Race to a Christmas Reunion Read online

  He glanced back at Lisa. Now she was talking to Sheila, which made him wonder if she was deliberately avoiding him. “We’ll talk about it in the car,” he finally said to Ronald. “There are things I think you should know.”

  “About time,” Ronald said, although this time Myles was well aware Ronald’s focus was on Sheila.

  “Hey, you only have one more night,” Myles said, thinking that would ease Ronald’s torture somewhat.

  Ronald met his eyes and smiled. “Yeah, man, but the wait is killing me.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  “SO, YOU WANT to tell me what that kiss was about?” Sheila asked as Lisa eased her car out of the parking lot to follow the one ahead of them. The one that Myles was driving and Ronald was a passenger in.

  Lisa shrugged her shoulders. “I have no idea. Myles made the first move.”

  Sheila laughed as she pushed a few strands of blond hair from her face. “Yes, but I didn’t see you resisting.”

  “In front of everyone? No way.”

  Now it was Sheila’s time to shrug her shoulders. “Why not? There wasn’t a soul in church tonight who didn’t know your and Myles’s history, including the untimely breakup.”

  Lisa didn’t say anything for a moment. “I guess that kiss was Myles’s way of saying, in front of everyone, that we’re still friends.”

  “How do you feel about that?”

  Again Lisa took a moment to think about Sheila’s questions. And then she responded. “Honestly, I’m trying not to say much of anything, and as far as my feelings, you of all people know what I went through when Myles left the way he did. Right now I’m just trying to handle him being here the best way that I can.”

  When the car came to a stop at a traffic light, Sheila seized the moment to reach out and touch Lisa’s shoulder. When she had her attention, she asked softly, “You still love him, don’t you?”

  Lisa felt a sensation in her stomach when she recalled the moment of walking into the church and seeing him. And then when he had turned his dark gaze on her… Her heart rate increased just thinking about it now. “A part of me will always care for Myles, Sheila. We have too much history for me not to. But there’s love and then there is love. I loved him once but don’t know just what I feel now. Besides, I’m not so certain he truly loved me back then.”

  Sheila frowned. “Now that’s where you and I differ in our beliefs. I always thought Myles loved you, just like I’ve always thought there was more to him leaving town than what he’d said.”

  “There was no other reason for him to leave, Sheila. He had the opportunity of a lifetime come his way and he seized it.”

  “Are you still bitter?”

  “I tell myself I’m not, but then I have to admit a part of me is bitter. His dreams had become mine and to know he fulfilled them without me still hurts. But then at the same time, I am so proud of what he has achieved in just five years. There hasn’t been a race he’s participated in that I wasn’t cheering him on, all the way. I may not have been there on the sidelines, but I was there.”

  Sheila nodded. “Now for my final question. You know how your family felt about Myles in the past. They will hear—if they haven’t already—that he’s back in town for the wedding. And they will see him tomorrow since they’re attending the wedding. How will you handle them, especially your sisters?”

  Lisa frowned. “My family doesn’t have anything to worry about regarding Myles, but even if they did, what goes on in my life is my business and they should know that by now. My sisters can’t find husbands of their own because they are too busy trying to run my life. I love them but they can get on my last nerve.”

  “Well, I think you just need to be prepared. Dorothy Satterwhite was on the piano tonight and you know what a gossip she is. Chances are everyone in Chiefland knows that Myles kissed you today. At least they’ll know by tomorrow morning.”

  “It wasn’t that kind of kiss.”

  “You and I know it wasn’t, since I’ve walked in on you and caught you and Myles kissing before and could actually feel the heat ten feet away. But you know how Dorothy likes to embellish things, so like I said, be prepared.”

  Lisa knew that, unfortunately, Sheila’s warning wasn’t anything she could take lightly.

  * * *

  RONALD SAID NOTHING for the longest time after listening to what Myles had told him. Then he said, “Gee, man, Lisa’s folks used your love for her to get you to do what they wanted. I wonder if Lisa knows the whole story now.”

  Myles glanced over at Ronald as he turned into the restaurant’s parking lot. “I doubt it. I can’t see them ever coming clean and admitting to anything.”

  “You’re probably right. Besides, if they had, she would have told Sheila and Sheila would have told me.”

  Myles nodded. “I’m not finding fault with her parents for what they did. They saw me as a threat to the life they wanted for Lisa and felt they had to do something about it.”

  “Hmm, I wonder what they think now, with the way your career has gone.” Ronald chuckled as the car came to a stop. “Hey, you wouldn’t be a bad catch for a son-in-law.”

  Myles decided not to mention that evidently a number of people felt that way. He didn’t want to think of the number of his friends who’d tried playing their hands at matchmaking by introducing him to a number of eager prospects—daughters, sisters, cousins and so on.

  “You’ve been dating a lot.”

  Ronald’s statement intruded into his thoughts and he glanced over at him while unbuckling his seatbelt. “How do you know?”

  Ronald smiled. “We still get the tabloids here, Myles. Mr. Jones over at the grocery store always manages to put the papers out front, right next to the vegetables bin, putting you and all the details of your affairs right in plain view. Everyone thought it was kind of cool when you were dating that movie star.”

