Page 5 of Wrecking Boundaries (SteelTrack Racing #2)

“Well, what do you think?” I ask Maddie over the phone. “Is this the bio of someone you’d like to marry?”

“I would get on one knee and propose to you. Heck, I would demand we elope. It’s fantastic.”

I laugh into the phone because the image is hilarious. If Boone could hear us, his head would pop off. “What about the part for him?”

“It’s good, too,” Maddie says, though with less enthusiasm than before. “I only wonder about the sports part.”

“I don’t want anyone who enjoys professional sports. He can play chess, and Solitaire is also an option.”

“It will mean a small dating pool. Maybe drop that part? If you find this Mr. Perfect, he will discover your family’s origin someday. You realize that, right?”

I do, but that doesn’t mean I need to admit it. “Not if you keep up the fiction for me. Boone is in banking, and you own a bakery. It even starts with the same letter. That means you both should consider a career switch.”

As much as I don’t want to date anyone in motorsports, I don’t want to date anyone who knows my family is in motorsports. This part isn’t negotiable.

“Well, I’ll certainly do my part. Is your resume done yet?”

There are three different versions for three different job roles. I’m also contemplating a return to school. “It’s almost there; it still needs some tweaking. ”

“I’m proud of you, Sarah. Making big changes can be scary, I would know,” Maddie says in her comforting voice.

Before coming to work with us, she was fired from her previous job, and Boone didn’t make it easy for her. She proved him wrong like I always knew she would. They were perfect for each other. They’re a great example of how I’m always right about everything. I especially enjoy that part.

“Hey, annoying little sister,” says a much deeper voice on the phone. “Madelyn can’t come to the phone.”

“Boone, bring her back.”

Madelyn’s voice is heard in the background.

“Sorry, I can’t. She’s swamped giving me all her attention.”

I still have questions about my project plan. Also, I will not beg. “Put her back on right now.”

“You had her last night. It’s my turn. See you tomorrow.”

The call ends.

I rub at my temple and ears. There’s not even a good reason to explain my presence in Daytona. I’d promised not to attend a race this year and then packed a bag like always.

I read my new dating profile page, trying to summon the courage to press the submit button.

Do it. Do it. Do it.

The knock at the hotel door saves me from deciding. I practically prance on my way to open it.

Half a veggie sandwich, a fruit cup, and a heaping piece of tiramisu. It’s the perfect dinner, right?

“Jake,” I say flatly and stare. “How did you get here?”

“I walked through the hotel lobby and knocked on the door—the usual way. How’s my Princess?” He strides past me and into the room. “Nice digs. ”

“It’s a hotel room, generic like all of them. It’s grown shabby somewhere around the time you arrived.”

“You can stay in my RV.”

“I do not want to do that. At all.”

Jake eyes the bed with a pleased smile. He glances at me and wags his brows before moving to the dresser and the small table. “It’s Saturday night. Are you working right now? You need to talk to your brother about better working conditions.”

The printed documents show all my plans, including tasks and the order of events. My resume is also sitting out. My screen is on, which means my new dating profile is visible.

I step further from it and wave my hand, dismissing the entire thing. “It’s a project. You promised not to quiz me on work business last year; I’ll hold you to that.”

His expression turns serious for once as he goes to sit on the bed. “I’ll keep the promise.”

“You look like you belong at the beach,” I say, wanting to get back on even ground. His sudden presence is throwing me off. He’s wearing board shorts and sandals, and they are not helping. “You should go there instead of racing tomorrow. I hear Australia is wonderful this time of year.”

“Nah, I’ll be busy racing your brother. My finish doesn’t even matter; I mostly want to beat him.” Jake winks. “If you agree to go on a date with me, I won’t do that.”

“If I believed you would keep that promise, I might do it.”

He raises a finger. “Then there’s a chance.”

There’s as much chance of a date as there is for me to take up a race car driving career.

“Why are you here?” I ask.

The door knocks, and he says, “Is that dinner? My stomach is growling. ”

I eye his cheeky grin with suspicion. “I’ll be right back. Don’t move from that spot.”

An oversized suite was a good idea when the room was reserved. Now, it means allowing Jack Knowles to root through my suitcase in search of…what? I’m being paranoid.

No, I’m being rational. Jake Knowles can not be trusted.

Jake rubs his hands together when I return. “Looks delicious.”

I’m still suspicious. “Did you move?”

He raises his arm as if to say, “Who? Me?” “Feet bolted to the floor.”

I don’t trust his smile. Jake’s smiles are flirtatious, not innocent. My laptop screen is open but still in the same position. A pen lays across my notepad, right where I left it.

Am I that paranoid? If Jake saw my new dating profile, he would comment. He’d offer another evening of no-obligation fun. At the very least, he cannot resist teasing me.

Dismissing my thoughts, I say, “Why is there so much food, and how did you know where it came from?”

