Bump and Run (Wide Open #6)

Chapter Twelve

Jones

Nerves riddled my body like a second skin. It was hotter than heck in my car tonight, and that wasn’t helping me either. I never got nervous before or during a race, but the thought of Charlie being out there, of him watching and how desperately I wanted to win for him, so he would be proud of me, made me anxious and skittish. I was thankful Mama had to work tonight. Glad I didn’t have to worry about her seeing Charlie sitting with Ollie and Travis after she told me not to see him anymore. Because I wasn’t about to stop.

He’s mine, Mama. I’m not giving him up, and I’ll run away with him if you try to make me.

The thought scared me. I loved Mama. She was the most amazing mother. I was lucky that she loved me, too, but this time I wasn’t going to budge. I wanted Charlie. He wanted me. And I wasn’t about to change my mind. He didn’t want to be with that girl back in Boston. He wanted me. We were going to be together, and no one would keep us apart.

Sweat trickled down my face behind my helmet as I made a pass for second place. I thought of how when they did driver introductions, Charlie, Ollie, and Travis had screamed like three lunatics. Like I was some sort of superstar instead of just a no-name hick. I really was blessed to have such great friends. An amazing boyfriend.

I grinned to myself as I realized I was gaining first place. I gripped my steering wheel with my left hand, shifted gears with the right, and as I passed the car, I held my breath. I thought of those dark eyes, that smile, that mole, the coconut scent of his skin, and the way his lips were always so warm and soft. I let out a shout of triumph when I took first place, my foot pressed down on the gas pedal, determined to stay out front.

A part of me wished Mama were here tonight. She wasn’t going to be working at the diner for much longer. Remi had told her she could quit her job now that they were engaged, since she would be moving in with him, but she had given two weeks’ notice. It would be nice to have her see me win, too, but maybe next time. Because there would be a next time. Hopefully many, many more.

I watched the laps tick down on the scoreboard as I sped around the track, praying that no caution came out. Ten, eight, six, four, two, and when I crossed the start-finish line, with the checkered flag waving in the air, goosebumps breaking out across my skin. I was beside myself as I pulled my car into victory lane.

I was handed a hat as I removed my helmet to cover my horrendous hair, which was matted against my head with sweat and dirt. I climbed from my car, my gaze sweeping over the small crowd that had gathered, looking for Charlie. Ollie and Travis knew the drill. They knew to come here if I placed in the top three. When I saw him, my stomach filled with butterflies, and a smile I couldn’t control spread over my face.

Winning here wasn’t like NASCAR. There was no pomp and circumstance. No confetti or champagne. I would get a small check, a trophy, my photo taken, and a few interviews. That was more than I needed. Because all I wanted was the man standing five feet away from me, holding a bouquet of flowers. It made my heart thump like crazy inside my chest.

“Jones!” Ollie nearly knocked me down when he attacked me, his giant body slamming into me in a tight hug. “That was amazing. You were like a rocket tonight.” He squeezed me tight enough to lift me straight off the ground.

I let out a wheeze. “Thanks.” I managed to answer him before he released me and then his brother hugged me. “You two are out of control.” I laughed, but my eyes were glued to Charlie. He was unusually quiet.

“Go get your man.” Travis knocked my shoulder with his. “We’ll catch up with you later.”

I gave Charlie a shy smile as he stepped closer. “Did you have fun? Did Ollie and Travis keep you entertained while I was out there? I know they can be a lot to handle sometimes, but they mean well. I hope you weren’t bored. I didn’t even think about how you might not enjoy racing. Gosh, I hope you didn’t regret coming tonight. It’s okay if you don’t like racing. I wouldn’t be upset. I know it’s not for everyone.”

“Jonesy, breathe.” Charlie’s hand came up to stroke my cheek. “You were so fucking amazing. I have never been prouder of someone. The way you handled that car...” A blush crept up his neck and over his cheek, which caught me off guard. “I got you these.” He held out the flowers. “I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do or not, but I wanted to surprise you.”

I stared down at the bouquet before me. The assorted flowers and colors made my eyes swim with tears. “Th-thank you.” I brought them up to my nose and inhaled. They smelled amazing.

“Uh, I also...” Charlie turned to a tall gentleman behind him who was in the middle of a conversation with another driver, Niles Shelton. “This is a friend of my father’s.”

“Henry Richardson,” I blurted before I could stop myself. “Your father is friends with Henry Richardson?”

Charlie grinned. “You know him?”

Everyone who watched NASCAR knew who Henry Richardson is. He was one of the elite car owners.

“Charlie, why is he here?”

“You must be Jones.” Henry suddenly turned to look at me. He was a massive man, both in height and weight. He towered over both Charlie and me. “Wonderful job out there tonight, son. Just amazing. Charles has told me so much about you. Says you want to be a NASCAR driver.”

I felt dizzy. “Thank you, sir, and yes, sir. My plan is to hopefully one day race in NASCAR, sir.”

“Wonderful, wonderful. I see a lot of potential. You handled that car like a true pro. We should talk.” Henry handed me a card. “Call this number and set up a meeting with my secretary.”

I was going to pass out. “Sir?”

