Speed King (Men of Action 1)

She shoots Rich a daring glare that now has me shifting uncomfortably.

“I wish I could go back in time all those years ago and tape your overbearing, opinionated, stupid mouth shut! You should be ashamed! You took something beautiful and innocent and made a colossal mess of things.”

Rich hangs his head, running his hands through his salt and pepper hair, and then focuses back on me. “I am ashamed. I made a mistake.”

“You did what any father would do. Harley was too good for me. If it wasn’t for you, I’d probably have a few stints in jail under my belt. I’m the man I am because of your push. Never let that fact go unnoticed.”

“What I did was chastise an eighteen-year-old young man that had a shitty home life and got caught up in his father’s mess. You were doing what you had to do to survive. I was too hard on you.”

“We knew I was enlisting and leaving. Stringing Harley along would have been the wrong thing to do. She deserved better.”

“But you wouldn’t string her along. You were a better man at eighteen than most men I know. And you only got better from there. I never should have intervened.”

“You did the right thing, and it was over a decade ago. Time to let it go.”

“I’ll let it go when you tell me you’re stepping up.”

“I’ve got it handled.”

“Really?” He arches his eyebrows, rolling his eyes in a way that tells me he knows I’m full of shit. “Four grown men hauling ass out of their own graduation ceremony to hide from a woman that wanted nothing more than to congratulate you? Bunch of chickens. That’s not stepping up.”

The guys all shuffle their feet. I press my lips tight, unable to argue. He’s right; it was cowardly.

“Don’t wait too long.” His words are simple, but there’s a meaning behind them that sets me on edge.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“There’s a new guy coming around. He’s been persistent.”

Major blows out a breath, prying the beer bottle from my hand. At the mention of this guy, my body goes rigid.

“If you care about her in any way, she needs to know,” Amanda suggests.

“Can’t stop her from dating.” The words come out grave and clipped, ripping a hole in my gut.

“Ugh! You are extraordinarily bull-headed.” She actually stomps, her face flaming red. Her actions remind me so much of Harley’s that some of my irritation slips away.

“Another reason we came by is to let you know Boyd called me after your little meeting today,” Rich breaks in. “Can’t predict the future, but if you boys don’t screw up, you have the recommendation.”

“That’s good to know.”

“It’s a long road, Ace, and I’ll support your career. But like Amanda said, don’t wait too long to really start your life. Especially if you want that life to include Harley. A lot has changed in the three years since you were here.”

Rich is digging deep. He knows how I feel about his daughter. Always has. We go into a stare-down, the boiling in my gut spreading through my veins. His lips twitch, one side curling up.

“See I may have finally made my point. Word of warning, the woman has a temper like her mama.”

Amanda nods in agreement “Us Jacobs women know how to hold our own.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

2

Harley

It’s only seven o’clock and my feet are already throbbing in agony. The next three hours will be hell.

“Please don’t tell me Tom changed the dress code.” My best friend, Jewls, joins me behind the bar, ready to start her shift.

“I forgot my clothes at home this morning so I’m stuck wearing these.” I wave to my business attire from my day job.

“You look nice.”

“You’re lying.”

“Maybe you look a tad out of place. Why don’t you change your shirt?”

“I tried, but Tom doesn’t have any more in my size.”

Her eyes light up as she reaches to the underside of the bar, digging in her bag, and a blur of blue zips across the space. “Found one,” she chirps.

“Jewls, you’re a size smaller than me.”

“Half a size, technically, and this shirt has been worn. It’s stretched out.”

“Gross.” I wrinkle my nose.

“It’s clean, you freak, just perfectly worn.”

“Fine.”

I roll my eyes on the way to the restroom to change. It’s a little snug in the chest, but the rest is loose and it’s a much better choice. When I look in the mirror, my eyes bug out. Snug isn’t the right word.

My chest is bursting at the hem of the V-neck, barely covering the lace of my bra. I glance at the cream ruffled blouse in my hand and contemplate putting it back on when there’s a banging on the bathroom door.

“Jewls needs you! The rush has started,” Tom barks gruffly.

“Too late to change my mind now,” I mutter, hurrying to the bar.