Pedal to the Metal: Love's Drivin' but Fate's Got the Pole (The 'Cuda Confessions Book 3) (70 page)

J
esse Hancock shuffled his feet across the welcome mat and stepped inside.

“Yo, ho, ho! Howdy, Hannahs. I see the grill’s still hot. There better be a steak left.”

“You gotta be fucking kidding me,” Jonny snapped as Jesse strutted into the room. On his way past the table, the famous driver snagged one of Robyn’s chairs and plopped it down with the seat back facing the room, at Dale’s side.

Still seated at the table, Phillip gaped at the legendary driver like he’d seen a ghost. Harry divided banana pudding into bowls. I noted he didn’t turn to grab a bowl for Hancock.

Straddling the seat, Jesse laid his arms along the back of the chair and grinned.

“What’s up, Jon?” He lifted a hand. “Caine. Colt.” His smile broadened. “And Francine England Tipton. The woman who just set NASCAR on it’s damn ear. Shelby, hell of a race, darlin’. I always get my money’s worth when you run.” He straightened and rubbed his hands together. “But, you cost me a damn fortune when you DQ’d.”

“Shouldn’t bet what you can’t afford to lose.” I lifted my chin. “That’s racin’.”

Robyn snorted. Marley ducked her chin, but I spied the grin.

Dale chuckled, but his gaze was on Jonny, who glared at Caroline’s sperm donor. Dale drove his fist against Jesse’s arm. “Hancock, you fuckin’ attention whore. Hush up. Jet’s got the floor.”

Jonny squared his shoulders and turned to little Shelby. The tot’s boots drummed the chair seat as she danced in a circle. “Grandpa! I’m givin’ a speech!”

Jesse clapped. “Alright. Let’s hear it, then, punkin’.”

In Jonny’s shoes, I’d have scratched my name from the race card and tried another day, but he plowed ahead, flashing the cocky fearlessness he used on the track.

Maybe he figured Jesse would never let him live it down if he flinched. I’d never spent one second thinking about the extra burden any NASCAR driver might bear by becoming Hancock’s son-in-law. Jonny’s expression told me he had.

“Oh, shit,” Robyn whispered.

Robyn was right. God did have a twisted sense of humor.

“Shelby, I wanted to ask your permission to marry your mama and make you my little girl.” Sweat glued his white cotton shirt to the spot between his shoulder blades, despite the air conditioning running full blast. Shelby looked from Jesse—who shook his head no, for fuck’s sake—to Robyn, whose mouth hung open, and finally to Caroline, who sat frozen.

The child’s light brows drew together. She returned her gaze to Jonny. “Will I be Shelby Jet then? Or Shelby Mason? ‘Cause Trina said it didn’t count less’n my name changed, too.”

“I have an overwhelming urge to pinch all of her little friends,” I leaned close to confide to Robyn.

“They do talk, don’t they?” Robyn shot back.

“Not right away,” Jonny explained. “Me and your mama have to round up a few folks to sign some really important papers first, then a judge has to say it’s okay. But, we’ll get started as soon as we can, because it will take some time. And the day we do get to change your name, we’ll throw a big party like this one, but with balloons, and you can invite all your friends.”

I thought him wise to leave the explanation about driving under his middle name—Jet—versus his legal last name for later.

“Okay.” Shelby flung her arms around Jonny’s neck. “I got me a daddy!” she shrieked in Jesse’s direction.

Jesse coughed into his fist. Seriously? I curled my nails into my palms. My hand print would look nice contrasted with the man’s faded, light hair.

Jonny pried the child loose. “How about we seal our promise with a ring, just like the one I have for your mama?”

I beamed at Caroline, touched to the core by Jonny’s gesture, but she sat rooted to the loveseat like a statue, gaze pinned to the carpet. If her cheeks got any redder, we could toast marshmallows. Marley punched her arm with a grin, but Caroline refused to smile.

Jonny tugged a ring box from the pocket of his slacks. He popped open the lid, earning a shriek from the child. “For me?”

“Damn, Jet, from here, that lil’ ole rhinestone’s throwin’ up rainbows like a damn diamond,” Jesse said.

“Did you not hear me say Shelby’s ring was just like the one I got Caroline?”

Caroline’s eyes rounded, but she didn’t look up.

“Oh, shit,” Robyn whispered.

“So sweet.” Francine tugged the tissue out of her pocket.

