Chapter Two

Liz and Jane made their way back through the tunnel, this time with more reflection and less chatter. They did not feel that a public thoroughfare was the best place for the discussion they wished to have, though both were excited and bursting to share.

Upon reaching the other end, their first task was to find food, which was easily enough done, given the large number of concession stands in the area. Deciding on chicken tenders and fries, they waited their turn to order, taking their meals to a sparsely-populated area under the grandstands and sitting on the floor to eat and talk.

“Lizzy, do you know who those men are?”

“Oh, I do! It took me a while, but I got there eventually. I was so shocked to realize who he was that I could think of absolutely nothing to say! He’s so stern-looking and quiet during interviews and things, but he was totally different just now.”

“Charles is so dreamy,” Jane sighed. “Much better looking in person than on tv. I wonder why the networks don’t focus on him more often?”

“I don’t know. That is kind of odd, but I guess if you think about it, his team has not won in a while. The media focuses on the winners and big stories, not the guys on losing streaks.”

“True.” The girls fell silent as they finished eating and continued to contemplate their new friends. Finally, Liz spoke what was plaguing her heart.

“Why us? Why me? Will Darcy is part of one of racing’s oldest and richest families. He could have any woman he wanted. Why would he be interested in me?”

“Why not you? You’re every bit as beautiful as a model or actress, and you’re the most intelligent of us, of the Bennet girls. You have a lot to offer, even to a high-profile man like Will Darcy. Where is that confidence I’m so used to seeing in you?”

“I think it took a flying leap off that pit box!” Liz laughed with Jane at the thought. She took a deep breath then, and, realizing that her sister was correct, let it out on a sigh. She considered the truth of Jane’s words and let go of her doubts. If he were any other man, racecar driver or no, she would not be intimidated. Therefore, she would buck up, grab hold of her courage, and see where this friendship led.

After some additional conversation about the guys, Liz remembered to ask about going out with them after the race. Jane was all for it, eager for more time with Charles. Finally talked out, and knowing that pre-race ceremonies were going to begin soon, they climbed the grandstand stairs to their seats. They had not been seated long when a teenaged blonde girl approached them.

“Are you Liz?”

“I am.” She smiled at the obviously nervous young lady.

“Oh, good. My dad sent me up with these passes for you. My brother described you to me; I should have known he’d be spot on with it. I’m Georgie.”

Liz accepted the passes, shaking Georgie’s hand and inviting her to sit for a minute after the strenuous climb.

“Oh, thank you, I think I will. I thought I was in better shape than this, but I guess I’ll be upping my exercise regimen after today!”

