THE NEXT MORNING, I trail behind Tyler and his crew as they make their way to the track and line up. I can hardly hear myself think over the roar of the engines. Plumes of white smoke hide the lethal looking motorcycles as their back tires spin and heat up.
Getting lost in the commotion, I fall deep into the excitement of the crowd, eventually standing off to the side. I see Tyler’s helmet move from right to left as he scans the sea of onlookers. He flips his visor up and calls Gabe over. Gabe nods and is gone. Moments later he finds me and ushers me back to where I was next to Tyler.
The shiny helmet is ripped off his head as he leans over to speak to me.
“I told you.” He warns with stern eyes. “I want you by my side. Got it?”
I nod and smile when a warm and fuzzy feeling flows through me.
Noise and chaos settle into silence; a bubble of tenderness and intimacy consume us the instant his lush lips crash against mine.
“Go fast,” I mumble against his lips when Matt and the other guys start to heckle.
“That’s my plan.”
Our eyes lock as I close his visor and silently pray for his safety. Stepping back, I watch as he shifts his bike into gear. It roars loudly when he launches forward to the pre-staging line.
Who knew racing was so sexy?
A distant voice booms through the speakers announcing the next race. It’s a highly anticipated race after last night’s test and tune. Everyone had the chance to see Tyler in action; they got to see the motorcycle called Black Mambo fly down the track. He is better than ever. Faster than ever. Stronger than ever.
I narrow my eyes when yet another plume of white smoke rises in the air, the smell of rubber burning permeates my nose as each racer heats up their back tires.
Like a predator ready to pounce, Tyler bends at the waist and lowers his long hard body over the gas tank. My attention is pinned directly on him, traveling up and down from the black leather suit to the laced-up racing shoes. Hovering over the shiny black metal, his chest barely touches it. The roar of his turbo motorcycle sounds like the warning growl of a vicious bear.
I look for any sign of movement, but he’s perfectly still, keeping his eyes laser focused on the top lights as they prepare to descend. The tip of my tongue peeks through, moistening my bottom lip before my teeth clamp down on it. I force a deep swallow in anticipation of the moment his hands shift, releasing the firm grip on the clutch and cracking open the throttle in his other hand. The hammering of my heart is almost as loud as the roar of the aligned motorcycles, two beasts gearing up for an attack on the asphalt as they race to the finish line.
The anticipation is thick and coats my skin. As if no one else exists, I watch him as he watches the tree of lights. One light. Two lights. Seconds later when every light is illuminated, Tyler accelerates, thrusting forward, racing down the straight track at an incredible speed. I stand on my tip toes to see him; the farther he goes, the smaller he seems.
“Go! C’mon, baby!” Quiet, mumbled words of encouragement fly from my mouth.
At the end of the track, a white arrow flashes on the right side, indicating Tyler’s win. The crowd returns and erupts into a wave of cheers and hollers. I glance around quickly and notice everyone offering hugs and high fives. Gabe steps close and wraps his arms around me, smiling fiercely.
“Hot damn! Can you believe it?” he yells.
My eyes widen in surprise.
“He’s never gone that fast! Never! What are you doing to him?”
We both turn to look at Tyler who is moving slowly back in our direction, traveling a narrow path alongside the track.
I laugh then smile. “That’s all him.”
The memory of long nights sitting in the garage while he worked on his bike cross my mind. The memory of celebrating when he finally finished rebuilding this motorcycle makes the butterflies in my belly dance. My ovaries are going to explode recalling what we did on that bike when he finally finished rebuilding it.
His whispered words he growled in my ear now ring loudly.
“Time to celebrate, baby.”
I felt a chill down my spine when he took me by the hand and led me over to inspect the sleek, sexy turbo bike he’d built with his own hands.
“That’s beautiful,” I said, running my hand over the polished metal as I admired the intricacy of the highway of wires and pipes.
Tyler’s chin rested on my shoulder and he kissed my neck. “You are beautiful.”
The moment transformed. His sweet, loving gesture quickly changed to one that had us clawing off each other’s clothes before he bent me over the bike and widened my stance, driving hard into me.
The purr of Tyler’s bike as he approaches pulls me back to the here and now.
I watch him wave to the crowd as he passes them and I smile at his earned arrogance.
The throng of gathered people part like the Red Sea when Tyler slowly maneuvers through the dense crowd. Cheers of appreciation and respect are tossed his way. He nods and smiles confidently until he reaches me. Even before he removes his helmet, he slides his arms around my waist and pulls me to him. I could feel the heat from the engine tickling my skin so I lean in, careful to avoid a burn.
