Breathing a huge sigh of relief, Davey ended his call with the Outdoor America EVP. Glenn had agreed that OA would consider giving him one more chance after they talked tomorrow. God only knew what he’d have to do to get that chance, but he’d think about that later.

Now he needed to talk with Nora and with Ben. He grabbed his jacket and keys, then got into his truck. As he drove to Nora’s, his heart thumped with anxiety. But he refused to believe their relationship was over. If she would just give him time, he would figure out how to make everything right. He needed to talk with Ben too. He raked his fingers through his hair thinking about that conversation. He hated to disappoint his boy, but he had to make the trip to Denver to meet with OA. When he got back, he would make it up to Ben.

He parked in front of Nora’s, drew in a long breath and made his way up the porch steps. When he reached the front door, he pressed two fingers to his temples. He hadn’t thought this through at all. Annoyed with himself, he scuffed a foot on the porch. He should have stopped to buy flowers, or at a minimum, planned what he was going to say.

But he was here now and he could do this without planning. He squared his shoulders and gave his signature knock.

When Nora pulled the door open, he noticed two things. Her entire body was tense and her eyes were sad and puffy. He reached for her, but she stepped back.

“Nora, talk to me.” His voice sounded panicked, which was how he felt. She didn’t look like she had any intention of talking with him. Not now, maybe not ever. She crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a firm hands-off look.

“There’s nothing more to say,” she said, biting her lower lip. Her words stabbed at his heart, but her actions made him hope she hadn’t really meant it. “But you need to talk with Ben,” she added in a hushed voice.

“You didn’t tell him?” He had half hoped that Nora had already talked with Ben to pave the way for him, even though he knew that wasn’t fair.

She put a hand on her hip and gave him a look that said he was a dumbass. He brushed his bangs away from his face. This wasn’t going at all like he had hoped. “I’ll talk with him, but I don’t want to leave things like this between us.”

“Fine,” she said, her voice clipped. “We can talk when you get back.”

There was no enthusiasm in her voice, but it was still a window of opportunity. Hope slammed into his chest so hard that it hurt.

“But it doesn’t change the fact that we’re different people who live different lives,” she said, chipping away at his hope. “Or the fact that your sponsors need you to be someone who supports the things I stand against.”

Well, hell. He stuffed his hands in his pockets. Of course OA wanted him to support their business, that was the whole point of a sponsorship arrangement. He had already told her that he’d look for new sponsors but, in the meantime, he needed to keep his racing operation afloat.

“I can’t be with someone who doesn’t care about animals the way I do.” Nora pressed a hand to her mouth, but not before a loud sniffle escaped.

The hope in his chest caved. Panic took its place, molding into a hard ball the size of a melon. This was no longer about faceless sponsors, now it was personal. But he wasn’t the kind of person she had painted. “I love animals.” He stepped toward her, but she moved out of his reach. “Come on Nora, you have to know that.”

“Actions speak louder than words,” she quipped. “I’ll go get Ben.” There were more sniffles as she hurried away. They got progressively louder as she disappeared up the stairs, making his heart, his head, and his whole being hurt.

Nora was the kindest, most compassionate woman he’d ever met. The last thing he ever wanted was to hurt her. He flopped on the couch, put his head in his hands, and waited. And waited…and waited.

It felt like an hour before she reappeared with Ben at her side. One glance at his son indicated that Nora had taken his hint and had talked with Ben. His son’s eyes were large and misty and his lower lip quivered as he made his way over.

“Aunt Nora told me you can’t go on my trip,” Ben said, shifting from one foot to the other, “ ‘cause you have an important business meeting.” When Ben’s voice cracked, Davey’s heart cracked along with it.

“I’m really sorry,” he said, reaching for Ben.

Ben stepped into his embrace. As he held his son, warm vibrations spread throughout his body. He squeezed Ben in tight and didn’t want to let go. “I’ll make it up to you,” he whispered, even though it was lame. He was leaving Ben—and the school—high and dry.

“It’s okay,” Ben said, his voice still unsteady. “Aunt Nora’s gonna come.”

Nora was a saint, Davey thought, as he lifted his gaze to meet hers. The deep, anguished sorrow in her eyes caused his already shattered heart to take another hit.

He pressed his fingers to both temples. Rising, he promised Ben that they’d do something fun after he returned, then reiterated that he wanted to talk with Nora after he got back. With nothing more he could do here, he went home and packed.

A couple of hours later, he was pacing the main corridor of Tyson McGhee Airport. He’d been scuffing around for twenty minutes and still had another forty-five minutes before his flight was scheduled to board. He had arrived at the airport early to get out of the house and away from the painful memories of the morning.

