Chapter Three
Roark—the track
The buzzing inside Roark’s head wouldn’t stop.
Didn’t help he promised to be here tonight to help with the races, and the engine noises were a constant drone, adding to the pounding headache.
He ate, drank his pop, and took ten minutes to shut himself inside the trailer with noise-cancelling headphones.
Nothing.
The caffeine and quiet hadn’t touched the bastard of a skull crusher he felt. He’d taken a headache powder earlier but still felt no relief.
“Fuck.” He threw off the headphones and opened the locked cabinet where he kept items he wanted no one besides him and Bradley to touch.
He pulled out the pill bottle and popped a tiny tablet he kept for times like this when nothing else would put a dent in the pain.
They were a prescription steroidal anti-inflammatory.
He hated relying on meds for anything. Luckily, he only needed them on rare occasions.
Roark sat for a few more moments, finishing off the bottle of water.
The pill wouldn’t instantly take effect, but just knowing they always provided relief was enough to have him moving toward the door a few moments later.
He didn’t want to disappoint Bradley or the kids who looked forward to this night.
Slipping on his shades, he pushed open the door and walked into the sunshine.
Even nearing 6:00 PM, the desert evenings remained warm until the sun went down.
He looked up at the clear, blue sky and took a deep breath.
The smell of gasoline fumes and traces of dinner mixed with the fresh air. Nothing quite like it, he thought.
Bradley approached with two riders, sixteen-year-old twins, Kaydence and Kadon.
It was their second year racing under his brother’s tutelage, and they were naturals.
Their mom, Konstance, was a widow who opened a shop, K’s Book Boutique, in Eden last year after moving down from Lewiston four years ago.
Roark wasn’t blind to the covert glances and subtle interest between Bradley and the young mother, and why his brother didn’t act upon it continued to puzzle him. But they had to figure it out and make their moves when ready.
“Hey, Roark,” Bradley greeted. “Feeling better?”
“Some.”
“You know you can head out if you need to. We got this covered.”
“I’m good.” Roark turned to the twins. “You two make good time?”
“Yes, sir,” Kadon answered. “Kaydence took first and I got second.” The young boy radiated pride, never minding he’d been bested by a girl. Oh, yeah, plenty of thoughts like that still happening these days, and it irked Roark to no end.
“Good for you two. Keep it up and you’ll go big-time.”
While Kaydence smiled, Kadon’s eyes widened. “You think?”
“Why not? You two got it in ya.”
“Thanks, Mr. Roark!”
“No need for the mister.” He grinned when the memory of his dad popped into his head. Always telling people to drop the mister. Always telling Charli.
Shit, where had that thought come from? He hadn’t thought about her in ... well, in a while.
Liar.
Roark didn’t want to admit how often thoughts of Charli Campbell entered his mind. Too often to be healthy, that’s for sure. Hell, it’d been twenty years and he’d had plenty of women in that time. But none of them occupied space in his brain the way she had.
Roark shook his head, trying to clear those thoughts. “Let’s see how your bikes faired after that round.”
He and his brother spent ten minutes going over the bikes and adjustments. They already knew plenty from Bradley, but reinforcement never hurt. Their mother couldn’t afford bikes for them on her own, so his brother ensured these bikes were dedicated only to the twins.
The Club helped fund bikes and events for those who couldn’t readily afford the expense. Just another way of giving back to the community they grew up in. Cared for. Protected.
With one final race for the evening, the twins headed back to the track.
“Good kiddos,” Roark said to Bradley.
“They are. So damned smart and so supportive of each other.”
“So when you gonna ask Konstance out on a date?” Bradley spun around to stare at him with wide eyes. “Oh, come on, brother. You ain’t blind, so you gotta see that woman is crazy for you. And I happen to think it’s mutual.”
Bradley turned away. “Maybe,” he mumbled.
“What’s the hold up?”
“I don’t know, I just...” His brother blew out a breath, shaking his head.
“Hey,” Roark slapped his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “It’s dinner. Doesn’t have to be anything complicated. Unless you want to take her to bed, then...”
“Jesus, Roark.” Bradley knocked his hand away. “Have some respect. Not everyone just wants an easy fuck and a never gonna see you again because they don’t want any strings.”
Roark narrowed his eyes at that comment that hit too close to home.
“Yeah, I know your ways,” Bradley continued. “And if that’s what makes you happy, then good for you. But I want something meaningful. Something lasting.”
“Well, then, I hope you find it.”
