CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
ANNIE WAS SURPRISED to see Dave when he arrived at the party. She wasn’t surprised to see Vinnie though because Darla had insisted she’d get her husband there.
Annie worked her way through the crowd to her brother’s side. The two men were talking to Reilly, Tucker’s general manager.
For this one moment it seemed as if all the rivalry stuff was being left at the door. Jared had hired a band and there was a small dance floor that was crowded with couples dancing.
She smoothed her hand down the blue cocktail dress she was wearing. The low neckline showcased the sapphire-and-diamond choker that Jared had given her. It was her first time wearing it and she kept reaching up to touch it.
She took a sip of her sparkling water, waiting until Dave was finished talking to Reilly before she joined him and Vinnie. Her life had changed a lot since the first race this season in Daytona.
Who would have thought one wreck would have such a deep impact on her life?
“I thought you couldn’t make it.”
“My other plans fell through,” he said.
“I’m glad,” she said, meaning it.
“You look nice.”
“Thanks,” she replied. She fingered the necklace again.
“Daddy and Mom are here, too.”
Dave nodded toward a table where her parents were seated. Her father had his head bent toward Tucker, who was telling the older man something. Annie watched as her father put a hand on Tucker’s shoulder and then she glanced at Dave and saw his features tighten.
“Are you hungry?” she asked. “There’s a buffet toward the back.”
“I’m fine.”
Annie felt a hand on her back as Jared joined them. He reached around her to shake Dave’s hand. The two men talked shop but Annie wasn’t paying attention to the conversation. She couldn’t take her eyes off of Dave, who had yet to really look away from the table where her parents and Tucker were sitting.
She felt his tension, or maybe just imagined it, but it was so strong that she knew it was real. She wanted to pull Dave into her arms and hug him like she used to do when they were little. Dave spent most of the time showing the world that he was a good sportsman and the gentleman that his nickname claimed him to be.
But she knew there were times when that mantle was a heavy one and she guessed this was one of them. There was a lull in the conversation.
“Annie?”
“Huh?”
“Is everything okay?” Jared asked.
She pulled her gaze away from her brother. “Yes, sorry about that. I was thinking about something else.”
“What?” he asked.
She shook her head, positive that Dave would never forgive her if she said she was worried about him. Then Dave looked at her and she hoped he didn’t know what she’d been thinking.
“It was nothing.”
“Thanks for coming tonight,” Jared said to Dave.
“No problem. Looks like you’re becoming part of the family,” Dave said.
Jared rubbed his hand down Annie’s back, then wrapped his arm around the curve of her waist and puled her into his side. She took comfort from his presence next to her. It didn’t relieve the worry she had for her brother but just having Jared with her made her not feel so alone.
“I guess so,” Jared said, but there was an odd note in his voice. She wished Dave wouldn’t say anything about family, but her brother had never really been one to listen to her.
“Dave, leave it be.”
Jared tucked her closer to his side. She felt like she had someone who would be worrying over Dave with her, which was really silly. Jared didn’t care that much about her family. Did he?
Someone bumped into them from behind, jarring Annie’s drink. It splashed down her arm and onto Darla’s jacket, who had just walked up and joined them.
“I’m sorry about that. Come on, let’s go get you cleaned up,” Annie said. “Will you excuse us?”
“Sure,” Jared answered.
Annie took Darla’s arm in hers and led her through the crowd toward the bathrooms. She set her drink down on the tray tucked next to the bar.
“What was going on over there?” Darla asked, as she pushed open the door to the ladies room.
“Dave’s trying to be a nice guy, but I think he’s struggling,” Annie said as she washed the soda off her arm.
Darla dabbed at her jacket with a paper towel. “Vinnie’s worried about him.”
“Worried that he won’t be able to win?” Annie asked.
“No, not that. Dave has this way of channeling everything into winning.”
“Yes, he does.”
“I’m not sure why he is worrying.”
The women exited the restroom and Annie saw her brother still standing across the room. She didn’t think that Dave was going to be able to keep ignoring Tucker and Jared?and the fact that she brought his enemy into their family for much longer.