by Megan Faust
He watched her beautiful freckled face contort into a silent scream of absolute passion and fell in love with her all over again. Here in their most intimate moment she gave him honesty and she committed every bit of her energy and emotion to the moment. It was refreshing to have a lover who held nothing back and felt no need to hide the depth of their passion or, worse still, fake a passion they didn’t feel.
For all the burning intensity of her climax she came down quickly, her features relaxing completely. His own release came quickly but it was no less intense than hers and soon they were lying in a tired, contented, sweaty heap.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered.
“And you’re amazing,” she replied and held him close as he drifted off to sleep.
* * * *
Chloe lay awake in the darkness staring at the kaleidoscope lights of the city on the hotel room ceiling. Mike, or whatever his real name was, was asleep beside her, the sheets tangled about his muscular legs. She sighed and rolled out of bed. In the dark it was impossible to locate her underwear amid the scattering of clothes and deep shadows but she managed to find her dress, shoes and purse and dress without waking him.
She grabbed the pad by the phone, scribbled a short note, and slipped out into the hallway. Her room was three floors down but she was intercepted by Seth the moment she stepped out of the elevator. He looked just as startled as she did but his surprise changed to anger in a heartbeat and he growled, “Where have you been?”
“I made a friend in the lobby,” she said, which was almost the truth. “We were having coffee and I lost track of the time. I need to get some sleep before tomorrow.”
She yanked her arm free of his grasp and stormed off towards her room. Seth jogged after her. “So you do remember how important tomorrow is?”
“Of course I remember,” she snapped.
“Because Brant was convinced you were out to kill his career. And I was scared half to death that you’d gotten kidnapped or mugged.”
“I’m all grown up, Seth, I just wanted to see a little more of New York that my hotel room and the race track.”
“You could have told us where you were going, Chloe.” His voice softened. “I was really worried.”
She smiled. “I’m sorry, Seth. I knew Brant wouldn’t let me go so I didn’t say anything. I should have called you once I was in the cab. It won’t happen again, not here, not at any race. I promise. Now, good night, Seth.”
He could tell by the way her eyes softened that she really hadn’t meant to worry him, and she was right about Brant. “Good-night, Chloe.”
She closed the door in his face, putting the chain lock in place so he couldn’t come in and check on her or lecture her again. Her hands were shaking as she set her purse on the dresser. She took a few deep breaths and dropped onto the bed. “So,” she said to the empty room. “This is New York City.”
* * * *
The next morning Seth, Brant, and Chloe had breakfast in the boys’ room though Chloe felt too nervous to eat anything. Brant glared over his plate at her until he could stay quiet any longer. “Where the hell were you last night?”
“Didn’t Seth fill you in?” She poked at her eggs then reached for her coffee instead.
“Yeah, and now I want to hear it from you.”
“Are you trying to catch me in a lie? I met someone in the lobby and we got to talking. We had coffee and I lost track of time. I’m sorry. I didn’t go any further than the coffee shop on the corner. I got enough sleep. I didn’t have any liquor. And I’m here, bright and early, to listen to you bitch at me before I go off and save your career. And you’re welcome by the way.”
“I’ll thank you after you pull this off. If you pull this off.”
“I could just sit here and let your career end.”
Brant turned to Seth. “Tell me again why I agreed to this?”
Seth frowned. “I don’t like it either, but you can’t drive until your foot heals and if you don’t drive this race you won’t have enough money to race again and you’ll be stuck farming potatoes for the rest of your life. So Chloe is going to be you to save your career.”
“I know, I know. I still don’t like it. I’m not going to like it, ever.”
“You don’t have to like it, but you’d better get used to the fact that you’re going to owe me big time for this.”
“Only if you win.”
“Watch me.”
Chapter Five
Chloe had her foot poised over the gas pedal as Seth relayed directions to her over the headset. They had left Brant cozy and safe in the hotel with Rueben to guard him. They didn’t need some nosy hotel staff putting two and two together and blowing the whole thing before they even got started. Chloe and Seth had snuck into the garage early to look over the car, and to get Chloe into Brant’s gear without being caught.
She took a few deep breaths as the flag man stepped up to his post. One lap to get up to speed, then ten laps at top speed, and then she was home free. All she had to do was get through the race in one piece in either first or second place and she’d have one of the prime starting positions.
Right, and while I’m at it, why don’t I win a beauty pageant and break into Fort Knox. Breathe, Chloe, just breathe. You’ve done this a hundred times. It’s the same as racing back home.
She glanced out the driver side window at car #34 and swallowed hard. Brant had originally been scheduled to race in the third heat but after his accident he’d been pulled from the roster all together. It had taken Rueben several hours on the phone with half a dozen officials just to get them back in the running but it meant Chloe was now driving in the last heat against the very driver Seth suspected was behind the sabotage.
“Okay Chloe,” said her brother’s voice. “Relax, get ready, here we go.”
The first lap was just like racing back at home and Chloe began to relax. There are only five of us out here, no big deal. All I have to do is drive like I do on the track with Brant and Arthur and Freddie.
