Hart's Victory (23 page)

“S
O
,
ARE YOU
ready for this?” Kellie asked Hart. It was July, and the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series was off for a week.

“Like last year, I’m actually a little nervous,” Hart said. “Aren’t you?”

“Nope,” she said, glancing around the living area of their motor home, her home away from home since February. So much had changed since she’d shown up at the track last October during the Chase.

Three weeks after Atlanta, while Ronnie McDougal celebrated his second NASCAR NEXTEL Cup championship in Victory Lane, Hart and Kellie had embraced the season’s end by officially becoming engaged. She and Charlie had moved to Charlotte in December, and she and Hart had married in the Caribbean in January. Once the new NASCAR season had started in February, the family had been back on the road every weekend.

“You should do fine,” Kellie told him as she gave him one last glance. He wore a polo shirt and jeans, and she marveled at how much she loved him. “Besides, it’s only a Q&A. If I can do it, you can.”

“You have gotten pretty comfortable with interviews over this past year,” Hart said.

“I guess I have.” Becoming Mrs. Hart Hampton had thrust her into the media spotlight for a while, but Alyssa McDougal, Cynthia and Russ had all been there to help.

“You’ve gotten comfortable with everything,” he said, grinning.

“I am okay in most things,” Kellie answered. She was still nervous before every race. She still worried about Charlie and Hart. But she’d learned to control her fear. Love was the emotion she wanted to be consumed by. Fear confined and chained. Love freed and allowed one to soar.

“Hey, are you two coming?” Charlie called up the stairs. He was already outside in the North Carolina foothills ready for the night’s events. “The camp director’s on her way. Let’s get NASCAR Night started. I bet all these kids are ready to change a tire and drive a simulator. I know I was.”

“We’re coming,” Kellie said with a laugh. She, Hart and Charlie were back at the camp, something they’d decided to do as a yearly tradition, especially since this was where they’d all first met. “Oh, by the way, your grandmother called earlier while you were out helping Clyde and Clarissa get set up. Be sure to call her back.”

“Will do,” Charlie said.

Kellie’s mother still lived in the Myrtle Beach house, but right now she was traveling with friends to Alaska. Charlie was doing well, too, and he’d made the transition to his Charlotte-based doctors with ease. Everyone was encouraged with his progress. So far, the treatments had worked. He’d turned seventeen and was ready to try a limited schedule for his senior year of high school.

“Come on. Let’s go,” Kellie said to Hart. She reached her hand out and Hart took it. “I doubt you’ll botch up your Q&A any worse than you did last year.”

He laughed and tugged, drawing her to him and pressing her up to his chest. “I didn’t botch anything up. Last year, I said I needed a wife. Looks like I got what I wished for.”

“That you did. Although, thinking back, you said you wanted a family and would need a wife first.”

“Semantics,” Hart said, his nose and lips next to her hair.

“No, you said family,” Kellie insisted.

“I got that. You and Charlie.”

Kellie giggled. “Do you know how much I love you?” she asked suddenly.

“If it’s half as much as I love you, then I’m a very lucky man.”

“We’re both very lucky, then,” Kellie said. Her stomach fluttered slightly. She’d been victorious over her fear; because of that, she’d been blessed. Charlie had had a clinic visit this morning and things had been great. She’d even had her own appointment…. “Well, just don’t tell them you need a baby.”

She’d never been good at keeping secrets. Telling Hart here, where they’d first met, seemed like coming full circle. Very right.

“Why not?” Hart asked, his gaze searching her face.

“Because you’re already going to have one,” Kellie said. “You’re going to be a daddy.”

S
TANDING OUTSIDE
the motor home, Charlie heard Hart’s shout. Having overheard the news, Charlie shut the door. They could all celebrate together later. He watched as the camp director approached from the distance. NASCAR Night could wait a few extra minutes.

He leaned against the motor home and grinned. Sometimes holding out was the best thing you could do. His mom had held out for Hart Hampton.

And, no joke, life was exactly the way he’d wished.

ISBN: 978-1-4268-0656-8

HART’S VICTORY

Copyright © 2007 by Harlequin Books S.A.

Michele Dunaway is acknowledged as the author of this work.

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