Page 28 of Wrecking Boundaries (SteelTrack Racing #2)

Texas Motor Speedway

“What are you watching?” Derek asks as he enters the RV.

“Last year’s race, so we can repeat last year’s win.” I pause the video and note the backpack on his shoulder. Derek always travels light. “I didn’t expect you to arrive until tomorrow morning.”

“I flew in early with Bert.” He plops the backpack on the floor and pulls an energy drink from the fridge. “You mind if I bunk here?” Derek has spent more time in my RV than I have lately, which is fine since it means the thing is getting some use.

“I’m leaving soon, so make yourself at home.” I turn the race back on. “Look at me out there. Outstanding. Absolute king.”

I won the first stage and led laps throughout last year’s race. Boone Rivers almost caught me at the end until I pulled ahead and took the win. Hopefully, this year will be a repeat.

“You going to see her?” Derek asks me.

The casual question doesn’t match his tone. Derek views my relationship as a joke, some hilarious revenge scheme against Boone Rivers. I haven’t bothered correcting him.

I pause the race a second time. “She’s with her friend Maddie right now, and I’m gone as soon as she sends a text.” My phone dings, and I don’t even bother to look. “That’s my signal.”

“Hold up, Jake.” Yeah, there’s no mistaking Derek’s tension this time.

“What’s wrong?” I turn the TV off and try to hide my impatience. “Is this about BP Racing closing down? We’ll figure that out; it’s not a big deal.” I smile at him, hoping to provide some relief. Spotters usually follow drivers, although there are exceptions to that rule. Plus, Derek was shockingly mellow when he first heard the rumors.

“Bert told me you have a spot with Front Row if you want it,” Derek says without preamble. “He told me like he expected I knew.”

“He told me about the offer last week. Hold on a minute.”

Sarah: Come with dessert, or don’t bother showing up.

Jake: Be there as soon as I can.

Shit. Shit. Based on our talk, I figured Bert would stay quiet. He meant to reassure Derek about the company closure, assuming we would stay together.

Oops.

“I should have told you.” I don’t offer a smile this time because it’s true. Keeping it from Derek when he’s also facing a job loss is a shitty thing to do to a friend. “That was a bad call, and I’m sorry.”

“You going to take it?” Derek asks instead of responding to my apology.

“If I have to.”

He raises a hand, confused. “If. That word is doing a lot of heavy lifting.”

I hoped to tell him everything as if it were a done deal. All we need is some capital investment and one person to get us over the edge, and it’s happening.

“Okay, I’ll let you in. No one at BP Racing , not even Bert, knows this. I plan to buy a charter and launch a team on my own. I want to use Front Row as a manufacturing partner. They can help build our cars until we can build out capabilities on our own.”

“Does Front Row know this?”

“No, it’s still on paper until I find the funding.” I wipe my face. This feels like a sales pitch, a strangely uncomfortable one. I’ve worked with plenty of sponsors and can charm them pretty damned well, but a business pitch? This is unfamiliar territory. “I’m very confident it will happen. We already have people scheduled to approach.”

“You’re talking like there’s more than one of you, which means this has been in the works for a while.” Derek frowns.

“The beginning of the season,” I say, and Derek’s eyes bulge. He sits forward, agitated. I’d be annoyed if my coworker hid this from me as well. “I originally wanted a stake in BP Racing , even if it was limited to five or ten percent. Rumors about it going under started before I got the chance. This is plan B. My partner is Sarah Rivers. She’s helping make it happen.”

“Sarah Rivers, the chick you’re secretly doing.”

Yeah, okay, now it’s my turn to be pissed off. “The woman I’m going to marry.”

His slow nod makes his opinion clear. “So, it’s like that. Did this woman you’ll marry tell you her brother just offered me a job?” I lean back in my chair. Derek catches my reaction and says, “Yeah, I didn’t think so.”

Boone Rivers threatened me after I wrecked him. Derek is a fantastic spotter, one of the best, and plays a massive role in my success. Without him spotting for me, how good would I be? The other big question: How much does Boone realize this?

A hell of a lot.

“What was his offer?” I ask, not wanting to know.

It’s enough to tempt Derek .

“Pit chief, and a promise to drive four races in the Xfinity series. More if funding is secured. I’ve been wanting back in the seat for a while now, Jake.” Derek’s tone changes from a mild threat to nearly pleading by the end. It’s also a bid for understanding.

“You’re tempted,” I say, not even asking if it’s true. He is, and I get it. “This means Pete is moving on to something else.” Pete Webb worked for Boone’s father, Tom Rivers, until he retired. I want to ask Derek if he knows about Pete’s plans, but I stop myself. He probably doesn’t, and it’s not the right time to ask.

