Page 38 of Wrecking Boundaries (SteelTrack Racing #2)

Rivers Motorsports Headquarters, North Carolina

Boone Rivers follows Maddie into the conference room and his expression sours. His frown deepens the longer he looks at me. “What is this? I thought we were meeting with some new sponsors.”

Maddie plants her palm over his chest and says, “Please listen to him. Everything you’ve tried isn’t working, so this is next.”

We’re on opposite sides of the conference room. I sat in the middle of the oval table, figuring he’d try to sit as far from me as possible. “We need to talk,” I say.

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Maddie says, but Boone pulls her back into the room before she manages a step. She shakes her head, refusing his unasked question.

“At least stay.” Boone sounds a little desperate. I didn’t know that was possible.

“Not this time. You two need to have it out.” Maddie plants a kiss on his cheek and leaves.

As I guessed, he takes the chair furthest away and crosses his arms.

Neither of us speaks.

I lay awake half the night, deciding how to handle this. Is it better to apologize and let him take a few hits? A punch on the jaw can heal a lot of wounds. Would a logical speech work better? It struck me, sometime around three in the morning, that we never once had a simple conversation. We’ve threatened and yelled several times. We’ve punched a couple of times, too, and that’s it. For all our interactions, most of what I know about Boone Rivers comes from his interviews and his younger sister.

“Sarah doesn’t know I’m here,” I say. He wants me to speak first, and that’s fine.

Great opening line, Jake.

“Thank you for the information.”

Boone’s blank expression explains Sarah’s story about Matteo. The poor guy was threatened with career ruin because someone else thought he knew what was best. Even if I understand the reasoning, the method is fucking awful.

He’s trying the same on me, too. Unlike the poor sap Matteo, the girl picked me, and my career is assured.

Fuck this. New plan. “Is that look of yours meant for everyone you come in contact with, or is it just for me? If so, I’m honored.”

“Is your dickish attitude shared with everyone, or is it just for me?”

I refuse to give him a reaction.

“Sarah and I started dating more than a year ago, at the start of last season. Did you know that?” Boone doesn’t answer, but his eyes grow. “She dumped me two weeks after you won at Talladega. She ended it because we didn’t get along, and she loved you so much. It was her decision, and I accepted it, even though it hurt. She picked you, and I’ve been angry about it every single day since then. Also, this doesn’t lead to an apology because I don’t owe you one. If that’s your hope, give it up now.”

“Then why are you here?” He uncrosses his arms. That’s progress .

“Because the way Sarah talks about you, it’s obvious you were her childhood hero, and I think you still are. She talks about you all the time. I know you taught her to drive and helped with a bully once.”

Boone breaks eye contact to look at the table’s surface.

Feeling slightly encouraged, I keep going. “I’m betting she’s right about you, that you’ve earned her feelings towards you. I’m hoping that will matter more than your opinion of me. We’ll soon discover if it’s true.”

“You want something from me, don’t you?” he asks, guessing where my statement leads. “If this is about your spotter, he’s already accepted, and I won’t renege. It wouldn’t be ethical for one, and we need him. You’ll need to find something else.”

“Derek is one of my closest friends, and he told me about it long before he accepted, even asking my opinion. I told him it was a great opportunity and wouldn’t begrudge him accepting. Your effort failed.” Derek is one of my only friends, which is rather pathetic. Years of my life were devoted to either family or career. Until Sarah, there was nothing of me left. “You won’t regret your decision.”

A dimple appears, but no smile. “Then what do you want? Earlier, you said you know nothing about me, so here’s one thing. I’m blunt to the point of brutality and appreciate that trait in others.”

No shit.

“It should be obvious. I don’t care if you hate my guts; I can take it, but your sister can’t. She was miserable last season. Have you ever noticed that? Sarah put your happiness over hers, and I refuse to believe that’s what you want. She loves me, and I love her. If there’s a chance we can be civil, then we need to at least try.”

“Prove it. ”

“What?”

“Give me something. Like you said, she’s my sister. So, prove you care and aren’t using her.”

You demonstrate love for another person by showing up every day. That’s how I convinced Sarah that my affectation was absolute. “That’s not possible,” I say, deciding to be honest. “Some parts of a relationship are private and should remain that way. I would expect you to understand that.”

“We were threatening each other’s career not long ago, Jake, making it difficult to believe you now. So, let me share my perspective. We’ve gotten into fucking pissing matches for two years, right up until I find you practically ripping her clothes off behind the hay pile. Sarah tells me it’s a big secret, but serious. She says you will marry her, but there’s no ring or date. Now, let’s try this again. Prove it.”

