Page 146 of Lemon Crush

“And there it is. The green flag has dropped.” Lucy winked at me. “Time for Gene to haul ass.”

If the lead-up to the event—the decorating, odd judging and humorous costumes—were unique in the world of racing, the race itself was exactly what I’d expected.

Loud cars driving in circles.

Well, not quite circles. From above, this track looked more like an alligator with its mouth open. Seventeen turns in all—yes, I counted—each with varying degrees of sharpness and difficulty. So, a very bumpy, very mean alligator.

Morgan had decided to stay with our guests in the stands in order to explain the rules and make sure everyone was having a good time. The rest of us hung out in and around the tent and Chick’s RV.

Except for Wade. He’d volunteered to be the spotter, so he was outside on an elevated viewing platform, watching the race with binoculars and wearing a radio at his hip in case of communication difficulties between the pit and driver.

It was probably a good thing. Seeing him would remind me of all the mischief we could be getting into with absolute privacy instead of sitting in a glorified parking lot with all our friends and more hot dogs than anyone could eat.

I actually was having fun. Well, except for the part where Chick and Bernie took turns sharing theirAdorable Auguststories with Kingston.

“That should not be in anyone’s documentary,” I told Chick over Kingston’s shoulder.

Bernie was flicking tears of laughter from her eyes. “I need a reenactment. Do you still have that costume? Because I think you should wear it for the rally. I’m sure I can find a very tall man, a bottle of absinthe and an emu.”

I covered my face. “When you say things like that on camera, they have a tendency to take on a life of their own. It was a very strange and unexpected episode at a promotional event, not a weird sex thing.”

“You’re the only one saying ‘weird sex thing,’” Kingston said placidly from his chair. “None of us need to hear about what you and Wade get up to in your private moments.”

“Speak for yourself,” Chick and Bernie said at the same time. Then they looked at each other and grinned.

Rick, who’d been watching the race over Lucy’s shoulder, walked over to stand beside me. “Did she say something about a rally?”

I wasn’t sure why he was asking me whenshewas right there, but it was distracting me from my embarrassment so I’d allow it. “She wants us to do the next Lemons Rally in March.”

“Don’t worry, we’re not joining your team for that,” Bernie said sweetly. Too sweetly.

“Rick takes the rallies pretty seriously,” Lucy the Pit Master said from his throne. “I wouldn’t challenge him to a point contest or anything.”

“So, I shouldn’t say that I know I’ll score more points than he will? That I’m willing to bet on it?” Bernie asked, her tone buttery smooth.

“That sounds like a challenge to me,” Chick said, meeting my wide gaze with one of his own.

“I heard it too,” Kingston said, subtly panning his camera over his shoulder.

Rick’s stare was so intense I was surprised her clothes didn’t catch on fire. “Challenge accepted.”

And here I’d thought the rallies were more relaxed than the races. Obviously, I had some reading up to do. And yeah, I hadn’t been wrong about the sparks between them.

“Last few laps children,” Lucy sang brightly. “Time for August to suit up and get ready for the handoff.”

Before I had a chance to start panicking, I was stripped of my overalls and assisted into my flame-retardant black cotton pants and jacket, then herded outside and handed my gloves and helmet.

“You can do this, sunshine,” Chick said supportively, his hands rubbing my shoulders like I was his prize fighter and he was about to toss me into the ring against the evil, or possibly misunderstood, opponent. “Ican’t, and this is only reinforcing my aversion to ever getting behind the wheel of a car, but you’ve been driving long distances since you were sixteen. Switchbacks and freeways. The open road and LA traffic. You were born for this moment. This is your destiny.”

“I’m vaguely inspired,” Kingston said dryly. “I would need a soundtrack and some CGI to push me over the edge, but I’m close.”

Chick muttered something I couldn’t hear because my heart was beating too hard. Whatever it was, it probably wasn’t flattering to Kingston.

“She still looks pale. August? Do you want to stretch a little first?”

Bernie bent her leg behind her and pulled it up over her head in a shocking move meant to snap me out of my daze.

Funnily enough, it totally worked. “I’m too tense to stretch, but I’m pretty sure the guy in the next crew over just passed out, B. You’ve still got it.”

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