Jonny slid the ring on the little girl’s finger, then whisked her into his arm. My heart thrilled at the joy on my little namesake’s flushed face.

They sauntered to the spot in front of Caroline, where Jonny knelt again.

“I knew I loved you the minute you spit out a five-digit answer faster than Caine could enter the equation into his computer—and nailed it. I love you, Caroline. I want to build a life for the three of us, and tonight, Dale let me take that first big step. I want you by my side for all the other steps forward, and the inevitable steps backward. Will you marry me?” He laughed. “I had next Wednesday in mind, but if you’re busy, we can bump it up to Tuesday.”

I grabbed Francine’s hands, since Caine loitered beside Colt in the opening to the hallway. Darting a glance past Francine, to Robyn, I noted her wince.

The silence spun out. My heart hammered, for Jonny. Surely Caroline wasn’t having second thoughts? Should I have warned her weeks ago?

Shelby leaned over Jonny’s arm to pat her mother’s face. “Say it! Say he’s gonna be my daddy!”

“I can’t,” Caroline gasped at last. “I’m already married.” She finally raised her eyes to Jonny’s face.

“You’re what?” Jesse’s bark made me and Robyn both flinch. “Since when?”

“And you never thought to mention that?” Jonny’s low tone climbed with every word. “In all the time we’ve spent talking, you never thought to mention you were already married?”

“I thought we were just knockin’ boots.” Caroline’s low whisper resonated with misery.

Jonny yanked a matching ring box from his other pocket and flipped the lid open. “You pour your heart out to everybody you knock boots with?”

“Ain’t nobody else never slowed down long enough to listen.”

My heart bled for her honest admission.

“Outside.” Jonny pointed in the general direction of the front door.

Jesse got to his feet with a scrape of the chair. “How ‘bout takin’ this cat fight to the deck? I’m kinda usin’ the front yard for my speech.”

Hancock had a nerve, laughing at a time like this. If he kept that shit up.... I gave Dale a wide-eyed glare. Dale lifted his hands and shrugged, but I spied the grin he smothered. These guys were merciless—and they liked Jonny. A puff of sympathy for Kolby Barnes wafted past my heart.

“Fine.” Jonny vaulted to his feet and pulled Caroline off the loveseat. She snagged her purse and gave me a half-hearted wave.

“Uh, that’s our cue to leave, Shelby.” Robyn jumped to her feet and took the baby from Jonny’s arms.

“Well, hell. How’d I miss you?” Jesse boomed.

Since only a blind man could’ve missed Robyn’s scrubs, I glared at the jackass.

Robyn turned a wide smile in his direction. Sugar dripped from her soft tone. “Maybe you should carry shades to keep you from bein’ blinded by your own glory. Who’d be left to admire all your accomplishments then?”

Marley hunched over, turning her choked laughter into a cough. Francine pressed the tissue to her lips. Jesse glowered. Caine and Colt exchanged wide-eyed smirks.

“Goodnight, son. Caine.” Robyn rounded the table and snagged Shelby’s hand, taking my undying admiration with her on her path across the den. She smiled, ignoring the fuck out of Jesse Hancock, who made a huge production of getting to his feet and dragging the chair aside so Jonny and Caroline could pass.

“So nice seeing you again, Francine,” Robyn continued, with the poise of a queen. “Shelby, happy graduation, and I echo Dale’s sentiments on your world record. Long may she wave.” Robyn bent her head to smile at her grandchild. “Tell your grandpa goodnight and to stop bein’ a jerk. Bedtime for you, squirt.”

“Stop bein’ a jerk!” The child ran to her grandfather.

“Hey.” Dale flung out a hand, halting Caroline’s progress past him. “We’ll track Brandon’s ass down. Abandonment is grounds for divorce and you done got your separation time done in spades. Be over ‘fore you know it. But, in case y’all plan on tearin’ outta here, I need both of you at that thing Doris is doin’ for me tomorrow. It’s important.”

“’Kay.” Caroline bent and put her arms around Dale’s neck. “Glad you’re back, boss man.”

“Boss man?” Robyn’s plastered-on smile faltered.

The unhappy couple plowed through the side door. Before it slammed, Robyn pried little Shelby from Jesse’s arms. “Gotta go. Later, gator.”

Dale held out a hand to halt her, too. “I’d like you to be my date for what’s gonna end up bein’ my retirement dinner from Ridenhour. Seein’ as how you were by my side when I walked through the door, it seems fittin’.”