I flip open his visor and catch his eyes; they’re beaming with happiness, pride and love and yet I detect a hint of insecurity and vulnerability.
“That was amazing!”
The helmet is removed, leaving his short hair matted down. I run my fingers through his hair and cup his jaw as I bring his face closer to mine. I tilt slowly and meet his lips, offering a congratulatory kiss and celebratory promise of what’s to come.
“I’m so proud of you!”
I kiss him again, completely oblivious to the stares until Gabe clears his throat.
“Take it to the trailer, bro! We’ve got other races lined up.”
Tyler smiles against my lips. “Get on.”
I pull back in question.
He moves forward on the bike, creating a sliver of a space for me.
“Baby, I can’t fit there. You know I have a big ass!”
“Karrie, get on. Now.”
The command in his voice supersedes my doubt as I straddle the bike and snake my arms around his waist.
Together, we ride slowly through the crowds who wait for the next race to begin.
Race after race, Tyler wins, destroying Alex’s old records and setting new ones.
His confidence is palpable; his arrogance deserved.
The day has been nothing short of amazing.
The sun falls below the horizon, worn and weary after having worked hard all day providing light and heat.
I gather my hair in a messy bun at the nape of my neck and wipe the sweat from my brow. A shower and the hotel bed beckon me, inviting me in as if I were a wanderer seeking refuge.
After the last ratchet strap is secured, holding the motorcycles in place, Tyler stands there in jeans and a T-shirt, moving slowly in my direction.
“Thank you for being here today.”
I smile and step into his arms, forgetting how hot and sweaty I am,
“I’m glad I was here with you. It’s where I belong.”
Strong arms envelope me and I am kissed senselessly. His hands travel from my face to my neck before finally resting at my bun. When I’m with him, I feel as though the outside world no longer exists.
“I love you,” he whispers in my ear.
My eyes close briefly and slowly reopen as the words “I love you more” tumble from my lips in response.
“But I’ve loved you longer.” He smirks and cocks his eyebrow, proving his point.
I smile because I can’t argue back. I hate to think of the years I wasted, the years he watched me from afar, loving me even though I belonged to someone else.
“You know I would do anything for you. I would give up racing for you.”
I gasp. Disbelief and shock mar my face before I nod and smile.
“I would never ask you to do that.”
“I know you wouldn’t, but what I’m saying is I would if you asked. You are the most important thing in my life.”
His loving words send warmth through my body.
“Can you do something for me?” he asks, dropping his hands. The look in his eyes suddenly serious.
I slide my hand over the scruff of his jaw.
“Of course. Whatever you need. You know that!”
Searching my face, Tyler kisses me lightly before taking a small step back and dropping to one knee, sliding my hands in his.
My heart stops.
“Karrie Ann Miller, I need to ask you something important, but I need to tell you something first.” He swallows nervously, forcing down his emotions as he stares at me with love etched on his face.
“From the first time I saw you, I knew you were special. From the first time I touched your skin, I knew we had a connection. From then, I knew I wanted to get to know you, but when I lost that chance, I stood in the background and watched you. I watched you struggle and I watched you soar. At times, I saw the happiness in your eyes, but more often I saw the sadness. Karrie, the only thing I ever wanted to do was to take you away, to protect you and to love you. Now that I have the chance to do those things, I don’t ever want to lose it.”
The hammering of my heart thumps loudly in my ears, the blood is racing wildly through my veins.
“So…” He reaches into a small pocket to retrieve something then uncurls his palm, revealing a diamond ring. Cast upon me are eyes filled with absolute and complete joy.
“I’d like to ask you something. I’m asking you to be my wife, to spend every day and every night with me, to be by my side at every race for the rest of my life. Your life. Will you marry me?”
Through expectant eyes, I realize he identifies the expression on my face as one of shock and surprise. But my hand reaches down to touch his face, my thumb sliding across his bottom lip.
In a matter of seconds, a thousand questions surface; all opportunities for me to reject his offer.
But I don’t.
I can’t.
I am completely, irrevocably and madly in love with Tyler Strong.
My knees buckle from the excess weight of happiness resting on my shoulders and I lower myself, mirroring his position. Pools of water fill my eyes as my vision blurs and I wipe them away desperately, not wanting to miss a moment of this with him.
“There are so many reasons why I should say no…”
Hurt flickers across his face.
“But I don’t care. I don’t care about the past. I don’t care about what people might say, I don’t care that I used to hate you.”
