Thrown by a Curve by Jaci Burton Page B

the name of that supermodel you were dating? Her name reminded me of a vitamin—Niacin or something?”
    “Nisema,” Gray corrected.
    “That’s a real name?” Trevor asked, turning to Gray. “It sounds like a face wash.”
    “We broke up a few months ago. Her career and mine didn’t mesh.”
    Drew arched a brow. “Since when do athletes and supermodels not mesh?”
    “She was always off on a shoot, and I was always working. And then we figured out neither of us missed each other when we were apart. We’re both too career focused to be involved, so we just broke it off. It was pretty easy.”
    “She probably makes as much money as you do. That’s why it was so easy.” Drew leveled a smirk at Gray.
    “I’m pretty sure she makes more money than me. I should be the one weeping over the breakup.”
    Garrett snorted. “Right. Like you’d ever be sorry over losing a woman.”
    “It could happen. Maybe.” Gray looked over at the guys. “Okay, maybe it won’t.”
    “I see you as the one who’ll never get married, if for no other reason than to spite your father, who’s looking for that “Preston heir,” since it’s obvious you’re never going to walk in his senatorial footsteps,” Garrett said.
    Gray laughed. “You’re right about that. Politics isn’t my thing.”
    “No. You like loud engines and grease under your fingers,” Drew said. “And to think you started off with a baseball scholarship. I still don’t know how the hell you ended up in stock car racing.”
    “Oh this sounds like a great story. Can I sit in?”
    Garrett looked up to see Alicia standing next to his chair.
    “Have a good nap?” He scooted over and made room for her to sit in the booth, then signaled for the waiter.
    “I did. I love shopping, but I don’t do it very often. I guess I was worn out. It was great to lie down for a few minutes.” She turned to Gray. “But now I want to hear about you and baseball and racing.”
    Gray shrugged. “Not much to tell. I came to school on a baseball scholarship. Now I race for a living.”
    “You didn’t like playing baseball?”
    “Loved it.”
    Alicia frowned. “I sense a ‘but’ in there somewhere.”
    The waiter came over, and they all ordered drinks.
    “I played baseball all four years and was even sought after by several pro teams. But I’d always liked racing, did that on my free time. A friend of mine’s dad raced competitively, so I worked with them on their cars and raced with them whenever I could. When my buddy got sick one weekend, I climbed into his car and raced for him. And I came in second. Nearly won the race.
    “That was it for me. The only thing I wanted to do after that was get behind the wheel of a car and come in first. Baseball took second place, and I knew I couldn’t play for the major leagues. I’ve been racing ever since.”
    “Much to your father’s irritation,” Garrett said.
    Gray’s lips lifted. “Yeah. But that’s just a side benefit.”
    “He didn’t like you playing baseball, either, if I remember right,” Trevor said.
    “No. He hated that I got the baseball scholarship to Oklahoma. He wanted me to go to Harvard and study law.” Gray grimaced.
    “His father was a little pissed off that he passed on the Harvard academic scholarship,” Drew said to her. “Law and politics is the Preston family legacy.”
    Alicia stared at Gray. “Really. You got a scholarship to Harvard?”
    Gray shrugged. “Like I said. Baseball was my thing back then.”
    “I take it you didn’t want to be a lawyer,” Alicia said.
    “Oh, hell no. That baseball scholarship was my ticket out from under the Preston family shadow. I ran as far and as fast as I could.”
    “And then daddy cut you off.” Drew lifted his beer and smirked before taking a long swallow.
    “Yeah. Thankfully.”
    Alicia’s eyes widened. “He did?”
    “Yeah, he did. Best thing that could have ever happened. Without him threatening me with money, I could be free to do