Huge Working Hero (Hard Working Hero 3)

“What the hell did you pack? The entire closet? For Christ’s sake, Claudette, it's not like we're going to be gone for weeks.”

“I like to have options, you know that. I never know exactly what I'm going to want to wear until that morning.”

“It's two days,” he says, his voice dry and annoyed.

I can see they've had this argument before. Probably dozens of times over the years.

Mrs. Klein rolls her eyes and fans a limp hand. “Just put it in the car, Wilson, I'm done with this conversation.” She turns on the sharp edges of her heels, walking in my direction. “Kelsie, come here please,” she says.

Kelsie follows a couple steps behind her mother. Mrs. Klein pushes her sunglasses up on her head and peers at me like I'm beneath her. Her lids are lowered slightly, and one brow is arched high. Her nose is turned up a hair, hands hanging in the air, arms bent at her waist. This is the look of an elite. Of a person with money. Of a person who doesn't do a thing for themselves anymore.

“Brand, I'm going to give you Kelsie's cell phone number in case you get lost and try to reach us but can't. Sometimes my phone dies, and Wilson tends to not hear his phone at times. I just don't want there to be any issues this weekend.”

You know, because men like you can't find their own assholes. . . Google maps only exists on rich people's phones.

That's what she's really thinking. Her unspoken words are clear in her eyes and tone.

“Sure, that sounds good.”

I don't really care why she’s giving me her daughter's number. I'm just excited to get it.

“You want mine, too, Kelsie?” I ask, giving her a knowing smile. “Just in case you all get lost, you can text me.”

Kelsie blushes with a cute smile. She doesn't say yes or no, she simply glances away.

“That won't be necessary,” Claudette answers for her. “This is for emergencies only. Once this all over, you can delete it. Kelsie, keep an eye on your phone in case your father isn't paying attention while he’s driving. You know how he gets.” Kelsie nods in agreement, twisting her toe into the pavement.

“Of course. Emergency only. And I'll erase it after this weekend,” I lie. I don't plan on deleting Kelsie's number, nor do I plan on letting this weekend go to waste. I'm going to get her alone. That, I know for sure. I'll find a way.

Mrs. Klein gives me Kelsie's number and I plug it into my phone. “All right, we should get on the road. I hate the afternoon rush. It gives me a headache.”

“Um, Mrs. Klein,” I say, holding out my hand to stop her from leaving. “If Kelsie knows the way, she could just ride with me. I don't mind at all.”

Her mother looks between us, then casually brushes me off. “No, it's fine. She'll ride with us.”

As she walks away, Kelsie turns to me and mouths, Nice try.

It was worth a shot. In my head it makes perfect sense. Why give me Kelsie's number when she can be right beside me instead?

I watch Kelsie climb in the SUV. She gives me one last longing look over her shoulder. The sun catches her face perfectly. Her eyes sparkling, skin glowing, and the blond highlights in her hair look like pure gold.

She looks like a girl on the cover of a magazine. Perfect skin, bright eyes, silky hair, and a body I could ride for days. Then she's gone, but I'm still staring at the empty spot she was just standing in.

Her father honks the horn, sticking his arm out the window and spinning a finger in the air. I wave and climb in the car. The engine purrs perfectly, making me smile. I love that sound. I love the clean roar and the subtle rumble that you can feel in your chest.

Mr. Klein turns out on the road, and I follow him the entire way to Eureka, California, to the Samoa Drag Strip. It's a long drive up eighty-seven north, and I keep the windows down the whole way.

We stop one time once we hit the halfway mark for gas and the bathroom. Seth runs inside and grabs some snacks. Kelsie goes to the bathroom outside, and I try to get her attention while her father is filling up and her mother is fixing her makeup in the visor mirror.

Her eyes meet mine and I give her a little head nod to go the long way around so we can see each other, but she ignores me. She grins, dropping her eyes to the ground and getting back inside her father's car.

I know she's trying to be cautious. She doesn't want her parents to suspect anything, but all I want is to be close to her. I really wish she would have come with me instead. To have her alone in the car for hours, and the possibility of us getting 'lost' along the way makes my dick twitch.