“And you don’t? Just going to fuck your way through every woman to cross your path and be satisfied with that?”
Roark clenched his jaw because, fuck, no, he wasn’t satisfied with that. In fact, he hadn’t fucked a woman in months because one-night stands had lost their appeal. It was less complicated to whack one out in the shower when needed.
“That’s what I thought.” Bradley started to walk away but quickly stopped in his tracks.
Roark followed his line of sight, watching as a beauty of a car rolled to a stop in the dirt lot beyond their row of pits.
They watched as Harvey Whitman exited the passenger side, laughing at the driver who had yet to make an appearance.
Roark strained to see as dark hair emerged, and a tall figure stood at the car’s side, shutting the door. When the woman turned, both brothers sucked in their breath.
“No way,” Bradley said first, followed by Roark’s, “Holy fuck.”
“CC!” Bradley yelled. The woman’s head whipped around and a dazzling smile that could be spotted from the moon took shape.
Before Roark could respond, his brother was sprinting in her direction, barreling through the gap in the fence, and hoisting her up in his arms. Their laughter could be heard from where Roark stood, and instant longing flooded his system.
He didn’t want to be jealous of his brother holding the beauty in his arms, spinning circles while she held on tight.
He didn’t want to feel like knocking his brother out so he could be the one whose arms were wrapped around the girl that never left his thoughts.
Correction ... woman. Charli Campbell was now all woman from his point of view.
He could make out her curves, and when his brother set her on her feet, he could see she had a few inches on him.
Her long, dark hair gleamed in the sunlight.
Roark scanned her body, noticing the swell of her breasts beneath the simple pea-green t-shirt.
He could make out tattoos along one arm and one leg.
And the barely-there denim shorts? Holy fuck.
He practically salivated looking at her plump ass and a wealth of tanned leg.
Legs he could imagine wrapped around his waist—
“Pick your jaw up off the ground, son, and get ready to greet an old friend.”
Roark turned to face his father whose face held a knowing look and a wily smile.
“Did you know she was back?”
“Only about an hour ago when I got a call from Stacks who got a call from his wife. Harvey and CC had dinner at The Grill. Surprised the shit outta Cook, in a good way. Marlo said the man never smiled so much in all the time she’s known him.”
“Yeah,” Roark said absently.
Owen slapped his back. “Happy face on. Here she comes.”
Roark watched Bradley escort Charli across the lot and through the fence while Harvey followed. Once they hit the gravel, Charli’s head came up, and her gaze collided with Roark’s.
And shit if he didn’t feel the weight of her stare like a punch to the solar plexus and all the way down to his balls.
Fuck, she was gorgeous. She’d always been a pretty girl, and during her last summer here, she’d started turning into more than a girl.
Hell, he’d nearly done the unthinkable and kissed her.
Truth be told, he’d wanted more than a kiss.
But she’d only been fourteen, and he’d been nineteen. No. Fucking. Way.
“CC,” his dad cooed.
Roark watched as Charli sank into his dad’s embrace, closing her eyes and holding on tight.
Her fingers gripped the back of his t-shirt like it was a lifeline.
This was a rare occasion when his dad didn’t have on his cut.
After a few moments, his dad pulled away and Charli opened her eyes to stare at him.
Her smile was timid, but her hazel eyes held a wealth of emotion.
“Hey, Owen.”
They had yet to let their arms drop from each other, as if Owen knew she needed the contact.
“How ya been, girlie?”
Charli laughed. “Better now. Much better. How have you been? Glenda? The family?” Her eyes darted to Roark, lingering a moment before landing on Bradley. “Harvey caught me up on a lot while we had dinner, but I want to hear more.”
“You must have all night,” his dad joked.
“Well,” she glanced back at Harvey before continuing. “As long as I’m not late for my first day of work in the morning.”
“No shit? Barely back in town and you’re already working for Harv? That mean you staying a while?”
“I’m staying for more than a while. I’m back, Owen. Truly back.” Her gaze flitted to Roark for a brief instant before returning to his dad.
“Well, now, that is the best news I’ve heard all year.” He pulled Charli back into his arms. “Welcome home, baby girl. Welcome home.”
Roark watched the tender smile form on Charli’s face. When she and his dad finally parted, Charli looked his way. “Hey, Roark.”
“Hey, Charli.” He took a step and leaned in for a brief, awkward hug. When he pulled back, her timid smile had returned as a touch of red painted her cheeks. “So, you gonna be Harvey’s newest mechanic?”