Author: Jaci Burton

“You can’t really mean to go out with him.”

“Last time I checked, I’m over the age of twenty-one and you are not related to me.

In fact, this is the first time today you’ve even spoken to me. Besides, you made it pretty clear last night you want nothing to do with me, so butt out of my personal life.” She pivoted and headed toward the parking lot, knowing she was acting like a hurt girlfriend, but these were her emotions and she was going with it.

Gray followed, his long strides easily staying in step with her short, angry ones.

“Don’t trust him. He may seem like a nice guy, but he’s got issues.”

And Gray didn’t? She waved her hand in dismissal at him. “I think I can handle myself just fine.”

When she got to her car, she unlocked her door and started to open it. Gray shut it and leaned against it, commandeering her attention. “I’m serious about Cal McClusky, Evelyn. His only goal is to win, and he knows there’s something going on between you and me. That’s the only reason he wants to go out with you.”

Could he be more insulting? “So you’re saying I have nothing to offer a man?”

He rolled his eyes. “That’s not what I said at all.”

“Get out of my way, Gray. And stay out of my personal life.”

Anger flared in his eyes. “Why? You’re in mine. Shouldn’t that give me the same right to be in yours?”

“No. Now move.”

He hesitated, then took a step back. She slid in her seat, started the car, and drove off, a vision of Gray standing in the parking lot firmly planted in her rearview mirror.

NINE

THIS HAD BEEN SUCH A STUPID IDEA. SHE WAS ABOUT as interested in going out with Cal McClusky tonight as she was in switching political affiliations. But she’d had to be stubborn and show Gray that he couldn’t boss her around.

Since when did she get so reactive? She’d always been so calm and unruffled, the perfect demeanor for a career in politics. A few days around Gray Preston and she was acting like a fourteen-year-old.

And now she was going out on a date with a guy she wasn’t even attracted to. A nice enough guy, but still, a man she normally would have given a polite no to. In fact, she had said no, until Gray had gone all caveman on her and started issuing commands, as if she were some stuffing-brained Barbie Doll. That had set her off, and now here she stood, in front of her closet, wondering what the hell she was going to wear, when instead she could be curled up in bed reading her favorite Maya Banks romance, or unwinding by watching reality TV, her guiltiest pleasure. Or she could go over her boss’s agenda for the next month. You know, performing the functions of her damn job like she should be doing.

Ugh.

She chose a basic black dress with a covered neckline and short sleeves, finishing off the outfit with a bland pair of black pumps. Conservative, not sexy, and would in no way lead Cal to believe she was giving him any signals. In fact, it was the perfect outfit for attending a funeral, or an appearance on the congressional floor.

What a boring outfit. She wouldn’t be caught dead wearing this thing on a date— not typically, anyway.

The poor guy. He’d been so nice to her, too.

When he knocked on her hotel room door, she grabbed her purse and her phone, noting the time.

He was punctual, too. She pasted on a smile. “Cal.”

“Evelyn.”

He wore jeans, a button-down shirt, boots, and a cowboy hat. Even in her funeral dress, she was overdressed.

“Am I overdressed?”

“No. You look gorgeous.”

He had to be lying. She looked like a freakin’ pilgrim.

He held out his arm for her. She shut the door and he led her toward his car, which was a pickup truck, so he had to help her climb into that, too.

“Sorry. I trailer it and bring it everywhere we go. It’s my favorite ride.”

“It’s no problem,” she said as she buckled up her seat belt, then held on when he fired up the engine, which sounded as loud and rumbly as a race car.

“Sweet, huh?” he asked with a grin.

She offered another benign smile. “You bet.”

Dinner was at some swanky steakhouse, dark and private. He seemed to know the people there, because they led him to a private, dark corner booth. The waitress set him up with a beer and whiskey as soon as they were seated.

Evelyn felt the beginnings of a headache in her temples, so she ordered an iced tea.

“Sure you don’t want anything stronger, honey?”

“No, the tea is fine for me.”

“Maybe after dinner, then. I thought we’d hit a club.”

Oh. Joy. “So, tell me about your race career.”

He leaned back and puffed up his chest. “Won the championship three years ago.

Third in the standings right now, so it’s only a matter of time before I win it again this year.”

“That’s great. I’m sure a lot of that is having a good race car and a great team behind you.”

The waitress came over with menus, which Cal pushed to the side. “You might as well bring me another round, honey. It’s been a long day. And keep ’em comin’, too.”

The waitress nodded and Cal downed his beer in about four quick swallows, then focused his attention back on Evelyn.

“A good team is great and all that, but a lot of my success comes from having a damn good driver behind the wheel. I didn’t get where I am by not knowing what the hell I’m doing. I’ve worked my ass off the past five years, ever since I got to drive in the big series. Winning the championship three years ago has given me a taste of what that’s like. I want it again.”

She heard this over and over again in politics. Winning was everything. The competitive spirit fired the blood of so many politicians, so this wasn’t new to her.

