CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Hailey slid into the driver’s seat. She was familiar with the area but was still glad she had her phone with the map function. “Where to, Gramps?”

He said something, but she wasn’t sure what it was. “The beach?” They weren’t exactly wearing beach attire, but a drive to the ocean would be nice.

He shook his head.

Hailey tried again. “The grocery store?” Maybe he wanted to get some beef jerky. Ever since his cholesterol level became elevated, Gran started insisting he eat healthier and put his favorite snack on the endangered list. Of course, that didn’t stop Gramps from sneaking some whenever he got a chance. Maybe today was one of those days.

“No s-s-store.”

Where else would he like to go? “The mall?” she asked.

Gramps clucked his tongue, then said a few words that were hard to understand, but Hailey took another stab at it. “The Speedway?”

Gramps nodded and gave her a grin. “Yes.”

“I guess I should’ve figured that first off since you are an official NASCAR fanatic.” She looked at Gramps. “How about me and you going to the Daytona 500 next year?” She liked the sound of making future plans—it made her happy.

“Yes!” Gramps patted her on the leg. “A d-d-date.”

Hailey tried to not think about driving past the Speedway with Peter last week because it made her chest constrict. It was obvious that he must not have felt the same connection she did on their date. Not wanting to linger on that depressing thought, she said, “Let me put that into my phone, and then we’ll have the directions to get there, because I can’t remember exactly.”

Gramps let his shoulders slump. Hailey knew he’d prefer to give her the directions himself or, better yet, drive the car. “All in good time, Gramps.”

He gazed out the window as they started down the street.

When they were crossing an intersection, Hailey’s phone rang. “Can you answer it for me?” She wasn’t sure who it might be, and she didn’t want to be distracted while she was driving.

Gramps picked up the phone and fiddled with it, but the ringing stopped.

After the next light, Hailey pulled into a parking lot. She held out her hand and Gramps placed the phone in it. When she looked at the missed-call screen, she didn’t recognize the number. “Maybe there’s a message.”

As soon as the message began, her heart shot to her throat. “Hi, Hailey. I’m sorry I missed you. I’ll try calling again,” Peter said on her voicemail.

She held the phone in her hand, her palm moistening.

Gramps looked at her expectantly. She didn’t want to tell him it was a message from Peter because she was sure he’d read too much into it and somehow blab to Gran about it. Besides, Peter was probably only calling to check on Gramps. Nothing else.

“Who?” Gramps asked.

“Wrong number,” she lied.

Gramps stared at her as if seeing right through her. “Who?” he asked again, peering at her intently.

Hailey glanced out the window, then back at Gramps. “Okay, fine. It was Peter.”

A smile splashed across his face and reached all the way up to his eyes.

“Don’t be getting any ideas. I’m sure it was to check up on you. That’s all.” She didn’t dare hope it was for another reason—a personal reason—because, she reminded herself, that’d complicate things. She didn’t need or want complications. Right? She needed to get ahold of herself and put this all in perspective. For Gramps. And for herself.

Gramps squeezed her knee.

“Peter is a nice man, but . . .” She bit her lip. How to explain this? “Even if I were ready to date someone, I’m going back to my life in Colorado. All this could ever be is a fun fling.”

Gramps frowned at her.

“Not that kind of a fling. I simply mean that it couldn’t go anywhere.” She looked out the window at the bright blue sky. Even if he is attractive, fun, and the most interesting man I’ve met in a long time.

Hailey put the phone down and started driving again. She merged onto International Speedway Boulevard.

Gramps picked up the phone and gave her an encouraging smile.

Hailey held her hand up. “No, no. I’m not going to call him back.” She’d made her mind up. “Even if he were calling for another date, that wouldn’t be a good idea. I don’t want to go out with him again,” she said, knowing it wasn’t true.

Out of the corner of her eye, Hailey could see Gramps shaking his head as if disappointed, which weakened her resolve.

After driving a few more miles with her insides twisted into knots, Hailey said, “All right. Maybe I would like to go on another date with him.” She let out a breath. “There, I admitted it. Happy?”

“Yes.”

They drove along, winding around in front of the Speedway. Palm trees lined the road and a huge modern building with colorful murals of race cars sat in front of the immense race track.

“I definitely want to come back and go with you to the 500,” Hailey said, glancing at the complex.

Gramps kept his gaze on the building as they passed it. Hailey flipped the car around and they drove past it again.

“Never gets old, does it, Gramps? You’ve seen a lot of races in there.”

“Yes,” he said with happy eyes. Hailey looked forward to going with him to the 500 next year.

When they got back to the house, Hailey went to her bedroom and reluctantly logged onto her computer to get a few hours of work in. Her phone rang, and immediately her heartbeat echoed in her ears. Sure enough, it was the same number. Peter.

“Hello?”

“Hi. This is Peter.” His voice was like velvet.

