Rolling my eyes, I cursed under my breath. Great. Jack wants me to babysit his damn niece. Fucking hell.

Me: Okay, what do you need me to do?

Jack: Keep her close to you, Emmit. Show her what it’s like behind the scenes. She’s also planned a small dinner for Friday night, so I want you there and I’d like for you to escort her. You’re the only one I trust.

There was the guilt. Jack had no idea how many women I had fucked around with the last two years. Once I found out Adaline and I were no more, I went a bit crazy with every blonde, blue-eyed woman I could find when Adaline invaded my thoughts.

Me: Will do Jack. I’ll make sure she has a good time and gets her mind off her fiancé.

With a quick glance up, I saw we were pulling into Texas Motor Speedway.

Here we go.

Jack: And Emmit. Keep your hands off of her. I know how much you like blondes.

I shook my head and smiled. “I guess Jack really does pay attention,” I said to no one but me.

Me: Pulling in now. See you in a bit.

I had decided to ride on my bus instead of flying. The less time I had to spend in Texas, the better.

“We’re here, Emmit. Would you like a few minutes?” Hank, one of my drivers, asked.

With a smile and a wink, I stood up and said, “Nah, I’m gonna take Lola out. I’m sure she’s ready to stretch her legs as much as I am.”

Glancing over my shoulder, I could see into my bedroom where my one-year-old black lab, Lola, had been crashed for the last two hours.

“Lola, we’re here.”

Jumping up, Lola dashed over and stood by my side. She was the only girl I could ever count on. Always faithful and loved the hell out of me.

I squatted down and pulled her closer to me as I ran my hand over her fur. “You’re my beautiful girl, aren’t you?”

With a bark, Lola caused Hank and me to laugh. “Damn dog loves the shit out of you.”

My heart ached as I stood. Adaline would love Lola. She’d always wanted a black lab. I shook my head to clear my thoughts, I grabbed Lola’s leash and headed to the door. “Thanks, Hank. We’re gonna go for a run.”

“Sure thing, boss. Have a good run.”

I pushed the door open as Lola waited for the steps to come out before she took off toward the first person she saw.

With a quick look around, I took in all the people already at the track.

“There he is,” Jack said as I turned to look at him. My eyes widened in surprise when I saw the beautiful blonde walking alongside of Jack. Good fucking thing he told me she was engaged.

“Jack, good to see you,” I said as I extended my hand out to him. Lola made a beeline over to Jack’s niece where she promptly fell to the ground and demanded a stomach rub.

Leaning over, the blonde quickly showered Lola with attention.

“Perfect chick magnet.”

With a laugh, I turned to Jack and said, “I like her already.”

Jack slapped me on the back and said, “Just don’t like her too much, Mr. Lewis.”

“Lynn, this is the one and only, Emmit Lewis.”

Giving Lola a good pat on the stomach, Lynn stood and made her way over to me as she reached her hand out for mine. “I bet NASCAR’s star driver is just thrilled to be babysitting me.”

I shot Lynn my signature smile and a wink that melted the girl’s hearts. “It’s not a problem at all. I’ll make sure you have a good time.”

Lynn’s eyes lit up as she gave me a smirk. I wasn’t sure how to read this girl. She was engaged and her uncle, who also happened to be my boss, stood right next to her as she seemed to flirt with me. “I bet you will.”

I looked back at Jack as I cleared my throat. “I’m gonna take Lola for a quick run and then I’ll be back in time for practice.”

“Sounds good. I also want you to take Lynn for a spin around the track,” Jack said as he reached down and gave Lola a quick rub down. Lynn flashed me a bright smile.

“Before you start getting the wrong idea, I’m very much in love with Brandon, my fiancé. I was slightly star struck when Uncle Jack introduced you. I want to make sure we’re on the same page.”

A sense of relief washed over my body as I grinned and glanced at Jack and then to Lynn. “We are for sure on the same page, Lynn. Don’t worry.”

Lynn smiled as she stood straight. “Great! See ya later, Emmit.”

Lola and I stood there as we watched Jack and Lynn make their way through the crowd.

I glanced down to Lola and said, “Why in the hell are women so complicated?”

Staring at me like she didn’t have the answers any more than I did, Lola barked.

With a chuckle, I said, “Right. Let’s go for a run.”

DRIVING INTO TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY had always given me a thrill. I hadn’t been to a race in three years. Not since the night I told Emmit I couldn’t marry him because I wanted to go to college, get my degree in nursing, and have a normal life. Not one where I was trying to study from a bus driving from racetrack to racetrack.

I’ll never be able to erase the look of hurt on Emmit’s face. No matter how much I loved him, I wasn’t going to give up my dreams and follow him across the country ten months out of the year. At least not while I tried to go to school.

“Adaline, are you even listening to me?” my mother asked as the security guard waved us through to the south tunnel.

I reached for my mother’s hand and gave it a light squeeze as I gave her a forced smile. She had picked me up from the airport and had insisted we stop by the track first before she dropped me off at my hotel down from the track.

“What? I’m sorry, Momma. I was day dreaming I guess.” Clearing my throat, I asked, “Did Daddy talk to Emmit about me being here this weekend?”

My mother shook her head slowly. “He has no idea you’ll be here.”

My heart dropped as I swallowed hard. “Daddy didn’t tell him?”

Pressing her lips together, she whispered, “He tried, but Emmit tends to go deep inside himself whenever he comes to Texas Motor Speedway.”

Ouch. That hit hurt. I could see the disappointment in my mother’s eyes. She always thought I had made a mistake breaking up with Emmit.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, I looked out the window. “So, I’m basically going to show up and blind side him, that’s what you’re saying.”

With a wave of her hand, my mother mumbled something under her breath. “Oh, stop being so dramatic, Adaline. You always did blow things out of proportion.”

I stared at my mother as my mouth dropped open. “What?”

After parking the car, my mother quickly looked at me as she took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Adaline, just breathe. It’s all going to be okay.”

My mother opened the door to the truck, got out and walked off toward the buses as I sat in the truck.

“I’m not dramatic,” I whispered as I pushed the door open and jumped out of the truck. Reaching in, I grabbed my Dooney and Burke purse that was a present to myself for graduating nursing school, tossed it over my shoulder, and headed toward the buses.

As I walked along, I couldn’t help but get that feeling of race day excitement as I watched people go about their thing. Practice sessions and qualifying had already taken place for Emmit, so I was assuming Daddy was in his bus. A few people glanced up and smiled as they saw me walk by. Dalton Price, one of Emmit’s old pit crew guys from the earlier circuit, was one of them. Smiling brighter than the sun, he called out my name, causing me to stop.

“Holy shit. Do my eyes deceive me or is that Adaline Monroe?”

Dalton gave me a quick hug as I let out a chuckle “What in the hell are you doing here? I thought you gave up this life style?”

I felt a slight pain in my heart as I shrugged and said, “Well, I’m finished with school and all, so I thought I would come check things out.”