“I assumed you would order from that nearby dessert place. I called them, told them to triple your order, added a generous tip, and gave them my credit card number. You’re welcome.” Jake’s smile turns from innocent to angelic.

He bought me dinner; I can be polite for an hour. Thirty minutes. “Plates are in the kitchenette,” I say.

“Fruit and some veggie sandwiches?” he asks, inspecting our dinner with disdain. “You lack imagination.”

“It’s enough for a light meal. You can leave if it doesn’t appeal.” I shut the laptop and place it over my stack of papers. “Plenty of room to eat.”

“I’m not leaving, even with the lack of appeal,” he says while sitting across from me. “Why didn’t you respond to my texts?”

“I was busy. Also, I accidentally threw my phone in a lake.”

His smile turns cocky. “Busy dreaming of me? That’s sweet.”

“If you must know, I’m going back to school. Sort off.” Why did I admit that? It’s not even wholly decided. “It’s a literature program. I attend in person every two weeks, with the rest online, so that I can keep up with work and travel. It’s for fun, not an actual program.”

Jake lets out a low whistle. “That’s awesome. I’m proud of you, Princess. You’ll do amazing.”

My cheeks flush at his cheerleading. I wish they wouldn’t. “It’s not a big deal.”

“You’re so smart. I noticed that right away.” He picks up my hand, manipulating it to give me a fist bump. “I know you haven’t enjoyed the past year; seeing you do something for yourself is wonderful. You’ll be amazing.”

His effusive praise is uncomfortable, not because it’s from Jake, or maybe it is. Hearing so many admiring words, I don’t know what to do with it. Sure, I’m great at my job, and everyone at Rivers Motorsports respects me, but this is different. “How do you know I haven’t enjoyed this past year?”

Jake’s head tilts to one side. “I know you more than you think I do.”

“I doubt that.”

“You’re wrong.” His face twists with amusement and indulgence. “I’m proud of you. It’s about time you take charge of your life, especially after fixing your brother’s love life. I have two sisters in college, you know.”

His statements, all smashed together, make me dizzy. I don’t know which to respond to. Naturally, I pick the easy one. “Both in college?”

“One is in her final year and wants to be an elementary school teacher. The other wants to be a veterinarian or a nurse.” Jake claims he is proud of me, but his face is lit up with emotion now. “My guess is vet school. She always brought stray animals home when we were younger, more than we could handle.” He coughs and finishes his sandwich in a couple of large bites.

Jake rarely mentions his family. I know he has younger sisters, and his father died several years earlier. Past that, he never talks about them. He’s among the few drivers in the entire Cup Series whose family never shows up for races. Some, like Boone, have family nearby for every race. Jake has his spotter and his team.

“Did you ever go?” I ask, wondering what other information he’ll reveal about himself tonight.

“Me, no. My education was on the race track. I graduated top of my class.” He leans back in his chair and winks at me. His shoulders shake with laughter. I don’t join him. “I took a few adult classes on business. Those were useful, I guess, but college isn’t for me. I wasn’t designed to sit in a classroom. In high school, I negotiated my electives to be used for track racing.”

“How did you do that?”

“My natural charm and sunny disposition.” Jake’s cocky smile is back. “I turn it on, and people fall in line.”

“Not this person.”

“I haven’t tried, not yet.” He leans forward in his chair. A finger brushes my knuckles, leaving a tingle in their wake. I tense so he can’t see me shiver. “Do you want me to?”

“You aren’t the first race car driver to try seducing me, Jake.”

It took a few cruel lessons, but I’ve learned. Jake’s charm outshines the last one, but it’s just as empty.

“You think this is a seduction?” He chuckles. “I already did that.”

That was the wrong thing to say. My hand draws back. “This is my periodic reminder dumping you was the right thing to do. Thank you for saying it.”

“Go on a date with me,” Jake says as if my last statement never happened. “Next week. I’ll need your address since you ensured our hook-ups only happened out of town. It’s best if I don’t pick you up from headquarters. A fight with Boone in the parking lot would make for a bad start, especially because I would win.”

“You’re full of yourself.”

“That isn’t a no. It sounds like you’re working yourself up to a yes.”

“It’s an emphatic no.”

“Who are the other race car drivers?” he asks.

I shake my head, refusing to meet his eyes. “Irrelevant.”

“Yes, it does. They’re the reason you’re being so difficult. Give me another chance, Princess.”

“I gave you a chance, and you blew it. Find another little sister to use, Jake.”

“You’re going to make this a challenge? Very well, I accept.” He nods once and stands. “I’ll win this too, like always, and we’ll both enjoy it, I promise.” He smoothes my hair back to kiss my cheek. “I’ll see you at the track tomorrow, Princess. Wear something sexy for me.”

With those parting words, Jake leaves, shutting the hotel room door.

I put a hand over my chest, willing my heart to slow down.

I open my laptop back up. My new dating profile sits open, waiting for me. All I need to do is submit.

I press the button, and it’s done.