I didn’t want to share this with anyone until the ceremony. “My dad died when I was sixteen. It was the night I signed my first racing contract, which was a sick coincidence. My parents married very young and against their own parent’s wishes.” I pull the small envelope from my jeans pocket. They’re safer in more permanent storage, but I prefer keeping them close. “They’re simple bands, nothing fancy. The bigger one is his. My mom kept it in her jewelry box until I requested it two weeks ago. The other one came from her. She wore it right until the moment I asked for it.” Boone picks one up to inspect. “Their feelings were genuine, even though no one believed them. They also had sixteen wonderful years together. Enough proof? Need more?”

“We both noticed she’s happier this season. Madelyn wondered if she was seeing someone, while I was just grateful for the difference. It never even occurred to me the difference was you,” Boone says, passing the rings back over.

I tuck them both into the envelope and put it away. “You believe me now.”

“Mostly, yes. I’m still unsure how to feel about you. I don’t like you, Jake; you’re a cocky ass.”

“You aren’t the first to call me that. Is there anyone you do like?” I genuinely want to know. I’ve always thought he doesn’t care for people at all.

“Yes. I love my family, and I worship Madelyn. I tolerate a few more. Other people? No.”

Blunt is an accurate description. Brutally honest is another. “There’s plenty of time to discover my many charms since I’m not going anywhere. Have we arrived at a truce?”

“Not yet,” he says and crosses his arms once more. “You have a folder next to you with papers inside. We’re in a conference room at my headquarters. You had no concern about me taking one of your team members. There also has been no press release about you driving in a new car next season.”

Damn. Is it that obvious? “That’s all true.”

“I’m also negotiating a new charter, which means I’m signing a new driver.”

“It won’t be me, so let’s clear that up now.”

His arms relax, and another dimple appears. They soften his features, even if he still isn’t smiling. Am I one of the few people willing to confront him? “What are you planning, Jake?” He leans back and then pulls forward. “That’s wrong. What are you and Sarah planning?” Something in my expression gives it away because he says, “That’s the other reason you’re here. You two want something.”

“Like I said, she doesn’t know I’m here.”

“Her absence doesn’t make my accusation any less true.”

It would be helpful if he were less observant .

Boone claims he admires bluntness. Why not find out how true that is? “I want your garage.”

“Not happening,” he says, but the shock in his voice is unmistakable.

I keep going. “I also want manufacturing help and access to your car data.”

Boone’s jaw tightens. “I already gave you an answer. There isn’t a need to repeat it.”

So much for blunt.

“Sarah already has a new job. With me.”

“For you,” he says, wanting to correct me.

“No,” I say back. It feels good. “She’ll be working with me. We’re launching a new company. One charter is mine, and we’re going public with an announcement this weekend. Sarah has an ownership stake.”

“Does she now?” Boone smiles. It’s the first one I’ve ever seen, and it’s not from pride.

“I think you missed the part where I said want. We have the charter and funding to make this happen. The part we’re missing is the manufacturing. We need support building our cars until we have our facilities.”

“That’s not my problem.” He stares straight at me, but despite that, wariness creeps into his voice.

He’s getting where this conversation is going.

“It will be. We’re close to a deal with Top Row . They’re as capable of giving us what we want as you are. The only difference is their location. We’d need to move.”

“Sarah won’t like that. Moving will break her heart,” he says. “You forcing that to make your dreams come true?”

“It was her idea,” I shoot back. “She’s the one who put the deal together. So, we can do it, and she’d move away from you and your fiancée. She’s been miserable, and this will only make it worse, but she’ll still do it.” He wants brutal honesty, so I’ll give it to him. “I also don’t keep secrets from her, so she’ll know about our conversation. She’ll know how you decide. She’ll know if you cared enough to help her. So, let’s find out. Do you love your sister more than you hate me?”

In racing terms, I’m driving for the lead and almost out of fuel, but all I need to do is finish the final lap.

He doesn’t speak.

Fucking hell, that means I need to do it. “I’m calling a truce and saying I’m willing to try.” He still keeps his fucking mouth shut. This was a waste of time. “I’ll see you on the track, Boone Rivers. Sarah will be there if you care enough to say hello. She would enjoy the visit. I think.”

I stand, and he raises a fucking finger at me. “Hold on. Don’t leave.”

“Nope.”

He picks up his phone. “Madelyn? I need you to find Sarah for me.” He glares at me. “Will you sit back down?”

Not when he’s that rude. I lean against the wall, mainly to be a dick, and shake my head.

“Perfect. Can you two come down here? What? No, I didn’t yell. I promised to listen, and I did. Yes, I was good. Thanks.” He hangs up. “This way, you can tell Sarah everything right now,” he tells me.