  Myles rolled his eyes. “I never actually dated her. It was a promotional gig, nothing more. We’re just friends.”

  Ronald chuckled. “Hey, I wished I could brag about being friends with her.”

  Before he cut off the engine, Ronald turned to Myles and asked, “So what do you plan to do about Lisa? You’ll be in town for almost a week.”

  Myles knew he needed to have his head examined for agreeing to hang around and stay at Ronald’s place while the new furniture Ronald had ordered as a surprise for Sheila was being delivered. Ronald and Sheila were leaving right after the wedding reception to drive to Jacksonville to catch a cruise ship to the Bahamas for four days. They would return before New Year’s, in time for him to leave to attend the New Year’s Eve charity race in Daytona. He wouldn’t be racing this time around, but wanted to be there to support his good friend and boss, Bronson Scott.

  “I know. I’m sure there’s something I’ll be able to do to stay busy. I might drop in on your dad’s dealership and mess around in the garage like the old days.”

  Ronald laughed. “Hey, the old man will just love that, to be able to boast about having you there. Hell, he might sell tickets. You’ve become a celebrity in these parts.”

  That statement should have given Myles a sense of satisfaction but it did not. He didn’t want the townspeople to accept him because of his celebrity status; he wanted their acceptance because he was one of them and always had been. He had been born and raised right here in Chiefland, although it had been on the poor side of town. But still, he had roots here. And being the only member of his family still living, they were roots he was proud of.

  Although Ronald joked a lot about his dad, it had been Mr. Harris who had opened up his garage and made it possible for Myles to hang around and learn things and work under Joe Spivey, the best mechanic in the South. Myles had known he was a goner when he had changed his first spark plug under Joe’s watchful eyes. He had taken all the things Joe had taught him about the best way to get a car to run and had used those skills in his professional racing career, first as a mechanic then—after convincing Bronson to le
t him try out—as a driver for his team, Scott Motorsports.

  And as far as Chiefland was concerned, another thing Myles hadn’t been able to forget was the woman he had left behind. More than once after racing in Daytona he’d been tempted to get on Interstate 95 and head west toward Interstate 10 to Chiefland and see the one woman he had loved. The only woman who would ever have his heart.

  “Ready to go inside?” Ronald asked as he secured his hair in a ponytail before opening the car door.

  Myles smiled over at him. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  * * *

  LISA TRIED TO REMAIN calm as Myles sat next to her. But when his thigh brushed against hers, she immediately felt a tingle in the pit of her stomach. And from the way he looked at her, she knew he had experienced it, too. Some things just wouldn’t go away.

  Lucky for her, Judy Small, who was known to be a chatterbox, sat on the other side of her. Judy was Sheila’s cousin and loved talking about just about anything and had kept the conversation going. Every once in a while one of the guys would squeeze in a question for Myles—wanting to know about the upcoming season and how he was preparing for it.

  Since it was Christmas Eve, most people had wanted to eat quickly and leave, because they had the morning for opening presents before heading to the church for the wedding. By the time the waitress returned to clear the table the only persons left were Sheila and Ronald and Lisa and Myles. Lisa glanced down the long table and saw that Ronald and Sheila were engaged in tense conversation. From the frown on Sheila’s face, Lisa figured Ronald was trying to plead his case as to why it would be okay for her to spend the night with him. A smile touched Lisa’s lips knowing Ronald was wasting his time. He of all people should know that when Sheila made her mind up about something, that was it.

  “Do you want to take a bet on who’s going to win?”

  The warmth of Myles’s breath when he leaned close to her reminded her he was there. Not that she had really forgotten. His cologne was still getting to her on a level that was totally provocative. In her book he was drop-dead gorgeous and he didn’t need to add anything to boost his sexiness.

  “No need for us to place bets. You will be taking Ronald home and I’m taking Sheila to my place. However, the big question is when that will happen, since it doesn’t appear they’ll be leaving anytime soon.”

  Myles nodded as he glanced down at his watch. “It’s almost ten now. I thought most places closed up early on Christmas Eve.”

  Lisa couldn’t help but smile. “Most places do but, like you, Victoria is probably willing to wait it out just to see how the evening will end. She and her husband probably have their own bets going.”

  Lisa took a sip of her coffee and then said, “Besides, you’re here and you’re a celebrity. They will probably not wash the plate and utensils you used and put them on display next week.”

  Myles rolled his eyes. “Aren’t you getting a little carried away?”

  “No. This is Chiefland, Myles. Remember? The biggest event we host each year is the Watermelon Festival. It’s not every day that we get a famous race-car driver to grace our town. And what makes it even more special is knowing that he’s one of us.”

  Her words stuck in his brain. She had always considered him one of them. But it had taken him winning the race at Talladega, one that had gotten national attention, for the townspeople to admit to anything. He was certain there were still a few out there who would rather not claim him. Namely her family. For that reason he decided to bring them up.

  “How are your parents?”

