uncomfortable feeling had filled her almost immediately. For some reason, Denise didn't like the idea of Sasha and Ansel getting to know each other.
She didn't like it at all.
"Uh uh. This one's for you Dennie. Come on, let's go."
Denise followed Sasha out to her Range Rover. Having a best friend was almost as good as having a boyfriend. Better even. After almost twenty years of friendship, Sasha was still willing to drive her to the airport.
{}{}{}{}{}
Ansel slid out of the window to the cock pit. He'd just taken a run with the new tires his crew chief Delaney had talked him into trying. They had better traction but were more likely to burn. It was a toss up. But Ansel never overworked the car, he was more likely to skid out on sharp turns. So for him, it probably made sense.
Ansel almost always listened to Delaney. The older man had taken him in hand when he'd first started racing and causing trouble. Ansel had liked to talk smack and gotten into a lot of scrapes as a result. Delaney had bailed him out and put him on the straight and narrow.
Well, more or less.
"Here."
Ansel caught the sports drink in mid air.
"Thanks Jess."
"No problem Jack ."
The guys all liked to give Ansel a hard time but it was done in good fun and with considerable admiration. Most of his crew had been with him for the better part of a decade. Ever since he started winning. Which was more or less right away. Even before he was legal.
Donnie was checking the engine when he let out a low whistle. Even before he turned around to see what he was looking at it, Ansel knew. He felt it in his gut.
She was here.
It'd been three days since he came down to prep for the race. Four days since she'd dragged him to a promotional event. It was hard to believe, but he'd missed her.
A lot.
Denise was wearing something far more casual and rock and roll than he was used to seeing her in. A tight leather jacket that hugged her top curves and tight, worn in jeans that hugged the bottom.
And what a bottom it was.
Damn but she looked good!
"Why do they call you Jack?"
He flushed. He should have warned the guys not to call him that around Denise. He glared everyone into silence. Everyone except Delaney, who was intimidation-proof.
"Because he fuc- beg pardon m'amm- he makes love more than a jack rabbit."
Denise looked appalled.
Damn. He felt like he was taking two steps forward and three steps back with this woman. And that was more like half a mile in the wrong direction.
"Thanks a lot man."
"What? It's true."
"You're an asshole."
He smiled at Denise.
"A gross exaggeration."
She rolled her eyes.
"Whatever you say… Jack."
He grinned at her, liking this playful side of her.
"Are you hungry?"
She cocked her head at him.
"Famished."
"Come on, let's get something to eat."
"I really just want to go to the hotel and eat room service in bed."
"I'm down with that."
" Alone Ansel. We just have to go over