Free One in a Million by Abby Gaines Page A

top-five finishes than any previous Cup rookie,” Jen continued. Someone had been doing her homework. For a woman who cherished the dream of an ordinary life, she sure as hell was unpredictable.
    â€œHe also had a higher than average number of DNFs.”
    Jen waved away Eli’s Did Not Finish record. “You don’t get that close to the checkered flag that often unless you know how to seize the day. Strategy only goes so far.”
    Eli recognized one of Gil’s favorite lines, and glanced at his boss. Gil’s mouth was set in a forbidding line.
    â€œEli’s impetuous,” Jen said. “He goes with his gut. Mostly it pays off. Sometimes, though, he gets ahead of himself.”
    Where was she getting this stuff? Which coincidentally happened to be true. He thought about interrupting her, but anything she said had the advantage of not being official team comment. He or Gil could “correct” her later.
    The reporter was scribbling notes to back up her recorder. Eli hoped that was a good thing.
    â€œFact is, Gil’s a demanding owner who expects a lot of his drivers. He makes it clear they need to deliver results,” Jen said. Oh, crap! She was all but admitting Gil had threatened to fire him!
    Marion’s face brightened. “So you’re saying Eli’s poor results this season—”
    â€œI’m saying Eli’s nature dictates he’ll do whatever he needs to in order to drive in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.”
    Damn. They’d skated close enough to the edge. Eli took over. “Gil Sizemore gave me the break I needed to move into Cup racing,” he said. “If I can meet his standards, I can meet anybody’s. But I hope to keep meeting the Double S standard for a long time.”
    He’d put the blame for any future career change squarely in Gil’s court.
    â€œEli and I are on the same page,” Gil said.
    Eli wondered if the woman realized that wasn’t a promise not to fire him. Gil was saying he needed to improve his driving.
    After some more roundabout discussion, the reporter left. When Eli returned to the living room from showing her out, Jen and Gil were engaged in a stand-off in front of the empty fireplace. Jen’s hands were fisted on her hips.
    Gil swung to face him. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t fire you right now.”
    â€œGil!” Jen darted forward, inserting herself between them. “I don’t want to tell you how to run your business—”
    â€œThen don’t,” Gil said, managing to sound both menacing and the complete gentleman.
    Jen ignored him. “But I can tell you, when chickens feel unsafe, they stop laying, they stop gaining weight, they stop doing any of the things they should.”
    â€œChickens?” Gil echoed, at the same time as Eli.
    â€œYou have got to stop threatening Eli,” Jen chided him. “Some people react well to stress. Eli doesn’t.”
    What the—? “I’m not a chicken,” Eli protested.
    â€œThat’s true,” she said. “Every chicken I know is braver than you.”
    Which at least produced a spurt of laughter from Gil.
    â€œI understand you’re from a close family,” Jen said to Gil. “You have no idea what a difference that makes to your confidence.”
    â€œEli has plenty of confidence,” Gil said, but he sounded less aggressive.
    â€œHe’s confident he can take care of himself,” Jen agreed. “You need him to be confident in the team so he can focus on winning, not on where he’s going to be working tomorrow.”
    â€œButt out, Jen,” Eli warned. He could fight his ownbattles. Gil wasn’t dismissing her views—which probably meant he’d be sending Eli to a shrink next week.
    â€œSomeone has to stand up for you,” she said.
    â€œI’ll echo Eli’s sentiment, if not his word choice,” Gil said coldly.