Hard and Fast (Fast Track #2)(36)
Author: Erin McCarthy

“Toss out the concept of whether or not the book itself works. The myth you are busting, or potentially proving, is that, in the subculture of stock car racing, there is a discernible pattern to dating and subsequent marriage. That is the basis to the theory of the book. If there is no pattern, how can the book work for the majority of readers? I would assume your conclusion would be that given the uniqueness of individuals and their courtships, there is no way to follow rules and guarantee marriage.”

This was sounding more and more appealing to Imogen. “This just might work.”

“Good, because I’m glazing over from this conversation,” Suzanne said.

“Sorry,” Imogen said, frowning at her enchiladas. “This is just so much more stressful than I expected.”

“I know and I’m sorry. I wish I could help,” Suzanne said, looking a little contrite for her remark. “And I’m sure tossing mattress play with Ty onto all of this isn’t helping your peace of mind.” Then Suzanne grinned. “But I bet it’s helping other things, if not your mind.”

True enough. “So what on earth do I pack to go camping?”

“Jeans. T-shirts. Boots. It’s going to be hot again this week, in the eighties, so pack a bathing suit,” Tamara said.

“And your tiniest, sexiest underwear,” Suzanne added.

Imogen tried to picture feeling sexy on the damp ground in a tent and could only feel a serious amount of trepidation. “Are there bugs camping?”

Tamara and Suzanne exchanged a look. “Probably,” Tamara said.

“Animals?” Were there bears in North Carolina? Imogen didn’t even know.

“Maybe,” Suzanne said. “But they shy away from humans. Except for raccoons and skunks. They’ll come right on up if you have food or garbage lying around.”

Wonderful. “Can’t wait,” she said weakly. “Everyone should be open to new life experiences, right?”

“Don’t worry about the skunks,” Suzanne reassured her. “Just concentrate on the fact that if anything is going to be open, it will be your legs.”

More likely she’d be too afraid to take her clothes off, but she did appreciate Suzanne’s optimism.

“I can practically hear your brain creating a list of all the things you aren’t going to like about this trip,” Tamara said. “Just relax and enjoy yourself.”

“Do I know how to do that?” Imogen asked honestly.

Her friends laughed, and Suzanne actually descended into a snort.

“You enjoyed last night, didn’t you?” Tamara asked.

She nodded. “Oh, yeah.”

“So it’s the same thing, just in a tent.”

Right. Sex in a tent. No different than a bed, really. Just harder. And earthier. And buggier.

The only conclusion she could reach if she was willing to go to such lengths to spend time with Ty was that she was seriously infatuated with him.

And that was almost scarier than the thought of running into a bear while covered in honey.

RYDER Jefferson was heading to a preliminary meeting with his crew chief in Martinsville when his cell phone rang. Striding across the motor coach lot, he pulled it out of his pocket and glanced at it.

“Shit,” was his opinion. It was his ex-wife, Suzanne. If she was calling him, it usually meant she wanted something from him.

They’d been getting along just fine lately, which was probably because they hadn’t been seeing much of each other since a dinner party incident back in May when she’d tossed a pie in his face. He still hadn’t figured out what that was all about.

Deciding to ignore her call, he sighed when he realized she had hung up and was calling again. Knowing Suzanne and how tenacious she was, she’d keep calling until he answered.

“Hello, Suz, how are ya?” he said, slowing down his gait as he headed for the track.

“Are you busy?” she asked. “Do you have a minute to chat?”

Well, now, that was a good start. She was being all polite and agreeable. “Yes, this is a fine time. Just heading to a meeting. What’s up, darlin’?”

“Why didn’t you answer, then?” she asked caustically.

Ryder rolled his eyes. So much for a good start. “I did answer.”

“But you didn’t the first time . . . Oh, never mind. I didn’t call to fight.”

“That’s reassuring.” Because when he fought with Suzanne, he always felt like he was driving the short track blindfolded and she was the wall.

“Listen, did you know Ty is banging Imogen?”

Ryder stopped walking and stared blankly at the fence surrounding the track. “Huh? Who’s Imogen?” And why did Suzanne feel the need to tell him she was sleeping with Ty?

“Tammy’s teaching assistant. You met her at Tammy’s house a few times and at the wedding. She’s become a really dear friend to me and I’m all sorts of worried, Ryder. I think she and Ty are like oil and water, and while she is saying the sex is freaky-deaky, I just don’t know if I should encourage this.”

And this involved him how? “Umm . . . Suz?”

“Yeah?”

“Didn’t we have a talk about interfering in other people’s love lives a while back when Tammy and Elec were first getting it on?”

“I was right to interfere with those two. They might have kept insisting they didn’t want to date if I hadn’t thrown that dinner party.”

“We threw that dinner party. Then you threw a pie in my face.” Apple. He could practically still feel that sticky mess ooze down his nose and chin and taste the sweet tartness on his lips.

“You deserved it,” she said breezily. “And this isn’t about you. This is about Imogen and Ty and their happiness. We can’t be letting Ty take her for a ride. She’s just not the kind of girl who is into casual sex.”

Ryder rubbed his forehead, wondering if he really was supposed to give a shit who Ty was sleeping with. If the guy had a thing for the skinny chick with the glasses, more power to him. Ryder wouldn’t have thought she was Ty’s type, given that she was pretty in a more conservative, understated way than Ty’s usual full-blown beauties, but it wasn’t really any of his business. “I believe you said Tammy wasn’t that kind of girl either, and she was all about bouncing Elec. I just think we need to let people work these things out themselves, darlin’.”

“If Ty breaks Imogen’s heart, I’m going to be seriously pissed off.”