Victory Lane (Shady Falls #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

about it. I was especially terrified because yet again, I would have to prove myself to a bunch of guys, but I wouldn’t be able to if I was off getting coffee and donuts for the team. The only way I would be able to make an impression would be if I could get under the hood of a car and show them what I can do. I understood the need to pay my dues, and I wanted that opportunity no matter what.
    Roger left for his office and we all filed out of the room to our break area. There were pinball machines, a pool table, a television with a gaming system, and other things to keep a bunch of twenty-something guys busy. We all sat around, some talked while others played the various games. I picked up a book and read. I needed to empty my mind of my restless night and what was about to happen. Books were the best way for me to relax and calm myself. Transporting myself away for just a while was a welcome distraction. My current book was transporting me to the land of Greek and Roman demigods, gods, and goddesses. I liked a world where the underdog became the hero and the least likely guy was the most powerful of all. This black haired, green-eyed demigod was my favorite book boyfriend.
    “Ya know, Toni, you’re a grease monkey. You ain’t supposed to be a book geek too,” Joe teased from the pool table. He leaned his thin, muscular frame over the table and sunk the cue ball into the pocket.
    “I just don’t feel like kickin’ your ass at pool, again. I’ve taken enough of your money this semester. Jenny’s gonna kill me if I keep takin’ your money.”
    “Jenny don’t control me,” he growled. I laughed because we both knew it was a lie. His girlfriend Jenny was sweet, kind, and had him completely wrapped around her little finger.
    When it was finally my turn, I reluctantly placed my book in my bag and slowly walked to Roger’s office. I was excited before, but now I realized it was possible that he wanted to do this privately because no one wanted a woman. That thought was like a shot to the stomach.
    I knocked on his door and pushed it open. Roger sat on the other side of his old wooden teacher’s desk. The thing looked like it was a hundred years old. It was discolored from years of wear and tear. One of the legs was missing and being held up with a brick and there were grease stains all over. The rest of the office was sparse. A few posters of cars and teams, several pictures of what I presumed were his family. The picture that stood out the most was the picture of Kyle Redding, Julius Fuller, Axel Turner, and Roger. I knew this picture well, it was Axel’s and Roger’s last season opener and Kyle’s and Julius’ first in the Sprint Cup series. It was one of my favorite pictures.
    “Have a seat, Toni,” he said with a smile. I hoped his smile was a good thing because my stomach was flipping and turning over with nervousness. “Well Toni, it’s been an interesting three and a half years with you. You know I’m an old timer, so when I saw a girl’s name on my roster I wasn’t happy. And I’ll be honest, when I saw you, I was even less happy. You are a beautiful young lady and I worried you’d distract the boys.”
    I looked at him, surprise plastered across my face. My mouth hung open in shock at his words. I never would have guessed he had a problem with my presence. I didn’t say a word; I sat there and tried desperately not to allow the feeling of despair to pull me under. I didn’t want to know this and I was now even more terrified of what he was going to tell me.
    He snickered, “The look on your face tells me you weren’t expecting to hear my honesty.” I shook my head. No, I never expected he would tell me this, but I couldn’t verbalize anything at the moment. “I’m not telling you this to upset you, but I wanted you to know what you were up against when you walked in here. I know you understood you’d have the guys to contend with, but I bet you didn’t expect a chauvinistic pig as a