Chapter 28
28
FORD
“ N ow what?” she asks when I pull up in front of her house.
I asked around, finding it weird that no family was devastated by the old man’s passing. I found out that the closest family member that the old man had was a nephew named Danny Mays. The old man’s real name was Hubert Moody Mays.
“I keep digging,” I tell her with determination.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” she says.
“Well, not doing it is an even worse one,” I tell her truthfully. Her opening up to me that she was raped felt like I was stabbed in the chest. What she went through. I don’t blame her for not trusting me.
“Who do you think did it?”
“You or the old man?”
“Both.”
I'm not sure who attacked you, Dulce. But I’m trying, as for the old man…it could be a message. Something overlooked. Whoever did it will do everything in their power to keep it buried.”
“I think you should leave it. It doesn’t change what happened. I don’t want people to die because of it.”
“I can’t,” I admit.
I can't tell her what I’m capable of. I’m sure whoever it is knows I’m sniffing around.
“I don’t want my grandmother to know,” she says quietly. “And I don’t want her to die knowing I lied to her.”
Her grandmother. The picture. She wants her to go peacefully.
“Then we tell her something else,”
“Like?” she asks.
“That we’re together. That we’re dating.”
“That’s lying on top of lying.”
I give her my best smile. “It doesn’t have to be.”
“You don’t have?—”
“I want to.” I interject. “I want to go out on dates with you. I want to spend time with you. It will make her happy, and I’m hoping…it will make you happy.”
I’ve wanted you since forever , but I can’t tell her that. It would confuse her. Scare her.
“What would Summer think?” she asks, fidgeting with a piece of her hair. I can sense jealousy in her tone.
I find her jealousy cute.
“I’m not with Summer, Dulce. I’m not interested in Summer. I asked her to come down so she could tell me about that night. She was at prom with Chris and Trent. I was taking her back to her car when I saw you drive off. I heard about Moody and knew where you went, so she jumped in mine.”
“Oh…”
My phone dings, cutting her off.
It’s an incoming text from Derek.
Derek: You need to make it here in two days.
I have to meet my sponsors at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
I clear my throat. “Could you come with me to Charlotte and stay overnight? I’ll pay Mary double her fee.”
She hesitates, opening and closing her mouth. “I don’t know.”
“I know it’s short notice, but it will be beneficial for your business.”
I want to take her to dinner. I want to spend time with her alone, away from Airy.
“If I leave, how will I make it to the event with all the food?”
“How many cakes and cookies can you make in two days? I’ll help.”
She lets out a puff of air. “Depends on the event.”
“Alright, make as many cakes as you can in different flavors. I’ll send a courier to have them shipped to Charlotte. I have sponsors waiting for me at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. There will be press, paparazzi, screaming fans and loud cars. It’s not far from here. It would be good to get away for a bit. You’ll be back by Sunday. I can hire someone to help Mary if she needs to leave.”
“Alright,” she agrees, and the pressure I felt in my chest quickly dissipates. “I’ll be ready.”
Two days later, I wait in the meet and greet before the race begins. The sun is out, the trees swaying in the wind. My car is in the back trailer, and I’m waiting outside Dulce’s house for her to come out.
After a few minutes, my heart jumps in my throat, and my palms sweat as I watch Dulce walk down the broken path wearing leggings and an off-the-shoulder T-shirt. Her long hair blows to the side, and she has never looked more gorgeous.
“If you keep staring at her, the sponsors might think you're too distracted to race,” Derek says from behind me.
“They better get used to it. Is everything ready for tonight?”
“Have I ever let you down?” he replies in a Southern twang.
“If there is ever a time when I need you to come through for me, it’s now.”
“I never pegged you to have a soft spot for a woman.”
“If it only was a spot,” I mutter before she reaches me.
“Hi,” Dulce says nervously, looking back and forth between Derek and me.
“Derek, Dulce Webster. The owner of Sugar Coated Sweets.”
“It’s a pleasure,” Derek says, taking her bag.
“Nice to meet you,” she replies softly.
I take the bag from Derek, earning a surprised look. “Well, that’s a first,” Derek mutters.
“First of many,” I tell him, leaning close to place a peck on her lips. “Hi.”
