Pole Position (Country Roads 2)

A few seconds later, her small voice filled the line. She was pretty shaken up and he could hear that for himself, but he quickly remembered that prior to his phone call, she’d been standing in the middle of pit road blasting the guy who saved her.

“You okay?”

“Colt! I’m racing, for God’s sake. You can’t just call me up and talk to me when I’m in the middle of a race.”

“Yes, I can. I wanted to tell you a few things. First, I love you. I’m in love with you. I’d like for you to later give me children. You need to live so we can enjoy life together. Secondly, if you ever raise your voice to that Larry Burkenton again, I swear I’ll spank your ass raw. Finally, and this is important, I want you to hand Brant the phone and go apologize to Burkenton. It’s all over the radio. The man saved your life. I’m sure he doesn’t wreck his own car for kicks. Are we clear?”

“Yes,” she said quietly.

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, Sir!” she screamed, agitation thick in her voice.

Brant came back on the line. “I don’t know what you said to her but she just marched off and she’s headed toward Burkenton again.”

Colt smiled. “I suggested that she apologize to him.”

“She must have listened to you. They’re shaking hands now.”

“How’s she doing otherwise?”

“She’s pissed. She says there’s no way she can win the race, but I overheard her crew chief say once this mess is cleaned up, they may be surprised how many cars are out. She’s still got a chance.”

“All right. Keep me posted.”

“I’ll do it.”

“And make sure you tell her I think she’s cute when she’s mad.”

“I’ll let you tell her when you see her.”

Colt hung up the phone and settled back in his chair again. He propped up his feet and watched as they wobbled back and forth on his desk. Then, he folded his arms and felt quite satisfied. Yep, he was in love all right. And if Princess extended her apology to Larry Burkenton, he was pretty certain she might just love him right back.

* * * *

Brant put his arm around her neck and they hurried to the RV to celebrate. She didn’t stand at the door and wait to see what was going to happen because she already knew where they were headed. There had been verbal bantering back and forth in the helicopter earlier that afternoon, but after she’d watched him at the track, seen how stiff and erect he’d gotten when she’d argued with other men on her team, she knew. They were destined for this.

His lips brushed past hers. “Get a shower. Make it quick.”

She sashayed to the bathroom and looked over her shoulder, “Wanna join me?”

“No,” he said, grabbing a beer from the refrigerator.

“Are you mad at me for some reason?”

“I don’t know. Should I be?”

“You are. I’m a flirt, Brant. I can’t help myself.”

“You may be able to control that wink and grin a little better after I have a word or two with you.”

She shivered. “I’m so scared.”

“You should be,” he teased. “By the way, congratulations. I didn’t get a chance to tell you earlier.”

“First place!” she exclaimed, jumping up and down.

“Nothing beats the winner’s circle, does it baby?”