by Dena Blake
“You’d be correct.” Drew took in the view before letting her gaze skitter up across her pouty lips and tiny nose to find the emerald-green eyes she’d already become intimately acquainted with the night before. “I’m thinkin’ by now, maybe I should at least know your name.”
“I’m Sam.” She didn’t offer Drew her hand. “For someone I don’t know, I’m sure havin’ trouble shakin’ you.” Bringing the bottle of water to her lips, she closed her eyes and took a long, slow gulp.
Drew put her hands on Sam’s thighs and let her thumbs drag across the inside of her knees. She watched Sam’s eyes dilate, and Drew tingled unexpectedly. Damn, she’s hot. What exactly had she come here for? Drew shook her head. Time to back up now. “I’m looking for Slick.”
She raised her hand in the air. “Also me.” She reached for a clean shop towel, dribbled water across it, and blotted her face and neck. “Most people call me Sam.”
“Wait a minute.” Drew scratched her head. “The guy last night at the bar, who was that?”
“That was Ray.”
“But he—”
“No, he didn’t.” Sam shook her head. “You made an assumption.”
“My mistake.” Drew let out a soft chuckle before resting her hands on Sam’s knees and moving closer. “I didn’t realize a mechanic…” Seeing the glare in Sam’s eyes, she said, “I’m sorry, technician, could be so…engaging.”
Sam quickly moved past her. “Your engine’s gone.”
“What do you mean gone?”
“I mean irreparable. Dead. Demolished.”
“But it was just makin’ a little noise.”
“A little noise.” Sam choked out a laugh. “I checked it this morning. It sounds like an old locomotive.”
Drew raised her eyebrows. “But you can fix it, right?”
Sam frowned. “You threw a rod. Then you drove it around the track. The inside of your engine is spaghetti now.”
“Damn!” Drew raked her hand across the back of her neck. The car was already dead before Drew got there, but she needed Sam to think she’d done it.
“The car talks to you. Listen more carefully next time.” Sam picked up the wrench and pulled the socket off. “That is, if you can find someone to give you a next time.”
“What the hell am I supposed to do now?”
“I suggest you find yourself a sponsor who can afford your sloppy driving habits.” The drawer whirred as she slid it out, dropped the tools into their slots, and slid it closed again.
The side door swung open, and Brad strutted across the garage.
“Hey, babe.” He slipped his arm around Sam, tugged her close, and kissed her hard on the mouth. “I waited up for you last night. Where’d you go?” His voice was low and demanding.
Sam glanced at Drew momentarily. “I stayed with my sister.” She arched her back.
Drew watched as his grip seemed to tighten, suffocating her as though she were trapped in a hydraulic vise. He stared at her for a minute and then released her. “How is little sis?”
Her gaze darted back to Drew before she returned to the tools. “Ask her yourself. She should be here this afternoon.”
“She’s coming out today?”
“Yep. Said she wanted to check out the cars,” Sam said, and Drew wondered if that was a lie as well.
“Good. I haven’t seen her in a while.” Brad turned to Drew as though he’d just noticed her. “Have we met before?”
“Drew Thompson. I drive for Freemont Oil.”
Brad pressed a finger to his mouth. “Are you driving this race?”
“No.” Sam smirked. “She killed her engine.”
Jamming a hand into one pocket, Drew shifted her weight to one side before giving Sam a goofy smile. “I thought I was going to replace Gardner, but he decided to stick it out for a few more years.”
“You know those old drivers. They never wanna let go.”
“Yeah. Well, I’m not gonna be one of those old drivers. I want my chance now.”
“Why don’t you check with Paddy? He might have a slot for you. Behind me, that is,” Brad said, slipping his arm around Sam. “Right, babe?”
“Right.” Sam’s voice deflated.
It seemed Brad didn’t have Sam’s back when it came to getting a driving slot. The egotistical jerk hadn’t even thought of her.
Brad gave Drew the once-over before turning back to Sam. “Anyway, I have to get back out to the track, but I’ll see you later.”
