Downshift Series, #1

by Bonnie R. Paulson

  Her serious delivery held his chest in a vice that kept squeezing, tightening, and then suddenly released with the word “love”. Was it possible that she could feel something like that for him? Even with all his awful screw ups, could she possibly feel something for him? The determination in her gaze and her heartfelt emotional reply rekindled JT's determination to make her proud and to finish what he started.

  He licked his lips, glancing at her mouth before he agreed. “Okay. I can do this. I want to.” There was so much in his words. Would she catch all of the meaning?

  Kelsey nodded her head tightly before turning on her heels. Before she could get far, JT reached out and grabbed her elbow with a firm, but soft grasp. He pulled her close, her back facing him. The soft scent of vanilla wafted over him as her hair moved. He breathed her scent in with his eyes half-closed.

  His words came out huskier than he wanted, but he didn’t have control over his body in that moment. “For the record, I think it's love, and it’s not just on your side.”

  JT'S BIRTHDAY DAWNED bright and warm with the promise of a whole new future ahead of him. The week since Mike had threatened to show up and take everything from him had passed in a flurry of work and progress.

  Mike had never shown. Two days and three days had passed and JT had worked hard on those days to make sure his extra nerves were put to good use. Surprisingly, he didn’t get nearly as sore as he’d been the first week. Kelsey pushed him hard and with activities that he was in love with. Plus, being around her kept the pain at a tolerable level. Now that he’d reached twenty-seven, relatively unscathed by his father, JT could drink his coffee without the threat of his father destroying the taste.

  Kelsey had run downstairs to help her grandmother make pancakes for their nurse. She was trying so hard to be everywhere at once. Since they’d accepted the odd nature of their relationship as both client and caregiver, but maybe even something more, they’d eased into an easy rapport. He grinned as he thought of their agreement. Once the race in Salt Lake was over, he’d be able to pursue her more as a woman and not hire her as a nurse anymore.

  Kelsey hadn’t stopped glowing. JT wasn’t into glowing, but he couldn’t deny the ever-present grin he wore. The woman made him happy.

  A knock at the door pulled his attention. Usually Mac and Blake showed up like thunderstorms on his birthday. The tradition they had established long ago had first started on BMX bikes when they were younger, eventually moving up to cars. Then, when they got older and had money, they would fly each other around the world for their birthdays.

  JT couldn't go far because of his injuries and they were all focused on training for the races, but he was looking forward to being whisked away for a movie or something. Maybe that time they could take Kelsey along.

  He opened the door cautiously. The year before Blake had attacked JT with a can of shaving cream and Mac had thrown rice at him to make it stick. They were brats, but they were JT’s. The smile froze on his face and the cocky comment choked in the back of his throat.

  Mike wore a smarmy grimace that he liked to pass off as a smile above a sharp three-piece maroon suit. He stood there with his hands on his hips and his elbows like a Bantam rooster. “Well, you broke our contract, so now I get to sue you. Happy birthday.”

  Something special about the day and what it represented broke through JT's original fear of his father. He had no ties to the man except for the name. As far as JT was concerned there were more than enough Thompson's out there. He’d pick a random guy on Facebook and claim him as his father.

  JT lifted his chin, his words cold. “I'm sorry, do I know you?”

  The lack of fear and intimidation on JT's face must have penetrated the cocky gall of his father. Mike’s own smile slipped a notch and he dropped a hand from his hip. He stepped forward with a finger in the air. “Nice try, I'm taking everything. You are in breach of contract. I'll sue you until you have absolutely nothing.”

  JT's laugh surprised even him. “Go ahead and try. You have no grounds. I’ve held my end of the bargain. When I got injured, instead of taking care of me and making sure my sponsors stick where they’re supposed to, or even making sure my races weren’t affected and that my standing with the AMA was fine, you ran. How does that look? Newly injured client... son, actually, and you ran only to show up way after the fact and blackmail me. Blackmail. Do you think that anyone would give a blackmailer my money? Or anything else?”

  He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in before speaking. “You’re not exactly the most legitimate of managers. As far as I'm concerned, today's the day when your contract is no longer in effect. You’ve had more than your fair share for compensation. I don't want anything to do with you. If I see you again, I'll call the cops. I’ll file a restraining order and then I’ll file a lawsuit against you. Did you hear that? I-will-sue-you for all of the back money that you've taken that was above and beyond your rate.” JT didn't know where his spine came from, but he was grateful to finally find the guts he knew he had.

  Maybe there was magic in the day, or maybe Kelsey made him see he was so much more than a bank account.

  After Mike realized JT wasn't backing down, he snarled and turned. He walked toward the road, no car in the drive. He must have ordered a taxi to drop him off and planned on taking JT's. Who knew how Mike’s mind worked?

