Page 96 of Bump and Run
Jones hummed happily as he played with the neckline of my shirt. “Did you talk to your lawyers?”
“I did.” I kissed the top of his head and held him closer. “We’re going to meet with a PR firm on Tuesday morning. You’re going to have to fire Eric.”
Kit grunted. “Eric’s a fuckhead. I don’t even know why you hired him in the first place.”
“Say what?” I felt anger surge through me. “You know him?”
Kitt nodded. “He was my PR guy when I first started racing. When he found out I was bisexual...” He paused, and his face burned bright red. “Uh...” Kit coughed nervously. “He wanted me to come out. Wanted me to be like a gay icon for racing or whatever. Which we all know isn’t going tohappen. I mean, if that’s what you want to do, that’s cool, but that would never work for me. My father would dismember me and toss my body parts into the ocean.” He glanced at Ollie for a second before he went on. “He pushed and pushed. Wanted me to post a statement on my social media accounts that I never use. Wanted to do this big, loud announcement. So, I fired his ass.”
“And what did he do after that?” I asked.
I was worried that Eric might try to sue Jones and push him to say more than he wanted. My husband was sweet, but I knew he only wanted to make everyone happy. He should only do things he was comfortable with. When he was comfortable.
Kit chewed on his bottom lip. “He threatened to out me. Luckily, he signed an NDA, or else it might have happened. He still hates me, but the feeling is mutual.”
“Jones.” I cupped his head in my hands as he stared up at me with big hazel eyes. “You’re going to fire this guy after the weekend is over. I don’t want to pressure you into it, but he’s bad news.”
Jones swallowed nervously, and I watched the way his Adam’s apple bobbed. “Yeah, I mean, sure. But I didn’t actually hire him. That was Richardson Motorsports.”
“Then you’ll leave and come drive with me,” I insisted. “Only if you want.” Again, I didn’t want to force him into something.
Jones stared at me. “I have a contract. Things will get complicated. I could lose sponsors.”
“I can buy it out. I have the money for that. And Ollie, too. He can come to work with you on your team. And don’tforget, my father wants to invest. That alone will be a huge boost.” I smoothed the hair from his forehead. “You’ll get new sponsors. Better ones. Again, only if you want. I would never force you to do something you’re not comfortable with.” I nodded at Ollie.
Jones’s brows dipped. “Can I think about it?”
“Yeah, of course you can,” I assured him.
I wanted us to be teammates, but I wouldn’t force Jones into it. He had been given a chance with Richardson Motorsports, and I knew he didn’t want to ruin things with them.
Conversation turned to lighter things, the four of us talking about the race tomorrow and the next few on the schedule. But I could see the worry and fear in Jones’s eyes as he watched me. He had to make this choice on his own, and I would stand behind him no matter what.
Chapter Forty-Four
Jones
It hadn’t been my best race. I was too caught up in my own head. Worried about what might happen if I left Richardson Racing. Would I get blackballed for leaving a gift I was so generously given? It had happened before. What would people say when they found out I was married to Charlie? Not that I was embarrassed. I loved Charlie. I would shout it from the rooftops without a second thought. I just didn’t want anyone to think less ofhim. Charlie was the moon and stars. I only wanted to make him happy. And I would hate for someone to say something horrible about my husband.
Finishing twenty-fourth wasn’t exactly what I had hoped for. A couple of bad pit calls had put me a lap down halfway through the race, and I couldn’t seem to come back from it. But that wasn’t what everyone was talking about, and for that, I was grateful.
Right now, the hot topic was the fight that had happened just as the race ended between Rand Shepard and Watts Brooks. And it had been a big one. Punches were thrown. Blood was shed. I had even overheard someone saying that Rand’s nose might be broken. Ollie had stopped by and said it was just as bad as everyone was saying. Since the fight had happened on pit road, he’d had a front-row seatto the chaos. It had started on the track, like a lot of fights between drivers did, and it looked like Rand had wrecked Watts on purpose. That was never a good thing.
“Jones!” Charlie knocked into me and grabbed me in a hug. He smelled like sweat, gasoline, and the beach. He smelled like mine. “That was a rough one for you, huh? Everything all right?”
I nodded. “Yeah, sure. My head just wasn’t into it. But you...” I beamed up at him. “You were amazing out there, Charlie. I’m so proud of you.”
He had finished eighth in his second race. People would have no choice but to notice him now.
He kissed me then, his lips slamming against mine. I groaned when Charlie’s hands sifted through my damp hair and tugged lightly. Everything else seemed to fade away. No worries, no fighting, just us. I curled my hands into the front of Charlie’s fire suit, not wanting to ever let go. When he pulled back, he smiled down at me, his dark eyes sparkling under the bright lights of the track.
“Get a room!” Someone called out, and when I glanced to my right, Kit was watching. He wiggled his brows, then shot us the bird and walked away.Jerk.
Charlie laughed and hooked his arm around my shoulders. “I have some interviews to do. God, I have no idea what that’s going to be like. This is serious business for me. Do you have any words of encouragement?”
“Everyone is going to love you.”
“You’re the only one who matters.”
