Page 10 of Wrecking Boundaries (SteelTrack Racing #2)

Jake wants to stay the night. The entire night.

His text message said it was a bad day, which I guessed was just an excuse. Instead, he made only one comment on my appearance, ensuring it was both flattering and appropriate.

Allowing him to stay overnight is a horrible idea.

“You can stay,” I say.

He wilts with relief and pulls his shoes off to lie across the bed. “Thank you.”

His outer shirt is next, leaving him in a thin white t-shirt. The sheer material hints at the muscular frame underneath. I focus on his face, which only helps a little. “Do you want to tell me, or is it off-limits?”

“It’s business.” Jake hesitates and then glowers. “The hell with that rule. I will be a perfect gentleman tonight, and that’s plenty. Either I spill my bullshit, or I make a pass. Pick one.”

“Spill. Tell me everything,” I say. It sounds like the decision is easy, even though it isn’t.

His text wasn’t a trick, after all. Positivity and confidence usually radiate off Jake, with him unaware of it. None of that is present right now.

“I start second tomorrow. It puts me right up front.”

I nod, having also seen the starting lineup. Boone starts eleventh while Julian is further down. “You’ll do well tomorrow. This is a good track for you.”

Jake’s eyes narrow, but he doesn’t respond to that slip. For someone who claims not to care, I shouldn’t know his track performance. “I hope so,” is his only response. “My new rookie teammate is decent enough. We would never be soul mates, but he’s not normally a giant dick.”

Jake believes I’m trying to stay away from him, and while he’s correct, Joey Foster is the other reason I avoid BP Racing at every track. He wants to know why I’ve sworn off race car drivers. My first mistake failed out of motorsports. My second mistake weaseled himself into a contract with BP Racing .

I was naked in bed the last time we ever spoke. He compared me to Marilyn Monroe and then called me a bitch. The shame of it, my gullibility over the affair, is still raw.

No one, particularly Jake, will ever know.

“Typical rookie overconfidence,” I say. Jake relays their conversation, none of which shocks me. “He wants to be the next Jake Knowles. That’s my guess.”

“Well, he can’t.” Jake points at his chest, a bit of his usual bluster back on display. “There’s only one, and I’m not going anywhere.”

I smile sadly because it’s true. Motorsports is Jake’s life. “Tell me the rest.”

“The boss man had a heated argument with Pierce Boylan.”

“His partner? I’ve seen him once and know almost nothing about him. A business guy who dabbles in racing for fun. Do you know what about?”

“He wouldn’t say.” Jake tells me the rest of that conversation, along with the later one with his sister. His recall is impressive. “Is it weird? Nothing was said, and I wouldn't have noticed if my contract weren’t up. It’s weird, right?”

“Let me think.” An argument isn’t necessarily cause for concern. I’ve been around enough to know tempers flare and flicker right back out. One owner concerns himself with the technical aspects of racing, while the other cares about the business side. Bert has a loud personality, which can be dismissed as mere swagger. An argument between them could be nothing at all. “His nostalgia concerns me.”

“You think he’s going to quit?” Jake asks. He doesn’t believe it’s a possibility.

“I always figured his funeral would be on a raceway. There’s still no action on your contract?”

Jake shakes his head and lifts a dismissive hand. “Not a thing. You think it won’t be renewed?” He looks down at his tiramisu like it turned rotten. “No way. I’m too awesome. It isn’t happening. Rainbows out of my ass.”

That last statement is confusing, but if that’s the type of pep talk he enjoys, we can work with it. “All the pretty colors of the rainbow.” He scowls, and I laugh. “You’re not wrong, Jake. They would be foolish to cut you. First, another team would scoop you up, and they know it. You’re famous, and you play well on camera.”

Jake fans himself. “This is good stuff. Keep it going.”

I roll my eyes but keep it up. “You’re talented and skilled. A few races at the beginning of one season don’t define a career. You’ll have several more.”

“I’m swooning over here. This is so sexy, I can barely stand it.” He pulls his white t-shirt up before I block him. “It’s hot in here,” he says with mock innocence but pulls his shirt back down.

“You’re adequate—perfectly acceptable,” I say, wanting to get a little of my own back. “You show up on time and never spilled your coffee during a company meeting—not even once.”

“Wow, that’s good,” Jake says, pointing at me. His cocky grin is back in place. “It doesn’t even work because you think I’m a legend. An absolute superstar. ”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” I say and grow serious. “If they are talking, it isn’t about you. I promise. It’s something else.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know. Let me think,” I say, but I have no ideas except that I should have picked up extra tiramisu. Our plates are empty. If I were alone, it would be tempting to lick mine clean because I’m pathetic like that. I’m not aware of any rumors or media coverage. “I’ll ask Boone if he has heard anything. He’s plugged into some owner’s gossip. My dad, too.”