“I’d like to talk about having you run a race with me and seeing how that goes. Then we can maybe talk part-time or full-time. Go from there.” Henry held out his hand, and when I shook it, I thought he might rip my arm right off. “Wonderful. Fantastic job tonight, son. Just amazing. I look forward to meeting with you.”

I stood there as Henry said his goodbyes to Charlie, made me promise to call to make that appointment—as if I would forget—and then he was gone.

I grabbed my boyfriend’s hand. “Did... did that really just happen?”

He nodded. “Surprise.”

“Can I kiss you right now?” I whispered.

When Charlie stepped closer, I didn’t care who saw because that was the nicest, most amazing, sweetest thing anyone had ever done for me before. I wrapped my arm with the flowers around him, so they didn’t get ruined, and listened to the catcalls, wolf whistles, and loud clapping, but it didn’t matter.

Charlie was all that I cared about.

***

“How does your daddy know Henry Richardson?” I asked once we were back at Charlie’s house.

He had helped me put the flowers in a nice vase, and we displayed them in his room on the dresser. I wanted to take them home, show them to Mama and show her how caring my boyfriend was. Instead, I settled for taking a bunch of pictures, so I never forgot this moment, and posted them on my Instagram.

Charlie gripped my head between his hands. “They went to school together.”

“No way!”

“Yes way.”

I smiled. “I can’t believe you did that for me, Charlie.” I dropped my forehead to his chest. “This is my dream. You know that, right?”

“That’s why I did it, Bashful. I want you to have everything you deserve.”

He rubbed circles into my back before I realized I was still wearing my fire suit. Covered in sweat and grease from the race, I probably stunk like old cheese and roadkill. Hardly sexy. Yet Charlie was still holding me like I was the most precious thing in the world.

I pulled back. “I should wash up.”

“If you want.” He pushed the hair back from my face. “You look sexy, though.”

I rolled my eyes. “Gross is the word you might be looking for. I look and smell gross.”

“That is not a word I would ever use to describe you. You can use my shower.” Charlie’s eyes lit up before he spoke again. “We could wash up together.”

Goosebumps broke out over my body. “Y-you want to shower with me?” Why did I have to continue to sound like such a novice? I was such a country bumpkin, and I wished I had more experience.

“Mm, Jonesy, I want everything with you.” He brushed his lips against mine. “You’re shaking. Are you cold? Is the air on too high? Are you feeling all right?” He started to place his hand against my forehead before I gripped his wrist to stop him.

“I’m fine, Charlie, I just... It’s silly.” I pulled my lip between my teeth. “Does it bother you that I’m such a virgin about things? That I was never kissed until you or touched or any of those things? You make me feel nervous but in a good way. I like you. I like having your hands on me, and I enjoy touching you. I just don’t want you to think it’s silly.”

Charlie yanked lightly on the zipper on the front of my fire suit. “Jones, nothing about you is silly. I love that you’re a newbie to everything. It’s fucking hot and sexy. Is that why you’re shaking?”

I nodded.

“You can shower alone if it will make you feel better.”

“No!” I exclaimed. “I mean, no, please, I would love for you to shower with me. I’ve never showered with another man before. I’d like you to change that for me.”

A smile tugged at his lips. “Jonesy, you’re so fucking... Damn, how did I get so lucky with you?”

I reached for his hand and laced our fingers together. “I think you’ve got it wrong. I’m the one who got lucky the night we met on the beach.”

I let Charlie guide me to the bathroom, where I stripped off my dirty fire suit, compression shirt and pants, along with my underwear and socks. He stared at me as I blushed from my toes up to the roots of my hair, all naked and sweaty and suddenly wishing that I had maybe done a little manscaping. He might like that, right? He was rich. He was from back East, and I was just... Well, me.

“You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life, Jones Matthews. I am absolutely honored that you’re my boyfriend.” Charlie slowly stripped off his shirt. “I don’t know how you weren’t scooped up by some slutty NASCAR driver or Ollie or—”

I barked out a laugh. “Ollie?”

“Please, he’s so in love with you.” Charlie scoffed as he popped the button on his shorts.

My brows dipped. “We’re talking about the same Ollie? My Ollie? My best friend?” I was so confused right now. I had known Ollie since we were kids, and he had never even... “Are you sure?”

“Why? Do you want to change your mind about us and give him a whirl instead?” Charlie teased, but his eyes had grown darker. “He’s a big guy, much bigger than I am. He might split that ass in half, Bashful.”

I felt my cheeks burn at his words. “No, I just... Ollie’s not gay. He’s...”

He’d always told me I was handsome and held my hand. He was super touchy feely. The two of us had gone stag to prom together while Travis went with his girlfriend, but that didn’t mean...

“Oh my gosh.”

“You see it now, don’t you?” Charlie growled, then stepped closer. “I’ll fight for you, Bashful. I’m not giving you up. You’re mine now. Ollie can’t have you.”

I didn’t want Ollie. That would be so weird, and...no. I didn’t like him like that.

“I’m yours,” I repeated.

“Yeah, you fucking are,” Charlie murmured. “I’m going to suck your cock in the shower, Jonesy, and then I’m going to let you suck mine. You want that, don’t you?” He reached down to grip my penis with his hand, and I groaned. “You’re always so eager for me, so ready. So, fucking sweet on me. Say it again.”

I met his heated gaze. “I’m yours.”

“And I’m yours. Don’t you forget it.”