  As JT watched his father walk away, the uncertainties of a tumultuous past slid away with him. Kelsey's hands wrapped around his waist, her touch was firm and familiar. She hugged him from behind and leaned her face against his shoulders.

  “That was pretty impressive. Are you okay?”

  He didn’t know how much she’d seen or heard, but her validation squelched the niggling of doubt that his heart tried to shove inside. He hadn’t done anything wrong. In fact, he’d finally done something right. JT closed the door without looking back.

  Turning in Kelsey's arms, he softly put his hands on the sides of her face. “I've never been better. I feel free. Are we ready? My race is tomorrow.”

  He was nervous, and the only person he could be honest with about his anxiety was Kelsey. He needed the safety to be raw with someone and Kelsey didn't judge him. She didn't make him jump through hoops, unless, of course, that was the exercise for the day.

  “Let's get started. It's an easier day, but I'm still gonna run you.”

  Her grin as she grabbed his hand and tugged him inside left nothing to be desired and everything to tempt him.

  Chapter 16

  Kelsey

  The AMA races in Salt Lake were larger and louder than the small fair races Kelsey had gone to with JT. The TV didn’t do the races justice.

  Driving to Salt Lake had only been a little over eight hours in the chartered bus that JT, Mac, and Blake shared with Eva and Mac’s dad, Brian. JT had invited Kelsey along and they’d all slept on plush leather reclining seats while the night had passed by.

  Kelsey’s hand in JT’s had made for a very quick night, but she was feeling the effects of traveling. She continually watched JT when they arrived to make sure he was feeling okay, but with checking into separate rooms upon arriving, he’d disappeared with everything else expected of him.

  Brian escorted her to the staging area prior to the races before he ran off to do his “managing”.

  Unsure of how JT was doing, Kelsey reached for her phone to text him. As she hit send she remembered he’d told her he didn't keep his phone on him when preparing for races.

  His phone was probably at the hotel.

  She showed the special pass Brian had given her to the guards and followed the information signs down to the loading area.

  So many men and women milling around with Fox gear and LBZ labeled clothing. An energy drink logo plastered most of the walls and banners. Vendors lined the walls and sold memorabilia of all sorts to take home after the races. Mugs, backpacks, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and even underwear were all covered in dirt bikes and the faces of the racers.

&nb
sp; Unable to help herself, Kelsey bought a small red dirt bike charm dangling on a thin chain. She hooked it on and patted it in place two inches below her the base of her neck.

  Kelsey would have special access as JT’s medical personnel, but that didn't mean she was any less nervous for him. He would be racing any minute. Maybe the necklace would be good luck.

  The announcer’s voice boomed over the intercom system. “Next race, 450 Pro-Series, in-line one and back from injury, JT Thompson. He's looking pretty good out there, as usual. It’s as if nothing happened. Blake Stone and Mac Hudson are on his sides. This is shaping up to be an incredible season with all your favorites!”

  Nerves tickled her stomach. She couldn’t watch and opted instead to retrieve a big soft pretzel. She didn’t want to chew through all of her fingernails before noon.

  Ambling along hallways lined with cement-blocked walls, Kelsey followed the signs down to the team area, coming to stand at the edge of the arena. On the other side of the bars, the pit crews hustled getting ready for the finish line. The loud roar and grumble of the people as racers passed was like a wave sensation. Bright lights and flashing cameras created a dizzying effect.

  Kelsey had never been immersed in so many people in one place. She preferred the small town feel of southern California and couldn't understand why anyone would want to live in all that or be around all the crazy fans screaming and shouting for the racers. Her racer.

  That was until she saw JT on the track. His bike sailed over the tabletop jump. She would recognize those plastics anywhere. He had been practicing on the bike the last few days and she had become intimately close to the ride.

  Whoops were going to be the hardest sections for him on the track. At his house, the whoops were repetitive along the race track. The multiple bumps in short succession had been hard on his ankle and wrist. She couldn't imagine how his ribs felt.

  All the telekinetic tape she’d asked the physical therapist to apply, along with some of his still-present bandages, made him a walking Band-Aid. He wasn’t one-hundred percent, but he didn’t need to be. He just needed to get through the race.

  Kelsey didn’t even care if he won as long as he was happy and tried his best. As trite as it sounded.

  Before she knew it, the race was over. JT crossed the checkered flag line first, the waving square brandished as if the man were declaring his surrender with the wrong flag.

  He won.

  She stood there, with her hands over her mouth and her eyes wide. He had done it. He had done it. They had done it.

  Kelsey waited in the docking area by the truck for him to show up. She didn’t feel like watching the bikini clad card holders fawn over the racers and winners at the stand. The trailer was getting loaded by some pit crew and she knew JT and the others would join her soon. But the knowledge that he’d be along soon didn’t help the time go by any faster.