Once up to full speed Chloe had no time for thinking about home or anything else but the track in front of her and the words pouring out of her headset as Seth kept her up to date about the positions of the four other cars. She braced against the wheel, gritted her teeth, and threw herself into a corner at a dangerous speed, passing another driver who had braked for the turn. She whipped out of the corner like a stone from a sling shot and barrelled down the straight away. Seth yelled something that sounded like ‘be careful’ but she was already into the next turn.
The next words came through loud and clear. “You’re catching #34. Watch yourself out there.”
She zigged and zagged, darted and dashed, and kept her foot almost to the floor for the entire race. She jostled for position, back and forth, gaining ground only to lose it again as another car pulled ahead. She zipped around a dark blue car with an oil company logo plastered on the side and cut him off as she aimed for the next car in her path.
Once she had come up on the back end of another driver only to have him brake a little more suddenly than she was expecting. With her heart in her throat she cranked the wheel, taking the turn too tight for her speed. The car went sideways. Seth was screaming in her ear. The infield billboards filled Chloe’s vision and her heart nearly stopped.
She moved so fast she wasn’t sure what she did but brakes and gas pedals were pressed and the wheel was cranked and the next thing she knew she was going in a straight line in the right direction with only a slightly woozy feeling in her head to tell her she’d been stupid.
And Seth, of course, was more than willing to let her in on that little fact. “That was foolish, Chloe. If you get smashed out there we’re all in a lot of trouble with a lot of people. And Dad’s not the least of those. Watch it, okay?”
She was on the eighth lap and had her head too deep in the race to answer aloud but her thundering heart knew full well that he was one hundred percent right and she’d have to be more careful if she wante
d to pull off this charade.
There were no more close calls, no more dizzying moments, no more angry words from her brother. There was nothing but the track in her windshield and the car roaring under her and around her. All drivers got tunnel vision when they were focused too hard on the race, that was why spotters were so important, it was just too hard for a driver to see everything all the time. Of course many drivers got so deep into the mindset that they even blocked the voice of their spotter.
Chloe ripped past the finish line as the checkered flag waved over her head. She braked, letting the car slow over the next half lap until she could safely take her hands off the wheel. Her whole body was shaking and she closed her eyes, breathing hard. She could hear Seth shouting in her ears but the words meant nothing to her.
I survived. I made it to the end in one piece. No one sabotaged the car, no one tried too hard to push me off the track. Maybe I can do this after all.
She opened her eyes, feeling steadier and more settled to find Seth was repeating her name over and over again.
“Yes, Seth, I’m here.”
“You won, you fool! You won! That was the fastest time in the heats. You’ll be starting in pole position for the big race in two days.”
She felt shock more than relief and suddenly the car felt too small. She climbed free of the car, remembering at the last moment that her helmet had to stay on. Nearby driver #34 was also climbing from his car and, to her horror, coming towards her.
Her heart started thundering and she started back pedalling towards the garage.
“Brant! Wait!” the other driver yelled and took off his helmet.
The world dropped out from under Chloe’s feet. Seth had called him Trey, Trey Williams, but Chloe knew something Seth didn’t. Trey’s middle name was Michael.
“Trey!” The man in the neat suit who had been talking with Trey after Brant’s accident came running over. He grabbed Trey by the arm and started shouting.
Chloe didn’t wait to see what the fight was about; she could get the gossip later. Right now she had to get the hell off the track.
* * * *
Once Chloe was safely, and comfortably, in her own clothes again she and Seth double checked that the car was stowed correctly in the garage and headed back to the hotel. There Seth relayed the great news to Brant while Chloe pulled Rueben aside.
“You know I was against Trey Williams today, right?”
He nodded. “Did he give you any grief?”
“None. But his manager had a few choice words for him after the race. I didn’t stick around to hear them so I thought maybe you could dig up the low down on it. Someone must have heard them and with Trey’s reputation I’m sure that someone would be willing to share.”
Rueben nodded. “Any reason why?”
“If they were arguing about Brant, or sabotage, it would be good to know about it.”
“I don’t think they’d be so stupid as to admit to wrecking another driver’s car at full volume on the track right after a race. But I will ask around and see what I can find.”
Chloe forced a smile. “Thanks Rueben. How was Brant today?”
“He’s a big baby, but the kid’s got talent. And from the sounds of it, so do you. You did a lot better than any of us were expecting. We might just pull this off.”
“Just be ready to make the switch after the big race, all right?”
* * * *
After a long hot shower Chloe stretched out on the bed to collect her thoughts. Seth and Brant had both been thrilled by her success but the discovery of her new friend, and lover's, identity was making it hard for her to be suitably excited. What would happen when he found out who she was? Would he dump her? Or use her to get rid of Brant somehow? Was she putting herself in danger, seeing him again? What if Brant or Seth found out she was seeing him? Brant would lock her away like he owned her. Seth would probably tell Brant. Could she keep it a secret from Trey? After all, he had lied about his identity, why couldn’t she lie about hers?