At my words, a small smile tugs on his mouth.
“But here’s the thing. I want you. I need you. I love you.”
Tyler kisses me chastely and asks, “Is that a yes?”
“Absolutely! Yes! For all the reasons I should say no, I’m saying yes!”
Taking my left hand in his, Tyler guides the beautiful ring in place and seals it with a kiss.
“You’ve just made me the happiest man alive.”
My lips tease his, touching lightly before pulling back until he crushes his mouth against mine.
“I’m going to love you forever.”
A heavy knock and the jiggling of the trailer door forces us to separate from our embrace.
Tyler rises and unlocks it, pushing the door wide open.
“What do you want?” he asks someone who remains hidden behind the door and is out of my line of sight.
“I need to talk to you,” a woman’s voice demands.
“Now’s not a good time.”
“Really? Why? Because your girlfriend—”
Tyler glances back at me sympathetically then steps out, quickly closing the door behind him.
Curiosity and apprehension flood me as I sit back on my heels. Feeling as though the enormous wave of emotions is crashing, leaving me buried in the sand, I sigh and look around the trailer at the motorcycles and equipment. I can’t believe how much my life has changed in a year. My gaze falls to my ring, admiring its beauty and simplicity. The solid square of diamond nestled in platinum sparkles, demands my attention. I’m lost in imaginary thoughts of Tyler going to the jewelry store and picking out this ring when I’m suddenly startled and sent running at the sound of voices shouting.
The door swings open and I step out just in time to see Penny’s hand connect with Tyler’s cheek.
“What the hell? What are you doing?” I screech as my feet come to a full stop before them.
Tyler remains unmoving, accepting the barrage of small balled fists to his chest.
“Penny, stop! What are you doing?” I shout.
I turn to Tyler, trying to understand what’s happening, but the look in his eyes makes my heart plummet.
“What’s wrong?”
“Go back inside.”
“No!” I refuse his command. My stern face and tight lips reveal my steadfast decision.
“Karrie, I said go back inside.”
Standing my ground against ever being told what to do again, I bellow a single word.
“No!”
“She’s upset. Let me talk to her.”
“Clearly she’s upset,” I motion with my hands at the woman who is now crying against his T-shirt. “Why? Why is she upset? What happened?”
“Please trust me.”
A plead for mercy and compassion is imprinted on his face as he speaks with a gentle voice.
Trust him? I’ve just agreed to marry him and he’s consoling another woman. The woman who had an affair and a child with my husband. Images fill my mind. All the race trips they took down here. The muffled voices in the background. The lies he told. The deceit he lived. The plan he hatched.
Rage bubbles to the surface.
“You know what? Fuck you!” I turn and head in the opposite direction. My legs carry me fast and far away before my heart explodes.
“Karrie!”
I can hear Tyler footstep’s behind me until he stops me in my tracks.
“Stop, Karrie!”
Desperately trying to avoid him, I sidestep right and then left. Each step is matched by one of his own.
His hands reach for my arms.
“I’m not letting you go.”
Hot heavy tears spill from my eyes when I finally look at him.
“Why are you doing this? Why would you do this?”
He caresses my face.
“Baby, it’s not what you think. She needs help.”
I narrow my eyes and scowl.
“I don’t give a shit what she needs!”
“She needs money. For the baby.”
“I. Don’t. Care!”
Tyler glances quickly over my shoulder and then looks back to me.
“I have to help her. I owe that to her.”
“What?” I snarl. “You don’t owe that woman anything.”
A flash of comprehension races through my mind.
“It’s your kid, isn’t it?”
My stomach opposes and lunch threatens to rise.
“Hell no!”
“Don’t lie to me.”
Tyler meets me at eye level.
“I swear to God I never touched her. Never!”
“Then why do you owe her? Why is she your responsibility?”
His chest rises and falls in defeat.
“I should’ve warned her.” He shakes his head sadly and blows out a puff of air. “I should’ve protected her from him.”
I swallow the bitter, venom-filled words, keeping them locked away. I don’t want to hurt him even though my heart is shredding.
“It’s not your job to protect her. Or me for that matter.”
The hard expression on his face indicates his disagreement.
“I love you so I will protect you.”
“And what about her? Did you love her?”
Tyler closes the space between our bodies and brings his face centimeters away from mine. I can feel the heat radiating from his skin.
“Listen to me and listen good because I have two things to tell you. One, I have never in my life touched that woman.” His eyes tighten momentarily. “Ever.”
