“Here.”
Distracted, she picked up a perfect, salty French fry, her eyes on the crowd at the bar—a crowd that surrounded Elle who’d gone merely to order drinks and now couldn’t get away. Everyone had something to chat with her about or a question to ask, or a hug to give. In one short month of visiting nearly every business in town, cajoling people for donations to the new “Race Park at the Fairgrounds,” and organizing the most unusual impromptu fundraisers, she’d taken the town by storm. Every week there’d been an activity. One weekend a pet wash; the next a baseball throwing contest for kids twelve and under, where the prizes were posed pictures, autographed and framed, of them with the Miners Championship-winning baseball team members. There’d even been a dance contest for all ages at the gazebo, judged by three of the professional drivers who’d been willing to come to town for an extra weekend. Sapphire Fallsians loved a chance to participate in anything unusual, and Elle Mitchell was the new queen of crazy activities.
And she’d raised over four thousand dollars—just as she’d promised.
Harley had hired not only an ace mechanic, which she proved nearly every day, but an asset to the community who fit right in.
“Is there a person in Sapphire Falls who hasn’t met and fallen for her?” his mother asked.
“Seems not.” He faced her. “Although lately I think you might be the hold out.”
“No, no, she’s amazing, Harley! I love that you two have something special happening.”
She was right about that. Nothing about his relationship with Elle had gone according to plan. He’d been sure they’d have a fun fling and get each other out of their systems. Instead, right along with casting her spell over the town, she’d moved into his life and fit there like a flower in a garden.
“She’s special. And she’s helping me launch something you really don’t like. I know this, Mom, but it’s all going to be all right. I promise it is.”
“I have to believe that.”
“We can’t stop living. You taught me that.”
“Oh, but living can stop us. We both know that.”
“Mama.” He sighed, stood, and took three steps around the table to squat in front of her. Taking one of her strong hands, he kissed the back of it. “Nothing is going to happen to me. Nothing. I’m invincible.”
“You do honestly think you are.” She swept her fingers over his head. “Sometimes that’s what worries me most. You could just be the emcee for all of this, son. Just skip this one and don’t race on an untested track. I have a feeling something isn’t right.”
“Listen to me.” He gentled his voice the best he could. “I could skip this race, it’s true. But then you’d find out about the next one, and you’d have feelings about that. Or the one after that. You know the only way to escape your fears is to face them, right? So come to the race and watch it for the fun. Your friends know it’s scary, and they’ll hold your hands.:
She smiled slowly and cupped his cheek. “You’re right, sweetheart. I’m silly about this. I’ll be fine. You’ll be fine. And I’ll go to wherever you are.”
He stood and kissed her on the forehead. “I love you, Mom. I’m not doing this to hurt you. It’s what I need to do, for me.”
“Everything okay?”
Elle set a Long Island iced tea and a glass of sparkling Chardonnay on the table and pushed the wine toward his mother.
“All good,” he said. “Talking about me being careful.”
He silently quirked his brow to let her know Mom Was Being Emotional again, and she nodded.
“Drink up, Jack. You don’t have to be the designated driver tonight. Harley gave up beer so you and I can celebrate.”
“And there’s nobody I’d rather celebrate with.” Jack lifted her glass in a small salute and took a sip. “Lovely.”
“Hey, you, Harley, get your butt up and come help us.”
The voice belonged to Travis Bennet, Ty’s brother and someone everyone liked because he was a do-er the same way Elle was. This year he was on the festival set-up committee, and he had no qualms about roping anyone he could into doing his bidding. Harley winced slightly in anticipation of what was needed.
“Help you what, Bennett?”
“We’re getting the kissing booth up early – the forecast starting in two days calls for rain and tomorrow we’ve got the Ferris wheel going up. I lost two hands to family duties, so I’m volunteering you since you’re just sitting here with your mommy.”
His mother grinned.
“Take him,” Elle said. “Jack can babysit me.”
