Sweet Carolina(65)

“It's true? Someone put something in your gas can?”

Dell's whole body grew still. “Yeah,” he drew the word out. “That seems like the most likely scenario.”

“I think I know who might have done it.”

“Who?” Caro tensed as the word spewed from Dell's lips like venom.

“You have a guy on your pit crew named Trent, right?”

“Yes,” Caro answered. “He's one of the tire carriers.”

“That's what I thought. He's new?”

Caro nodded. “We had to replace one of our carriers. He twisted an ankle playing softball.”

“If he's the guy I'm thinking, he's a relative of Renfro's. A second cousin or nephew or something. I've seen him around our garage a time or two. He looks like a normal kid, but…” Warner ran a hand through his hair in a gesture that reminded Caro of Dell. “There's something about him. He smiles too much, if you know what I mean. It kind of creeps me out.”

“I asked him to put a bottle of champagne in my locker for me,” Dell said. He looked directly at Caro and said, “I was planning a private celebration, just you and me.”

Caro smiled. She'd saved a bottle too, and for the same reason. “Is it still there?”

“I don't know. The hauler wasn't going anywhere for hours, so I wasn't in any rush to get it. I was going to find you first.”

Caro tore her eyes away from Dell to the man watching them with undisguised humor. She no longer cared who knew Dell and she were together. Warner smiled and raised one hand.

“Hey, I'm happy for you. I wish I'd had the nerve to make a move on you before my brother did.”

“No offense, but it wouldn't have made any difference.” Caro wrapped her arm around Dell's waist and he did the same, snuggling her close. His body was still tense, but the rage was gone – for now. “Come on, let's go talk to the officials. I don’t think they're going to reverse their decision, but we can try.”

* * * *

“Stay here,” Dell said. “I don't want you anywhere near Renfro ever again.”

“You aren’t going to keep me from seeing his face when he realizes he's been found out,” Caro argued.

In the end, Dell couldn't stop her. The two of them followed a pack of NASCAR officials across the infield to Butch Renfro's motor coach. It was late, but the lights were on inside. No doubt, Butch was celebrating what he thought was the end of Hawkins Racing.

“Promise me you won't do anything stupid,” Caro said as they approached.

“Define stupid,” Dell said.

Caro's fingers on his forearm stopped him. “Please, Dell. This isn't funny. Don't give the officials a reason to sack you, or Renfro a reason to have you arrested.” Dell wrapped her in his arms and held tight. She apparently knew him well, because that was exactly what he had in mind. But her pleading tone and the shimmer of tears in her eyes was enough to cut through the rage that had been building ever since he walked into the garage tonight and saw what was going on.

“I promise, Caro.” His hands stroked her back as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head where it rested against his chest. “You're the only person who's ever cared enough to worry about me. It's sweet.”

“I'm not being sweet, Dell, I'm being practical. I don't have money to bail my driver out of jail.”

“Come on.” He set her away with a kiss to her forehead. “Let's go. We don't want to miss all the fun.”

Dell didn't expect Renfro to be happy to see him when he and Caro entered behind the officials, but he wasn't prepared for the thundercloud of hate that rolled off the man directly toward them. Dell put a protective arm around Caro and stared the man down.

“What are they doing here?” Renfro asked.

“We thought they had a right to be here,” Stan said. Dell thought he might grow to like this Stan fellow, given time.

Renfro scowled. “What's this about?”

“We just had a talk with your nephew, Trenton Biggs. He told us everything.”

“Well, I don't know what he said, but I wouldn't believe him. The kid's bad news. Why do you think he doesn't work for me?”

“But he does work for you,” Stan said. “He's been working for you all season, and in exchange for his sabotaging Hawkins Racing, you paid off his mother's mortgage and back taxes.”

Renfro dropped all pretense, rounding on Dell with a rage that had Dell shuffling Caro behind him. His face turned puce as he pointed a finger at Dell. “You. It's all your fault. You ruined my life, you miserable son-of-a-bitch.”

“Whoa,” Dell said, taken aback by Renfro's hatred. “What did I ever do to you?”