Before heading to the door, Brad pressed his mouth to hers in what Drew took as a blatant show of possession.
“Don’t forget about the welcome reception tonight,” Sam said, squatting back down onto the roller board.
“I won’t.” The metal building rattled as he pulled the door open. “Dress pretty. I’ll pick you up.”
“Brad Wilkerson.” Drew chuckled. “That’s the guy you couldn’t cheat on?” She’d seen him around many times, with many different women.
“He’s the best driver on the circuit.” She eased back against the board and pulled herself underneath the car.
“Whatever you say.” Drew gave her a confident smile. Now that I’m here, that’s going to change. “You just don’t seem like his type.”
“His type?” Reaching up into the engine compartment, she twisted sideways.
“Submissive. Wilkerson likes for his women to worship him.” Drew stared at the long, slender legs protruding from beneath the car. Though they were now covered in dirty blue jeans, she remembered the skin hidden under them. “The man’s an absolute ass.” Her voice rang with unexpected hostility. “I can tell by that show of ownership he just put on.”
She heard the wrench drop and saw Sam grab the frame. Sam and the roller board shot out from beneath the car, then jerked to a stop.
“What are you talking about?” Her brow rose curiously.
“The grab. The kiss. I couldn’t help but notice you weren’t responding.”
Slipping off the board and onto the floor, Sam was visibly shaken by her accurate observation or maybe by her unwarranted annoyance. Drew didn’t know which, but she could see it clearly.
“I’m not into public displays of affection,” she said, scrambling to her feet.
“Was that visit with your sister before or after me?”
She swung around and stood with her arms glued across her chest. “What do you want from me, Ms. Thompson?”
That was a good question. For some unknown reason, right now she wanted to haul this stubborn redhead willingly into her arms, to protect her heart from the unfeeling bastard she was involved with. Drew loved the fact she could take care of herself, that she needed no one. Nevertheless, she stirred protective feelings in her that sooner or later would have to be resolved.
“Just a fair shot. That’s all.”
“A fair shot at what?”
“At you.” Drew trailed her finger down across the hollow of Sam’s neck, then her chest, stopping at the first fastened button of her shirt. Sam choked, and Drew could see she was caught off guard by her candor, and to be honest, she was a little stunned herself.
* * *
Sam shifted backward. Being this close to her benevolent stranger was unnerving. Drew smiled, revealing a pair of dangerously alluring dimples. All of a sudden the garage was unbearably hot. She was caught up in sensations she didn’t know how to handle. Earlier, when Drew’s thumbs had grazed the inside of her knees, her touch had produced a shudder in Sam she couldn’t contain, and when she’d slid off the bench, her body had sizzled when she’d brushed up against her.
Get ahold of yourself, Sam! Steadying herself, she sucked in a deep breath to clear her head. But catching a whiff of the mysterious scent she recalled from the night before only made things worse. Nose to nose, her gaze met Drew’s, and she froze. Sam had never met a woman who could fry her wiring with only one touch.
Sam fought the desire to fall into Drew’s arms, but she had responsibilities that couldn’t be ign
ored. One of them was making sure her driver was happy and focused. That meant her relationship status wasn’t changing for the time being.
“If you haven’t noticed, I’m already taken.” The warmth stinging across her skin made Sam wish to God she wasn’t.
“It didn’t seem like it last night.” Jamming a hand into one pocket, Drew shifted her weight to one side before giving her a slight smile, and Sam thought she was going to lose it right there.
“Last night was a mistake.” She whipped around to the bench, chugged down the rest of the water, and tossed the bottle into the recycle bin. A huge mistake. It had to be. She could never be involved with a woman like Drew Thompson, one who could permeate her mind in only one night.
“You two have a don’t-ask, don’t-tell relationship?”
“Something like that.” On his part anyway.
“Then it’s forgotten.” The animosity in Drew’s voice disappeared, and her tone grew free and reassuring.
Sam hung a few tools on the wall before slowly turning back to her. “So you’re not going to tell Brad?”