It had been a shitty ass day. Breaking his word to Ben and Nora breaking up with him had topped his shit list. But the rest of the day had been pretty crappy too. He’d spent most of it on the phone planning damage control with Cruz and his manager, then talking with his various sponsors. He’d been on the phone multiple times with Outdoor America. His OA rep had been a complete dick, but Davey could play the game, and he had.

But it had come at a major cost. Thinking about the hurt he’d caused both Nora and Ben made his heart and his head throb. He pressed a fist against his achy chest but it did nothing to ease the pain.

As he stalked past the security checkpoint for the hundredth time, a TSA agent scrutinized him. Scrubbing a hand over his cheek, he let out a stifled laugh. He probably looked like a crazed lunatic who was plotting the airport’s demise.

Get yourself under control. The last thing he needed was to be held for questioning and miss his flight or even worse get arrested. Neither of those outcomes would help his reputation or improve his situation with his sponsors.

He pulled himself together and made his way to Starbucks. When he reached the front of the line, the barista, an older woman with bright red hair made him think fondly of his mother. Just before he’d left for the airport, his mom and Cruz had shown up on his doorstep. Even though Nora was mad at him, she’d cared enough to call his mother and Cruz to ask them to check on him. It made him smile, even though he didn’t deserve her kind gesture.

His mom had told him not to give up on Nora. Her words gave him a trifling glimmer of hope in his otherwise dark, cavernous heart. Cruz had offered to accompany him on the trip, for moral support and to help him plead his case. Cruz’s ongoing support meant the world to Davey, but this was his fuck-up and it was his responsibility to fix it.

After retrieving his Venti bold coffee, he made his way to the row of rockers and tossed his small overnight bag next to the chair at the end. He slumped onto the chair, hoping he could rock away his pain.

But it didn’t happen. Rocking back and forth, he sipped coffee and pondered how his life had gone from sitting on top of the world to wallowing in the globe’s worst hellhole over the course of a single day.

He wished that Nora and Ben hadn’t talked with that stupid reporter. But he couldn’t be mad at them. He loved who they were and he loved the strength of their convictions. They had been nothing but truthful.

It was a shame he couldn’t say the same about himself. Ben had told the reporter that his dad would never hunt and that he’d never hurt an animal.

Davey had never hunted a day in his life. So why the hell had he taken on a sponsor whose organization equipped people to hunt? Before Nora and Ben had come into his life, he’d thought of OA as big money, as a way for him to race. He hadn’t considered that accepting their sponsorship meant he was promoting their brand and everything they represented.

But he needed the sponsorship. Not just for him, but for his team. Without Mr. Steak and OA’s funding, he wouldn’t be able to race nor would he be able to pay his team. If he could get OA to keep him for a few more months, he was confident he would find new sponsors, and then he could win Nora back. In the meantime, he’d come up with a way to make up for his broken promise to Ben. Hope slid inside him as he rose and made his way to the gate.

Flying over the Great Smokies on the short flight from Knoxville to Atlanta, he couldn’t stop thinking about Nora. Like the mountains, she was beautiful, natural, impressive. She was true to herself, true to her principles.

He, on the other hand, was a fraud. Representing a company he didn’t believe in, forgoing his scruples to make a buck.

My dad would never hurt an animal. Ben’s sweet statement replayed itself in Davey’s mind. He wouldn’t shoot an animal, so why did he represent a company that promoted doing just that? In essence, he was hurting animals by advertising for Outdoor America.

Leaning back in his seat, he closed his eyes. An image of a brown and white cow formed in his mind. Concordia. He’d gone to the barn to see her before he’d left. Being around her never failed to calm and steady him. She’d simply been there for him as he’d rubbed her, pressed his head against hers, and kissed her soft fur.

After he’d developed a relationship with Concordia, he had reconsidered his eating habits. He hadn’t eaten a piece of beef since the day he’d met and bonded with her. Not a single hamburger, not even one big, juicy steak. Every time he so much as thought about it, a vision of Concordia came to him along with her quiet, calming presence.

When he had first met Nora, he’d thought her ideas about food were radical. But after getting to know Concordia and the other animals they had rescued together, he understood. He couldn’t eat Concordia or Pumbaa. His mind flashed to Ben’s declaration that he wouldn’t hurt an animal. But hadn’t he done just that when he had devoured cheeseburgers and steaks? When he’d dined on beef and pork, he had been supporting the companies that bred cows and pigs for slaughter. If he stopped eating beef for good, he would be a voice for Concordia and for all of her gentle brothers and sisters. If he never ate bacon and ham again, he’d be standing up for sweet pigs like Pumbaa, Cuddles, Ford and Bristol.

The pilot announced that they were starting their descent into Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Davey glanced at his watch. He had an hour layover before his flight to Denver, plenty of time to get to his connecting gate.

