Now he had a plan, and his car was in good shape. He felt good about this race and the position of his race team. Of course this was only the first practice run, but he had to keep a positive outlook.
He climbed out and Ian fell in step with him as the crew took the car to the garage.
“Well?” he asked, his focus on the car and only on the car right now.
“Decent time and the car looked good. You ran it a little tight out there. You burning off some frustration?”
Ian knew him well, could always tell Gray’s mood from the way he drove. “Maybe a little.”
“What’s going on? And who’s the hot blonde?”
He blew out a frustrated breath, ready to climb into his Chevy again and do more laps, the only thing that could ease his irritation. “She works for my father.”
Ian stopped and stared at Evelyn, currently sitting in the front row of the stands, before turning his attention back to Gray. “No wonder you were so pissed off. What’s she doing here?”
“It’s complicated.”
“I’m listening.”
“I sort of agreed to help out my father’s campaign.”
Ian arched a brow. “No shit. Your dad dying or something? Because that’s the only reason I can think of that you’d bend to the old man’s will.”
Gray snorted. “No. Not that I’m aware of, anyway. He’s got a shot at the vice presidential nomination.”
“Really.”
“Yeah. And they think my fan base can make him look more attractive.”
Ian laughed. “I’m sure they could. What I want to know is why you give a shit.”
“My mom asked me to help.”
“Oh. That’s different.”
“Yeah.”
“And the hottie works for your dad?”
“Apparently she’s my liaison to my dad, so she’ll be with us for the time being.”
“Sweet, man. You could have gotten some old fat bald guy. Instead you get a centerfold. Not really a hardship, is it?”
“I can already tell she’s going to be a pain in my ass.”
Ian slapped him on the back. “Oh. Gee. I feel really sorry for you. Having to put up with looking at her every day.”
“Suck it, Ian.”
He laughed. “I’ll see you later. I think your centerfold looks like she wants to talk to you.”
FIVE
GRAY LOOKED OVER TOWARD THE STANDS. EVELYN HAD gotten up and now leaned against one of the flagpoles.
He really wished Ian hadn’t called her a centerfold. She had an arm casually wrapped around the flagpole, and his mind swam with visions of her naked and doing a slinky pole dance.
His c**k tightened and he realized he liked her a lot better when he was raging and pissed off at her rather than thinking about her as beautiful or sexy or, God forbid, centerfold material. Which was completely inappropriate since he was working with her in a professional capacity and shouldn’t be objectifying her by fantasizing about her and the flagpole.
Then again, when had his dick ever been appropriate? He probably got that from his father, which made him feel even worse.
She walked toward him. He met her halfway.
“I’m really sorry,” she said before he could even open his mouth to apologize for acting like such an ass**le and going off on her. “You’re absolutely right. I got ahead of myself and posted something without your input. I’ve removed it and it won’t happen again.”
Well, hell. “You know, between you and Donny, you’re both ruining my righteous speech-making abilities today.”
Her lips curved. “You can go ahead and make your speech. I won’t mind.”
“I’ll save it for another time when you piss me off.”
“You’re thinking there’ll be another time.”
“I’m sure of it. And apology accepted. I need a drink. Let’s go to my trailer.”
She walked in step beside him. “That’s not really a trailer, Gray. It’s more like a complete house on wheels.”
He held the door for her and she stepped in. “It has to be. During the racing season we spend so much time on the road we rarely get home. This is comfortable and I hate hotels.”
He opened the fridge and pulled out a bottled water, then turned to her. “You want one?”
“Yes, that would be nice. Thank you.”
He grabbed another and handed it to her as he slid onto one of the sofas. “You don’t always have to be so formal, Evelyn. If we’re going to be spending a lot of time together over the next few months, you’re going to have to chill a little.”
She unscrewed the top and took a sip. “I don’t really chill. Besides, this is work for me.”
“Yeah, well, racing is work for me. Doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy it.”
“I do enjoy my work. Very much. I just take it seriously.”
She was serious. And too formal. He was going to have to lighten her up. Maybe when he went home, which couldn’t be soon enough for him. “So tell me what the next steps are.”
“Well, now that word is out—and again, I’m sorry about that—we need to do some rallying of your fans, make sure they get to know the senator and your connection to him. On your terms, of course.”
“Okay. And how would you suggest doing that?”
She pulled open her laptop. “You could start mentioning him on your social media accounts. And of course, being seen in person with him would be very helpful.”
He sighed. His mother had asked if he’d spend the Fourth of July with them. He preferred limiting the time spent with his father to as little as possible, usually at family events and only when his mother commanded. He never attended political functions.
This was going to be a nightmare.
“We’ll do the Fourth of July thing my mom mentioned.”
“The one at your family’s home?” She smiled. “That’s great. I’ll make arrangements.”
“I have a race that week so it’ll have to be a fly in and out thing. And I want to spend one of those days at home, so I mean it when I say I want to spend as little time with my father as possible.”
“No problem. I’ll take care of everything. Let me pull up your schedule.” Her fingers flew across the keyboard. “You have a race in Daytona the weekend after the fourth, is that correct?”