“What good would it do me?” Drew shrugged. “Now where can I find Paddy Kelleher?”
With wary eyes, she relaxed and leaned against the bench. “He should be at the track. If not, he’ll be here this afternoon.”
“You owe me.” Drew smiled as she picked up a box wrench and reached past her to hang it on the wall. “But we’ll talk about that later. Right now, I have to see a man about a driving slot.” She touched Sam’s cheek lightly, then turned and headed out the door.
Talk later? She didn’t like the way that sounded. It wasn’t necessarily her words but the slow, even way she’d spoken. Drew was assuming too much. As if she’d actually listen to anything she had to say.
Looking across the garage, she traced Drew’s steps to the door, then whirled around and yanked open the fridge. Grabbing another bottle of water, she twisted the top off and took a quick, sloppy gulp. A trickle of water falling onto her chest made her shiver as she remembered the feel of Drew’s fingers tracing her skin.
This is ridiculous. She up-ended the bottle and poured the remaining water over her head.
The woman had insulted her in the bar last night, practically assaulted her in her own shop this morning, and now she was after her driving slot. She tossed the bottle into the bin. So why did she have this incredible urge to follow her?
Sam smiled. Drew hadn’t pushed her last night, that’s why. Drew had wanted her as much as she’d wanted Drew, and she’d curbed her desire because Sam had lost it. She’d put Sam’s feelings before hers, something Sam wasn’t accustomed to in a partner. Brad was a very selfish lover.
Oh God, Brad! She tore out the door. She had to find Faith before he did.
Blocking the sunlight with her hand, Sam squinted and caught a glimpse of Faith’s chestnut hair. It didn’t take long for Sam to find her. All she had to do was follow the trail of men. Spotting Brad in the distance, Sam made a bee-line across the asphalt to her sister.
“Oh, my.” Faith smiled and squeezed the strong, firm bicep of the man she’d been petting. “I don’t believe I’ve ever had a man be quite so forward.”
“Hey. I need to talk to you.”
“Can’t you see I’m busy with Mike right now?” Faith didn’t take her attention from the driver she’d apparently set her sights on for the day.
“She’ll be right back, Mike. This will just take a minute.” Sam grabbed her arm and led her away.
“What are you doing?” Faith squealed, stumbling along after her.
“You give these guys way too much attention.”
“I just give them what they want,” she said, pulling her arm free.
“And what’s that?”
“Plenty of loving with absolutely no strings.” Faith lowered her chin, stared up through her thickened black lashes at Sam, and then turned and threw a wave back at Mike.
Sam let out a heavy breath and raked her gaze across the short shorts and tank top glued to Faith’s refined features. The race-car circuit got very lonely, so how could a man resist?
“Some of these guys have wives waiting at home for them, you know.”
“No need to worry about that. I’m not ready to settle down yet.”
“You’re impossible.”
“No. Just realistic.” Faith opened her clutch, took out a tube of gloss, and swiped it across her lips.
“Whatever.” Sam shrugged and scanned a one-eighty behind Faith. “I need a favor.”
“Okay.” She let out a short breath and planted her hand on her hip. “Do I have to do it right now?”
“You don’t have to do anything. But if anyone asks, just say I was with you last night.”
Faith’s eyes widened. “Does that mean big sis is getting a little action on the side?” Faith was eager to hear all of the juicy details, but she had loose lips, and Sam wasn’t ready for this one to get out.
“Not exactly.” Sam glimpsed Drew wandering around outside the garages searching for Paddy. “I just need you to cover for me this once.”
“I don’t know if that’s going to fly, Sammy.”
“Why not?”
“Because I was with someone, and I think he’d remember if we had a threesome.”
“Damn it, Faith. Don’t you ever sleep alone?” A shudder of panic rushed through Sam, and she spun around, taking a few steps.
“Not if I can help it.” Faith glanced back at the driver she was cozying up to and threw him a sexy smile. “Are we finished here?”