He closed his eyes and attempted to visualize Concordia to draw on her calming nature. But it was Ben he saw in his mind’s eye. Ben attempting a brave face even as his lower lip quivered and his eyes turned large and misty. Guilt swamped Davey over the pain and disappointment he had caused his son. And it wasn’t just the field trip. He had missed every Little League baseball game since opening day in early March. He had also missed parent-teacher conferences and the school’s science fair. The list went on and on.

He reflected back to his childhood. Even though his dad had been a piss poor father in a lot of ways, he’d been there when it came to racing. He had been there for Davey at every single race and it had given him stability, confidence, and a sense of belonging in the world.

Then there was Cruz. Throughout Davey’s life, Cruz had always put him first and not just with racing. He remembered the time that Cruz had given up a fishing vacation so he could attend a school ceremony where Davey had been recognized for his grades.

He wanted to be there for Ben in the same way that Cruz had been there for him. He didn’t want to choose work over his son.

But you’re a NASCAR driver, his mind challenged. You need the funding, logic said. You’re famous, his ego put in. And you’re on track to win it all this season.

But winning it all no longer held the same exhilaration.

Cruz had told him that there’s always a choice. As the plane landed in Atlanta, Davey made his. He wasn’t going to Denver tonight. He was going back to Knoxville so he could make good on his promise to his son.

Davey had shocked Nora—in the best of ways—when he had shown up on her doorstep at 7:15 that morning ready to accompany Ben on his field trip. He had invited her to meet him and Ben for dinner afterward and she had reluctantly agreed. It was the right thing to do; she and Davey needed to maintain a friendly relationship for Ben’s sake. But none of that lessened the nerves poking at her insides as she drove toward Romano’s Pizzeria.

Her feelings for Davey hadn’t changed over the last twenty-four hours. If anything, they had grown stronger. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him, especially after he had cancelled his trip to Denver, choosing Ben over his sponsor.

Pulling into the pizzeria’s parking lot, she let out a huff of frustration. Underneath her intense feelings, they still had the same problem. Whether it was Outdoor America or Davey’s next sponsor, she would cause nothing but trouble for him.

Davey and Ben were already seated when she stepped inside the eatery. When Davey’s gaze connected with hers, a flash of unwanted memories flooded her brain. His kind words, his affectionate looks, the magical nights they had spent in each other’s arms.

Ben raced over to greet her. “The field trip was so awesome!” He threw his arms around her waist.

“I’m glad you had fun.” She hugged Ben, and then followed him to their corner table.

“Hi, Davey.” When she met his gaze, guilt slapped at her over the deep hurt in his eyes.

He rose and pulled her into a hug. His arms were warm and strong, familiar and comforting, and the embrace ended far too soon.

“Dad, Dad!” Ben bounced up and down in his seat. “Show Aunt Nora our pictures.”

Davey slid Ben a smile. “You got it, buddy, but let’s order first.”

They ordered and retrieved drinks from the self-service fountain. After they were settled at the table, Davey pulled out his phone.

“Ooh, ooh, show Aunt Nora the one of us on the train,” Ben said. “It was so steep. Like this!” He raised his hand straight up in the air.

Laughing, Davey leaned toward her with his phone. “It was a 72 percent grade.”

In the picture, Davey and Ben both sported wide smiles. “It looks like you had a good time,” she said, studying the expression of sheer joy on her little guy’s face.

“Uh-huh.” Ben slurped his drink, then gave her a recap of what they’d done, what they’d seen, and what they had eaten in speed-talk mode. Incline Railway. Lookout Mountain. Civil War battle sites. Pretzels, salad, and ice cream. As Ben chitchatted, Davey scooted his chair close to her and attempted to flip through the pictures keeping up with Ben’s commentary.

“Slow down, buddy.” Davey nudged Ben playfully. “I can’t keep up.”

Ben slurped more soda. “You gotta flip faster.”

“Why don’t you come over here?” Davey waved Ben over. “Then you can narrate each picture.”

Ben squeezed in between Nora and Davey and offered details about each picture. They had just looked at the last one when their pizzas arrived.

Nora appreciated that Davey had come home to go on this trip with Ben, especially since it would probably cost him a sponsorship that he desperately needed. She touched a hand to his arm. “Thanks for going on the trip with Ben.”

Davey nodded. “We had fun, didn’t we champ?”

Ben bobbed his head up and down enthusiastically.

Davey gave a slice of pizza to Ben, then plated a vegan slice for her. As he slid it toward her, his hand brushed against her arm. Her breath clogged in her chest, heavy with affection, desire, and an unfathomable hurt. She let out a quiet exhale. It was going to be a long night.

