Read Online Legends and Lies by Katherine Garbera - Free Book Online
Authors: Katherine Garbera
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Tucker wins. I mean, other than the fact that Dave’s my brother and I love him. But I figured the best driver at the end of each race will cross the finish line first.”
“I”
She shook her head. “Let me finish.”
He nodded.
“My father said that cheating to win isn’t winning. My dad is one smart guy and I’ve always believed what he said. I’ve never cheated for myself and I won’t for my brother.
“I can’t be with a man who doesn’t trust me. I’m not sure that I trust any man, but being accused…it doesn’t work for me. I lived through that with my ex-husband and I can’t do it again.”
He took a deep shuddering breath, realizing this one moment had stripped them both bare and now she was waiting to see if he was man enough for her. And Jared felt the way he always did when he had to be measured by his own worth. Not his money or business acumen, but his worth as a human.
“What did your ex lie to you about?” he asked.
“Being faithful.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. That was my lesson in trusting blindly.”
Jared didn’t like the way that sounded. Didn’t like the fact that she’d been hurt badly by her ex-husband.
“I never believed you had tampered with Tucker’s car, but he was insisting and I had to ask.”
She nodded. “I understand. If Dave had come to me with the same scenario I would have asked you.”
“This was a big screwup on my part. Can we start over?” he asked her.
“I may have overreacted. You pushed a button I didn’t realize was so hot for me. I thought…well, it doesn’t matter, but I thought I was over that part of my marriage.”
“I’m not leaving here until this is right between us.”
“It won’t be right unless you trust me.”
“I do,” he said, taking the bracelet out of his pocket and holding it up. “I really want you to have this. Will you take it back?”
She looked at the piece of jewelry with more longing than he’d noticed in her eyes before. “Not now. Ask me again later.”
He understood what she wasn’t saying. That she wanted to rebuild the relationship they’d started. He pocketed the bracelet and put his hand at the small of her back as the elevator opened.
“Will you have dinner with me?”
“No,” she said. “I’m having dinner with a photographer friend of mine.”
“How about later?” he asked, trying to come up with some time that would work for him. “After dinner?”
She shook her head.
“Why not?”
“Because I haven’t seen Abby in six months and she and I tend to talk all night when we get together.”
Well, then that was that. He had the feeling no matter what he suggested she was going to be busy.
“Are you going to forgive me for this?” he asked.
“I’m thinking about it.”
“Just thinking?” he asked.
“Yes. I’m not sure I want to let things move beyond this casual stage with you.”
“Why not?”
She glanced up at him, her eyes wide and intent. “I just had a glimpse of how complicated our dating is going to be.”
“Complicated isn’t a bad thing,” he said, unwilling to let her go.
“We’ll see.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE ROAR OF THE ENGINES and the bustle of energy in the garage area as the drivers got ready to qualify made for an electric atmosphere. Annie pushed all her thoughts about Jared out of her mind and focused instead on the one world where she was always at home. She lifted her camera to her eye and shot her brother’s car in slow motion racing around the track.
The officials had checked over Tucker’s car and allowed him to place the tape over his engine again. But he was off as he went out on the track to qualify, posting the fifteenth fastest time.
When it was Dave’s turn he blew past Tucker’s time and everyone else who’d qualifiedto take the pole.
Annie met him back in the garage with her camera still up. She was capturing life around her, yet keeping herself safely insulated from
“I”
She shook her head. “Let me finish.”
He nodded.
“My father said that cheating to win isn’t winning. My dad is one smart guy and I’ve always believed what he said. I’ve never cheated for myself and I won’t for my brother.
“I can’t be with a man who doesn’t trust me. I’m not sure that I trust any man, but being accused…it doesn’t work for me. I lived through that with my ex-husband and I can’t do it again.”
He took a deep shuddering breath, realizing this one moment had stripped them both bare and now she was waiting to see if he was man enough for her. And Jared felt the way he always did when he had to be measured by his own worth. Not his money or business acumen, but his worth as a human.
“What did your ex lie to you about?” he asked.
“Being faithful.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. That was my lesson in trusting blindly.”
Jared didn’t like the way that sounded. Didn’t like the fact that she’d been hurt badly by her ex-husband.
“I never believed you had tampered with Tucker’s car, but he was insisting and I had to ask.”
She nodded. “I understand. If Dave had come to me with the same scenario I would have asked you.”
“This was a big screwup on my part. Can we start over?” he asked her.
“I may have overreacted. You pushed a button I didn’t realize was so hot for me. I thought…well, it doesn’t matter, but I thought I was over that part of my marriage.”
“I’m not leaving here until this is right between us.”
“It won’t be right unless you trust me.”
“I do,” he said, taking the bracelet out of his pocket and holding it up. “I really want you to have this. Will you take it back?”
She looked at the piece of jewelry with more longing than he’d noticed in her eyes before. “Not now. Ask me again later.”
He understood what she wasn’t saying. That she wanted to rebuild the relationship they’d started. He pocketed the bracelet and put his hand at the small of her back as the elevator opened.
“Will you have dinner with me?”
“No,” she said. “I’m having dinner with a photographer friend of mine.”
“How about later?” he asked, trying to come up with some time that would work for him. “After dinner?”
She shook her head.
“Why not?”
“Because I haven’t seen Abby in six months and she and I tend to talk all night when we get together.”
Well, then that was that. He had the feeling no matter what he suggested she was going to be busy.
“Are you going to forgive me for this?” he asked.
“I’m thinking about it.”
“Just thinking?” he asked.
“Yes. I’m not sure I want to let things move beyond this casual stage with you.”
“Why not?”
She glanced up at him, her eyes wide and intent. “I just had a glimpse of how complicated our dating is going to be.”
“Complicated isn’t a bad thing,” he said, unwilling to let her go.
“We’ll see.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE ROAR OF THE ENGINES and the bustle of energy in the garage area as the drivers got ready to qualify made for an electric atmosphere. Annie pushed all her thoughts about Jared out of her mind and focused instead on the one world where she was always at home. She lifted her camera to her eye and shot her brother’s car in slow motion racing around the track.
The officials had checked over Tucker’s car and allowed him to place the tape over his engine again. But he was off as he went out on the track to qualify, posting the fifteenth fastest time.
When it was Dave’s turn he blew past Tucker’s time and everyone else who’d qualifiedto take the pole.
Annie met him back in the garage with her camera still up. She was capturing life around her, yet keeping herself safely insulated from
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