Jake looks down at the bedspread and doesn’t respond.

“Reporters might offer something,” I say, pretending not to notice his reaction.

“I could talk to them,” he volunteers. “Derek might get some spotters or pit crew teams drinking. You never know what might drop.”

“No, don’t do that,” I blurt out. “I can play detective without anyone paying attention, while you can’t. People will notice if Jake Knowles acts like there is a problem, but they won’t notice me at all.”

He strokes my cheek. “Don’t put yourself down in my presence,” he says sharply. “No, that’s wrong. Don’t put yourself down, ever, whether or not I’m around. You’re fucking hot.” The words feel harsh, but his voice is sweet.

I don’t respond. “Let me find out. Someone always talks.”

He nods, picking up on my discomfort, but doesn’t push. “I’ll clean up, and then we can watch a bad cable movie. I’m pretty sure there’s a law about watching bad cable movies in hotel rooms.”

We end up lying on top of the thick hotel bedroom comforter, choosing one of the lighter blankets as a cover instead. All the lights, save a bedside lamp, are off. Even a barren hotel room can be cozy when the right person is with you.

Jake scrolls through the channels. “Not funny. Boring. Documentary? Heck no, I want to live in ignorance. Knowledge is overrated.”

“Your sister didn’t call you to complain,” I blurt out. “She called because you’re her big brother.”

He stops scrolling. “Believe me, it’s hard to forget.” A lock of Jake’s hair falls over his forehead, and my fingers itch to run through it. “I have four younger sisters.”

Four? I knew Jake was the oldest, but that’s a surprise. He rarely talks about his family; I assumed there were only two.

“Here’s a story for you. When I was little, I found and read one of my parent’s books. One part terrified me.”

“Was it porn?” Jake wags his eyebrows before twisting his body across mine so his head rests on my stomach.

I feel exposed, but his expression stops me from shoving him away. “Gross, no. It was mysteries: UFOs, Bigfoot sightings, that sort of thing. Well, one part was on spontaneous human combustion. Have you heard of that?”

“People who randomly burn up? It’s fake.”

“To a little girl, it’s terrifying. I had nightmares and was afraid to go to bed because it could happen to me. My parents tried to explain how it wasn’t real and how I was completely safe. They put in a night light, but that didn’t work. My big brother solved it for me. That’s why your sister reached out.”

“What did Boone do?”

I chuckle at the memory. Boone and I regularly verbally spar. I’ll tell the world he’s annoying, while Boone insists I’m a nuisance. Truthfully, I couldn’t ask for a better older brother.

“He took me seriously. He put a giant piece of plywood in front of every fireplace, which is funny because it’s still wood. ”

“Every fireplace?” Jake’s eyes are big. “How many do you have? Because one is a normal amount.”

“Three, I think. They moved last year. Anyway, he threw out every candle and matchstick. Then, he filled buckets with water and put up a tent in the middle of his bedroom.”

“You had bedrooms big enough for tents?”

I keep going. “He put in sleeping bags and promised to keep watch all night. If anything happened, he had the buckets of water to keep me safe. Looking back, Boone probably found the idea of dumping buckets of water on me hilarious. Still, he took me seriously, and I trusted him. My nightmares didn’t come back. Nightmares are nothing when your older brother looks out for you.”

“That’s a sweet story,” he says, and I believe him. “I can see why you are close. I’ll call her tomorrow and take care of everything.”

I give in and stroke his hair. Jake’s eyes close. “Find us something to watch.” I remove my hand before any spell between has a chance to grow.

“My feelings for you are genuine, even though you continue to deny that fact.” His eyes open, and he nuzzles my stomach. “You feel soft. Your skin and hair, everything. I always loved to touch you. I miss it.”

“Jake.” His name is a warning, but it’s a feeble one.

He turns away, though his head doesn’t move, and I don’t force it.

“One bad cable movie coming up,” he says, which turns out to be a Law and Order rerun. Very magical.

We sit in silence, watching the bad guy get caught. He doesn’t move at all.

I whisper his name and get no response. I try again, and still nothing. Craning my neck offers enough of a glimpse to realize he’s sound asleep, and I’m stuck.

At least my pajamas are already on. I turn off the bedside light and pick up my phone to set an earlier alarm. Jake needs to leave early for his race tomorrow.

Martin didn’t send a single DM the entire evening. I dither before deciding he can wait until tomorrow.

Sarah: Maddie?!!? I need you.

Maddie: This is Boone. Sorry, she’s in the shower. Do you want her to call you when she gets out?

Absolfuckinglutely not.

Sarah: It’s not a big deal. I’ll see her soon. Good luck tomorrow.

Maddie: Don’t need it. I’m already spectacular.

I roll my eyes and concentrate on another episode because it’s better than replaying the evening.