“I’m very tempted. I didn’t say yes because I’m keeping my word and coming to you first.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it,” I say. It’s true, but it also leaves me gutted. “Can I ask what would convince you to stay with me?”

He’s the closest to a friend I’ve had in NASCAR. Derek leaving is also a weakness for any plan to break out solo. We’d be perceived as a package deal. Front Row would probably be less likely to hire me if they knew.

Boone Rivers doesn’t know about my business plan, but he knows how much Derek’s loss affects my career. I take a breath and release it.

“I asked for a week to consider,” Derek says. “Let me know what happens at the end of the week, and we’ll talk again.”

“Sounds fair.” Not really.

“And Jake?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you sure this girl you plan to marry is on your side? Does anyone even know about you two? She could be feeding her brother every bit of your plans, and you would have no way of knowing until it’s too late.”

I don’t even hesitate. “I’m sure, just like I’m sure tomorrow’s race is mine.”

∞∞ ∞

“Honey, I’m home.”

Sarah looks up from where she lies across the bed, book in hand. “Am I supposed to care?”

I laugh and kiss her cheek. “You missed me that much? I’m touched.”

Sarah sets her book down and finally looks up. “A clown wig and nose? That’s your best one yet. I think we’ve found the winner. We can let this trend die now.” She honks my nose. “Please.”

“We will as soon as you’re sleeping in my trailer. Until then, we need to maintain the disguise.” That costume shop might be the best find in my entire life.

Sarah bites her lips but doesn’t stop the laugh. “I was afraid of clowns growing up.”

“Everyone is afraid of clowns growing up. It’s a childhood rule.”

“You’re an adorable clown, though.” She takes off the nose and wig. “Much better.”

I smooth my hair into place and kiss the tip of her nose. Sarah grabs my cheeks and kisses my lips.

“You brought dessert,” she says after getting up. “I munched on fruit all day, so I don’t want anything else.”

Sarah eats more fruit than anyone else I’ve met. It’s not dietary; she genuinely enjoys a constant supply of grapes and melon. I don’t get it. “Were you not allowed to eat fruit as a kid?”

“What? ”

“Never mind,” I say and shake my head. “I have news. Your brother wants to hire my spotter. Derek just told me, which is why I’m later than usual.”

We discussed it and everything else that occurred over the season so far. He wants the job, and he wants to stay with me. We’re a good team. Our personalities and thinking styles match, but he still wants more, and I can’t blame him. If getting him in the car, even occasionally, was possible, I would do it.

The idea of launching everything without him also scares me. My sponsors are loyal, but will they feel the same if my performance slips without him? I honestly don’t know.

Sarah’s expression falters. “Is it a done deal?” she asks, and I shrug. Flirty Sarah is gone, replaced with one that’s all business. “I didn’t tell him to do it.”

“No, Princess, I never thought that for a second.” I grab her hand, wanting to emphasize my point. “I’m not worried, and if you do know anything else, don’t tell me. We aren’t going to pile on conflicts of interest.”

“I have something for you.” She opens her laptop. “Your updated financials.”

My eyes cross. I’m not an accountant and never will be. “You added a column. Did I get richer without noticing?”

“No, it’s not that. Your numbers improved because you gained an investor.”

I did? “I’m pretty sure that hasn’t happened because that seems like something I would remember.”

“It’s me. I’m your investor. I’m investing. I want to be your formal business partner, not an advisor or assistant.”

Sarah wants to formalize it. I thought she meant it metaphorically when she used that term earlier. “Are you sure?” My throat tightens. “I’m accepting, don’t get me wrong. But are you sure?”

“Incredibly sure. I want to do this with you.”

“Your hair is always so soft.” I twirl a lock of her hair around my finger. “I was right that you secretly loved all this. All it took was me swooping in to save you. I’m the hero you always needed.”

Sarah rolls her eyes and groans my name, making me smile even more. “Okay, Batman. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

I love this woman. “I accept your offer.”

“Good. Let’s shake on it, like real live business people.”

“Genuine and not fake business people,” I say in agreement.

We shake, and I can only think rainbows are coming off both of us this time.

“Perfect. Now, there are two people I want to introduce you to at the go-kart charity. One plays golf with my dad and owns a string of car dealerships. The other is old money. A little snobby, but not so much you’ll find her annoying,” she says.

“You going in decreases their risk.” Sarah would know that which probably played a role in her decision. My heart thumps. “If there’s a meeting to be had, you’re doing it with me.”

I may lose a spotter, but I’ve gained something pretty damn great.