Three months to the day after the accident, the halo vest Tommy had endured was finally removed, and he was being released from the hospital. It was a bittersweet moment for Sam. He’d regained feeling in his upper body, but the doctors told him his spinal-cord injury was permanent. He would never walk again.
Three months seemed like a lifetime. Three days of this place had been enough for Sam. After her release, she couldn’t wait to get back to work. If nothing else, it kept her mind off Tommy.
Sam checked her watch. They weren’t letting him go for a few more hours, but she wanted to watch his therapy session and talk to Jade before they left. As she approached Tommy’s room, Sam heard laughter. Poking her head inside, she spotted Jade sitting on the foot of the bed, seeming pretty cozy with him.
“Hey, Sammy. You’re early.”
“I thought you might want some company, but it looks like you have plenty.” The words came out harsher than she’d meant them.
“We were just discussing our mutual love for racing.”
“I’m sure you were.” Sam watched Jade slide her hand down Tommy’s leg to his foot, and it gave her an uneasy feeling. It was Jade’s job, and he couldn’t feel it, but the movement seemed very intimate.
“Did you hear the good news?” Tommy asked.
“What news?”
“Jade’s agreed to stay on as my personal therapist.” He and Jade shared a warm smile, and Sam suddenly felt like an outsider.
She pinned Jade with her stare. “What about your work here?”
“Your brother convinced me to take a hiatus.” After giving Tommy’s toes a light squeeze, she pulled the blanket over his legs and slid off the bed. “I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“My schedule’s a little off. I’ve been busy getting the new car ready.”
Tommy’s eyes lit up. “I can’t wait to see it.”
“I can take you by today, if you’re up for it.”
“I’d love it.” He shifted his gaze to Jade. “You wanna come?”
“Sure.” She glanced from Tommy to Sam. “If Sam doesn’t mind.”
“No. Of course not.” A total lie. She’d been doing that a lot lately, and it was getting easier every day.
“How are your burns? Do you need them checked?” Jade pulled up the back of Sam’s shirt before she could stop her.
“Thanks. I’ve got it.” She spun around, pulling the fabric from Jade’s hand. “I’ve gotten pretty good at taking care of them these days.” Sam evaded her gaze.
She hated being mean to this woman, but she couldn’t stop herself. She’d helped Sam with her burns and had done wonders with her brother’s attitude. Something was suspicious about her. She was always asking questions, which made Sam uncomfortable.
“No problem. I’m spending most of my day with your brother anyway. I figured as long as you were coming to see him, I could take an hour out to dress your burns.”
Sam could’ve asked her sister. But she hadn’t seen her since the first day she was in the hospital. Faith’s social calendar was much too busy to expect anything from her. She wouldn’t be comfortable with Paddy, and Brad, her on-and-off again fiancé, would never have been able to stomach it.
“That’s so sweet of you.” Tommy didn’t take his eyes off Jade. “Isn’t it, Sammy?” She knew what that gleam flitting in her brother’s eye meant. Another reason she didn’t like Jade.
“Yeah.” She headed for the door. “Jade, can I talk to you in the hall for a minute?”
“Sure.” Jade patted Tommy on the leg. “I’ll be right back, sweetie.”
Sweetie? She took Jade’s arm, rushing her into the hallway. “I thought I told you to be careful with him.”
Jade shrugged. “What? We’re friends. That’s all.”
“That’s not what he thinks, and you know it.”
Jade peeked through the door at Tommy and smiled. He was still watching her. “Would that be so bad?”
“You’re no different than Erica.”
“Except for one thing.” Jade’s smile faded into a scowl. “I’m still here.”
“What happens when his therapy is done?” Sam’s voice rose. “Are you going to follow him from track to track? Because you know he’s not going to give it up. Whether he can drive or not, racing is his life. His place is with me. I’ll take care of him.”
“Can you?” Jade’s brows rose in the same lofty fashion they had when Sam first met her. “His needs are different now. He requires twenty-four-seven care.”
Sam didn’t respond. She truly didn’t know if she could tend to him.
“I didn’t think so. I can give him that and possibly make him happy too.”
“What’s in it for you?”
“There’s no prize here. I really like him. Does there have to be something more?”
“And when you get tired of his needs? What’s going to happen then?” Sam didn’t give her a chance to answer. “I’ll tell you what’s going to happen. You’ll bolt, and I’ll be left to pick up the pieces.”
Jade took in a deep breath. “I don’t know what’s going to happen between us down the line. But good or bad, don’t you think you owe it to Tommy to let him find out for himself?”
