Clutched (Wild Riders) (13 page)

Maybe Hoyt was right to pull a vanishing act after we'd almost been caught. I had to admit, the second I heard the knock on the door and Nick's voice call out a little part of me was super turned on by the whole
getting caught
idea, but the longer I lay on that bed and thought about it, I had too much to lose. So did Hoyt. As great as those few fleeting moments were with him we couldn't risk it. No. We needed to keep it professional. If that was even possible.

* * *

A
fter a shower, I got dressed and decided that a real life grown up conversation needed to happen between Hoyt and me. I wasn't sure if we'd ever even really had one of those. Most of the time it was just yelling and eye rolling. Screaming and crying. Or more recently, bickering and kissing. As much as I wanted to ignore the voice of reason in my head—the one that said,
you can't sleep with him
—I couldn't.

I left Mill Valley and drove into the small town just east of there. I was really hoping that Brett and Hoyt didn't make the thirty minute drive to Austin for dinner and instead ended up over here at one of the local places. I wasn't even supposed to be out tonight. The last thing I needed was any more trouble. I needed to get in, say my peace to Hoyt, and get back before anyone found out. Luckily I saw Hoyt's red Chevy truck parked next to an Expedition with BS FMX on the plates. That had to be Brett's.

I found the two of them cozied up to the bar looking over menus.

“Care if I join you?” I asked, pulling out the stool next Hoyt. Brett smiled warmly, silently inviting me to stay, while Hoyt looked at me in disbelief. I pretended not to notice as the three of us ordered drinks and food. The conversation carried on until Brett said he needed to make a call.

“I'll be right back. Gotta call my girl,” he added before walking to the back of the bar. I'd discerned from conversations between Hoyt and Brett that Brett's girl was Georgia Bennett. Nora's little sister. What was it with those Bennett girls that got motocrossers all worked up?

“What are you doing here?” Hoyt asked as soon as Brett was out of earshot. The bar was pretty much dead, except for a few guys shooting pool in the back room. The bartender was wiping down tables.

“I needed to talk to you,” I told him. “About what happened.”

His eyes darted around the room and once he was satisfied that no one was paying attention to us he looked at me. “It shouldn't have—”

“I know.” I nodded. “I know that we shouldn't have. It can't happen again.”

“No it can't,” he said. He looked mildly surprised.

“What?”

“Nothing,” he said with a smirk. “I just figured like most things with you this was going to be an argument.”

“I know what's on the line here,” I replied. “I'm not a child.”

“I'm well aware.” His hand moved under the bar and he rested it on the top of my thigh. “You are definitely not a child,” he added, tightening his grip slightly on my leg. As much as I wanted to remind him that we'd both just agreed this couldn't happen, the feel of his hand on me blocked all intelligent thought from my head. Instead, I just held his gaze with mine and silently pleaded that he'd convince me that we could act on what I knew we both were feeling. I was all ready to walk away from him tonight and leave any thoughts of us being together behind, but the second his hand was on my body I couldn't think straight.

The strength in his hand as it caressed my thigh was matched only by the way it made me feel. Wanted. Alive. Safe.

Hoyt Travers had somehow worked his way under my skin and there was nothing I could do about it. He was there whether I wanted him to be or not. What if we could manage to satisfy the craving we both so obviously felt without getting caught? Was that even possible or was it just wishful thinking on my part? I considered propositioning him. One time, one night of delicious debauchery to get it all out of our systems and then back to business. The way he was looking at me said he might just be game for that.

“What's the matter with you?”  Hoyt said as he quickly pulled his hand from my leg.

His question startled me until I realized Brett was standing only a few feet from us looking like someone just ran over his dog. I doubted he would be the one that called attention to what was going on between Hoyt and me—being Hoyt's BFF and all—but it was the third time that we'd almost been caught in a compromising position. The universe was being loud and clear about how it felt.

“I think Georgia just broke up with me,” Brett mumbled. The confusion and sadness on his face struck a chord in me. He was a living, breathing reason of why relationships were never a good idea. I could hear the hurt in his voice. The last thing I ever wanted to feel was the way he was feeling in that moment. One time with Hoyt would definitely make things even messier than they already were. The last thing I needed or wanted was a broken heart. We watched as Brett tossed some cash on the bar and left. Poor guy.

