Pedal to the Metal

Chapter 6

Meg

I've been fielding calls and emails left and right from my boss, and from publishers all because someone caught Jude performing the Heimlich on me with both photos and videos. I've watched it a few times and even though the moment itself was scary for me, I couldn't help but admire him. One he saved my life, two he has the smile of a god and when he does smile it lights up his whole face. And holy cow, those arms. I shook my head. I wasn't even a month divorced and here I was admiring another man.

But why couldn't I? It's clear Daniel has already moved on. Hell, he moved on before our marriage was even over.

There was a soft knock on the door and I thanked my lucky stars that Beckett was a heavy sleeper and could sleep through a Zombie Apocalypse. I opened the door and a blur of blonde hair, gray eyes and a bag full of wine burst into my home.

“I have had a hell of a day in court. Please tell me you're available to be my shoulder to cry on and help me drown my sorrows in some cheap red wine?”

I chuckled and shut the door. “Hello to you too, Victoria.” I said laughing. I grabbed a couple of wine glasses and a bag of pistachios and headed to the sofa.

“I'm helping myself to a pair of leggings from your closet.”

“Go right ahead. Am I going to get this pair back this time?” I asked, and she poked her head out of my bedroom door and scrunched her face up at me.

“I plead the 5th.”

I cut on a raunchy chick flick movie on Netflix and popped a couple of pistachios in my mouth. I propped my feet up on the coffee table and smiled. Daniel used to get so mad at me for doing that. I take small victories where I can and this is one of them.

Victoria plopped her weight on the sofa next to me and grabbed her glass of wine. She really was a beautiful woman. She was tall. So much taller than me. She had angular cheekbones and a heart shaped face. She was a classic type of beauty but she was pure at heart. She was the kindest person I had ever met, except in the courtroom. She was truly ruthless in that environment.

I looked around my small but cozy home. It was an open concept and I had it decorated like a rustic farmhouse. There was shiplap on the walls, distressed wood, and so, so many throw pillows on my sofa. Pictures of Beckett and my family and me covered the walls. I felt comfortable here. It wasn't a mansion in Key West, but it was perfect for me.

I pulled one of my many throw blankets over my legs and tucked them against my chest while we watched the show. As the seconds went by, I could see my best friend relaxing more and more.

“Alright. Let's talk about that hunk of glorious man candy that was pictured getting all cozy with you.” she threw in conversation so slyly.

I felt my cheeks flush. “What's there to say? I was choking and he saved my life.”

“Oh. No miss ma'am. Don't you dare. I know there's more to the story. Do you even know who he is?” she said incredulously. Her brows were raised so high I was worried she would lose them in her hairline.

“Of course, I know who he is. Hello, Sports photographer? Family of sports lovers?” She rolled her eyes at me and I threw one of the throw pillows at her. Maybe that's why they're called ‘throw pillows’. I chuckled to myself at the thought.

“Okay fine. It was embarrassing though.” I started and held my hand up when she went to interrupt me. “I was starving and hadn't eaten anything and I had a press conference to get to, which I missed anyways, and he made a dirty minded comment and I tried to hold it in, I really did. But I started laughing and I choked on my damn hot dog. It was one of those stadium hot dogs too. It was so good.”

I could feel myself getting upset again just thinking about it. “As you have seen, he saved my life and after we just talked for a bit. I may have embarrassed myself as usual with my love of food. I made him buy me a hot dog to talk. He was pretty persistent though. He was charming too. He seemed almost down to earth instead of the way the tabloids paint him”

“Yeah, but you of all people, should know that you can't believe everything you read on the internet or the magazines.” she chimed in and I nodded.

“But that's all there is. We chatted for a bit and then I ran away like a dog with its tail tucked between its legs. I was so embarrassed. The man saw me choke on a hot dog and then saved my life and then I told him I was upset about not getting my hot dog.”

Victoria was laughing so hard that wine sprayed out of her nose. “That's attractive.” I said begrudgingly, but that didn't deter her.

“You didn't!” she said, but I just downed my glass of wine and slammed my head into the pillow and growled.

“I swear, I don't know why I'm even friends with you.” I mumbled, but she heard me anyways.

“It's because you love me, and I supply you with wine.”

“True.”

“But you have to admit, that would be a crazy start to a blazing romance! The playboy hero swoops in to save the tiny hot dog obsessed woman! He does give off Golden Retriever vibes, babe.” she said, and I just ignored her.

She was a romantic at heart and I wasn't going to fault her for it. Just because I didn't get my happily ever after doesn't mean that no one else will or shouldn't. I was a pessimist and jaded because of my past. What I went through with Daniel, I wouldn't be going through again. I refused. I refused to waste over 5 years of my life only to waste another 5 to end up just as heart broken, if not worse. I was focusing on me and my son and that was it.

But those icy blue eyes came to my mind and my inner self kept repeating, “Liar, liar, liar...”

I helped Victoria to the guest bedroom and tucked her in, and plugged up her phone. That thing was her lifeline much like my camera was to me. I put a bottle of ibuprofen on the nightstand and a bottle of water and cracked the door after scooting a small trash bin to the side of the bed.

I grabbed my camera and my laptop and made my way to my room. I stopped by Beckett's room on the way and peeked in on him. He was still asleep, so I kissed his forehead and admired him. He was a great kid. I had so much love for him in my heart that I felt like it might explode. I was so lucky to have him, even though the process wasn't the greatest. I wouldn't trade or change anything for the world. I would go through all of it all over again just to be his momma.

I cozied up in my bed and opened my laptop. I started to download all of the pictures I had taken at the past couple of races and even some freelance shots I had done. I went through each photo and got rid of the duplicates and the ‘bad shots’ and moved each photo I was keeping to the correct folder.

I clicked on the Bristol Race photos and admired the cars, and the people. The shots of pit crews moving at lightning speed. But my mouse hovered over photos of him. Him in the winner's circle. His black hair was soaked with champagne. The way his eyes always found my camera without even trying.

He really was handsome. He was tall, and had broad shoulders and arms that I knew the strength of. His skin was glowing and tan from days in the southern sun. I knew that his hometown was here in Tennessee and I may or may not have done a bit of research on Jude. I found out he donates thousands of dollars to Youth Centers, Women's shelters, and even animal shelters. He volunteers to work with the public and even has worked in a few soup kitchens and with the homeless. He is, at least in the public eye, a great guy.

But then there are the negatives. He's got a new girl on his arm every week. He parties a lot. He's gotten into quite a bit of trouble with his team, and Nascar themselves for his Drinking and Partying habits. But one thing I did notice, that about 2 years ago, the stories just stopped. It's like he fell off the media's radar besides the charities and volunteering.

It's hard to decipher which guy he is. The playboy bachelor of the south, or this charming guy who seems to have a good heart. It's hard to say.

“Who are you, Jude.” I whispered as I kept editing. My eyes drifted over his features over and over and I was sure I had them memorized. I felt like a stalker. He had a dusting of stubble on his jaw, and I wondered what it felt like rubbing up against my skin, between my thighs, and I needed to stop!

I slammed the laptop shut after saving my progress and shoved the computer away from me as if it was on fire. I rubbed my hands down my face and sighed deeply.

I feel ridiculous. On one hand, I meant what I said about not wanting to fall in love again, or be in a relationship again, but part of me, a small part of me wants to know what it feels like to be loved, what it feels like to be intimate again. I am young, well young-ish. Jude stirs feelings in me that I wanted to keep locked away. He sure as hell makes the place between my legs throb.

“UGH...” I groaned and threw myself back against the pillows. I'll deal with these thoughts in the morning.