Sam swiped her hand across the back of her neck. “Just hang on and let me think for a minute.” After sucking in a deep breath, she let it out slowly. She had to stick with her original story. It would just be dumb luck if Brad found out. “Okay, this is what I need. Don’t worry about anyone else, but if Brad asks, just remember I was with you.”
“But—”
“No buts. Just do it, okay?”
“Okay.” Faith whirled around. “Now, why don’t you tell me a little more about those skills of yours?” she said, heading back to the driver.
Chapter Four
“You still haven’t given me the invoice for that last order of tires?” Drew heard Paddy Kelleher’s voice vibrate and chased it across the garage. She’d followed him from place to place all morning, but the man was slipperier than water on an oil slick. He kept getting away before Drew could approach him.
“It’s right there on your desk.” Sam’s voice caught Drew’s attention, and it shot an unnerving spark through her system. “I put it there yesterday,” she said, and Drew watched her head into the office.
When Sam was completely out of sight, Drew made her move. “Hi, Mr. Kelleher. My name is Drew Thompson.”
“What can I do for you, young lady?” Paddy said, shaking the hand Drew offered.
“I want to join your team.”
“Check with Ray. He may need some help with cleanup.” Paddy brushed past her, heading toward the two stacks of tires next to the far wall of the garage, and Drew followed.
“You don’t understand, Mr. Kelleher. I want to be one of your drivers.”
“You’ve driven before?” Paddy didn’t turn as he examined the information on the tags stuck to the face of the tires.
“Yes, sir. For Freemont Oil.”
“Drew Thompson,” Paddy repeated thoughtfully. “That name sounds familiar, but I don’t recall seeing it in racing.”
“My father is Andrew Thompson.”
“Andrew Thompson, the import-export mogul?” Paddy swung around abruptly, making Drew take a step back.
“That would be him.”
Paddy’s brows pulled together curiously. “You come from a wealthy family. Why don’t they back you?”
“My mother doesn’t particularly like her youngest daughter risking her life for fun.”
“And your father?”
“He’s okay with it, but he knows what’ll happen if he opposes my mother.” She l
et out a short chuckle. “He doesn’t want to be left out in the cold, if you know what I mean.”
“I know exactly what you mean.” Paddy gave her a smile of acknowledgment. “We all try to deny it, but there’s nothing like the love of a good woman.”
“That’s for sure.” Drew thought about her former wife, Kimberly, and her stomach churned.
Paddy sat silently, surveying Drew for a few minutes. “Well, since we’ve been on this winning streak, just about everyone wants to be one of my drivers.”
“I know that, sir. But if I may be blunt, they’re not me.” Drew held her tongue and waited.
Paddy raised an eyebrow and then shifted, giving her a stifling stare. “What kind of qualifications do you have that others don’t?”
“I have instincts,” she said, relieved that she didn’t have to deal with the usual gender bias.
Paddy leaned back against the stack of tires and studied her carefully. Drew saw his close scrutiny. They were on the same page now. Paddy Kelleher was a racing legend, so the man had to know what Drew meant by instincts. Without them, Paddy couldn’t possibly have been the driver he was in his day. Plenty of drivers out there had experience, but drivers with instincts can practically drive a track blindfolded. The track becomes part of them. They can feel the pavement deep inside. With all the technology these days, finding a driver with instincts was a rarity.
“Found it,” Sam shouted, coming back out of the office. “It was buried underneath that pile of girlie magazines you call reading material.” Spotting Drew with her father, she stopped. “Sorry. I didn’t realize anyone else was here.”
“Samantha, this is Drew Thompson.”
“We’ve met,” she said nonchalantly, handing him the invoice.
“Good, because she wants to drive for me.”
“Really?” Her voice deepened with sarcasm.
“What do you think? The girl says she’s got instincts.”
“Instincts. I’ll believe that when I see it.” She let out a short breath. “Besides, I’m the next driver in line for this team, Paddy.” She crossed her arms across her chest, and Drew knew she wouldn’t be an easy sell. “Any car I fix, I drive.”