Page 36 of Wrecking Boundaries (SteelTrack Racing #2)

Bert’s forlorn stare at his ice water almost causes me to laugh. “We can order if you’re hungry,” I offer.

“Never order before a lady arrives, Jake. Haven’t I taught you that?” Bert takes a swig and considers my offer. “There’s nothing wrong with a side salad.”

“She’s on her way; it won’t be much longer,” I say, hoping this will reassure him.

“Good. Let’s talk about Joey Fisher while we’re waiting.”

Shit. “Am I getting a fine, after all?” I’d prefer not to pay another. Again.

“No, that’s not it. One of his crew members is out for four races and the other for five.”

“Wow.” I whistle. “That’s rough.”

“It sure is. One of his sponsors is threatening to pull out, too.” Bert eyes me over the brim of his glass. “He won’t find a ride next year.”

“Can we do anything to help him?”

“I’m not a fool, Jake, even if I’m being put out to pasture.” A red flush creeps up his neck. The idea of it is enough to upset him. “You wanted him gone, and you’ll get your wish.”

I stay silent.

“The truth is, I never wanted him,” he says. “He needs a couple more years of seasoning on him.”

Sarah implied her family would have passed on him, too. “I didn’t know that. Was he Ryan’s call?”

“They met once and got along well.”

“Can I ask why you’re telling me this?”

Bert rubs his nose and says, “It figures you would enjoy the news. Oh, there’s your girl now.”

I twist my neck to see Sarah weaving through tables to where we sit in the back corner. It’s perfect for an off-site business meeting.

Uncertainty grips me. Is it appropriate to kiss her, or should we pretend to be merely business associates?

“Thank you, Jake,” she says as I push her chair back in. “Thank you both for waiting.”

Business professional, it is.

We place our lunch orders, and then the honest discussion starts.

“Well, go on now; tell me why we’re here,” Bert says. His quiet voice is unusual. He either believes the young family seated at a nearby table is a bunch of spies, or it indicates his excitement.

Sarah urges me to start, beaming all the while. Bert notices and leans towards both of us.

Superficially, her smile is eager and full of confidence, except for the tight edges at the corners of her lips. Also, her top teeth aren’t showing.

Something is wrong.

Sarah nods, and I talk. Whatever it is, now is not the time for us to discuss it. If the news impeded our plans, she’d signal it. “My contract ends this season. My original negotiation plan was to discuss an ownership stake between me and BP Racing .”

Bert leans back and gives me a contemplative frown. “You were interested in ownership. ”

“Obviously, no longer. BP Racing won’t exist after this year,” I point out. “That doesn’t mean something else can’t emerge.”

Bert’s frown sharpens, but his eyes signal interest. Sarah’s subtle nod tells me to keep going. According to her, she might know numbers, but I’m the one who can pull at his heartstrings. We’re about to find out how true her statement is.

“I know other racing teams are begging for the charters available for sale. I also know you have enough sway to decide where they go.”

“And how many do you want?” Bert leans forward and rests his chin in the palm of his hand. He’s enjoying this.

“We only need one, and to be clear, I’m not asking you to arrange this for me, Bert. I’m asking you to join me.” I suck in a breath because this is the big one. First, you toss out the bait. “You don’t want to retire, and I don’t want that for you either, not until you’re ready. I started my career with you, and it worked out damned well for us both. You were there after my dad died, and you helped my family when we needed it. Let’s do it again.”

Bert is silent. His head drops to hide his features, but it doesn’t work for his rapidly blinking eyes.

Wanting to respect his dignity, I go on. “We’d be small in the beginning, but in another year or two, we’d be in a good place to expand. I can drive, and you know everything about running a garage and managing a crew. Let’s start again.”

I end with that phrase a second time in case he missed it.

“I have a few questions,” Bert says. The red flush stays in his neck, so we won’t get loud bluster or anger. “You’re Boone Rivers’ younger sister, aren’t you? If I’m not mistaken, you work for him.”

He guessed she was part of the plot. I wonder what else he’s putting together.

“You’re correct about the first part,” Sarah says with a glance at me. “For the second, not anymore. I’m technically unemployed.”

That explains her odd smile after arriving. I support her if she leaves because it’s what she wants. It’s also very possible Boone forced her out because of our relationship. If that’s the case, I should appreciate that she picked me, but I can only think that Sarah should have never needed to do so.

“Then your professional relationship with Rivers Motorsports is severed,” Bert says, wanting to ensure he understands correctly. “I assume you’ll be a part of our arrangement.”

“I can’t drive a car or work in a garage like either of you,” Sarah says, referring to my earlier statement. “However, I’ve been in this industry my entire life and have worked in it all my professional life. I’ve done almost every other job we need.”

Sarah pulls out her presentation, a printed copy of the same slides we’ve looked at together many times before. “This is for you. I can email you later so you can spend any time looking it over. It’s a two-year projection of our financials. We break even the first two years and then work on reinvesting and expansion.”

“Who’s this third person donating?” Bert’s use of the word “donate” makes clear he knows the return on this effort may not happen for a long time—if ever.

“Me,” Sarah says. “I believe in this, and I believe in Jake.”

“We can use the charter’s value as collateral to finance a bank loan,” I say, wanting to show how we can find the needed capital. “I’m signing the loan.”

Sarah and I already decided not to take a salary in the beginning. We can live off any winnings or unexpected sponsor dollars. So far, all my sponsors have promised to stay with me wherever I end up. That covers most of our operations.

“This isn’t without risk,” Sarah says, giving me another glance. I’m starting to dread them. “The longer we delay, the more likely Jake’s team will break up. They’re looking for jobs and will take them if we don’t offer an alternative.” She swallows. “I learned earlier today that Rivers Motorsports hired Derek Barnes, starting at the beginning of next season. He accepted their offer.”

I knew it was coming. Derek wanted the job but cared enough to let me down slowly. In retrospect, I’d have preferred the immediate gunshot to the head instead of this. “He is one of the best spotters out there; this isn’t a surprise,” I say.

“Ms. Rivers here is correct,” Bert says with a polite nod toward Sarah. “Everything will be sold, down to the last office chair and manila file folder. The bleeding will only get worse.”

Job guarantees and sponsor assurances for the rest of the 24 team will solve most of the problem, but it won’t give me my spotter back.

Is that true, though? The man sitting across from me comes with decades of experience. He’s managed garages, and he’s spotted. Moreover, our relationship has gone back years, and I trust him. Who better to do it? “What about you?” I ask Bert. “Mike, the pit chief, will stay on. I’d almost guarantee it, plus we have months to resolve other staffing issues. You did it for me years ago, when I first started out, right?”

“How long might you need me for?” Bert loudly asks.

That’s a hopeful sign.

“I plan to keep talking you out of retirement,” I say because it’s true. “As long as I can.”

Bert’s expression softens, and I know he agrees.

Over the years, I’ve met a few drivers who enjoy racing and then go on to some other adventure. Heck, there are a couple who drop off the grid. Others attach themselves to the sport they love because it’s all they know.

He’ll never admit it, but we made that possible for him. I’m glad because he saved a sixteen-year-old boy once, and now it’s my turn.

“It’s time for our next step,” Bert says. This time, his voice grows louder, and his cheeks are rosy. “We need to decide on a company name.”

He rubs his hands together.