“Drive and ambition will take you a long way.”

The waitress sat Cal’s second beer down in front of him, along with the shot. He downed the shot first, then took two quick gulps of beer. “Like I said honey, keep ’em comin’. It was hot out there today.” He gave the waitress a wink and she scurried off.

Evelyn arched a brow and made a point of opening her menu. “Would you like to order dinner?”

“Not just yet, darlin’.” He tipped his beer to his lips and took a couple more long swallows, emptying it.

Uh, wow. She took a sip of tea.

“So where was I?”

Talking about himself, mostly. Who was this guy? He’d been so nice to her that afternoon, so charming and such a gentleman. All that evaporated as he spent the next hour not only drinking heavily, but regaling her with stories of his superb driving ability, and his entire life story, not once asking her anything about herself. For all he cared, she could have been a stranger he’d picked up on the side of the road and brought along to dinner. Not that there was any dinner on the horizon for that matter, either. She was starving and about to fling herself on the table closest to them just to steal a slice of their bread.

After about two and a half hours, Cal was three sheets to the wind, Evelyn was starving, and it was clear there was going to be no dinner. He was slurring every other word and she was certain if she asked him her name, he’d have no clue who she was.

The waitress seemed familiar with him, because she patiently came back to see if Cal wanted a refill.

Hunkered back in the booth and barely able to keep himself upright, he nodded yes.

“I think he’s had enough,” Evelyn said. “I’ll take a steak salad to go, with a lot of bread on the side. And please bring the check.”

The waitress gave her a knowing smile. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Hey, the party’s just gettin’ shtarted, honey,” Cal said, his eyelids drooping as he slunk back against the booth. “Let’s go danshing.”

“Honey,” she said, exaggerating the endearment. “Your party is over for the night.”

“Are you sure? I could show you shuch a good time.” He made a valiant try at winking, though he used both of his eyes.

She’d wager a month’s salary he couldn’t get it up right now if she stripped naked and danced on the table.

She paid the bill and a couple of the waiters helped her hoist Cal into the passenger side of his truck. She fired up the vibrating tank and drove it back to the track, grateful she’d paid attention to where they were going when they made their way to the restaurant.

Getting him into the truck had been easy, since she’d had help. Getting him out might be more difficult. Though she wasn’t at all adverse to leaving him in his truck to sleep it off tonight. Dickhead.

She parked the truck and looked over at him. “Cal.”

He was slumped over in the seat and snoring. She shoved at him. “Cal.”

He snorted once, then fell over against the window and continued snoring.

Rolling her eyes, she gave up, slid out of the truck, and shut the door, figuring someone must be out and about who could help her get the moron out of the truck and into his trailer.

She walked to the end of the parking lot and saw a dark shape coming toward her.

Her stomach twisted in knots when she realized who it was.

Gray.

Shit.

*

GRAY’S BROWS KNIT WHEN HE SAW EVELYN WALKING alone from Cal’s truck. He’d hated that she was going out with that asshole tonight, knowing Cal’s reputation. He quickened his step until he met her halfway.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Cal’s not, though. Can you help me?”

He looked over his shoulder at the truck. “What’s wrong with Cal?”

“Drunk and passed out.”

That didn’t surprise him. Cal’s drinking problem wasn’t a big secret. “What happened?”

She told him about dinner—or their lack of dinner.

“Leave him,” Gray said.

“I can’t just leave him in there.”

“Sure you can. I’ll call his crew chief and he and the guys can pull him out of the truck and shove him in his trailer. I’m sure as hell not doing it.”

“Well, hang on. I have food in there. I sat through almost three hours of his droning on and drinking. I’m starving.”

“I’ll walk with you.”

She gave a quick nod and he walked with her to Cal’s truck.

“Give me his keys. I’ll toss them in the truck and grab your food.” He opened the door and took a look at Cal, wishing he could give the douchebag a swift kick in the nuts for treating Evelyn this way, but since she was right there, he figured that wouldn’t be a good idea. Instead, he grabbed her bag of food and shut the door.

Then he pulled out his phone and called Fred, Cal’s crew chief, explaining Cal’s current predicament. After a few well-deserved expletives, Fred said they’d be out in a few to retrieve Cal and put him to bed.

He turned to Evelyn. “They’ll come get him.”

“Thank you.” She looked around. “I guess I need a ride back to my hotel.”

“I’ll take you.” He looked at her bag. “What have you got in there?”

“Steak salad.”

“Come on back to my trailer and eat first. You must be hungry.”

“Beyond hungry.”

He motioned with his head. “Come on. I’ve got pop in the trailer.”

She hesitated for a second, then nodded. “Okay. Thank you.”

He didn’t know why he invited her to come back with him, other than he felt bad for the way Cal had behaved with her, and for the way he had acted today. He’d been angry about last night, but that didn’t give him the right to treat a woman the way he’d treated her today. He’d shut her out, and given Cal the opening to pounce. He took responsibility for that. There were nice guys in his sport, and the opportunistic type.