As Jade started toward Tommy’s room, Sam grabbed her arm and swung her back around. She wasn’t done yet. “So help me God, if you break his heart.” She dug her fingers deep into Jade’s arm.
“Believe me. I need him as much as he needs me.” She tugged out of her grasp. “Tell him I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She headed behind the nurses’ station and out of sight.
Sam didn’t know what Jade meant by that, but her clouded eyes gave her away. She did need him for some reason.
* * *
“You want me to do what?” Drew laughed at Captain Jacobs’s request.
“I want you to back up Barnes at Sonoma Raceway.” He was serious.
“Barnes doesn’t want me for backup.” Since the incident last year, no one wanted to partner with Drew. That was just as well. She didn’t intend to get attached again.
“She’ll just have to deal with it.”
“I’m not a homicide detective. I want back in Narcotics.”
“You think anybody there wants to work with you? You’ve alienated anyone who’s tried to get close.”
“I work better alone.” The captain was right. She’d burned too many bridges.
“I need someone with racing experience.” He took in a deep breath. “You’re all I’ve got right now.” Ignoring Drew’s protest, the captain pulled a file and a flash drive from his drawer. Slapping it onto the desk he said, “No more arguments. As of now you’re a driver for Freemont Oil.”
Deciding that working Homicide was better than working paper behind a desk, Drew stuffed the flash drive into the pocket of her leather bomber jacket before picking up the file and thumbing through it.
“But Barnes is with Kelleher Motorsports.”
“Putting you directly in would look suspicious. You’re a smart girl, Thompson.” He gave her a smirk. “I’m sure you can find a way.”
After dropping the file onto the corner of the desk, Drew jammed her fingers into her jean pockets and paced the office. The captain knew she couldn’t resist a challenge.
“How deep is she?”
“Haven’t heard from her in weeks.”
“She okay?”
“I don’t know.” The captain’s forehead creased when he glanced up. “Like I said, she hasn’t checked in.”
“Is she staying at the motel by the raceway?”
“Supposed to be. The whole race team is there.”
“I’ll check it out and let you know what’s going on in a few days.”
* * *
Drew must have watched the recording fifty times and couldn’t figure out who would risk their own life to pull an unconscious Tommy Kelleher out of that flaming race car. After she slapped the laptop closed, she rolled the question over and over in her mind.
Accidents in racing weren’t unusual, but too many in a row on the same race team sent up a red neon flag. Flopping back onto the bed, Drew wondered how she’d gotten stuck here, in this low-budget hotel, working this dead-end case. She traced the small cracks across the white, plastered ceiling with her gaze. What a dive.
Why Captain Jacobs had given her the case, she didn’t know. She guessed he’d thrown her a bone to make up for the bullet she’d taken in Narcotics. Something to take her mind off the event that still plagued her. Like that could ever happen. The reoccurring ache radiating in her shoulder would never let her forget.
A year of undercover work and the whole drug case had been blown in an instant. Her testimony had put the right people away, but her best friend and partner had been killed. The doctor said the post-traumatic-stress-disorder episodes she dealt with might fade eventually, but he couldn’t guarantee it. The more she thought about it, the more her head hurt.
She opened her suitcase, took out a bottle of ibuprofen, and popped off the top. After shaking a few out into her hand, she slapped them into her mouth and washed them down with a fresh beer.
“New case, clean slate,” she told herself, dropping the bottle back into the bag and flipping it closed.
She’d already scoped out the common areas and met a few of the drivers earlier. That had been easy. Drew knew her way around the track from the driver’s seat. Getting in close with the mechanics wouldn’t be so simple. Drew loved to race but hadn’t paid much attention to the workings of an engine. This dude would have access to the garage.
Taking another swig of lukewarm beer, she grimaced and set it on the table. She’d have to pick up a cooler and a bag of ice tomorrow. Now it was time to hit the bar down the road. First introduction, Slick, crew chief for Kelleher Motorsports, and the best mechanic on the circuit.
* * *
Most of the drivers made it a habit to hit the nearest bar after a long day at the track. The one closest to Sonoma Raceway was nicer than most and included a restaurant as well. In addition, it was just down the road from the motel most popular with the drivers and their crews.
Samantha Kelleher, aka Slick, had just pushed back her plate from dinner at the bar and was mid-sentence when the tall, dark-haired woman slipped in between her and Ray.
“Excuse me, sweetheart. Can I steal Slick away from you for a minute?” She motioned to the bartender for two shots of Jack Daniels.
Sweetheart! Boy, this chick has balls. Sam thumped her fingers on the polished wood finish, waiting for the stranger to turn and offer her one of the shots. She would politely refuse, of course. Even if the woman had forgotten her manners, Sam always remembered hers. Her father insisted on it. When the woman slid the shot over to Ray, Sam realized her mistake. Big mistake.