“That sucks,” Hoyt said.

“Yeah,” I agreed. “Should you go after him?” I wasn't sure exactly what the protocol was for guys. Did they comfort each other and binge over ice cream together like girls did?

“Nah, I think I'll let him be. I'm sure they will work it out.”

“I hope so,” I told him. “That sucks when you can't be with the person you really want to be with.”

“Yeah it does,” he replied with a long look that lingered on my mouth. “But sometimes there are really good reasons why you can't be together.”

“Yeah,” I agreed with a sigh. “Sometimes it's best if things are just... uncomplicated.”

He nodded and I knew that any chance of us hooking up that night—or ever—had just walked out the door with Brett Sallinger.

It would have been so easy for us that night. No one around. It was just us. We could have left that place together and finished what we started in my trailer. I think both of us were imagining ourselves in Brett's shoes. Instead of leaving together, we got our orders to go and drove off in separate directions.

T
he exposition for Throttled was our first big event. Fans were already starting to funnel through the gates of Mill Valley. Apparently when Nick said the event was going to be open to VIP fans, he had actually meant everyone within a hundred mile radius. The lots were full. The stands were filling up quickly. All eyes were about to be on the track. I was nervous. Not that I'd let anyone see that I was. I'd wiped the slick sheen of sweat off my hands at least a dozen times. It was the same nervous energy coursing through my veins that I used to feel when I was on a bike.

I'd arrived early to make sure the crew had the track in perfect shape. I wanted it just right for Chayse's race. She was going up against my brother. I knew that he'd make sure she looked good out there. He knew how important this was for her career.

“Hey little brother,” Reid said when he finally arrived. “Is she ready?”

Was she? God I hoped so. I’d worked with her for almost three months to be ready for this day. After the day that almost screwed up everything, we'd thrown ourselves into three hard days of training. I hadn't forgotten how sweet her mouth tasted, but I managed to compartmentalize it and only think about it when I was alone. I think seeing Brett so distraught over his break up with Georgia had helped. Relationships were messy and complicated and people got hurt. Three things that neither Chayse nor I needed to deal with right now. We hadn't spoke about our kiss since.

“I think so,” I told Reid. “She looked really good on yesterday's run.”

“Good,” he said. “I'm anxious to see how she's improved since our last ride. Are you ready?”

“You know me... overanalyzing it all.” I turned from him to check the lines on Chayse's bike. The tank was full and everything appeared to be in working order. I felt the clasp of my brother's hands on my shoulders.

“Relax, buddy. She's going to do great,” he added. “You're good at this. If she does everything you taught her, then she's going to blow them away.”

“I hope so,” I told him when he let his hands fall. I missed having my brother around for moments just like this. I needed someone to calm me the hell down.

“Speak of the devil,” Reid said when Chayse walked into the shed. “You ready, McCade?” he asked as he walked over and gave her hug.

“Ready to whoop you out there today,” she teased. Or at least I think she was teasing. The competitive streak that I knew ran through her might have been talking for her.

“Guess we'll see,” Reid said with a shrug. “Don't go getting all pissy when I lap you though.”

Chayse laughed as she walked over to her bike. We made eye contact briefly, but I think we'd both learned what happens when we stared at each other for too long. She looked great in her new gear. It was the first time I'd seen her in race day clothes. Throttled was courting a deal with Valance Gear, which meant new duds—jerseys, pants and boots—for all the riders. Reid's were white and blue, while Chayse's were black and teal. The colors looked good on her. Everything looked good on her. Damn it.

“How's the gear? Everything fit okay?” I could tell it did, but I thought I'd better ask. The pants made her ass look like it was sitting up on a pedestal and the top clung to her chest showing off what I knew were fantastic tits. Or at least my hands did.

“It's all right,” she said. “I'm just glad they didn't try to dress me in pink.”

“I think Nick knows by now that you're not some pink wearing princess.”

