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“You’ll do it?”
“Of course. Rebecca can take the time she needs, even longer than two weeks. Family first.” I make a note to check with HR so flowers are sent to the funeral.
Maddie claps her hands and stands. “You’re the best.”
I can handle two races; it’s not a big deal. I’ll spend all my time with drivers and their crews, leaving none for Jake.
Martin: Are you still there?
Sarah: Sorry! My actual job got in the way.
Martin: You want to hear a funny story?
Sarah: Always!
Martin: My younger sister is in school to be a teacher. Do you know those blow-up dinosaur costumes? She wore one to a class yesterday, and the little kids mobbed her. They insisted she show them her dinosaur family and dinosaur home.
That’s an odd coincidence. Jake has a younger sister who is also studying to be a schoolteacher. Did he ever say what age range she wanted to teach? I can’t recall.
Sarah: That’s adorable!!!!!
Martin: If their dinosaur dreams can come true, you’ll find your dream job. Okay, lunch is over. I need to sign off.
I drop the phone on my desk and lean against the chair’s headrest. Maddie is the only other person who knows about my online dating efforts. Amongst the sea of dick pics, Martin appeared to ask me about books, and we’ve been chatting ever since. I don’t sense we’re fated for eternity or anything so dramatic, but he’s enjoyable and content to go at my pace.
“I need some womanly advice,” Julian says, taking the seat previously occupied by Maddie. Julian might be the hottest man in NASCAR with his auburn hair and bright blue eyes. He’s also a hopeless flirt and self-proclaimed man whore. “Which set of flowers screams, ‘I know I rocked your world, but please never call me again’?” He shows me a nearby flower shop’s website.
“Unless there is a dead flower bouquet, then none of these. Who was it?” Julian wouldn’t bother with flowers unless it mattered. “Please don’t say you forgot.”
He raises a hand, and I glare. He lowers it. “Sally.”
“Sally, the head of NASCAR’s charity arm?!?!” Unbelievable.
“And I was a charity case.” His smile charms even me.
I grab another Post-it note and start writing. “Don’t send flowers. Meet her in person and apologize for being a jackass. I’ll poke around to see if there’s gossip to worry about.”
“I’ll pay you back soon.”
“This weekend, in Vegas,” I say before any hopeless mooning over Jake develops. “Your job is to keep me entertained.”
“You’re traveling again?” he asks, surprised. “I thought those days were over.” I explain about Rebecca. “Then you need a distraction from him.”
“Who?”
Julian rolls his eyes. “Everyone thinks I’m dumb. Jake. It is Jake Knowles, right?”
I bite my lip. Maddie wouldn’t tell anyone, not even Boone. She doesn’t know about Martin yet since he’s still my secret. “How did you know?”
“I saw you two talking once last season. You both gave off that slept-together aura.”
We absolutely did not. “Don’t tell, Boone.”
“I won’t need to because you’ll figure it out.” Julian snorts. “You got me here, didn’t you? Plus, you got Boone and Maddie together. You’ll get this one too.”
Julian drove for another team until two years ago when its company folded because of a scandal. He’d be out of the Cup Series if I hadn’t convinced my father to take a chance with him. It’s paid off many times over like I knew it would.
“Maybe I should find someone for you.” I meant it as a joke, but he pales. “I’m not serious.”