“Me, too! I should have been focusing on a stair stepper instead of aerobics!” The three laughed and made small talk for a few minutes. When the announcers started working the crowd, starting a “wave” in turn four, Will’s sister took her leave, and Jane and Liz settled in to adjust their scanners and cheer their guys on.

~~~***~~~

The race was thrilling, for both drivers and spectators. There were several caution periods, in part due to a new racing format and in part because of a couple blown engines and tires.

During the first of these yellow flag laps, Will keyed up his mic to ask a question. “Jason, is Coach around?”

“Yep, he’s here somewhere. He had his headset on, last I saw him.”

“Right here, Son. Whatcha need?”

“You get those passes for me?”

“I sure did. Sent Georgie up with them right before pre-race.”

“She find the girls alright?”

Next over the radio came his sister’s voice. “I found them. You described them very well. They’re really nice girls.”

Will breathed a sigh of relief. “Of course I did, and Liz sure is. I didn’t talk to her sister, though. What did they say?”

Will’s spotter, who was called by the nickname Digger, broke in. “One to go. Watch for a truck high in three.”

Will sighed. He really wanted to continue this conversation. “Ten-four. Sis, you can fill me in later.”

Jason’s voice was the next one Will heard, reminding him to check his switches and stay in his lane during the restart. Then came Digger once more.

“Green, green, green!”

Will’s focus was once more on his car and the race.

True to his prediction, Will was the first to cross the finish line, earning him top points for the day and a guaranteed seat in the Sprint to the Championship, the Stock Car Racing Association’s “playoffs.” He did a victory lap, grabbing the checkered flag from the official at the grandstands. To the delight of the fans, he performed a series of “donuts” on the front stretch, holding the clutch part way out while he pressed the gas, causing his rear wheels to spin and burning the rubber nearly off them. Once the air was filled with black smoke, he gunned the engine and made his way to Victory Lane, a small area of pavement cordoned off and laid with alternating black and white painted squares. As he rode, he keyed the mic once more. “Georgie, do you see them?”

“No, not yet, but there’s a big crowd over here.”

“Keep looking. I want to see Liz before we leave.”

“She’ll look, you get that car in here before I come and get you.”

Will laughed to himself. His father acted and sounded tough, and Will knew not to truly cross him, but he was really a teddy bear. Will could hear the pride in the man’s voice as his only son won another trophy. Within another couple minutes, he was slowly inching his machine into place.

The moment he stopped, hands were lowering the window net that protected him on the driver’s side of the car. They reached in to help him unlatch his harness while he pulled the cord to release the head-and-neck restraint device and then yanked the hose off the top of his helmet. Once he had removed the helmet, hanging it from the ceiling of the car on a hook placed there for that purpose, he could hear the screaming of the team and gathered spectators. Though racing is what he lived for, this part of winning never got old. He twisted in the seat, reaching his hands up to grab the top of the window frame and pull himself out. As he stood on the top of the door in the open space where the window would be, a shower of confetti rained down, and he pumped his fist and howled his pleasure. He quickly scanned the crowd on the far side of the car, but saw no Liz.

Jumping down, he accepted a sports drink and a towel from a crew member. Wiping his face, he turned to the reporter who was already speaking into his microphone. Will forced his attention to the man.

“Will, how does it feel to be the first DRI driver to win this season?”

“It’s a great feeling, Steve. We were confident coming into this race that our FirstBank Ford Fusion was dialed into the character of the track, and our practice laps yesterday confirmed it in our minds. We could do nothing but win today.”

“Next week’s racing is in Tennessee. What’s your half-mile program look like?”

“Half-mile tracks, Tennessee in particular, are our best tracks. We’ll be winning there, too, I guarantee it.” Will nodded at Steve, turning his attention to his father and sister, who had stepped up to hug him. He searched the crowd again, disappointed not to see Liz. He queried Georgie about it. “Have you-?”

“Yes,” Georgie replied. “She’s stuck behind some reporters and other fans, but she’s here.” Squeezing his middle, Will’s sister let go to work her way through the crowd to Liz and Jane.

By the time Will had completed the requisite interviews and had begun the Hat Dance—so named because the driver, owner, and crew switched hats with sponsor names on them for each set of pictures taken—Liz and their sisters were in his sight. He breathed a sigh of relief. He did not know why he felt so strongly about a woman he had just met, but he did.

Finally, his obligations were completed, and he could walk away. Immediately, he strode to where Georgie, Liz, and Jane were standing.

“Congratulations! That was some good driving!”

“Have I convinced you to switch drivers yet?”

“Mmmm, no, not yet. I’ll need to see more of your skills before I do that.” Giving him that arch smile that he enjoyed so much, Liz winked and tossed her head as Jane and Georgie laughed.

Will grinned. “Did you ask your sister?”

“Yes, and we would be happy to go out with you and Charles.”

“Great! Why don’t you come to the motorhome with me while I shower and change, then I’ll drive you out to your car, and we can decide where to go.”

“Sounds good! Lead on!”

Once again, as he had when they were first introduced, Will tucked her hand under his elbow and escorted the ladies to a waiting golf cart, which would take them to his motorhome.

Before they knew it, the cart was pulling up to one of the hundred-thousand-dollar recreational vehicles parked in the infield lot. Charles Bingley stood waiting outside, much to Jane’s delight, and kept them company while Will showered and changed.

“So, what have y’all decided?”

Liz’s heart skipped a beat as she took in the sight of him, hair wet and slicked back, wearing a blue polo shirt with the DRI logo and a pair of well-worn, faded blue jeans. The clothes fit his obviously tightly toned body like they were painted on. When combined with the gorgeous blue of his eyes, Will Darcy exuded sex appeal. Liz mentally shook herself. She was not going to be ruled by her feelings, or her hormones. She’d leave that to her youngest sister. Liz intended to be rational and logical and not jump into any kind of a relationship without knowing the man’s character first. She mentally shook herself once more, forcing her gaze away from Will and toward Charles.

“The girls thought that wings might be a good idea. There’s one of those buffalo wing places over in Monroe.”

“Monroe’s how far from here?”

Liz spoke up. “About an hour.” She added wryly, “We couldn’t find anything closer, as usual. Our hotel is down the street from the wing place.”

Will nodded. “That is a good idea, then. We could see you to your door after we eat. Tell you what, why don’t Bingley and I drive you out to your car and we can take two vehicles?”

Liz and Jane agreed, and soon they were all climbing into Charles’ F-150 and heading for the parking lot. Since they were in Bingley’s vehicle, Jane rode with him to the restaurant while Will and Liz took Liz’s truck. As they traveled, the couples shared information about their lives and families.

“Is Georgie your only sibling?

“Yes. She’s ten years younger than I am. Our mother died when my sister was two, and I was twelve.”

“I’m sorry. That must have been hard.” Liz’s tender heart ached at the thought of a toddler and an impressionable boy being suddenly denied their mom.

“It was. Dad has done his best, but we both really needed a mother. I asked him once why he never remarried. He said he loved Mom too much to think about replacing her.”

“Wow.” Liz thought about her own parents and their unhappy marriage. She didn’t think her father would replace his wife either, but not because he loved her so much; more like he would enjoy the peace and quiet without her.

“Yeah. I’d like a love like that someday.” Will blushed, sneaking a look at Liz. “What about you? Is Jane your only sibling?”

With her attention on the road, Liz missed her passenger’s glance. “Nope. We have three younger sisters and no brothers. Jane is the oldest and I’m second, then there are Mary, Kitty, and Lydia.”

Will nodded, wondering what it was like to have that many siblings. “Are you close in ages?”

“Yes; in general, there are two years between each, except in the case of myself and Mary. We are only a year apart. Well, fourteen months.”

“So you’re the closest in age.”

Laughing, Liz conceded. “Yes, but Jane is closest to me in temperament and maturity. Mary is a bit of a nerd, and for nineteen, she’s rather immature. She is the most devout of us and the one most likely to go to church, and she is fond of lecturing the rest of us about our behavior.”

Will winced. “Not good. Is she in school?”

“College, yes. She’s a freshman, majoring in mathematics. Kitty and Lydia are in high school. Kitty is smart enough, but she’s a follower and Lydia is very much a leader.” Liz shook her head. “I worry about them. Lydia is a spoiled wild child. I fear she will come to a bad end and drag Kitty with her.”

Will nodded. By this time, they were pulling into the restaurant, and their conversation had to be put on hold.