Read Online Crossing the Line (Hard Driving) by Audra North - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Audra North
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that, and this whole cheating business would never have gotten so big.”
If only I could turn back time . . .
If only Dad would come clean . . .
If only . . .
He forced himself to focus, then reached out and squeezed Dad’s shoulder, trying to diffuse a little of the tension. “Forget about it. It’s done. What do we do now?”
Bobby’s jaw was set as he looked at Ty. “It’s business as usual. They’ll do the song and dance about looking into things, but as long as we do our normal thing, it shouldn’t come to that.”
It took him a moment to get a grip on his anger and control his temper, but finally Ty nodded in agreement. “Okay. Fine. Business as usual.”
But he didn’t agree. Not one bit. What he wanted to do was fight. Not just Gilroy, though he’d welcome a second chance to beat that guy’s ass, but everyone. Every dishonest cretin who was hurting his family and his team and everything he held dear.
And at the same time, he wanted to see Cori again so he could feel reassured that there were still good, courageous people in the world who fought hard for the right thing. When she’d talked about going after a career in journalism because it was her passion, he’d been both impressed and aroused. That kind of drive combined with a focus on what truly mattered appealed to him, especially right now.
But he still didn’t get a chance to catch his breath and give her a call. Instead, he left the office and spent the morning going over changes to the car with the crew. Then he had to do some marketing work before giving a phone interview that consisted mostly of the reporter lobbing overinflated rumors at him and Ty trying not to throw the phone across the room.
Business as usual. Yeah, right.
At nearly seven that evening, he was in the upstairs conference room reviewing footage from Sunday’s race, but he barely registered what he was looking at.
He was thinking about Cori again.
On the screen, his car went round in circles. In his mind, he only saw her, those multishaded eyes wide and begging—
“What are you still doing here?”
Ty nearly jumped out of his chair at the sound of his mother’s voice coming from the doorway to the video room. She must have finished her sessions downtown, where she and another psychologist were partners in a private practice, and swung by on her way home.
He’d barely stood up before she was in front of him, hugging him tightly, the familiar lavender smell of her hair wafting up to his nose. Ever since he’d hit that growth spurt at fourteen, he’d never quite been able to stop thinking how strange it was to be taller than his mom. She had so much presence that she’d always seemed much more imposing to him.
He made a mock-choking sound at the way her arms were squeezing so hard, it felt like she was trying to break his ribs. “Hey now, Mom. No need to cut off my air supply. Unless you’re sick of me and are actually trying to suffocate me to death.”
She hushed him, but her grip loosened somewhat. “Oh, don’t ruin this moment. I haven’t gotten to hug you for too long!”
She had a point. She had called him right after his victory lap the other day, whooping in excitement over the phone. But it wasn’t the same as when she was able to get out to his races and congratulate him in person.
He laughed. “Hey! You saw me just a few days ago! Besides, you know your clothes are gonna get wrinkled if you don’t let me go soon.”
Vonda Riggs was famous in Charlotte for her well-coiffed, elegant style, and he was proud of that fact. Almost as much as he was of the brilliant work she did as a psychologist.
Mom huffed at him, but pulled away smiling. “A few days ago? Hardly. I haven’t seen you for a whole
week,
Tyler Riggs. A little wrinkle or two is more than worth it.”
Just then, Dad walked in.
“Bobby.” Mom’s greeting was little louder than an exhale. She stepped toward him immediately and Dad wrapped an arm around her waist. She
If only I could turn back time . . .
If only Dad would come clean . . .
If only . . .
He forced himself to focus, then reached out and squeezed Dad’s shoulder, trying to diffuse a little of the tension. “Forget about it. It’s done. What do we do now?”
Bobby’s jaw was set as he looked at Ty. “It’s business as usual. They’ll do the song and dance about looking into things, but as long as we do our normal thing, it shouldn’t come to that.”
It took him a moment to get a grip on his anger and control his temper, but finally Ty nodded in agreement. “Okay. Fine. Business as usual.”
But he didn’t agree. Not one bit. What he wanted to do was fight. Not just Gilroy, though he’d welcome a second chance to beat that guy’s ass, but everyone. Every dishonest cretin who was hurting his family and his team and everything he held dear.
And at the same time, he wanted to see Cori again so he could feel reassured that there were still good, courageous people in the world who fought hard for the right thing. When she’d talked about going after a career in journalism because it was her passion, he’d been both impressed and aroused. That kind of drive combined with a focus on what truly mattered appealed to him, especially right now.
But he still didn’t get a chance to catch his breath and give her a call. Instead, he left the office and spent the morning going over changes to the car with the crew. Then he had to do some marketing work before giving a phone interview that consisted mostly of the reporter lobbing overinflated rumors at him and Ty trying not to throw the phone across the room.
Business as usual. Yeah, right.
At nearly seven that evening, he was in the upstairs conference room reviewing footage from Sunday’s race, but he barely registered what he was looking at.
He was thinking about Cori again.
On the screen, his car went round in circles. In his mind, he only saw her, those multishaded eyes wide and begging—
“What are you still doing here?”
Ty nearly jumped out of his chair at the sound of his mother’s voice coming from the doorway to the video room. She must have finished her sessions downtown, where she and another psychologist were partners in a private practice, and swung by on her way home.
He’d barely stood up before she was in front of him, hugging him tightly, the familiar lavender smell of her hair wafting up to his nose. Ever since he’d hit that growth spurt at fourteen, he’d never quite been able to stop thinking how strange it was to be taller than his mom. She had so much presence that she’d always seemed much more imposing to him.
He made a mock-choking sound at the way her arms were squeezing so hard, it felt like she was trying to break his ribs. “Hey now, Mom. No need to cut off my air supply. Unless you’re sick of me and are actually trying to suffocate me to death.”
She hushed him, but her grip loosened somewhat. “Oh, don’t ruin this moment. I haven’t gotten to hug you for too long!”
She had a point. She had called him right after his victory lap the other day, whooping in excitement over the phone. But it wasn’t the same as when she was able to get out to his races and congratulate him in person.
He laughed. “Hey! You saw me just a few days ago! Besides, you know your clothes are gonna get wrinkled if you don’t let me go soon.”
Vonda Riggs was famous in Charlotte for her well-coiffed, elegant style, and he was proud of that fact. Almost as much as he was of the brilliant work she did as a psychologist.
Mom huffed at him, but pulled away smiling. “A few days ago? Hardly. I haven’t seen you for a whole
week,
Tyler Riggs. A little wrinkle or two is more than worth it.”
Just then, Dad walked in.
“Bobby.” Mom’s greeting was little louder than an exhale. She stepped toward him immediately and Dad wrapped an arm around her waist. She
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