“Sally's probably in pink,” Reid interjected. “Always been his favorite color.”

“Sally?”

“Brett’s nickname... Sallinger? He just loves it,” Reid said with a perfectly straight face before he cracked.

The three of us burst out into laughter.

“What's so funny?” Brett said as he walked in. All three of us quickly checked his gear for flecks of pink, and were mildly disappointed when he was in black and red.

“Nothing,” Reid said. “Just talking about how you're going to murder it out there today.”

“You bet your ass I am. I can't wait to get this bike in the air.” Brett straddled the seat of his bike and held up his hand in rock and roll sign. Reid and Chayse laughed at his antics. It was surreal seeing her there with them. Just like she'd always belonged. She was sharp and quick-witted, which made it almost impossible for them to frazzle her. It had always just been Brett and Reid. Reid and Brett. I never minded being on the sidelines as far as motocross went. Off the track they were my best friends, but on the track I let them have it. They liked the spotlight and all. Judging from the pep talk both guys were giving Chayse, their duo might just be becoming a trio.

“Any last words of wisdom, coach?” Chayse asked. The vulnerable look in her eyes said this was one of the make or break moments with us. She was trusting me to give her the advice she needed to succeed.

“Low turns, fast straightaways,” I reminded. “You already know everything you need to know. I'm sure you see the track in your sleep.” I smiled.

“I do.” She grinned confidently back at me. “I got this.”

“You got this,” I mimicked as she pulled her helmet on. Before her blue eyes were covered with goggles, I leaned in to tell her one last thing. “You're amazing, Chayse.” I wasn't exactly sure where it came from, but looking at her all geared up for her first official ride with Throttled and knowing that she was about to be in front of a ridiculous amount of fans for an exposition, I thought she needed to hear it.

The genuine smile she wore as she pulled her goggles on had warmth spreading across my chest like her lips on her face. Regardless of what I was telling myself about she and I having some professional, student/teacher like relationship, I cared about her more than I wanted to admit.

I wanted her to be great today.

Win or lose, I wanted to be the first one to be there for her when it was all said and done.

* * *

T
he roar of the dirt bike motors was practically muted by the screams of the fans when Reid and Chayse pulled up on the starting line. Reid gave them a big wave, while Chayse sat focused and ready at the holeshot. This was it. Her make or break moment.

My palms were slick with sweat as I found a spot on the inside to watch from. I wasn't about to go out into the stands. I needed to be close to her. I needed her to see me and remember what we'd been working on. Maybe, just maybe, if I were there as visual reminder when she past the corner I was on, she'd keep everything in check.

The pop of the starting gun meant it was go time. Her holeshot was perfect and she pulled out with a quick lead on my brother. I felt my adrenaline kick up when Reid caught up to her. The two of them battled through the turns. I felt my wrist tick every time she twisted the throttle. I felt my limbs tense on the jumps like I was the one riding that bike. I even leaned the left a bit when she took one of the turns.

Reid inched ahead of her on the final straightaway, but I saw the determined grip of her hand. The way she leaned forward and low to pick up speed. Just as Reid was about to take the victory, Chayse came from behind and crossed the finish line before him.

She won.

I was in shock.

She had actually beat him. Flat out, no excuses, beat him.

I knew when my brother was going easy on a rider. He hadn't. She'd beat him. My racer beat him.

My girl beat him.

“O
migod!” I said, pulling my helmet off. I'd taken a victory lap around the track and given all the fans a big wave before riding back to park my bike. I'd actually just beaten Reid Travers in a race. In front of witnesses. At my first official Throttled event. I was on cloud nine. I couldn't have wiped the smile off my face even if I wanted to.

Strong arms circled my body the moment I stepped off my bike. My body was pulled against his as he squeezed me tight. The sweet smell of victory came in the form of Hoyt Travers. And damn did he smell good.

“I'm so proud of you,” Hoyt said, resting his chin on my head. It was a good thing I still had my chest protector on, it had to be on the only thing that was keeping him from feeling my heart practically pounding out of my chest. He pulled back to look at me. “So good today, babe.”