Read Online This Time, Forever by Pamela Britton - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Pamela Britton
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a factorand today was no exception. The warm October breeze smacked her in the face as she led the Shelter Home Improvement group inside. Given the number of people she had to check in, NASCAR processed their paperwork in record time and so it was only a matter of minutes before Marley was waiting for Sharon and company to hop into their car so they could follow her into the infield.
Where she would see Linc.
Her stomach felt like a Chinese knot all of a sudden. Her mouth went dry. Her palms began to sweat. What would she say to him? she thought as she passed through the infield tunnel. How would he act toward her? She hadnât heard from him since theyâd said goodbye in the Double S parking lot, not that she was surprised. Sheâd made it clear on the ride home that their âaffairâ was over.
Brenda, Lincâs PR rep, greeted them outside the garage area, Marley performing the introductions. She was never more relieved than when she handed over control of the group to Brenda, explaining to Sharon that she had some things to do while Brenda took them on tour. Before she trotted off, Brenda handed her a sheet of paper.
âLincâs itinerary today,â she said.
Marley swallowed, but she waited until the group walked away before glancing down at the piece of paper.
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Interview with KBNT @ stationâ12:00 p.m.
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Marleyâs shoulders relaxed. He wasnât even at the track. Not yet, at least. He was due to return in a couplehours, in time for the final practice session, but now that she had his schedule, she could avoid him all day. All she had to do was make sure she was far away from wherever he was.
Simple.
Thatâs exactly how it worked out, too. She ran around the track without fear of bumping into him. She even finagled her way out of the Shelter Home Improvement sponsor party that night, pleading exhaustion. Everyone knew how hard sheâd worked to get the iâs dotted and the tâs crossed before this weekendâs race, so nobody batted an eye. Gil was there to take the lead.
Race day would be different. She knew that. Dreaded that. Fell into a restless sleep because of what she knew sheâd go through tomorrow.
It wouldnât be fun.
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I N SPITE of a few unique characteristics, Kansas looked a lot like a number of race tracks on the circuit. The layout was familiarâgarages on the frontstretch, infield parking along the back. Even the grandstands looked the same as other tracks. Massive steel and aluminum girders held together stands that would seat thousands of fans. Those seats were mostly empty when she showed up early in the morning, but she knew they would quickly fill up the closer the time approached noon.
Of course, there would be no avoiding Linc that day. Sure enough, first person she ran into was the person she hoped most to avoid.
He was standing outside the hauler in his civies (as Marley liked to call them), his civilian clothes. Still, he was instantly recognizable. Nothing illustrated that better than the crowd of race fans that hung back fromhim as he talked to Bob Danson, his crew chief. They must have been discussing the handling of the car because Linc was using his fingers to demonstrate what his car was doing as it rounded a cornerâor so it looked to Marley. She ducked her head and hoped he hadnât noticed her.
She should have known better.
âMarley, I need to talk to you.â
Marley nodded a greeting to his crew chief before saying, âWhat about?â in what she hoped was a chipper-sounding voice.
âIn private,â he added.
She glanced at Bob again. The crew chief stared at her blankly. âIâll see what I can do about that problem during the first pit stop,â Bob said.
âThanks,â Linc said before focusing his attention on herâbut not before half a dozen fans came up to him and begged for an autograph. And here was all the proof Marley needed. Mixed into
Where she would see Linc.
Her stomach felt like a Chinese knot all of a sudden. Her mouth went dry. Her palms began to sweat. What would she say to him? she thought as she passed through the infield tunnel. How would he act toward her? She hadnât heard from him since theyâd said goodbye in the Double S parking lot, not that she was surprised. Sheâd made it clear on the ride home that their âaffairâ was over.
Brenda, Lincâs PR rep, greeted them outside the garage area, Marley performing the introductions. She was never more relieved than when she handed over control of the group to Brenda, explaining to Sharon that she had some things to do while Brenda took them on tour. Before she trotted off, Brenda handed her a sheet of paper.
âLincâs itinerary today,â she said.
Marley swallowed, but she waited until the group walked away before glancing down at the piece of paper.
Â
Interview with KBNT @ stationâ12:00 p.m.
Â
Marleyâs shoulders relaxed. He wasnât even at the track. Not yet, at least. He was due to return in a couplehours, in time for the final practice session, but now that she had his schedule, she could avoid him all day. All she had to do was make sure she was far away from wherever he was.
Simple.
Thatâs exactly how it worked out, too. She ran around the track without fear of bumping into him. She even finagled her way out of the Shelter Home Improvement sponsor party that night, pleading exhaustion. Everyone knew how hard sheâd worked to get the iâs dotted and the tâs crossed before this weekendâs race, so nobody batted an eye. Gil was there to take the lead.
Race day would be different. She knew that. Dreaded that. Fell into a restless sleep because of what she knew sheâd go through tomorrow.
It wouldnât be fun.
Â
I N SPITE of a few unique characteristics, Kansas looked a lot like a number of race tracks on the circuit. The layout was familiarâgarages on the frontstretch, infield parking along the back. Even the grandstands looked the same as other tracks. Massive steel and aluminum girders held together stands that would seat thousands of fans. Those seats were mostly empty when she showed up early in the morning, but she knew they would quickly fill up the closer the time approached noon.
Of course, there would be no avoiding Linc that day. Sure enough, first person she ran into was the person she hoped most to avoid.
He was standing outside the hauler in his civies (as Marley liked to call them), his civilian clothes. Still, he was instantly recognizable. Nothing illustrated that better than the crowd of race fans that hung back fromhim as he talked to Bob Danson, his crew chief. They must have been discussing the handling of the car because Linc was using his fingers to demonstrate what his car was doing as it rounded a cornerâor so it looked to Marley. She ducked her head and hoped he hadnât noticed her.
She should have known better.
âMarley, I need to talk to you.â
Marley nodded a greeting to his crew chief before saying, âWhat about?â in what she hoped was a chipper-sounding voice.
âIn private,â he added.
She glanced at Bob again. The crew chief stared at her blankly. âIâll see what I can do about that problem during the first pit stop,â Bob said.
âThanks,â Linc said before focusing his attention on herâbut not before half a dozen fans came up to him and begged for an autograph. And here was all the proof Marley needed. Mixed into
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