And she was here. Had she seen him race? Did she see him win? What did she think?
“Hey, let her through,” he called out, pointing at Camila, who was trying to push her way through the throng of reporters. As soon as she made it to the front, he grabbed her hand and pulled her onto the makeshift podium and right into his arms, sweat and dust and sticky champagne be damned.
“Hey there,” he said, his grin so wide it felt like his face was going to split in two. “This is a hell of a surprise.”
“Yeah, um, you seem happy to see me.”
He laughed and hugged her tighter for a moment. “Definitely happy.”
She sucked in a deep breath. “Good. Now, don’t retire.”
Staring down at her, he said, “What?”
“Don’t retire. Don’t do it. If—if you’re doing it because of me, you don’t have to. I have a better idea.”
“Is this the bartender?” somebody shouted, reminding Tommy that they were surrounded by media, all of whom were videoing and had this conversation mic’d.
Shit. This was not how he’d intended to tell Camila about his plans.
“Are you retiring because you’re sleeping with a bartender?”
“Jesus,” Tommy snapped, not even caring that his words were probably on national TV right now. “I’m not retiring because I’m sleeping with her. And it’s a hell of a lot more than just sleeping together.”
“It is?” Camila asked, looking up at him with big doe eyes.
He smiled gently and cupped her cheek. “It definitely is.”
She frowned. “If you aren’t retiring because of me, why are you?”
“I have a new plan.”
More questions were shouted at him, but he ignored them, focusing instead on Camila. The woman he’d fallen in love with only a few days ago. Okay, maybe a week. Hell, he’d probably fallen the moment he’d opened the door and she was standing on his parents’ porch, looking hesitant and apprehensive and utterly adorable.
“I’m really hoping you’ll be a part of my new life plan.”
There, he said the words. He’d been thinking them all week, trying to figure out the right way to say them. Definitely hadn’t been over the phone, which was part of the reason he hadn’t called after Elliot had swept him away in an effort to minimize the media attention after Vince tried to kidnap him.
Another reason he hadn’t called was because he needed to ensure his plan was definitely in the works first. And the last reason was because, since he’d decided to announce his retirement today, he had been determined to win this race, so, when he wasn’t making plans for his—their—future, he’d been working out like a mad man to make sure he was in the best shape possible going into this competition.
She’d suggested he should go out on top, and he’d damn well intended to do exactly that.
With a high-pitched shriek that may have upset any dogs in the area, she threw her arms around his neck. He hugged her back, laughing. “Why are you so excited?”
“Because you just said I was part of your life plan. That’s why I came out here. Well, to convince you not to retire and then to convince you that we should be together.”
He kissed her nose. “No convincing necessary. Well, about being together. The retirement is a done deal though.”
“Why? You don’t have to. We’ll figure out a way to make it work. I already quit my job. I can go on the road with you. I can—”
“You quit your job?”
She nodded and then smiled shyly. “I was hoping I could maybe run your fan club or something.”
He laughed. “I have an excellent PR director who already does that, and I’d hate to displace her, because she’s really good at her job. How about instead you be my co-owner?”
“Huh?”
Draping his arm around her shoulders, he turned them both to face the media, who were all practically drooling with the anticipation of a hot new story.
Addressing the crowd, he said, “Yes, I’m officially retiring. This is my last season racing competitively. And the reason is because I purchased Rogers Speedway. Our lawyers are reviewing everything now; however, Burt and I have already both signed a letter of intent.” He grinned. “So you all aren’t getting rid of me. I’ll still be around. Just in a different capacity.”
The crowd of fans he hadn’t even noticed gathering broke into applause and catcalls, while the media continued to hammer him with questions. Most were about his announcement, although a few seemed more interested in his and Camila’s relationship than that big news.
“What’s your answer, bartender?” someone shouted.
“It’s Camila,” she responded, offering up a little wave. “And yes, I’ll happily co-own Rogers Speedway with Tommy.”
Tommy used his arm around her shoulders to pull her close so he could whisper in her ear. “I love you, Camila.”
“Ohmigosh!” She grabbed his face and gave him a smacking kiss, much to the enjoyment of their audience. “I love you too, Tommy Bryant.”
He couldn’t wait to start the next chapter of his life.
By Camila’s side.
THE END
Ready for more from the Bryant Brothers? Turn the page to read the first chapter of To Love & Protect…
TO LOVE & PROTECT
Philip Bryant, second born son to a fine, upstanding family, is anything but.
He wants to amend his ways, though. Operate on the right side of the law. Be a positive, contributing member of society.
A buddy who works for a government agency gives him the perfect opportunity to change his stripes. But instead of doing what he was told to do, he kidnaps the witness to an
