“I get word. My partner, Manny, tells me when someone special is working his way up the circuit. You can always hire away experienced drivers, but I like to find somebody new and train him my way.”
“Then he’s loyal forever,” Lexi said, thinking that some teenager might end the day thinking he’d died and gone to heaven when he found out Cruz Rodriguez thought he had what it took.
“Or at least until he grows up a few years.”
Cruz slipped on sunglasses. They stopped at a makeshift stall selling everything from water to baseball caps. He bought them each both, then pointed to the far side of the track.
“We’ll sit over there.”
Away from everything?
When he put on the baseball cap and kept walking without stopping to talk to anyone, she got it. No one was supposed to know he was here.
“Driving instead of taking a helicopter might have made your entrance a little more anonymous,” she teased.
“No one noticed, and we got here faster.”
Now that she thought about it, everyone’s attention had been on the cars.
They bought tickets and climbed to the cheap seats. A few minutes later, the first race began.
The cars were recognizable street vehicles. Cruz explained which modifications were allowed. A guy in a BMW won the heat.
“Is he the one you’re interested in?” she asked.
“No. He’s all flash. The guy I want races next.”
She looked around at the different people watching the race. This wasn’t a big NASCAR type event, with sponsors and a huge crowd. It was local and intense because everyone there had a stake in what happened.
There were a lot of women, here. More than she would have thought. She studied the crowd, getting an idea of the number of women attending.
“I wonder if I could put a day spa in a truck,” she murmured.
“What?”
“There are a lot of women here. I’m sure many of them live for the races, but a good percentage are probably just tagging along. If I had a trailer set up with a couple of manicure and pedicure stations, maybe a good chair for facials, I could make a killing here. How big is the NASCAR circuit?”
Instead of answering, he leaned in and kissed her. “You’re pretty smart for a girl.”
“I can’t decide if I should sock you in the arm or say thank you. That was a very sexist thing to say.”
“Want to punish me later?”
“Maybe.”
She returned her attention to the crowed and noticed a few guys looking at them and nudged Cruz. “You’ve been spotted,” she whispered.
He followed her gaze, then looked at her. “No,
She turned toward the guys. One of them waved. She slid closer to Cruz. He laughed.
The second race had six cars in it. She watched the red Mustang he’d pointed out earlier, willing the kid to win.
The cars took off in a cloud of dust, engines racing. One started to skid right away. Another bumped into the hay marking a curve in the course and then spun out off the track. The other four drove on, keeping pace with each other.
Three laps later, there were only three cars left. The Mustang was behind the other two, but keeping pace. He took an unexpected opening and shot into the lead. The second-place car tried to pass, hit the Mustang’s bumper and the remaining car zoomed past to take the win.
Lexi groaned. “That’s not fair. They shouldn’t be hitting each other.”
“They’re not trying to, but it happens.” Cruz stood. “You ready?”
“Are we done? That’s it?”
“I’ve seen what I need to see. Unless you want to stay longer.”
“That’s okay.”
He took her hand and led her down to the track where several people congratulated the winner. Cruz ignored them and walked toward a guy standing next to the Mustang.
The kid was maybe seventeen. He was tall and skinny. Frustration pulled at his features as he bent over the gouge in the back panel.
“Justin Thibodeaux?”
The kid straightened and turned. “That’s me,” he said, looking wary. “Who wants to know?”
He spoke with a slight cadence. Cajun? Lexi liked the look of him, how he stood up to Cruz, who could be pretty scary on first meeting.
“I do,” Cruz told him. “I saw you drive.”
“You saw me lose.” He crouched by his car. “I’ll get it next time.”
“You were pretty smooth at the end, finding the space to move up. Then you forgot to get out of the way.”
The kid ignored him.
“You’ve got good instincts, but they’re not going to be enough. You need to learn a hell of a lot more. If you’re serious about racing.”
Justin stood and faced Cruz. “I know what I’m doing.”
“No, you don’t, but you could.”
Justin’s chin came up. “Who are you?”
Cruz pulled a card out of his shirt pocket and handed it to the kid. Justin’s eyes widened. He swore, then apologized.
“I mean, it’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Rodriguez.”
Cruz shook his head. “You can call me Cruz. I’m looking for a new driver. You’d start at the bottom and earn your way up. I’d expect you to move to Dallas and work in my shop. That would pay the bills. You’d drive in your spare time. It’s long hours and not much fun. But if you stick with it-if you have what I think you have-you’ll be driving full-time in less than a year. You interested?”
Justin started talking in a combination of French, English and something Lexi didn’t recognize. Then he held out his hand.
“I’m interested. Just tell me where to go and I’m there. I do whatever you say.”
Cruz narrowed his gaze. “You eighteen yet?”
“Four months ago.”
“Bring proof. The address is on the back of the card. Get there by Thursday. Ask for Manny. He’ll get you settled. If your parents need to talk to someone, have them call me directly.”
Justin shook Cruz’s hand again, turned to Lexi and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you,” he said, practically glowing. “Thank you so much. You won’t be sorry. I’m going to be the best. You’ll see.”
“I’m counting on it.”
The kid let out a loud whoop, then ran off.
Lexi turned to Cruz. “That was fun. Can we do it again?”
“He’s the only one here I’m interested in. Want to come next time I’m checking out talent?”
“Yeah. This has to be the best part of your day.”
He frowned. “I don’t want you talking about this. The world thinks I’m a cold-hearted bastard. That doesn’t need to change.”
She moved close enough to kiss him, then brushed his mouth with hers. “But now I know the truth. You’re actually sweet.”
He winced. “Not the word I would use.”
“But it’s true. You’re a total softie.”
“Lexi,” he growled.
She laughed. “Your secret is safe with me, big guy.”
They walked around the track, toward the helicopter. Lexi’s chest was tight…as if she too was filled with
