Page 102 of Bump and Run
Charlie huffed out a laugh and released me. “Go make sure Ollie isn’t burning down the house.”
I giggled, then quickly threw on some clean clothes. I jogged down the stairs and hurried into the kitchen, only to be greeted by the smell of burned food and a sad-faced Ollie. He shrugged his shoulders as I dropped into the chair at the table.
“Sorry, Jones. I was only trying to make toast.” He sighed and dragged a hand through his red hair. “I can’t even do that right.”
I shook my head and held out my hand. When he just stared at me, I wiggled my fingers until he grabbed onto me. “Maybe during the off season, we can take cooking lessons together.”
“Yeah?” Ollie’s eyes perked up. “You want to do that with me?”
I nodded. “Of course, Ols. You’re my best friend. We could have a real good time learning how to make fancy food. Chicken ala king or something like that.”
“That would be a lot of fun. I’ll see if I can find something for us.” He squeezed my fingers, then his face fell. “Kit always cooked for us. He made the best meatloaf. I miss him.”
I hated to see Ollie like this. He had good days and bad days when it came to Kit, but it was worse on race weekends. When he had to see him. Pretend it was eating him up inside.I knew it would take time. I had been in his shoes once, and I had clawed my way out of it. Ollie would, too. When he was ready.
“Want to go get breakfast?” I suggested instead of bringing up Kit. “Just you and me.”
Ollie chewed on his bottom lip. “Won’t Charlie get mad?”
“Nah, Charlie won’t get mad,” my husband answered as he breezed into the room. He dropped a kiss into my hair and clapped Ollie on the shoulder. “Go out to breakfast. Have fun.”
Ollie looked between the two of us. “You could come, too.”
“I could, but I feel like this is best friend territory. I’ll be fine here. I’ll have some coffee, take a dip in the pool, and then head down to the shop. I need to sign a few things, anyway.” Charlie winked at me behind Ollie’s back. “Go on. You two go and take all the time you need.”
Ollie gave me a small smile. “I’ll go change.”
The sound of his retreating footsteps had me climbing to my feet and wrapping my arms around my husband. “You’re the best man in the world.”
“I appreciate you saying that, Bashful, but I think that title belongs to you.” Charlie squeezed me tightly before he dipped down to slant his lips against mine. “Go spend time with Ollie. He really needs you right now.”
I beamed up at him. “What about you? Don’t you need me?”
“I already have you, Jonesy,” Charlie whispered, and my heart thumped wildly in my chest.
I stepped onto my toes, pressed a kiss against his mouth. “Yeah, you do.”
Epilogue
Charlie
A few years later
I stopped outside the door to Brooks Racing and turned to find that my husband wasn’t next to me. In fact, Jones was still standing by the car, staring at the building with wide eyes. I watched him for a second as he dug his teeth into his bottom lip, before he caught me watching him. I knew Jones was worried about what was going to happen. This was a big step for us. He had left Richardson Racing to come race with me, only for everything to change in an instant. My father became ill, and he realized that he couldn’t keep up with running the company while managing his health. Or run for president.
I made my way back over to where Jones stood. “Bashful.” He glanced up at me with fear in those beautiful hazel eyes. “You know you have nothing to be scared of.”
“How can you be so sure?” Jones whispered.
I dragged a thumb over his jaw. “Because they wouldn’t have asked us here if they didn’t want both of us.”
“Watts hates me,” he muttered. “Oh, don’t look at me like that, Charlie. You know he’s still mad about when I hit his husband.”
Right. Watts and Holt were married now. Stepbrothers. Like us. I had a feeling that was also why they wanted us torace for them. After that horrific accident and a few minor setbacks, everything came out. That Holt and Watts were together. That they were in love, and well, now they were together.
“I can assure you that Watts does not you hate you,” I said for the millionth time. “He might be upset with you, but the man doesn’t hate you.”
Jones rolled his eyes. “Doubtful.”