  “There's my girl.” JT's grin grew more as he walked towards her. Fatigue shouted under his eyes, just as she had suspected it would. His excitement didn’t dim under the pain.

  She leaned into his embrace and murmured against the soft, warm skin of his neck just below his ear. “You did it. You won.” Was that the right time she told JT she had to start school?

  How could she tell him that over the last couple weeks she had fallen even further in love with him? Further than a crush. His ambition and work ethic didn’t just carry through his dirt biking. He maintained a clean home, despite her earlier assumption that he might have a housekeeper, and he did his own landscaping. Both because he liked to and he was particular about the way things looked.

  Seeing that he didn’t give up either thing cemented her emotions for him. Fighting was one thing, but giving up wasn't an option. He'd never quit. Even when he had gone to Blake’s, it hadn't been because he was quitting on her or his dream. It was because he wanted to give her a break. He thought she was quitting.

  Like his mom.

  As long as they didn't quit each other, they had so much that they could offer one other.

  “I won more than you know.” His lips moved against hers as he talked and then sealed the kiss with a loud smacking sound. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up, swinging her around in a wide circle.

  Kelsey couldn't help shrieking with joy.

  Chapter 17

  JT

  With his arm around Kelsey and the trophy loading on his truck, JT didn't have anything to complain about. Even the bruises had faded enough that he didn’t hurt quite as bad as he thought he would. He'd already signed with his sponsors for the next season and picked up three more, but for after the AMA season. They wanted to get on board with his freestyle career.

  His freedom had gotten around with Blake and Mac talking up the fact that Mike wouldn’t be around anymore. He hadn’t been a favorite on the circuit. JT was free to make his own choices with artifice or hiding. Freestyle was exactly the right move for him and his career.

  He looked around at his friends who had come in second and third to him that afternoon. That wasn’t usually the case. They often tossed the trophies around like confetti. One time Mac, one time Black, one time JT, and so on.

  Smiling, JT lifted his soda and waited for Mac, Blake, and his girl to do the same. “To new beginnings.”

  His girl. Just thinking about all the possibilities ahead of them gave him a lightheadedness that he wasn’t prepared for. He gripped Kelsey’s shoulder a little tighter as he waited for it to subside, but the euphoria didn’t fade and he realized he didn’t want it to. He glanced down and noticed her new necklace, a red dirt bike. She wore his bike. His smile grew broader.

  Mac grinned and clunked his can against JT’s. “New beginnings? We're just getting started. You're starting a new career. Though, not until the seasons over, I’d like to point out. I have you two slotted for nationals with me.” His grin faded and eyed them both as if they might try to disappear on him. “I’m serious, guys. You’re doing this with me. I don’t want to retire with any other idiots.”

  “I’m not the idiot talking about new beginnings.” Blake glanced between Kelsey and JT, disbelief in his arched eyebrow and the scorn dripping from his words. “You're just finishing up a whole load of crap with your dad and Kelsey has school starting up. You guys don’t even know what it’s like to really date yet. You aren’t sure. So how do you know it’s new beginnings? What's new about that?”

  The sudden outburst came out of nowhere and JT cocked his head to the side. He understood Blake had a hard time with family and anyone new to their group. Plus, Blake came from a broken home similar to JT’s but with no one around since he was about eight. He’d moved in with Mac when Brian had found out about his circumstances.

  There’d always been a red-hot angry man just waiting to come out.

  “Why are you so bitter? Lighten up, Blake. It’s not attractive. You’ll always be alone with that permanent scowl.” Mac rolled his eyes and waved at Eva as she sauntered up.

  Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she barely offered Blake a glance. “What’s Blake whining about now?” She smiled and it should’ve taken the edge off, but she caught sight of his face and her teasing grin faded. She shot a glance at JT and Mac. “What happened?”

  Blake’s face reddened and he turned, tossing one last glance at JT. “Whatever. I’m just saying, you’re not even sure what you’re feeling is real. Why waste time on something that isn’t certain?” He rolled his eyes. “I’m outta here.”

  JT shrugged. Sipping his drink, he glanced at Kelsey with his arm across her shoulder. While he answered Blake, he looked down into Kelsey's eyes. “I knew from the moment I woke up from my concussion, Kelsey was the one for me. That's more than I can say about anything else. As far as I’m concerned? That’s a new beginning worth holding onto.”

  They ignored the mock puking noises from their friends as they tipped their faces closer together.

  Her answering smile warmed inside of him. It didn't matter what hap
pened, or where he went, or what he did. As long as he had Kelsey with him nothing could go wrong.

  He’d never have to downshift again.

  FULL THROTTLE is NEXT in the Downshift series and you won’t want to miss the star-crossed love between Blake and Eva – yep! Blake’s best-friend’s little sister. Things are going to get crazy! Stay tuned!

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