Sweet Carolina(60)

When Dell called her after qualifying, she congratulated him on his fourth place starting slot and declined his offer to meet her in the hauler later for a quickie.

“We agreed to keep our relationship away from the track,” she said. No way would she tell Dell about Renfro's visit, or that all their discretion had been for naught. Renfro had found out. And if they broke their own rule and hooked up at the track, others would figure it out too.

“I know, Caro. I have something I want to tell you. It's part personal, and part business. Can't we meet somewhere?”

“Not tonight, Dell, if you don't mind. This heat is getting to me today. I just want to lay in the air conditioning and rest. Besides, I need to go over the EFI settings again. This new electronic fuel injection system takes more time than a carburetor, if you can believe that.”

Dell chuckled. “Thrown over for a fuel injection system. I never thought I'd hear a woman use that excuse for staying away from me.”

“It's not an excuse,” she lied. “I really do need to make sure we have the optimal settings for the race.”

“You never rest, do you, Caro? Okay, what I have to say can wait. I'll see you tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Dell. Have fun tonight at the Nationwide Series race.” She'd originally planned to sit in the stands with her team and watch the lower division race, but she wasn't ready to see Dell, or anybody, after what had happened with Renfro. She needed more time to think, and to erase the memory of his touch from her lips and her skin. When she was with Dell again, she didn't want any part of the episode to come between them.

That evening, she dissected every word Renfro said. Had she sold herself to Dell for funding? No. She didn't feel she had, and she was certain Dell didn't either. Renfro dropped the poisoned idea in her head just to mess with her. She couldn't let it get to her. She loved Dell, and though he hadn't said the words, she was certain he loved her too. Their relationship had nothing to do with the money.

She was more prepared to see Dell the following day, having convinced herself Renfro's words were meant to mess with her head, with no basis in truth. She noticed Dell first, standing to one side, talking to a reporter. She returned his subtle wave.

Caro went through her usual pre-race routine, checking to see everything was in order, paying closer attention to the little things, like hydraulic jacks and lug nuts.

She checked, and rechecked everything. Caro stood by as they rolled the car out for the final inspection, confident the car was in perfect order. Hawkins Racing needed to win at Talladega. The monster 2.66-mile Superspeedway was the perfect setting to show off the new Hawkins Racing engine Caro worked so hard on for the last few years in anticipation of the time when NASCAR would scrap the old carburetor system for the more fuel-efficient electronic fuel injectors.

She was looking over the latest computer readout from the Engine Control Unit when Dell approached. He wasn't alone.

“Carolina,” he said. “Do you remember Dickey Warner?”

The man beside Dell extended his hand. Caro placed her hand in his for a short, but polite handshake. She turned her gaze to Dell, silently questioning why he'd bring Butch Renfro's best driver to her garage – before the biggest race yet for their team.

Dell addressed Richard. “Can you give us a minute?” he asked.

Warner ambled outside and pretended an interest in the flagpole visible on top of the press box. “Why did you bring him here?” she asked, aware of the accusation in her voice.

“Whoa, Caro. I don't know what you're thinking, but I assure you, it's wrong. Just let me tell you, then you can ask all the questions you want.”

“Fine,” she huffed. “Tell me.”

Dell ran one hand through his hair in a nervous gesture. Well, he should be nervous, bringing Warner around. He glanced at Warner standing just outside hearing range, signing autographs for a few hot-pass fans. He turned to her. “He's my brother.”

“What?” she screeched.

“It's true,” Dell said.

Caro grabbed him by the sleeve of his fire suit and dragged him deeper into the shop. “What the hell are you saying?”

“I'm saying, Richard Warner is my brother. Half-brother, at least. He's a bastard.”

“Of course he's a bastard, Dell. He's the one who pushed your dad into the wall, and he's tried to kill you a time or two I recall as well.”

“Yeah, well… he says it was an accident. That he didn't know Caudell was his dad until after the crash. Renfro told him.”

“And he believed him?”

“Not at first, but his mother confirmed it.”

Caro looked around Dell to see the man outside. Now that she thought about it, he did look a little like Caudell, Senior. Not so much like Dell, but Dell took after his mother, or so Caro believed. She'd never met the woman. “So, why did you bring him here? Today?”