Page 32 of All That Glitters
“You should try harder next time.”
“I know. I would make a terrible spy.”
Brax would look after himself just like every driver in the paddock did. There was trust, goodwill, and camaraderie among the series regulars and among the ones who came over for a few races from stock cars and open wheel, the endurance series’ in Europe and Asia, and a couple of drivers from super cars in Australia.
But the regulars, the ones who were after the championship trophy at the end of the season, they raced each other, worked with each other, talked and shared cars… They were a unique and individual family.
Hale was part of that.
I forced a smile and walked between the two men into the dining room, avoiding the eyes that settled on us.
We’d been to a number of dinner parties over the years, but this was one that would be remembered, not only for the unsettling tension around the table, but for the spread of food.
Francesca Glitterati had not been kidding.
The antique china was a bold move and if every piece was returned to the cabinet at the end of the night without so much as a nick, I’d be more than a little surprised.
Same with the crystal water goblets and wine glasses.
And much as I wanted a glass of whatever was being passed around in the decanters, after what happened earlier, it would be smart for me to stick with water.
Our hostess met us in the doorway. “Excellent,” she exclaimed. “Brax found you.” She leaned toward me, lowered her voice. “I was afraid you might have decided to make a run for it.”
“We thought about it.”
“Well, you’re here and you’re seated down at my end. Hale, you’re next to me with Brax on your other side, and Helen you’re here next to —”
“Me.”
I turned to find Ashton walking toward us from the kitchen entrance. When I glanced at Francesca, nothing more than a tightening at the corner of her smile gave away that Ashton was messing up her carefully planned seating arrangements.
He spoke in a hushed tone to one of Hale’s teammates, Ritchie Sanchez, who nodded and stood, moving down several seats to the empty chair in the middle.
I couldn’t help but notice the pretty brunette that would have been directly across from Ashton. I didn’t know her, but that wasn’t anything new. New drivers entered the sport every season, older, younger. It was possible she was the daughter or sister or girlfriend of one of them. Or maybe she was the daughter of someone Ashton’s mother was hoping to tempt him with to keep his focus off Hale.
Either way, she had a pretty pout and though I had complicated feelings toward Ashton, I wish he’d taken the seat his mother had wanted him in instead of the one beside me.
Lying to Hale earlier was hard. Until all of this…mess, I’d made it a point to never lie to my brother. He could read me too well, same as I could read him, but I couldn’t let him know anything about my encounter with Ashton. And now… Shit.
Brax offered me an apologetic look and Hale looked suspicious as he was tugged away.
I glared over my shoulder as Ashton escorted me to the table and pulled out my chair. “Thank you.”
He inclined his head. “Careful, Helen,” he whispered as I sat and he moved to take his own seat. “We’re old friends, remember? You’ll cause a scene with those eyes.”
“You haven’t been very friend-like lately and you would know all about causing a scene, wouldn’t you?”
The only answer he gave was to compose his face into one of innocence with a smile that was made of pure sin. I had only seen it directed at women he was interested in, never at me and it was unnerving.
“Everyone?”
My thoughts were interrupted by Francesca calling everyone’s attention toward her. To be honest, I was grateful for the distraction. I turned toward her, giving Ashton my back.
I could feel his focus on me and it did strange things to my insides. Things it shouldn’t do. Things that once upon a time I’d have welcomed, but not now. Not when there was nothing good that could come from it.
“I’m so glad you all were able to accept my invitation to this year’s pre-season dinner. A few of you have never been to one of my dinner parties, but I’m happy you’re here. As you can see, there’s way too much food, so you’ll all be taking enough with you when you leave to feed your entire family for a month.”
The laughter around the table was genuine. Ashton’s mother had missed her calling as a party planner. She loved to entertain, but she loved the racing world more. And she loved her family more than that.