“Gee thanks for making my mind up for me.” Harley made a face and Elle only shrugged before blowing him a kiss.
“Have fun,” she said.
In truth Harley didn’t mind helping. It might be good for his mom to have him gone for a little while. Lately all she did when she looked at him was go quiet. He really had no idea why this event was affecting her more strongly than usual, but there didn’t seem to be anything other than quitting, that would stop the worry.
“Don’t you two be dancing on the tables when I get back.”
“Killjoy.” Elle waved him off.
***
Elle watched Harley leave with Travis and sighed with relief. He needed something to do that was unrelated to the race or any of the planning. The man was strictly clueless when it came to organizing something other than his tools and his schedule. His strength was in ideas and in contacts around town. The actual implementation of those ideas threw him for a panicky loop. If she was honest, it actually made them a good team. But sometimes, he just needed to leave things to others for his own good.
She looked at Jack and frowned. Harley’s mother stared into her wine glass as if she’d forgotten where she was.
“Jack? You look so tired. Are you all right?
“Oh! I’m fine. There’s just a lot to plan before next Sunday.”
“Yes, the big first festival day. I’m starting get genuinely excited about all this. The way people act, you’d think we were hosting the Olympics.”
“In a way, it is kind of a hometown Olympic effort, where everyone takes part in some kind of sport or activity. But you’ve put as much work into this as a native. You do know people are impressed by that?”
“No need to be. I’m an extrovert. We need to be busy or we lose energy, and we need to be reminded to sit back and enjoy quiet company. Like this.”
A wan smile graced Jack’s lips.
“Seriously.” Elle tried again. “Everything’s really okay? How’s the arm? It’s been two weeks now since you started the exercise therapy.”
“Oh that’s perfect. I started running again once I started working out, and I don’t feel anything wrong.”
“Good.” She hesitated and then made herself ask what had been gnawing at her for the past three weeks. “You aren’t angry with me for promoting this race so heavily are you?”
“No!” Jack drew back in surprise.
“I know you’re frightened for Harley, not just worried. And the first day I met you, before you knew who I was, I heard what you said. You wanted to send the new guy packing.” She chuckled. “Well here I am, still the new guy, and I’m pretty much guaranteeing your worst nightmare is about to take place.”
Jack’s features crumpled so unexpectedly Elle jumped to her feet and pulled a chair directly next to her friend’s, who sat with her head buried in her arms.
“It’s all right,” Elle soothed. It really is, Jack. Let out the worry.”
“I’m so sorry. So, so sorry.” Jack lifted her head enough to wipe long rivulets of tears from both eyes. “I don’t know what the problem is this time. It’s a different kind of fear than I’ve ever had before. I’m not a crazy woman. I know this is ridiculous. I even accept it’s still aftermath from five years ago.”
“That’s completely normal. Nobody thinks it’s crazy.”
Jack shuddered out a breath and sat back up, peeking around to make sure she hadn’t
caused a scene. Fortunately, the bar was too full of an oblivious Saturday night crowd having its own fun.
“It’s dreams. Endless dreams every night.”
“Nightmares? And I just brought up nightmares, didn’t I?” Elle wrapped an arm around Jack’s shoulders.
“I’m not reliving things in them. I’m seeing something that feels premonition-like. I don’t believe in premonitions; I know I have an active imagination. But these are so unlike me.”
“Tell me.”
“Oh they’re so foolish.”
“Tell me,” Elle repeated, more softly.
“It starts with Harley driving. The yellow car. Lap after lap. And then suddenly he looks up, straight into my eyes as if I’m actually in the car. And he says very calmly, ‘oh shit, it’s the tires.’ Then I start somersaulting backward and I see the car somersault forward. Sometimes it lands and looks perfectly safe. Sometimes it lands on the roof. Sometimes it literally turns into a fireball. When I wake up I never know if Harley is okay. I never land myself.”