Undeniably tempted, Sam leaned up against the brass-metal-framed oak bar and circled her finger around the rim of her glass. The thought of pouring her drink over the brunette’s head crossed her mind, and Sam seriously considered it. Besides the mistaken identity, she’d hardly given her a look, let alone an appropriate apology for the interruption.
Tossing the impulse aside, Sam raised the glass to her lips and let her gaze trip across the back of the woman’s neck. The distinct white line left just below her dark-caramel hair made Sam shiver. She was a sucker for a clean-cut neckline.
“I hear you’re a pretty good mechanic,” the brunette said before downing her shot.
This chick is a driver. Even with her back to Sam, she heard the arrogance in her voice.
She shifted to see past Ms. Badmanners and gave Ray a wink. He grinned. Her old friend Ray knew when she was peeved. Right now, he was acutely aware of how close this jackass had come to being soaked.
“I think I can probably say that old Slick here is a great mechanic.” Ray stared over the woman’s shoulder at Sam and tipped his beer. “What can I do for you?”
“I need a little help with my engine.” She offered Ray her hand. “Drew Thompson. I drive for Freemont Oil.”
Setting his beer on the bar, Ray ignored her hand and picked up the shot. “Freemont, huh?” He hesitated until Sam nodded, prompting him to respond. “They’ve got a good rep. What’s wrong with your crew chief?”
“Let’s just say he and I don’t see eye to eye.”
“Where’s it at?” Ray scratched his head, waiting again for a sign from Sam.
“The number-three garage.”
Sam gnawed on her bottom lip for a minute before giving Ray another nod. The woman was an arrogant ass, but considering the best drivers often were, she’d captured Sam’s interest.
“I’ll come by and check it out in the morning.”
“Thanks. I’d appreciate it.” She gave Ray a pat on the shoulder and headed to the door.
Sam watched her as she crossed the room. Broad shoulders, nice ass, and a bad-girl swagger. It was probably a good thing the woman had ignored her, or Sam might be the one making the big mistake tonight.
* * *
Sam threw the door open and crossed the room quickly. After sliding onto the bar stool, she ordered a Crown and water and pressed her fingers to her forehead. She’d already popped enough ibuprofen to burn a hole in her stomach, but the incessant pounding in her head was still going strong. Today had been ridiculously long in the garage, and her argument with Brad this evening had thrown her day into the “sucked” category. Every time she saw him lately, their conversations morphed into raging battles. All the signs were there. He was having another affair.
The man had done everything in his power to get out of the bar early tonight and didn’t ask her to come along. Brad was a master of seduction, but tonight it wouldn’t be Sam in his bed. Maybe that was for the best, seeing as how she’d started the affair with him just to spite her father. Each passing day, they were drifting further apart. It would be more difficult to bridge the gap this time.
Working nonstop on the new car wasn’t helping the situation. Not having Tommy around the last few months had turned out to be harder than she’d thought, and now that he was back, he was more of a distraction than a help.
Sam wanted to hit the circuit hard this year. She still had a lot of work to do before she would be satisfied with the car’s performance. They had only two weeks left before the Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, a road course touted as one of the most difficult on the circuit. The corners made even the most experienced drivers look like amateurs. Luckily, Sam had the advantage. Sonoma was her home track, so she knew it inside and out. This was one race she wanted to win, and to make that happen, her car had to be in tip-top condition.
Hearing a familiar voice, Sam glanced to the end of the bar, where she caught a peripheral glimpse of Drew Thompson, the arrogant driver who’d interrupted her conversation with Ray earlier. Sam should’ve given her a piece of her mind right then and there, but as her sister always pointed out, Sam had a major personality flaw. She wasn’t good at being the bitch.
Veering her gaze back to the mirrors mounted behind the bar, she watched the woman’s reflection as she spoke. Suddenly her voice deepened and she broke into laughter. Her lips spread into a crooked grin, revealing one front tooth overlapping the other just enough to make her undeniably sexy. Damn! She caught me looking. Sam let her gaze drop to the liquor bottles lining the shelf at the bottom of the mirrors and held it there. Considering the smile along with her square jaw, Sam was sure Drew wasn’t turned away often. Nevertheless, Sam continued to stare straight ahead, reciting each brand of liquor in her head as she studied the labels. Just how long would it take Drew to get the message? Not interested!
* * *
As soon as Drew Thompson saw the woman parade into the room, her mind went to work branding her as high-maintenance. With fiery-red curls and a seductive stride, this woman oozed sensuality and confidence. She really didn’t have the time or energy for any of that right now. But then again, she never could resist a challenge.
