than they once had. Especially if those quiet evenings were spent with Tanya, he thought with an uncharacteristic wistfulness, remembering the plans he had made for them during the past few months.
The lights were still on in his motor home. Keying in the security code, he entered to find Tanya curled up in a chair with a cup of herbal tea by her side and one of the romantic suspense novels she enjoyed in her hands. She looked up to greet him with a tentative smile. “How was your team’s dinner meeting?”