Free Fast Track by Cheryl Douglas Page A

turned to look at her. “That’s why I let him move to
California without me.”
    “So, you’re not
having second thoughts about calling off the wedding?”
    “No, not
really.” She didn’t regret setting Tom free so he could get on with
his life, but she wondered if she would ever find the happiness she
sought. “It was for the best.”
    “Glad you see
it my way,” Nick said, grinning. “So, what’s got you so down if
it’s not Tommy boy? Does it have somethin’ to do with turnin’ the
big 3-0?”
    She nudged his
leg with her foot. “Like I needed you to remind me.”
    Laughing, he
said, “Thirty is not old.”
    “I know. It’s
not that.” Folding her arms over her chest, she said, “It’s…”
Telling her brother she’d met someone she found intriguing would be
a mistake, especially since it had ended before it even began.
    “Come on, don’t
leave me hangin’.” He set his beer bottle down on the table between
them so he could sit up. “I wanna know what’s goin’ on with
you.”
    They’d always
been close, but Anna didn’t want things to be awkward between Nick
and Justin when they inevitably crossed paths. “It’s nothing.” She
folded her hands and stretched her arms out in front of her. “Let’s
just forget about it.”
    “Okay,” he
said, getting up. “You leave me no choice.”
    “What are you
doing?” she asked, eyeing him warily.
    “I’m going to
get Mom,” he chuckled. “If anyone can get it out of you, she can.
You know she can be a pit bull.”
    Groaning, she
covered her face with her hands. They both knew he had her where he
wanted her. “Fine, I’ll tell you.”
    “I knew you’d
see it my way.” Settling back into the chair, he reclaimed his beer
bottle. “Okay, I’m listenin’.”
    “I… uh… met
Justin Hunt while I was here.”
    Nick frowned
when she failed to continue. “And?”
    “We… um… got
kind of close.” She was grateful for the darkness when she felt her
face burning.
    “Define close .”
    “We didn’t
sleep together if you’re getting at that.” The temptation to squirm
was almost irresistible as her brother regarded her closely,
waiting for her to explain.
    “But you’d like
to?”
    “I’m not having
this conversation with you,” she said, swinging her legs over the
side of the chair.
    He grabbed her
arm. “I’m sorry. I just wanna know what happened.”
    “Nothing
happened.” She refused to tell him about the few intense kisses
they’d shared. “We didn’t get off to a great start, but he tried
hard to prove he’s a decent guy. By the time he was ready to leave,
I guess I believed him.”
    “Sounds like
there’s more to it than that. You fell hard for him, didn’t
you?”
    Her brother,
who was usually clueless when it came to the opposite sex,
occasionally surprised her. “I liked him,” she said, careful not to
give too much away. Her family liked Justin, and if they thought
they had chemistry, they would be relentless in trying to match the
pair.
    “So, why’d he
leave?”
    “He said it was
time to get back to work.”
    “Yes!” Nick
pumped his fist in the air. He had the good sense to look contrite
when his sister glared at him. “Sorry, but it’s long overdue. That
guy’s the king of the track, and it was a damn shame to see him go
into hiding like that over an accident that wasn’t even his fault.
The only person who blamed Justin was Justin himself. Everybody
knows that’s the nature of the business. Every driver takes the
risk when he gets in his car that he may not walk away.”
    Anna shivered,
and it wasn’t because of the tropical breeze blowing across her
skin. She looked out over Amalie Harbor, trying to focus on
something other than the nervous tension in her stomach. Even
though she and Justin had only known each other a short time, she
would continue to fear for his safety. If anything happened to him
out there…
    “Hey, you
okay?” Nick asked.
    “Yes, no…” She
sighed. “I