She stared for a long moment at her hands folded on the table top. Then she sighed again, but this one held a hint of relief. “I’m sorry,” she said yet again. “I’ve never spoken the words. It’s frightening in my head, but at least it sounds ridiculous out loud.”
It was ridiculous, but Elle also pushed back at a wave of awful dread. It passed but Jack’s dream was disturbingly detailed.
“I can see why that’s upsetting.”
“He thinks I don’t know about all the times he’s gone off to race without telling me. I’m a mother; I know what he’s doing. And believe it or not, I’m proud of him. I simply have this one neurosis. Even though I said I know this is my imagination, I want so badly for him not to race. Just this once. The certainty is so strong.”
Elle had no idea what to say. She was no psychologist, but according to Harley therapy hadn’t touched this issue anyway. Her personal greatest fear was failing to make it on her own. It was why she took on any issue they’d give her at the garage and made sure her coworkers checked her results so they would see she could handle herself. It was why she’d thrown herself into the preparations for this race and used every spare second to make the event a success. She had to prove herself in the new place, garner the good will for when she fell on her face. Her fear was probably as silly as Jack’s but it wasn’t nearly as debilitating.
As for keeping Harley from taking part in the race—it would be easier to cancel the whole darn event. Maybe that was what they needed to do. If there was no race there’d be an actual ending for Jack’s nightmare. A good ending.
The sudden idea struck her fully formed and startling.
Jack said she wanted Harley out of the race. But…did she really? She was so proud of her children. Maybe she just needed someone—Harley in particular—to take her fears seriously. She needed someone to really tell her they truly understood, and she was fine and nobody thought she was crazy.
Elle hesitated. If she gambled wrong she’d be in a true mess. But she didn’t think Jack would actually take something that would sadden and hurt her son even if it were offered.
“I don’t know, you said you don’t believe in premonitions. But I think you do. And if you believe that strongly he’s going to be hurt, then I believe you. You know I can cancel the race. I can end it today—I have the power.”
“You…” Jack stared almost like a wild woman. “You do? Elle, you can’t. Absolutely not. Harley would never forgive you. Forgive us.”
“I would chance his fury if you tell me you really believe someone is trying to tell you something. Because I have a secret you need to know. I’m falling in love with your son. It’s only been a month, but I can’t stand the thought of something happening to him either. So if you’re sure—and it sounds like you are—then I’m sure.”
Jack’s mouth hung in pure and complete disbelief. Elle held her breath, praying she’d read the mother in her correctly. If Jack called her bluff … Elle’s eyes closed in despair. She didn’t want to think about having to make good on this promise. And yet, in some part of her heart, she knew she’d do it. To keep Harley safe.
More slow tears rolled down Jack’s face. Elle didn’t dare speak but just waited for her to make her decision. At long last she shook her head.
“I think you’re serious. You dear girl. I don’t know if what you feel for Harley will grow or last, but I hope it does. This kind of devotion is not as common as people think. But, no, we can’t do anything to stop the race. That would be like killing Harley slowly in more ways than one.”
“I think so too.” Relief poured through Elle, soothing and calming.
“I’ll be fine.”
“No. Here’s the thing. I wasn’t lying when I said I believe there’s something to your dream. But this is how we’re going to deal with it. I promise you. I’ll personally check every single inch of that car, and pay special attention to the tires and everything connected to them. Your dream is warning us what to look out for. It’s why there are so many endings—we can affect the outcome.”
A crazy rush of warmth filled Elle, replacing the relief with total peace. She’d started this ruse as exactly that—a poker bluff. But now that she’d won, it felt more as if she’d actually warded off danger. As if she could read Elle’s mind, Jack reached for her and took her in a fervent hug.
“Yes, Elle, yes. I don’t want to put any stock in dreams; that’s crazy. But I can’t ignore it either—it’s not within my power. I feel like a crushing weight immediately disappeared off my chest just now. You’re a wonder.”
