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With a smile she responded, “Vaguely.”

“Surely you remember these boys. They raced with Cypress.”

Shrugging, she kept her attention on Ben. “So, what is it you needed to see me about?”

Ben held out his hand, pointing to an empty chair. “Have a seat.”

She scanned the room without making eye contact with anyone. She was aware of who they were, even the quiet guy in the corner trying not to be noticed—Riot. He was up to something. Taking the chair at the very end of the table, River laid her purse down, folded her hands in her lap, and crossed her legs. Waiting. Watching. Plotting.

Her mood was deteriorating fast. River had mistakenly thought she could handle being in a room with her brother’s old friends. The truth simply was she hated them. Hated that they deserted her when he died. Hated that they all had fallen for the lies that Laurel Canyon had spread. Typical men thinking with their dicks. River had kept tabs on every one of them, including the bitch. Her head began to pound. She should just leave.

“River, I’m Jason Davenport and this is Michael Trios. Together we own D and T Racing. You remember Riot?”

Her phone ringing couldn’t have been better timing. Holding up her hand, she shut down the conversation. “Hello?” It was Mal rambling about watching her back and bad timing, which she couldn’t care less about. When she started talking spending accountability and needing the sponsorship they were offering, River shut her down. “Thanks for calling, we can look at it later.”

“Are you listening to me?” Mal fussed.

“I’m in a meeting right now.” If Mal started yelling, she’d throw the fucking phone in the trash.

“River, I want you to listen to me.”

“I will have to call you back.” River heard her friend curse and hang up the phone. Smiling, she continued looking around the room. The bank of windows looking over the rack caught her attention and she focused on the sky. Hanging up, she tossed the phone back in her purse and pointed to Jason to continue speaking. “Sorry, Jason, what were you saying?”

“I was about to say we would like to sponsor you.”

“Isn’t that sweet. Let me get this straight. You two clowns want to make money off me. Bleeding my brother dry wasn’t enough for you?” She knew every dime Cypress had given or loaned without expecting a dime in return from the two men sitting across the table. They would never have made it in the racing world without him and what he gave them. They stayed shacked up in his house where no one would know of their relationship. Now they wanted to make money off her.

“Let me ask you something, Michael. Are you still fucking Laurel while she’s shacked up with Meniere?” Turning in her chair, she looked at Riot sitting quietly in the corner. Getting up, she grabbed her purse as Jason laughed. She stopped and smiled at him. “You think it’s funny, Jason? Do these to assholes know you’re fucking her too?” The look on his face was priceless. “I don’t need your money to keep racing.” When Riot went to get up, she shot him down. “Don’t get upset at your boys. It’s not their fault. Everyone knows the only things that get you off are booze and dope. It really is a waste of good talent.”

As she yanked the door open, she heard Ben yell, “You need a sponsor!” Her response was shooting him the bird. Fuck them and their fucking sponsorships. Ben should have known better than to be on their side after all the years they had been friends.

Making quick work of the stairs and pit area, she managed to get all the way to her truck without being stopped.Thank God. She slid behind the wheel and looked back at the track. “Fuckers.” Mal was in for it when she got home tomorrow.

***

Every town had one, that dive bar or restaurant where you could get a greasy burger, or a steak fit for a king. The whiskey might be cheap, but the beer was always cold. River liked the look of Frank’s place. Grabbing her credit card, she exited the truck, heading for that cold beer and cheap whiskey.

When she stepped through the wooden doorway, she was greeted by the surprise of her life. Frank’s place might look like a dive from the outside, but inside it appeared to be much more. A young girl walked up asking how many for a table. Smiling, River asked if she could sit at the bar. She followed the waitress and hopped onto the first barstool she came too.

“What will it be, miss?”

“Shot of Crown and a Bud Light. Bottle, please.” She watched the bartender move away to get her order. Turning in her chair, she looked around the cozy little place. Not too many people lingered. A few patrons ate at tables. Nothing really to see—no dartboards, no pool tales, and no TVs. This was about to be her favorite place. When she turned back to the bar, her drinks sat in front of her. She tossed her credit card on to the counter.

“You wanna run a tab?”

“Sure,” River said right before that cold shot of Crown slid down her throat. She signaled to the bartender to set another one up. It would either be a short day or a long night, and either one worked for her right now.

“It won’t help, sweetheart.”

A voice, smooth and sexy, whispered in her ear, causing her to jump. Fuck her, of all the damn places she picked, he would be in this one. “Are you following me?”

“No, this is where I like to eat when I’m in town. That whiskey won’t make things right.”

“You should know.”

“I never denied that I fell hard into a bottle of booze.”

“Go find somewhere else to sit.” Grabbing the second shot, she tossed it back. Then she picked up the beer and drank a long pull. “I’d like to close out my tab please.” Glaring at Riot for ruining her moment, she scribbled her name across the bill and shoved her card in the pocket of her jeans. Hopping from the stool, she ended up right where he wanted her… in his arms.

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