It took only a few minutes to catch the redhead watching her, so maybe it was worth a try. Sliding onto the bar stool next to her, Drew donned her sexiest smile and waited for the woman to turn her way. Judging by her reaction, or more specifically lack thereof, it seemed as though she was going to ignore her. If the woman thought she could get away with that, she had another think coming.
Reaching for the bowl of nuts, Drew purposely clipped the top of her glass and splattered her drink across the bar in front of them.
“Hey!” The redhead’s arms flew up.
Drew grabbed a bar towel and sopped up the liquid. “Sorry about that. How ’bout I buy you a drink to make up for the mess?”
“Already have one, thanks.” The woman raised her glass and then set it back down onto the bar in front of her.
Drew noticed the ring when she saw the woman’s gaze fix on her finger. Even in the dim lighting, the diamond sparkled with her every move. In one swift motion, she flipped the jewel around to the inside of her finger, then picked up her drink and took a large gulp.
Noting the attitude and the ring, Drew stayed put, thinking she might get something out of this after all. She’d enjoyed benefiting from an angry, unhappy lady once or twice before.
“Waiting for someone?” she asked.
“No,” the woman said, still not giving Drew her complete attention.
“It isn’t often I see a pretty lady sitting alone at the bar,” she said, observing how beautiful she was even with the sour disposition.
The redhead turned and narrowed her eyes. “Probably because there’s always some Casanova around who can’t stand to leave a woman alone.”
“Ouch.” She gave her a wounded pout and slid back off the stool.
“Wait.” She touched her arm lightly. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry.”
Drew stopped, letting the warmth of her hand linger on her skin. She actually sounded sincere. Maybe she wasn’t your average high-maintenance woman.
The woman blew out a breath. “I’ve had a really rough day, and I’m taking it out on you.”
Drew dipped her chin in acknowledgment. “Apology accepted.”
“Please, don’t leave on my account.” She gave her a soft smile. “I’ll try to be more pleasant.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“No. Not really.” She turned, and Drew followed her gaze across the room to the dance floor, where the crowd had thinned measurably in the last few hours.
“Would you like to dance?”
Her eyes flashed back to Drew’s, and the pensive emerald-green pools penetrated her instantly. She could see this was a woman who would surely leave a girl knowing she’d been kissed. Drew took her hand and led her across the room. Sensing no boundaries, Drew held her firmly against her and floated her around the dance floor. Feeling her hands cling to her shoulders, Drew wasn’t surprised when they traveled to the back of her neck and her mouth slowly made its way to hers, softly touching, baiting, searching for some sort of comfort, she imagined. The kiss deepened, and Drew let her hand slide down the woman’s sides, skimming her breasts with her thumbs, making it clear the interest was mutual.
Drew pulled back slightly, expecting a well-earned slap across the face. Instead she caught the come-and-get-me glimmer in the woman’s eyes.
“Do you have a room?” she whispered.
“I’ll meet you at the door.” Drew turned to the bar and tossed a twenty across it. “Mine and the lady’s.”
Drew was in paradise as she indulged in the sweet taste and the simmering scent of the woman beneath her. Her flat belly yielded under her hot, pressing mouth, and the subtle resonance of moans spurred her on full force until the moans increasingly resembled cries of pain rather than pleasure. Drew pushed up onto her elbows and hovered, watching tears roll from the eyes of the half-naked woman on the bed. She couldn’t even look at Drew. Just my luck. She let out a heavy breath and rolled to her side. Drew might be a little lacking in the morals department, but she certainly couldn’t continue now. Helping an irresistibly hot body get back at her partner was one thing, but taking advantage of a distraught, weeping woman wasn’t her style.
“Why can’t this be as easy for me as it is for him?” Her sultry voice dropped to a faint whisper.
Drew took her hand and fingered the diamond ring. “Apparently you’re a woman with a conscience.”
“I shouldn’t be here.” She popped up, found her shirt, and jammed her arms into the sleeves.
“Maybe not, but you can’t leave like this.”
“I’m so sorry.” Dropping back onto the bed, she clenched her arms across her chest and sobbed quietly.
“It’s okay.” Drew took the blanket from the bottom of the bed and covered them both. The little lady didn’t know what she was missing. Drew considered herself, among other things, the best lover on the California Highway Patrol. Of course most of the others were assholes, and that was kind of a given when it came to satisfying a woman.
Encircling her waist with her arm, Drew pulled her close, then closed her eyes and focused on the case she was working instead of the soft, beautiful redhead lying in her arms.