“I’m not. I just care about your boy. And you were one of my first friends here. I care about you, too.”
“I think,” she said slowly. “I can let the boy race now.”
Chapter Thirteen
He watched her from across the empty room, her movements precise but quick, efficient but harried. It had taken him a long time to see the cracks in what he’d perceived from day one as her perfection, but now he knew she was normal and not a flawless goddess gifted to him from the stars. For a woman with so many incredible talents, Elle couldn’t see her own strengths. And if she ever caught a glimpse, she questioned them.
She never let a repair go out the door without his or Maury’s seal of approval, but he had never found anything to correct or criticize.
She worked her ass off to please people—him, Steve, her customers, the people in town. He’d always chalked it up to her natural gregariousness, but in the past few days he realized it was another way of checking herself—making sure she wasn’t screwing up. How she’d grown to be so uncertain when she had more ability than any group of ten people baffled him. Like now—when she was supposed to be finished and on her way to town with him, but instead she was searching for a problem she believed she’d missed in a car that was supposed to be finished by tomorrow. Something the electronic diagnostics said was fine but that she could tell by ear wasn’t right.
It wasn’t perfectionism. It was not wanting to disappoint the customer and take a chance he’d go somewhere else next time.
She bent beneath the hood for the fiftieth time and Harley shook his head, as he pushed himself away from the wall and headed for her. She paid no attention to the soft footfalls that took him across the garage floor to her bay. Her coveralls protected the clothes she was wearing to the festival, and even with two layers and the ugly gray cover-up she had the sexiest body. He’d stopped feeling guilty for objectifying her. They’d proven over the past weeks that they could work together in a professional way, but that didn’t stop his brain.
He tapped her gently on the shoulder and she turned her head with a smile.
“Kiddo, it’s time to knock off. You’ll find your mystery issue in the morning.”
“Just let me adjust this last thing…”
He reached into the engine compartment and took the screwdriver from her hand. With firm handholds on her shoulders he straightened her, spun her to face
him, and kissed her hard.
“No,” he said when they parted for air. “I want you right now. And you need to stop pressuring yourself.”
“It’s not pressure. It’s a puzzle.”
“You come with me, honey, and I’ll prove to you how much pressure you’re feeling.”
She sighed theatrically. “Oh fine.”
Slowly he grasped the tab of the overall’s zipper and dragged it down past her breasts, her stomach, all the way to a point even with the top of her thighs. Her eyes widened though he didn’t touch a single spot of skin or clothing. Tonight was the night he would show her in every way he could exactly how perfect she was without doing a thing for anyone. No volunteering, no organizing, no fixing a car to factory precision. Tonight she had nothing to prove.
“You work a mean zipper,” she said.
“Only when there’s something behind it that I want.”
He pushed the heavy gray twill off her shoulders and down her arms, off of her torso and past her hips. She stepped out of the legs and bent to pick the garment off the floor.
“Leave it. A heap of clothing won’t hurt anything.”
“You hate heaps.”
“No. Dewey hates heaps. You’re projecting his OCD again. Nobody here will care if you leave that. You can step right back into them tomorrow morning.”
She eyed the coveralls then shrugged. “You’re right. You’ve never channeled Dewey. Sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry for. Do I get to tell you, you look perfect.”
She wore a shapeless white sundress, loose and flowing from the shoulders into a soft tent that hinted at the curves beneath it. A lot of guys might have wished for skin tight, but to Dewey this was tantalizing beyond comfort. He planned to explore what was under that dress the way a woman might explore what was under a kilt.
“I’ve been so busy I honestly haven’t gone shopping for dressy or even really nice clothes. I didn’t dress up much at home. Jeans and T-shirts. Shorts. That’s my wardrobe. This is the best I could do.”
“Elle, stop.” He touched her lips with his finger. “Why are you apologizing? You’re beautiful. You could wear the damn overalls and it wouldn’t matter. Truly.”
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