Free Hart's Victory by Michele Dunaway Page A

Mom?”

    Kellie knew she had to be wearing a stunned expression, but that was far better than the fury that she trying to contain. How dare Hart just blow through her wishes? She wasn’t a car to move out of the way. But Hart seemed oblivious to her anger, and he reached around and grabbed some official Hart Hampton merchandise. “What’s your grandma’s name?” he asked.

    “Anita,” Charlie answered. He watched as Hart autographed the color picture, “To Anita, with love, Hart.”

    “That’s for her,” Hart said as he passed the eight-by-ten color glossy over. “And this is for you.” Hart autographed a picture for Charlie and then he took another picture from the stack and scrawled out a phone number that started with a 704 area code. “This is for your mom. That’s my cell phone. That’s should prove how serious I am. Very few people have that number.”

    “Thank you,” Charlie gushed.

    Clarissa reappeared and Kellie could see a family of eight approaching about a hundred yards away. “Our time’s up,” Kellie said, anxious to get out from under the tent.

    “I guess it is,” Hart replied. He glanced at her. “Why don’t you and I talk later tonight and get all this set up for next weekend?”

    “Charlie and I…”

    “It’s parents’ night out, so I’m sure Charlie has plans to be with his new friends,” Hart cut in smoothly.

    “I do,” Charlie said. “Brad and I are going to see the movie.”

    “So do you have a little free time in between your networking to meet with me?” Hart asked, and Kellie knew he’d trapped her.

    “Fine,” she stated. “I’ll see you after dinner.”

    “My motor home,” Hart said. “We can talk there.”

    Kellie gave an erratic wave of agreement and hopped off her chair. “Let’s go, Charlie. We have some time to do a craft before lunch. Your grandmother would love a lanyard key chain.”

    “Sure,” Charlie said. He stood and followed his mother.

    H ART WATCHED Kellie flee the tent, for that was really the only word for it, Charlie already ecstatically speaking in her ear as he followed.
    Hart turned around. Clarissa had an odd expression on her face. “You just invited that boy and his mother to the race next weekend.”

    “Yeah, I did,” Hart said, grinning. He was pretty proud of himself. “Did you see how happy it made him?”

    “Did you see how angry your actions made her?” Clarissa asked gently. Around the shop, she was known as everyone’s mom or grandma.

    “I saw,” Hart admitted with a sigh. Then he stood his ground. “But tough. That boy deserves a break. He’s ill. She can stop being difficult for one weekend.”

    “Difficult?” Clarissa questioned.

    “Can’t you see that she hates me?” Hart said with a dismissive wave. “I come to this place and find the one woman who could care less that I drive a race car. She thinks I should keep my clothes on and turn away my number one sponsor. And her son, he’s just a gem. I admit, I’m taken with that kid. Reminds me a bit of me at that age.” His tone turned defensive. “If I can make him happy, then hey, I’ll do it. Cynthia wanted me to have some good PR. Imagine how my aunt will spin that next weekend.”

    “What, off at camp, come home with a stray? These are not people you toy with,” Clarissa warned.

    “I’m not,” Hart said, noting defensively that Kellie had said the same thing.

    “Humph,” Clarissa said. If there were more to her spiel, it would have to wait, for the next family had reached the tent. Hart plastered a smile on his face and turned to greet them.

    He’d settle all of this silliness with Kellie tonight. Charlie deserved to be happy. So did Kellie.

    It was three o’clock that afternoon before Hart realized that Charlie hadn’t told him what he wished for.

CHAPTER FIVE
    A T 6 P . M ., Kellie knew she had to put a stop to this nonsense. All day she’d heard nothing but how wonderful Hart was, and how excited Charlie