Pole Position (Country Roads 2)
Page 23
He stomped down the hallway and entered Colt’s room. Using his elbows to move back the comforter, he positioned Princess in the middle of the bed. He kissed her forehead and started to leave the room when she asked, “So this Kelly person…is she someone special?”
Brant sat down beside her. “I haven’t been seeing her long.”
Princess frowned. “Are you in love with her?”
“No,” he stated flatly. “We’ve enjoyed a few good times together, but that’s about it.”
“Do you think you could fall in love with her?”
He searched her beautiful face and in that moment, he lost himself to the woman staring back at him. He experienced what he imagined Colt must’ve felt when he first saw her
dancing in the club. And he saw his destiny then. “I’m not in love with her, Princess, and I don’t think I could love anyone except maybe the woman I’m looking at now, the beautiful lady you’ve become.”
Her lips twitched and she acted as if she were trying to resist a smile. “You’re just saying that because you think that’s what I want to hear.”
“I’m saying it because it’s true.” He rose from the bed and added, “Hang on a second. I want to show you something.”
He left the room and returned with a large box. He opened the top and said, “Go on, take a look.”
Slowly, she sat up and peered inside. She picked up several news clippings from newspapers and magazines. She flipped through the various materials and said, “You’ve been following my career?”
“I have.”
There were pictures, too, numerous photographs. That struck her funny. She said, “You acted like you didn’t know what I looked like when you came into the bar the other night.”
He sighed. “I hate to admit it, but I didn’t look at the faces of the girls on the bar.”
She snickered. “I guess you had other things on your mind, huh?”
“I’m a man,” he said unashamedly. “I can’t help it.”
“So when did you realize I was there?”
“When the bartender said the women dancing there were stock car drivers. That’s when I knew.”
She patted his cheek and said, “Why did you keep all this stuff?”
“I don’t know. I guess somewhere in the back of my mind, I thought—no, I hoped—you’d come home to us.”
“Yes, but did you want the little girl to return here, or the woman you see now?”
“The little girl still lives within you, Princess. I know that same optimistic, sweet spirit still lingers inside of you, and that’s rare. That’s special. You’re special.”
“You’re not so bad yourself.”
He winked, kissed her on the cheek, and set the box aside. “You and Colt have a good time tonight, okay?”
He just about made a clean escape when she piped up and said, “Will you sleep with her tonight?”
Brant shook his head. “No, Princess. I won’t. My heart is already somewhere else.”
* * * *
Brant left and Colt went upstairs, entering the bedroom with a slow stride, cautious and deliberate.
“I’m not asleep,” she said, peering up at him.
Her hair was wet and her face was flushed. “Did you take a shower?’