Sound casual and relaxed. “Hi. How are you?” She crossed her ankles, then uncrossed them.

“Good. You?”

“I just got back from a drive with Gramps.” There that sounded normal. And casual. And relaxed.

“Where did you go?” he asked.

“To the International Speedway.” She rolled the hem of her shirt between her fingers.

“Ah, yes. Because Harry loves NASCAR.”

Hailey was touched that Peter had remembered their conversation. “Yeah. I’m going to come back next year and go with him to the Daytona 500.” The tension in her shoulders began to ease.

“I’m sure he’d enjoy that.”

“Gramps loves all things NASCAR. I think he secretly wishes he could be a driver.” The image of Gramps behind the wheel of a race car made Hailey smile.

Silence hung over them for a few moments. Peter cleared his throat, then said, “I was wondering if you’d like to go out again.”

“Sure.” Oh, great, I answered too fast. “I mean, that sounds like fun.” Should she go out with him again? What about keeping things uncomplicated?

“I was thinking we could go to the Hilton.”

A hotel? What? “Uh . . .”

“Wait, that sounded . . . No . . . I didn’t mean . . . Can I start over?” He sounded flustered.

“I’d like that.”

She could hear Peter exhale. “Inside the Hilton at the Oceanwalk is a karaoke bar that comes highly recommended.”

“Oh, a karaoke bar.” That was much better, except Hailey didn’t sing. In fact, she sounded like a dying animal when she sang along to the radio.

“Unless you hate that idea.”

She loved the idea, but wanted to play it cool. “No, but I’m not much of a singer.” He wouldn’t make her sing, would he?

“It’s fun to go listen to people,” he said. “I’ve been a few times.”

“Do you sing?” Hailey tried to imagine Peter with a microphone in hand.

“A little.”

“If you promise to sing, I’m in,” she said. Being able to freely stare at him on stage was quite appealing.

“Deal.”

“Sounds great.” She shouldn’t go on another date. She knew that. But her heart had overpowered her head.

“Tomorrow night? I can pick you up at seven o’clock.”

“Looking forward to it.” They ended the call. Looking forward to it. Did she have to say that? It sounded desperate. Like she didn’t have a life. Which she didn’t. But she didn’t want to sound that way. I should’ve said something else. She tapped her forehead. This is making me a little crazy.

When she came out to the living room, Gran was sitting on the couch next to Gramps’s recliner. Gran looked over her knitting at Hailey. “Well, well, well.”

“What?” Hailey tried to act nonchalant even though her stomach felt like it was upside down.

Gran put her knitting down. “Your whole face is beaming.”

Hailey’s hands flew to her cheeks. “It is not.”

“P-p-peter,” Gramps said, then slapped his knee in exuberance.

“What?” Gran turned to Gramps and then back to Hailey with her mouth draped open.

Hailey gave Gramps the evil eye.

Gran looked at her expectantly, waiting for an answer.

“Fine,” Hailey said. “He asked me for another date. No big deal.” She wanted to play it off as something minor so Gran wouldn’t get ahead of herself. Besides, she was still annoyed that Gran had forced him into the first date. But she was also a teeny, tiny bit grateful. Maybe more than a teeny, tiny bit.

“Oh, he did, did he?” Gran said with a smug tone and a tilt of her head.

“Tomorrow night.” Hailey paused for effect and raised her eyebrows. “At the Hilton.”

“What?” Gran wore a shocked expression. “He’s taking you to a hotel?”

Hailey smiled, pleased that she’d gotten a reaction. She wasn’t going to let Gran off too easy. “Gran. Really? There’s a karaoke bar there. You know, where people get up and sing for the other people in the audience. It’s at the Oceanwalk.”

Gramps started laughing.

Hailey turned to her grandfather. “Hey, now. What are you implying over there?”

He waved his hand as if he meant nothing by his laughter, but his lips still wore a grin.

With a teasing tone, Hailey said, “Maybe the condition of the date is that you and Gran come with me.” She put her hand on her hip. “I’d like to see you up there on the stage, Gramps.”

He shook his head. “N-n-not me.”

“I think it sounds like a fun date.” If Gran’s smile were any bigger it’d crack her face. “And pay no attention to your grandfather. You have a lovely voice.”

Hailey knew much better than that. “We all know I don’t sing. It’s no big secret.” She shrugged. “But it’ll be fun to watch others. And Peter said he’d sing.” A thrill ran up her back.

Gran turned to Gramps and touched him on the arm. “Did you hear that? He’s a singer, too.”

“Now don’t go shopping for my wedding dress.” Hailey wagged her finger to emphasize her point.

Gran feigned shock. “I would never jump to that conclusion, especially because your eyes don’t light up and your smile doesn’t stretch from ear-to-ear and your cheeks certainly don’t turn rosy when you talk about him. It’s obvious it’s not going to go anywhere.”

“Gran!”

Hailey hated that Gran could read her so easily.