“Whataretheytalkingabout in there?” I ask as I sit across from my brother at the dining room table that’s large enough to seat a dozen people. I much prefer sharing a meal in the kitchen, where the much smaller table is a whole lot cozier. This entire house is nothing more than my father flaunting his wealth, and eighty percent of it is unnecessary since he lives by himself. Even when Teague and I were little or when I visited after our parents divorced, most of our time was spent playing outside or in our rooms.
Teague narrows his gaze and leans forward to rest his elbows on the table. “You, most likely. What was Ryder thinking by inviting you to our training session? What makes me even more confused is why you would come. I’ve been keeping your secret, but you are making it infinitely more difficult for me to do so.”
“Ryder invited me because I told him that racing has always been my passion, Teague. I thought it was very sweet of him to give me a chance to drive. It would have been rude to pass up on his thoughtful gesture.”
“You’re toying with him, and I don’t like it,” Teague says harshly. “You’re giving him hope when there is none.”
“As I told you this morning, you don’t get to control who I spend my time with. If I want to date Ryder, I will. I’m aware of his past and the risks that come with associating with him. I don’t need you to protect me.”
Teague pinches the bridge of his nose. “I know I can’t stop you from doing what you want, but that doesn’t mean that Dad can’t.”
I slap my hand on the table hard enough to shake the glassware. “What’s Dad going to do? Hang the company over my head? Been there. Done that. I’ll find a way around it like I always do. I’m prepared to walk away from the company if I need to. I like Ryder, and I want to spend more time getting to know him. I need to be in control of my own destiny, however that turns out.”
“You’re not the only one that Dad can threaten, Blake. Ryder’s career also hangs in the balance. Do you really think he would give that up for you? He’s known you for all of three days, and would you ask him to?”
“Teague, this has got to stop! Why do you get all the freedom? I’m just as good a driver as you are.” Time and time again, I’ve proven that I can hang with the big boys, but Dad has never given me a shot. I’ve had to resort to other measures to pursue my dreams.
His smile is wan and filled with sadness. “You’re better than me, and you always have been. But Dad gave me the same option he gave you: the company or racing. I wanted one more than I wanted the other, so the choice was clear for me. I honestly believe that if you had chosen to follow your dreams instead of our father’s, he would have supported you. It’s not too late to show Dad who you really are and what you’re made of. You don’t even want his company.”
He’s right; I don’t. “I don’t want it to be sold to the highest bidder, either. It was supposed to be you and me at the helm, not just me. When you walked away, I didn’t have much of a choice if Morrison Motors was going to stay in the family.”
Teague lets out an exasperated sigh. “You always have a choice, Sis. As long as Dad realizes he can manipulate you, he will. I’m certain he’s currently in his office doing the same thing to Ryder, offering him a choice between driving for Morrison Motors or dating you. Although Ryder is seen as the ‘bad boy’ of NASCAR, that image definitely doesn’t help in the corporate sphere. As the head of the company, you cannot risk your judgment being questioned. Trust me, investors would flee at the thought of you being involved with Ryder while in a position of power.”
“What should I do? I find Ryder has a certain charm and I felt an instant connection with him. I even got the tingles. He’s like a kindred spirit, and I want to pursue a relationship with him. You’re his best friend, and you know he’s genuinely a good person. And before you suggest I let this go, take his past and family background out of the equation when you offer your advice.”
The office door swings open and shut, the sound of footsteps growing louder as the two men approach. Teague leans in and whispers, “Ryder is like a brother to me, and as long as you understand the risks, I won’t interfere. I don’t like it, but if you choose to date him, keep it under wraps until you know he’s worth sacrificing your future for. You’re skilled at keeping secrets, Blake, and so am I. I’ll keep this one safe for you, too. However, I will tease you mercilessly about it.”
I’m tired of keeping secrets, but my father has left me little choice. I may as well add one more to the growing list.
“Dinner went well, don’t you think?” I mumble as Ryder drives me back to the Play It Forward Center. My dad wore a smug grin throughout the meal, as if he’d won some major victory. However, Ryder’s gaze was fiercely determined, as if he wasn’t going to go down without a fight. It left me very curious about what my father said. Other than the tension thick enough to cut with a knife, the food was excellent.
“I felt as welcome as a doormat made for wiping boots,” Ryder responds, his lips pressed into a thin line. He remained quiet during most of dinner, showing no reaction when my father mentioned that we have three new sponsors after they discovered Ryder was volunteering with youth.
“Do you want to tell me what you and my father discussed? Maybe I can help.”
Ryder initially shakes his head, yet he quickly reconsiders and says, “He basically threatened my career if I were to pursue you romantically.”
Picking at some imaginary lint on my pants, I whisper, “Do you want to pursue me romantically?”
“Yes,” he replies without hesitation. “However, I’ve worked my tail off to get where I’m at, Blake. I haven’t had a relationship last more than three weeks. It would be a lot to risk on a ‘what if.’”
“Did those women break up with you, or did you break up with them?”
“Does it matter?” he retorts, squeezing the gear stick until his knuckles turn white.
I rest my hand on his. “It does to me.”
Ryder relaxes his grip a fraction. “Do you know that none of the women I’ve been photographed with were ever my girlfriend? I didn’t date a single one of those ladies. They were all fans or someone looking to get a selfie with a race car driver. The women I dated were kept out of the limelight because my personal life is just that, personal. Our dates included romantic picnics at sunset, drives to the ocean where we could walk on the beach, or ordering pizza and binge-watching movies.”
“That sounds wonderful. What was the problem?” I imagine being one of those women, appreciating every second of alone time I could get with Ryder.
He snorts. “They all craved the spotlight. They were after their 15 minutes of fame. They weren’t interested in getting to know me, Blake. Those women only wanted what’s in my bank account. I may not be a billionaire, but I’m not poor by any means.”
“It’s a good thing I have my own bank account,” I tease. “I’ve encountered the same problem when dating men. They want my father’s legacy, not me.”
He reaches across the console to join our hands together. “How could any man resist you, Blake? We’ve only just met, yet I can already see your inner light. You prioritize others over yourself and invest wholeheartedly in everything you do. Your family and friends are always your top priority. It’s rare to see someone so selfless.”
I blush under the compliment and am secretly pleased that Ryder didn’t mention my looks when he was describing me. “You make me sound like a saint, and I’m far from it.” I’m keeping secrets from my father because I’m selfish. There’
