Fast Track by Cheryl Douglas Page A

knowing his moments were
numbered and struggle to come to terms with the things he didn’t
say or do.
    “If you felt
that way, why did you leave?”
    “I had to get
back on the track. I couldn’t allow fear to paralyze me anymore.”
That was true, but she needed to know there was more to it.
“Listen, can we take a drive? I’d really like to talk some more but
not here. Somewhere quiet.”
    She looked
around, pointing to a table in the back. “I came with my friends. I
really shouldn’t leave them.”
    He glanced at
the group of women, talking, laughing, and sipping on their drinks.
“I don’t think they’d mind if you bailed early.” He spotted Nick
chatting up a pretty blonde and knew his friend would understand if
he had to cut their time short. “Come on. I have to head back to
Charlotte tomorrow, and I’d really like to spend some time with you
before I leave. I feel like we didn’t get a chance to say a lot of
things on the island.”
    She bit her
lip, obviously considering her options. “Well, okay. Just let me
grab my purse.” She took two steps forward and one step back,
turning to face him. “You haven’t been drinking, have you?”
    He smiled. “No,
I just got here a little while ago. I’ve only had a few sips of
beer.”
    “In that case,
I guess it’s okay.” She made her way through the crowd to the table
the ladies shared.
    Justin
approached Nick, trying to catch his attention without intruding.
He threw a few bills down on their table for the waitress when Nick
caught his eye.
    Nick said a few
words to his companion before approaching Justin. “Hey, you headin’
out already, man?”
    “Yeah, do you
mind?”
    “No, it’s cool.
A few of my buddies are in the back playin’ pool. I can always get
in on the action.” He turned around and looked at his sister across
the bar. “Did you guys work things out?”
    “We’re gonna
take a drive, then I’ll take her home.”
    “I’m hopin’
we’ll see more of you around these parts,” Nick said with a
grin.
    “I hope so too,
buddy.” Justin shook Nick’s hand. “Thanks for the beer and meeting
with me tonight.”
    “Anytime.” Nick
slapped him on the back. “I hope you guys figure things out,
Justin. I think you’re exactly the kind of guy my sister needs in
her life.”
     
    ***
     
    Anna was
mortified when she overheard her brother’s words. Justin probably
thought she was desperate. Clearing her throat, she nudged her
brother aside. “If you don’t mind, I can speak for myself,
Nick.”
    “I was just
sayin’…”
    “I heard what
you were saying,” she said, frowning at him. “Why don’t you get out
of here? See if you can’t lose some more money to those pool sharks
in the back.”
    “Just so you
know, I never lose, sugar.” He patted her on the head. “Now you be
a good girl tonight and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” He
slapped Justin on the back. “That pretty much leaves the field wide
open, my friend.”
    Justin laughed.
“Good to know.”
    Anna pushed her
brother out of the way and grabbed Justin’s hand. Her face was
already flaming, and she knew Nick would only get worse. “Let’s get
out of here.”
    “Remember what
I said,” Nick called after them. “Hey, Anna!”
    “What is it
now?” She turned around and saw him grinning.
    He held a
non-descript plastic square in his hand. “You need this?” he
mouthed.
    “I’m gonna kill
him,” Anna muttered, tugging Justin toward the door.
    Justin laughed
as he fell into step beside her. “Your brother’s a riot.”
    “Yeah, when
he’s not being an ass.”
    “Come on now,”
Justin said, tugging on her hand. “He was just teasing you. That’s
what brothers do. I know from experience. I have two sisters,
remember?”
    “God help them
if you’re anything like my brother.”
    Justin led her
toward the shiny black sports car in the middle of the parking
lot.
    She stopped
walking and stared at the obscenely expensive car. “You can’t