Softness and love replace the hardness of his countenance.
“I love you. I love you so much I can hardly see straight sometimes. I love you so much and the thought of ever losing you chokes me and I feel like I can’t breathe.
My chin quivers as my emotions burst at the seams. I throw my arms around his neck, burying my face into his chest and sob quietly. His hands rub circles on my back as he consoles me with loving words.
I wipe my nose with the back of my hand and look up at this incredible man.
“You smell like her.” I smile sadly.
“Want me to roll in the dirt? You know I’ll do it just to get rid of the smell.”
I slap his chest playfully, stilling my hand over his heart then tapping it twice.
“You’re a good man, Tyler Strong.”
“You are the better half of me. You make me feel strong. You make me feel like I can do anything in the world.”
I absorb his words and embrace him once again.
“She’s not as nice as you think she is.”
“I never said she was nice. I’ve seen first-hand how vicious she can be.”
In agreement, I nod and tell him about the bathroom incident the day before. “She’s not worth it. I actually feel sorry for her daughter and the new one on the way.”
“Me too.”
Something in Tyler’s voice raises questions in my mind.
“Are you giving her money? Are you supporting her?”
Gone is the sun-kissed glow when Tyler’s face pales. Blinking rapidly, I can almost see his thought process working.
“Yes and no.” He releases a deep exhale.
My body, from the hair on my head to the tips of my toes, tenses.
“Let’s go inside,” he says, glancing at the few people meandering around, all within earshot of us.
“I want you to tell me everything, Tyler. Everything.”
He holds my gaze before nodding once.
***
TYLER LEADS ME by the hand to the truck before opening the door.
“Give me two minutes,” he says when Penny walks over.
If her goal was to drive a wedge between us, she failed miserably. Our bond is stronger than ever.
I suppress a chuckle when she leans in for a hug and Tyler steps back out of her reach.
He climbs into the truck and starts the engine, briefly checking for any other vehicles as we pull out of the nearly empty parking lot. Tapping the dial on the radio, Tyler finds a country station. Tim McGraw sings about being humble and kind.
I smile, thinking about how the song describes Tyler perfectly.
“Tell me everything.”
Tyler’s hand turns palm up, seeking its mate.
I lace my fingers with his and squeeze, reassuring him that I’m ready to hear why he’s supporting my ex-husband’s lover and baby mama.
“I knew what he was like better than anyone. I knew what his plan was.”
I feel an ache in my heart.
“The day I brought her in to the clinic, she was terrified. She knew he didn’t want kids and would force her to have an abortion. She saw him as a way out of her life. She thought if she could give him something you couldn’t, he would stay. I felt sorry for her.”
“But…” I start but then say nothing, choosing to listen instead.
“What?”
“It’s not that I couldn’t have kids, he never wanted them and… we didn’t have sex often.”
Tyler looks upward as if seeking help from God.
“When he found out she was pregnant, he went berserk and beat the crap out of her.”
I cringe, a cold shiver running through my veins.
“She threatened to tell you. She even called your phone once, but I snatched it away. I could hear you on the other end and I wanted so much to tell you to leave him. I wanted to tell you to run as far away as you could.”
“Why are we talking about this? Alex is dead. He doesn’t mean anything to me anymore. Nothing.”
“Before he died, he changed his mind and promised he would take care of her and the baby. I knew then that he was going to leave you. I tried so hard to wrap my mind around the fact he was leaving you for her. You were perfect and he was willing to walk away.”
Hearing Tyler recall the story fills me with sorrow, but produces a renewed sense of strength.
“When he left everything in his will to me, I didn’t want it. None of it. Not a single dime. The only thing of his that I ever wanted was you.”
He brings our linked hands to his mouth and places a soft kiss.
“Because he said he would take care of her and the baby, I wanted to honor that. It’s not that little girl’s fault her father was an asshole. I asked Roger to set up a college fund for her. I wanted to give her the opportunities her mother never had.”
“Why was she yelling at you tonight?”
“Because she’s flat broke with another kid on the way. She wants the money now not when the kid goes off to college.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to ask Roger for advice, but I’ll probably have him cut her a check for the lump sum. Then I’ll be done with her.” He turns to me. “What do you think?”
I chuckle darkly. “I think you’re a much better person than I am.”
After a quick stop at a local BBQ restaurant, we trek back home, talking about anything and everything, never once again mentioning Penny and Alex. During the middle of the night, the stifled emotions emerge and I end up bent over the toilet, purging my dinner and my hatred for Alex Parker.