“Hi,” she says right back.
“Good morning,” I whisper.
“Good morning,” she says shyly. The blush on her cheeks spreads to her neck.
Derek clears his throat. “We need to get going, Ford.”
When we arrive at the event, I had Derek arrange for Sugar Coated Secrets to have a tent with a banner made with her logo to market the bakery. I also made copies of her menu and QR code so people can place orders remotely.
“You didn’t have to do all this, Ford,” she says, watching from the suite above the track in awe.
“It’s my pleasure. Everyone will know where they can buy my favorite cookies from.”
“Ford,” Derek calls from the door.
I turn. “I’ll be right out.”
Sponsors are waiting for me to make an appearance, but I want to make sure she is comfortable.
“Is it like this all the time?” she asks, looking out at the crowds of fans with my number painted on their faces. Some with signs with my name on them. People scream and cheer in the stands. Some with their phones out. They even rolled out a red carpet. It is a full PR event. Thousands of fans have come out to watch me race.
“Depends on the race. Formula 1 is more of a show. More money. In Italy, it is a bigger show for sure. Huge parties after the race. Executives from every car manufacturer.”
“Full of celebrities?” she asks, but I can tell she’s nervous
“Yeah. Drinking, dancing…”
“Hotel rooms,” she says, looking at the woman flirting with the drivers below. Women wearing short skirts and T-shirts tight under their breasts. Some wear shorts so short they should be arrested.
It’s no secret I end up sleeping with some of them. The tabloids love to show that part.
I take a pull from my water bottle. “Yeah, good thing this time I came with someone I don’t have to escape from the following morning.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“You’d be the first.”
“The first?”
“Yeah, the first.” I grin, loving the fact that she is jealous. “How many girls do you think I bring to watch me race?”
“I don’t know. There are a lot of things I don’t know about you.”
“Whatever it is you want to know, all you have to do is ask.”
“What is the real Ford Keller like?”
I place a peck on her cheek. “You’re gonna be the first to find out.”
Derek walks back in. “Ford?”
I turn around. “Tell them to wait.”
“Why?” Derek stammers.
I look back at Dulce. “I have a date with my girlfriend.”
DULCE
A driver picks us up in a black SUV out back, which is full of security.
We arrive at a well-known Italian restaurant in the city, and I instantly feel like I should have changed. Ford can wear a plain shirt and jeans but manages to pull it off like he’s wearing a suit. It also helps that he’s Ford Keller, and no one would say anything to him about what he wears. On the other hand, me with my simple dress and boutique no-brand wedge heels stick out in a restaurant that takes reservations only.
The hostess takes us out back to a table that is dimly lit and intimate. A few couples are having lunch, oblivious to the fact that Ford Keller is having lunch a few tables over. We get a few curious looks aimed our way as he takes a seat next to me instead of across each other.
“I hope this is okay.” He gets comfortable, his pant leg rubbing against my thigh and causing havoc between my legs.
And then it hits me. I’m on a date with Ford. A real date.
“It’s fine,” I chirp, grateful as the server fills two glasses of ice water.
Ford picks up the menu, scanning it like this is normal. Like we’ve had hundreds of lunches like this before a race.
“Are you supposed to be eating before a race?” I ask.
He cocks his head. “No.”
“Won’t you get in trouble?”
“As long as I don’t drink alcohol before I get behind the wheel, I think I’ll be fine. Besides, I’m going to win. I can do whatever I want.”
“Cocky.”
“I’m trying to impress you.”
“I think it’s working.”
He laughs loud. “How’s that?”
“I’m here with you.”
“You are, and that makes me happy.”
“How’s that?” I ask, not able to look away from his gorgeous mouth, remembering it between my legs. I want nothing more than for him to do more and for this day not to end.
“I like being around you, Dulce. I’ve expressed this before, and I wasn’t lying when I said it.”
He orders for us both when the server returns and then moves close and whispers in my ear. “The truth is, Dulce, I’ve always wanted you.”
I swallow, not knowing how to respond. Not knowing what to say to that. I turn my head, searching his gaze for a crack in his words. To see if there is a lie or a motive behind them, yet all I see is desire, want, and possession.