“Aunt Nora.” Ben tugged on her arm. “We forgot to show you the barn pictures.”

Nora tipped her head as Davey pulled out his phone.

“When we got back we took pictures with Concordia, Chance, and the pigs,” Ben said, stuffing in a mouthful of pizza.

She took Davey’s phone and scrolled through the pictures. Ben with Concordia, Ben with Ford and Bristol. “Nice pictures.” Next was a selfie of Ben, then Davey and Ben in the field with Chance. Both were smiling, but Davey’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. She could feel his pain through the photo.

She passed the phone back, avoiding his gaze. He was a good guy and she hated causing him such pain. But she had little choice. Davey still had sponsor issues, now more than ever.

When Ben pushed his plate aside, Davey reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of change. Ben was already out of his seat before Davey could ask if he wanted to play arcade games.

Ben took the handful of quarters. “Wanna play with me?” he asked Davey.

Play with him, Nora silently pleaded. She wasn’t sure she had the strength to fight off her feelings for him one on one, especially after what he’d done for Ben today.

“Not this time, buddy,” Davey responded. “I still have pizza to eat.”

She twirled a strand of hair around her finger as anxiety washed through her.

Ben shrugged. “ ‘Kay.” She waited for Ben to ask her, but he didn’t. Instead, he raced toward the games in the opposite corner of the restaurant, leaving her alone with Davey.

Davey slid his chair over until they were so close that their arms were touching. Shivers rippled through her body and the temperature in the room spiked about fifty degrees. Unable to handle the heat, she shifted to face him, moving her arm away from his. In doing so, her knees brushed alongside his which caused another wave of shivery heat.

“How are you?” he asked as she broke into a sweat.

“Good. Fine.” Jeez, she really needed to shut up. But in her heat-induced, light-headed state, she rambled on. “Really good.”

He linked his hands with hers. “I’ve been pretty miserable.”

She sighed. After all they had been to each other, he deserved the truth. “Yeah, me too.”

He lit up at her confession. She should pull her hands back so as not to give him the wrong impression, but the familiarity and all that it implied held her captive. Resigned, she soaked in the warm, tingly comfort.

“Any chance you’d come to Talladega with me tomorrow?” he asked, the hope in his voice heartbreaking.

She wanted to, but it would be way too painful for both of them. She shook her head. “I can’t.”

The hope in his eyes vanished but he gave her a nod. She appreciated that he’d accepted her decision instead of pushing her.

“Do you and Ben want to come back to my place for the night?” he asked. “You can sleep in any of the bedrooms.” He brushed a strand of hair away from her face which caused a passionate fluttering in her belly. She wasn’t sure how much closeness she could take. “If you come over, you could spend time with the animals.”

She had visited with the animals earlier when he and Ben had been in Chattanooga. Her plan, at least for the next little while, was to visit the animals when Davey was away. It would save them both a lot of heartache.

When she lifted her gaze to meet his, desire sparked in his eyes, but there was something else too. An emotion so deep and so powerful she would have thought it was love had she not known better. Regardless, it moved her so profoundly that she found herself slowly inching toward him.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the end of an Outdoor America advertisement on the television. She thought about the companies that had sponsored Davey and the problems she had caused for him. Even though Mr. Steak and OA had dropped him, he needed to find a new sponsor and it would likely be more of the same. She snapped back in her seat, pulling her hand with her. “It’s not a good idea.”

His body sagged but once again he nodded instead of pressuring her.

“I’ll try to find another place for them,” she said, twirling a piece of hair between her fingers. She didn’t want to because the animals loved it at Davey’s and she wasn’t sure she could afford another place. But she didn’t want to take advantage of his generosity. Besides, someday when he started dating again his new girlfriend probably wouldn’t want to be around a bunch of farm animals. Her heart ached at the thought of him with another woman.

“The animals can stay at my place,” he said quietly.

That would be nice. She shoved at her hair. It was very nice, but it wasn’t right.

“I can hear the wheels spinning in your head.” He took her hand again and she allowed it. She shouldn’t have, but she needed the comfort. “Let me do this one thing.” He gently rubbed his thumb on the top of her hand. “I’ve fallen for the animals too. I like having them at my place.”

His words brought about relief so great that her body trembled.

He put his hands on her arms. “You okay?”

She nodded, but her body might have been shaking from his simple touch. She had a strong urge to throw her arms around his neck and burrow her head in his chest. It took every ounce of her self-control to refrain.

He rested his forehead against hers. Even though she should have pulled back, she didn’t. She only had so much willpower.

“I’m trying to give you the space you need,” he said, his voice thick and unsteady. “But know this. I’m going to keep on trying.” He clasped his hands around hers. “I’m going to keep trying until I convince you that we were meant to be.”