Even Jesse’s grin turned to a rounded O. My heart couldn’t take one more jolt. Caine and I stared at each other across the room. Dale was leaving Ridenhour? Tomorrow?  

“Trust me when I say, you’ll be glad you went.” I turned toward Dale again in time to see his wink. “And, we ain’t gotta knock boots or nothin’, but if you want to, mine still have steel toes.”

His outrageous wink propelled me into Francine’s arms, giggling as hard as Caroline had ever done. Marley loped past me, landing in the spot Robyn vacated.

“Man, I’m with David,” Marley whispered. “This beats the pants off watchin’ Jerry Springer.”

Francine slapped a hand to her mouth, shaking with laughter. 

“I have to work tomorrow, Dale.” Robyn tried to take another step.

“You just quit.” His eyes glinted. “Don’t argue with me, woman. I got better things in mind than you emptyin’ bed pans. And we ain’t gotta knock boots for you to take the spot. But, I need you with us. This ship’s too big for me and Shelby to sail.”

I’d kill for a glimpse of her face. Robyn tried to keep walking, but Dale refused to lower his hand. “God’s in the details, but the goddess is in the questions, right? Ain’t nobody never asked smarter questions than you, woman.”

“Oh, she questions a man, all right. I shudder to think how she can keep tabs on you in the digital age, Hannah.” Jesse barked with laughter.

“Jesse.” Robyn jerked to face him. “Stop embarrassin’ yourself. Can you not see the daughter you chose to raise? Think it impresses Marley to hear you taunt me about runnin’ between me and her mama to get that massive ego of yours massaged?”

“I really like her,” Francine whispered. “And double bonus points to Dale for quoting Gloria Steinem.”

I silently filled in the rest of the quote.
Once we begin to ask them, there’s no turning back.

Marley lifted a thumb, eyes pinned to the unfolding drama.

“I’ll think on it, Dale.” Robyn lifted Dale’s hand—and he let her. “If you see me, I’m there. If you don’t—figure it was too little, too late.” Robyn stalked through the door, dragging the waving tot behind.

“T
hat woman always could turn a mole hill into Mount Everest. Be careful what you ask for, brother.” Jesse stalked to the loveseat and flopped down.

“Pudding break!” Harry announced. “The Shelby Special comes with butter pecan ice cream on top. Phillip and I even found the creamery place that sells her favorite.”

While we ate the treat I hadn’t had in years, I gushed over the plans for my office/dressing room. Colt fetched the Mac so Francine and Robyn could see the plans.

When Jesse excused himself to use the bathroom, I whispered to Francine. “Sure he’s your choice?”

She darted Marley an apologetic smile. “I don’t have to like his sexist bullshit to know he’s the man the drivers respect. He knows the sport backward and forward. He’s lived—and chafed—under the rules. His ego will lead him to be fair, because explaining how fair he is will let him pontificate the most.”

I snorted. Butter pecan ice cream stung my nose.

“Best. Party. Ever.” Marley dropped her spoon into her empty bowl and patted Francine’s knee. “I see Shelby’s staked her claim, but I’m in the hunt for a mother figure myself.” She turned those dark-rimmed eyes on Francine full blast.

“So many children, so few stretch marks.” Francine preened, but squeezed Marley’s hand. “Done. Who knows? Next year might be a banner year for women in the competitive world of NASCAR.”

Francine peered at Dale. “I’m quite intrigued by this luncheon. I got an invitation, too, but I’m at a loss for how to accessorize. Do I need to don a flame-thrower or a fire extinguisher?”

“Might need Nomex,” Dale admitted.

“Flamethrower it is.” Francine nodded.

“So, how come you crashed this shindig, Hancock?” Dale asked when Jesse returned.

“Ah, Caine started some shit I come to finish.” Jesse eschewed a seat in favor of tipping a shoulder to the corner at the end of the hall. “When I told him ‘hell, no’, he sank about as low as any man’s ever done.”

Caine’s scowl made me think Hancock spent his retirement walking around leaking insensitivity. When Jesse made puppy dog eyes, I wasn’t swayed.

“Man sicced both my daughters on me. Together. At the same time.” Jesse curled the fingers of both hands into circles and held them to his eyes. “Imagine it, Hannah. Two pairs of big ol’ hazel eyes. Bawlin’ and squawlin’. Beggin’ me to sell that damn ‘Cuda to Caine.”