I am too tired and too stiff to think about any of this right now, she thought and took a deep breath. As she relaxed her eyelids drooped and the next thing she knew she was running late for dinner. She grabbed clothes from her bag, dragged her brush through her hair, dabbed on some tinted lip gloss and called it good enough for dinner with her brothers.
With purse in hand she stepped into the restaurant in time to see Trey Williams walking up to her brothers' table. Ducking behind a couple at the bar she peeked at her brothers, waiting for the coast to clear.
Trey walked up to the Brant brothers, his hand extended. "Brant Bye. I wanted to congratulate you earlier but my manager had a few choice words for me and you disappeared so quickly after the race."
"He was pretty tired," Seth stepped in, grateful that Chloe had filled him in on the post-race happenings down on the track. "We came straight back to the hotel to rest up before dinner."
Trey nodded, tucking his unaccepted hand into the pocket of his leather jacket. "I'm surprised you raced at all today. I heard about the accident."
"It takes more than a faulty brake line to take a real driver out of the race. Remember that next time you want to mess with someone's car."
Seth kicked his brother under the table, careful not to hit the cast that was hidden from Trey's view. He forced a smile. "Not that you'd do that."
Brant glared at Seth then turned back to Trey. "Was there anything else?"
Trey glanced from one brother to the other, puzzlement creasing his face. "Did I do something to offend you? I only meant to offer my congratulations on a trial well run. I look forward to racing against you at the big run."
"Just watch yourself out there," Brant said. "I'm not afraid of you and I'll give you a run for your money."
Trey smiled. "Good. It's been a while since I've had any real competition out there."
As Trey sidled off Seth kicked Brant again. "Just what in Hell's name do you think you're doing?"
"Me? What about you? 'You'd never sabotage a car Mr. Williams, Sir.' Pah, why don't you go tell him how great you think he is?"
"Oh can it, Brant. I was covering your ass, nothing more. Were you trying to start a fight with him? Were you trying to tip him off? If he thinks he's been found out he'll try to silence you before you can go to the authorities."
Chloe walked up to the table, forcing a smile. "Sorry I'm so late. I fell asleep. I'm surprised you two didn't come in and drag me down here."
"I checked in on you," Seth said. "I thought you deserved the nap."
"Have you ordered?" She set down her purse and sat.
"Yeah, we have. You just missed our visitor." Brant reached for his water. "Trey Williams stop by to congratulate me on my win."
"It was just a heat trial," Chloe said. "Don't let it go to your head." But she was grinning from ear-to-ear.
The waitress came over with a menu but Chloe just ordered without looking and turned back to her brothers. "What else did he say?"
"He looked puzzled when Brant strongly hinted that he was behind the accident," Seth said.
"He's acting," Brant snarled. "I'm done talking about it, Trey makes me angry. Chloe, I watched the…" Seth's kick cut him short. "I watched the footage from the race and I want to go over it with you so you know what to keep an eye out for when you're spotting for me."
Chloe stole a sip of Seth’s wine and said, "Let's enjoy a celebratory dinner first, and then we'll get back to business."
Chapter Six
Brant kept her busy for two hours after dinner, going over the race footage and pointing out her every mistake in fine tooth comb detail. Finally she grumbled, "If I made so many damn mistakes how did I manage to win?"
"There were only five cars on the track, smart ass," Brant shot back. "The big race is going to be very different.”
“I can count, thank you very much. And I think I'm doing just fine out there. Big, bad, Trey Williams didn't even try to run me off the track today."
&nb
sp; "That's because that kind of pushing is frowned upon during the heat trials. During the big race he'll have more opportunities to hit you and more cover when he does it. You need to be extra careful, and on top of your game. You'll need to go down and run practice laps in the morning before tomorrow's program starts."
"Get the time from Rueben," Chloe said. "I'm going to my friend's room for a few hours. We're watching a movie tonight and I'm almost late."
"What friend?" Brant asked.
"One with no connection to racing at all, dad. I just need to relax for a bit. I'll be up bright and early for the practice runs, I promise. See you later."
As the door closed behind her Seth said, "Don't you think you're being a little hard on her?"
"What if today was the best she could do? Those other racers were taking it easy out there; they'll kill her when she gets back on that track. Now they know she's got at least a little talent and they'll all try to rub her out before she can beat them."
"What if she does win?" Seth said. "How do we make the switch so you can claim the winner's goodies?"
"I don't know, Seth. But we have all day tomorrow to think of something."
* * * *
Chloe walked calmly to the elevator, just in case her brothers were watching her. She took the elevator up three floors and paused outside the door. With a deep breath she knocked. 'Mike' opened the door and smiled at her.
"Chloe, I wasn't sure you'd come. Your note said nine…"
"I'm not that late, am I?"
He laughed. "No, but after you just slipped away last night I wasn't sure if you were trying to brush me off."
"Why would I do that when I'm just getting to know you, Trey Williams?"
He frowned and sat on the bed. "You found out my name."
She nodded.
"You were at the race today?"
"Yeah, I was. You did really well. I know it’s just the placement heats and all, but still, second in your heat, third overall, it’s not a bad way to start."
"Wow, you actually know something about racing, other than ‘the cars go fast’.”