Flat-Out Sexy(18)

She was kidding herself that she could go out with Elec. Her in-laws  would be hurt and angry, Suzanne thought he was playing her, she was  worried sick about their age difference and about protecting her kids.  It was too much to tackle when she had a whole handful of  responsibilities and stress factors in her life.

It was impractical to get swept away in something that could only end badly.

She needed to tell Elec she couldn't go to dinner with him.

But first, all be damned if he wasn't taking advantage of a backdraft  and going for a pass on the two cars in front of him. Tamara sat  forward, alternating between watching the track and the TV screen.

"That was a good move," Johnny conceded to her right. "Look at the rookie go."

She was looking.

And he was going. Right on past the five and four cars.

Nails digging into her jeans-his jeans-Tamara finally remembered to  breathe when Ryder and Ty crossed the finish line one and two, and  amazingly enough, Elec came in third place.

Hunter was jumping up and down and whooping, showing an amazing amount of energy for a kid up way past her bedtime.

Beth said, "Oh, my. That'll get some talk going."

Johnny said, "Holy sh-shooters. The kid can drive."                       
       
           



       

Petey stuffed a handful of popcorn in his mouth.

And Tamara wanted to fight the urge to do as her daughter and leap up off her seat and cheer for Elec.

She couldn't stop herself from blushing though when the sports-casters  interviewed a grinning Elec climbing out of his car as to what made the  difference in the race.

After thanking his sponsors, his team, and Hinder Motors, Elec looked  straight at the camera and said, "Not to mention the good luck kiss I  got from an amazing woman before the race."

"Oh, really?" The female sportscaster smiled at him in amusement and  stuck the mic back in front of him. "Care to tell us who she is?"

Tamara wondered how her brain could still function when she was  absolutely certain her heart had just stopped. If he said her name, she  was going to beat herself to death with her soda can.

But Elec just grinned and said, "Nope. I'm not the kind of man to kiss and tell. But it was definitely inspiring."

And for that, she could kiss him all over again.

But first, she had to cancel their dinner plans.





ELEC had never had so many mics stuck in his face or so many sponsor  ball caps slapped on his head for photo ops. He couldn't stop grinning,  despite the endless questions and his personal discomfort with  publicity. It wasn't a win, but it was damn respectable and gave him  confidence that he could come out strong the next week. Not even his  sister running around looking equal parts frazzled and pleased as punch,  like she'd won the race herself, could put a damper on his mood. It had  been a good run for him, and he was feeling satisfied.

Starting the day off naked in bed with Tamara had set a positive tone  and he was pretty much feeling it was one of the finer days of his life.

Then he read the text message from Tamara waiting for him on his cell phone.

It started out well enough, but headed south almost immediately.



Congrats on your finish! You drove a great race. ? Enjoy the moment. I  know this is bad timing, but I wanted to give you plenty of notice . . .  I can't make next Mon. It's just too complicated with my kids and work,  etc. Maybe at some point in the future, but for now, I just don't see  it working out. I had a great time last nite, thx for everything.



Elec read it three times. It sounded crappier each time he read it. She  was not only canceling their date, she was effectively saying she wasn't  going out with him. Ever.

Well, that sucked six ways to Sunday.





CHAPTER SIX


RYDER had just finished his victory interviews and was feeling downright  good as he headed back to his coach. He had four wins under his belt  and the season wasn't even halfway gone.

It didn't surprise him to see Elec Monroe standing in front of his  coach, obviously waiting for him, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"Hey, Elec, congrats again." The rookie had driven a great race and Ryder was impressed with his aggressiveness.

"Thanks, Ryder. You, too. You're having a great season."

"Trying." He stopped in front of Elec and waited for the real reason the  guy was standing there looking like he'd finished last instead of  third.

"So, uh, about Tamara . . ." Elec managed.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry we were, uh, in your coach. That's not cool and I apologize."

"No big deal. Sex happens." Ryder almost laughed when Elec winced. "You want to come in for a beer?"

"Thanks, but I'd better get home and shower. Maybe another time."

"Sounds good." Then his curiosity got the best of him. He was damn fond  of Tammy and thought it was great that she was finally enjoying herself  again after Pete. "So, you like Tammy?"

There was no hesitation. "Yeah, I do. But I asked her out and she said  no. Then she said yes, then she just canceled on me in a text message. I  don't know what the hell any of that means."

The poor guy did look confused.

"I mean, I thought we had fun and all, so why the brush-off?"

Ryder eyeballed the rookie. He did look miserable. It was amazing what  chicks could do to a guy. Here Elec had just had the best finish of his  cup career and he looked like he was going to toss his lunch. "I'm  guessing that Tammy is feeling a bit embarrassed. She isn't exactly a  one-night-stand kind of girl."

"Well, I made it clear that's not what I wanted it to be."



"She's probably just worried about what people are going to think of the  two of you hooking up. Tammy is a worrier, you know. Always has been."

"She's got nothing to worry about from me. I really just want to see her  again, get to know her better. I'm really digging her, Ryder."                       
       
           



       

Oh, dude. Ryder recognized that look and knew what it meant. Elec was whipped already.

It happened to the best of men, and Elec had his utmost sympathy. "So don't let her say no.

Go after her."

"I don't want to come across as a stalker."

"It's not stalking if you happen to be at the same places she is."

"True. But where does she go?"

Hell if Ryder knew. He thought that Tammy pretty much went to work and raised her kids.

He hadn't seen her out and about in years, which struck him as  unfortunate. He was starting to really think Tammy could use someone  like Elec in her life. "How about I throw a party and invite her?"

"That might work. You don't mind doing that?"

"Hell, no. I throw barbeques all the time. Nobody will think anything of it. I'll make some plans and I'll give you a call."

"Thanks, Ryder, I appreciate it."

Ryder clapped Elec on the shoulder. "My pleasure, buddy. See you later."

Whistling, Ryder stepped into his coach. It was a good day. He had won  the race, and he was helping others. All in all, time well spent. His  jubilant mood was snuffed out when his cell phone rang and he saw his  ex-wife's name on caller ID. Suzanne rarely called him anymore, and  while he always felt a jump of anticipation at hearing her voice, he was  also wary of what exactly she could want. Their divorce was somewhat of  a mystery to him, and he didn't understand her post-marriage any more  than he had when they'd been wearing their rings.

"Hey, babe, what's up?" he said as a greeting, heading to his kitchen. He was really interested in an ice-cold beer.

"Congratulations, Ryder. That was an awesome race." Touched for some  stupid reason that she would take the time to call him, Ryder paused in  front of his refrigerator. "Thanks, Suz.

A little skill, a little luck, and it worked out for me."

"Well, I'm happy for you. You're having a great season."

Her voice was warm and honest, and Ryder was unable to resist poking a  little. He missed Suzanne more than he generally cared to admit to  himself, and he was thinking fondly of all the times he had won a race  during their marriage and exactly how Suzanne had helped him celebrate.  "Thanks. Though a victory just isn't the same without your pie as my  reward."

She sucked in her breath. "Don't go there, Ryder."

"Why not?" Ryder dragged out a bottle of beer and popped the cap with  the edge of his countertop. Suzanne had always feared for the safety of  their granite counters when he'd done that, but he had always figured  the whole reason they had spent an arm and a leg on the granite was  because it was supposed to be indestructible. "You know the best part of  winning was looking forward to your pie afterward."

"I'm not that good of a cook."

"But you make a mean apple pie. And you know that it was never just that flaky crust you were offering up."