Page 10 of Drive To Survive

I spared the helmets a glance, a wry grimace touching my lips. “I’ll take my chances.”

When I reached Nico’s office, he pointed his chin at the empty chair across from him, a silent invitation to sit down. I closed the door behind me and, smoothing my skirt beneath my legs, I sat.

“Thank you for seeing me. I’m sure you’re busy.”

He stared at his computer screen and then tapped something on the keyboard. “Two minutes, Miss Lawson,” he repeated. “I suggest you don’t waste them with idle chitchat.”

What a charmer.

“It’s Mrs. Lawson,” I said, then wondered why I’d felt the need to correct him.

He stopped typing, his eyes flicking to my left hand, where, unlike Adele’s, there was no ring. I almost opened my mouth to explain, then thought better of it. My personal life was none of this man’s business. Our affiliation started and ended with Rhett’s place at this school if, indeed, I permitted it to go ahead. And that depended on the answers the man sitting on the other side of the desk gave and how earnest I found his reassurance that my son would be safe here.

He checked his watch and sighed. “I don’t have all day, Mrs. Lawson.”

I ground my teeth when he emphasized my marital status, my skin itching for me to retaliate. Nico Palmer probably expected me to meet fire with fire, rudeness with insolence. Experience, though, taught me that the best way to deal with egotistical and boorish men was to kill them with kindness.

I hit him with my friendliest smile and went on the charm offensive. “Mr. Palmer, first off, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving Rhett a place here. I’m sure there is a long line of children equally worthy, if not more so, of a spot at your fabulous facility.”

His eyes flared, then narrowed before his face shuttered. He grunted but said nothing.

“My son has been getting into fights at school, and I’m hoping your program can instill some discipline in him, as well as giving him an outlet to channel his frustration. My only concern is the health and happiness of my child. All I want to do is make sure he’s safe when he comes here.” I held up my hand as he opened his mouth to speak. “Please don’t take that to mean I think for one second you don’t take safety extremely seriously. I have no doubts that you do. All I’m asking for is a little reassurance. Is that too much to ask? I’m his mom, and he’s my whole world.”

He closed the folder in front of him, then rubbed his fingertips over his mouth, drawing my eyes to his full lips.

I bet he’s a great kisser.

Everly! What the hell? I had no business thinking about kissing him or anyone else. The last thing I needed was a man in my life messing everything up. Things were complicated enough as it was. With Rhett’s behavior threatening to jump into full-blown delinquency without an intervention, my sole focus should be on his needs, not on men and my own imaginary desires.

“Why is he fighting at school?”

Nico’s clipped accent dragged my attention back to the matter at hand. I blinked several times, then wiped my hands on my skirt. I’d already shared the reasons I wanted Rhett to get a place here when I’d filled in the initial application form, so it wasn’t as if I’d be telling him anything new. For some reason, though, sharing such personal information out loud while faced with the beautiful, brooding man sitting across from me was much worse than typing onto a web form where a faceless individual would receive it. I decided to keep the details scant. If he was interested enough, he could reread my file.

“He’s being bullied.” I shrugged. “What can I say? Some kids are cruel.”

He tugged on his bottom lip, his eyes not leaving mine for a second. I squirmed a little under his intimidating gaze but passed it off as a shift in my seated position.

“Bullied about what?”

I shook my head and knocked my chin a few inches higher. Nico Palmer may be the boss around here, but he hadn’t earned the right to question me. I’d be damned before I’d hang out my dirty washing for him to pore over.

“It’s all in my file, Mr. Palmer. Besides, my son’s school challenges aren’t what I’m here to discuss. I just want to understand a little more about the program and what he’ll get involved in when he comes here.”

Nico’s mouth pinched at the edges. He knew I’d deflected. I sat up taller, daring him to challenge me, to probe further, ready with another firm rebuttal.

“On the first day, we go through an age-appropriate safety briefing,” he said, his tone softer than before. “Then they’re shown around the place to get them comfortable with the staff members they’ll have the most contact with.”

I suppressed surprise at his capitulation and leaned forward, my shoulders relaxing now that we’d moved on to safer ground.

“After that, we take them out to the garages and let them see the cars, look at the engines, talk to the mechanics. It’s an orientation of sorts. We’ll group Rhett with kids in the four to eight age bracket, and he’ll stick with those kids throughout the program.”

I nodded, appreciating his explanation. “Can children as young as four really drive a car?”

“A kart, yes, but not a car. We don’t get them into the single-seater race cars until they turn thirteen.”

“Wow. Four seems so young to be behind the wheel.”

“I started at four.”

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