  He could tell his question surprised her. “Mom and Dad are doing fine. Dad finally retired from being a weatherman and Mom taught her last class at the middle school in May. Now they just hang around the house and get on each other’s nerves. My sisters and I are thinking about putting our money together to send them someplace this spring.”

  Myles lifted a brow. “Someplace like where?”

  “We’re checking into a seven-day Alaskan cruise.”

  Myles smiled. “What can happen in a week?”

  “For one, being together without any distractions will remind them why they got married in the first place. Over the years, their workaholic lifestyles kind of drove them apart.”

  Myles decided not to say it hadn’t been that way on the night her parents had shown up at his place. George and Lilly St. Claire had presented a united front when it came to their daughter’s future and their belief that he would do nothing but ruin it.

  “And how are your sisters doing?”

  He could tell from her expression that she knew he was asking just to be polite. “They’re doing fine. Still single and bossy as ever. Sunnie replaced Dad at the television station earlier this year and is now the Chiefland meteorologist. Wendy is busy with her accounting office, gearing up for tax season. And Noraine, like me, commutes every day into Gainesville where she works as a counselor on campus.”

  She added, “You’ll get to see all of them tomorrow at the wedding.”

  Myles tried keeping the grimace off his face when he said. “How nice.” He then looked down at his watch again before glancing at Ronald and Sheila. Sheila was no longer frowning. There was a softening in her features as if she was considering whatever Ronald was saying.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to make that bet?” he asked Lisa.

  She smiled. “I’m sure. She might be understanding and sympathizing with him, but in the end she won’t change her mind.”

  Myles wasn’t so sure about that. “How long do you think it will take for Ronald to get it into his head that she won’t?”

  Lisa laughed. “He’s a typical man. Stubborn and determined. We might be here until midnight.”

  “I don’t think so,” Myles said, deciding he would give the couple ten more minutes max. “I drove in from Charlotte this morning and haven’t gotten much sleep. It would be most embarrassing for them if I were to fall flat on my face in the middle of tomorrow’s service.”

  Lisa smiled, envisioning that happening. She could just imagine how Reverend Hall would handle it. “So, do you like living in Charlotte? I heard it’s a nice place.”

  Myles thought about her question. He wished he could be honest and tell her the truth—that when he had first arrived he had been so lonely for her, there had been times when he’d been tempted to disregard what her parents wanted for her. He’d thought about returning to Chiefland, asking her to marry him and taking her back to North Carolina with him. But the more time he spent apart from her, the more he knew he had done the right thing. She had encouraged him to pursue his dreams so many times; it was a small sacrifice to make sure she did the same for hers.

  “Charlotte is nice. I’ve met a number of good people there.”

  “Tell me about them.” She shifted in her chair and he picked up the scent of her perfume. From the moment he had approached her at the church he had noticed she still wore the same one and he was glad. It mixed well with her body’s chemistry and always made him think of flowers and honey. It was a tantalizing combination and one that always made him want to make love to her. Whenever. Wherever.

  “First there is Bronson Scott, he’s the owner of the racing team I work for. The man is simply awesome. Bronson hired me on as a mechanic and later took a chance on me as a driver.”

  “You’ve won a couple of races,” she noted, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she kept up with the races because of him.

  “Yes, for Scott Motorsports. It was sheer luck that both Bronson and I managed to make the chase for the big leagues. We celebrated for days.”

  And a part of him wished she had been there to celebrate with him. Several times over the years he had been tempted to call her. But her parents’ words had rung in his ears. “If you love our daughter as much as you claim you do, then you will want what’s best for her and let her go.”

  “Do you have big sponsors?” she asked him moments later when the other end of the table had gotten quiet.<
br />
  He glanced in Ronald and Sheila’s direction and saw they had sneaked in a kiss. He almost felt sorry for Ronald, especially if he wasn’t changing Sheila’s mind.

  “Yes, the Steele Manufacturing Corporation is one of our biggest sponsors, although there are others. That’s one of the reasons why the race car I drive is steel gray. The Steeles send a lot of money our way, and when we win it’s a big promotion and good advertising for them. And they are close friends of Bronson’s, especially Donovan Steele, the youngest of the four brothers who own the corporation. Bronson and Donovan are best friends.”

  Myles looked at his watch again, thinking it was time to get the couple home, although he was thoroughly enjoying being here with Lisa. If he had his way, Ronald would go home with Sheila and he would go home with Lisa.

  “So where do you live now?” he asked.

  “I have an apartment here and one in Gainesville. The one in Gainesville is right above the shop I own and on busy days when I’m too tired to make the drive back here in the evenings, I spend the night there.”

  “You own a shop?”

  “Yes?”

  “What kind?” he asked.

  “A gift shop. It’s located within a mile from campus and most of the customers are college students. Business is good when they are on campus but this time of the year, when most of the students leave for the holidays, business is slow, which is why I’ve closed up until school starts back the first of the year.”

  She owned a gift shop? This was news to him. He’d never asked Ronald, preferring to only know that she was in good health versus knowing anything about her personal life. Therefore, he had always assumed once she had gotten her degree, she had done what she always talked about doing, which was to come back to Chiefland and teach school.