Racing Together (Montague Racing #3)

Prologue – Jasper

“He is good,” Dave’s voice whispers next to me.

“Shouldn’t you be with your husband, celebrating?”

“He’s with Vincent. Give them a minute,” Dave replies.

“That has to be one of the most sensible things you have ever said,” I say, giving him a smile, but I still find myself turning back to the stage to watch Otis.

“He’s still straight,” Dave tells me gently.

“I know.”

But there is something about Otis that I cannot shake. It’s a nasty habit I have of falling for straight men. I need to shake these feelings. I like this job. I like working with Lars and being close to David and Richard.

“Look, come over tonight. Celebrate with Rich and I,” Dave suggests.

“You know I don’t do threesomes,” I reply, and I have to admit that this is starting to be a joke between the three of us.

“Again, not going to happen. We’ve all been there and we don’t want to go there again,” Dave replies with a laugh.

Learning that you have slept with your ex-boyfriend's current boyfriend could have destroyed any future friendships, but oddly it made us closer. And it made sex jokes a constant thing between us.

“You know I love you,” I tell him. I’m not sure where these words came from.

But hearing Otis defend people’s sexuality just hit a nerve.

All those months ago when he came up to me and blatantly asked if I was gay, I thought it was because he was going to be this homophobic prick. But I think he just wanted to know.

“Jasper, what’s going on?” Dave asks, and I can hear the worry in his voice. He knows this isn’t like me.

Looking back up to the stage, I see that Otis has finished, and I feel this need to go talk to him. “It’s nothing,” I say over to Dave. “I’m going to congratulate Otis.”

“Jasp,” Dave says, and it’s been a long time since Dave has shortened my name like that, “Please be careful. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“I know. Talk later, okay?”

Turning, I make a beeline for Otis.

“That was quite some speech up there. I’m not sure I would’ve been able to hold my tongue,” I tell him. Charmaine is still dealing with me calling the press vultures to their faces. But the added bonus is that it means I won’t be doing any press conferences any time soon.

“Growing up, I had a few gay friends and I had to witness them being asked stupid questions just because they dated someone of the same sex. So, I promised myself that I would always defend people’s right to love who they want.”

Fuck. Just when I thought this man couldn’t get any better in my eyes, he comes back with a reply like this. But a pang of hurt flashes through me and I can’t help but reply, “I wish everyone thought like you.”

“I’m an ally through and through.”

Oh, fuck my life. I do not want to fall for Otis. I will end up getting hurt, or worse, I will end up hurting him and the team. I can’t do that. This team is a family. Hell, they’ve been more of a family to me than my own. With the exception of Kimber.

“We need more people like you.” And because I like to torture myself, I pull Otis into a hug, trying to ignore the feel of his body against mine. Trying to ignore the image that pops into my head of a naked Otis tied to a bed, listening to my every command.

I don’t even say bye as I walk away. What the hell is wrong with me? I need to get out of this hotel. I know that I need to stay away from Otis, at least for the time being or at least till I can get these feelings for him out of my system.

“Hey, Jasper.” For fuck’s sake, can I not escape these people? I turn to see Lars calling my name and force myself to smile. From his reaction he can see that it’s fake.

“Hi.”

“Where are you off to?” he asks.

“I just needed some fresh air.” Which isn’t really a lie, I was planning on going outside, just wasn’t planning on coming back in.

“You okay? You look, um, odd.”

This at least makes me laugh. I like Lars. He’s one of the good ones. Like Otis. He would be an ally if he wasn’t gay and already engaged to the owner of Montague Racing. “I’m good. Just a few things on my mind.”

“You know where I am if you need to talk,” Lars replies, but what can I say? Oh, I’m falling for a straight man and it’s fucking with my head. That it’s making me feel things that I haven’t felt in a long time.

“Thanks mate. I appreciate that.” Which is true, but I just need to give myself time.

“Look, everyone is coming back to my place. Personally, I think Vincent is trying to make up to Richard. Why not come?”

“No offence Lars, but Vincent was being a dick.”

“Oh, no offence taken. I love Vincent more than anything, but God, that man can be a twat at times. So come watch him grovel. Doesn’t happen often. It’ll be fun.”

I want to ask if Otis is going to be there, but I know that would give the game away, or get Lars thinking that I have a problem with Otis. Which yeah, I do, but not in the way that he’s thinking.

“Thanks, but I think I’m just going to visit my sister,” I reply.

“Well, the offer is there. You have my number, just give us a call if you want to come and I will send you the details.”

“I will. See you Monday.”

Walking away from Lars, I pull out my mobile to call Kimber. I’m wondering if I can beg her for a client. Someone who won’t care that I’ve been in the press recently. Maybe one of my regulars. I just need someone to help me forget today.