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“Hello?” I said.
Willa started to settle down, and I let out a breath of relief.
“Kelly?” a voice I didn’t recognize asked.
“Yes,” I said.
“Hi. I’m sorry it’s so late in the day. I didn’t want to wait until tomorrow to call you. I hope that’s all right.”
“It’s fine. Who is this?” I asked.
“Oh. I’m sorry, again. This is Minette Freeman, but you can call me Minnie. I handle the intake around here, and I wanted to give you a call to talk about your new position.”
“My new position?” I asked, wanting to make sure I actually heard what I thought I did.
“Yes. Quentin and my husband told me all about you and the interview they had with you yesterday. They were both impressed by your resume and are looking forward to you joining the team. That’s why I wanted to give you a call today rather than waiting until tomorrow just in case you might have other companies considering you. We wanted to snatch you up off the market before there was a chance any of our competitors might get you,” Minnie said.
“Oh, no,” I said, perhaps a bit too quickly. I took a breath to calm myself and slow my voice. “No. I’m free and clear and happy to be a part of Freeman Racing.”
“Great,” Minnie said happily. “Then let’s talk about some details.”
I listened almost breathlessly as Minnie talked about when I’d get started and the salary I’d be earning. She made it clear there was plenty of room to move up and earn more the longer I worked on the team. When the conversation ended, I stared down at my phone, still in shock. It was exactly what I wanted and hoped for, but I couldn’t believe it actually happened. Finally, I leaned down to kiss Willa’s soft, warm baby head.
“We’re finally getting there, sweet pea,” I whispered.
9
Darren
I didn’t hear anything else from Quentin or my father about the interview for the rest of the day. I didn’t know what was going to happen after Kelly left my office. She said she was going back to the garage to continue the interview with my brother and father, but part of me expected that to not actually happen. I was fully awaiting both of them bursting into my office and demanding to know what was going on as soon as she walked out. After my phone call with Colby, I sat behind my desk and waited for them. But they never showed up. By the time I cautiously made my way to the garage, none of the three were there. The emptiness was somewhat ominous.
What did they say to her when she got back? Were they even there, or did they leave, letting her figure out for herself the interview was over and she could go? I wished, not for the first time, I had her phone number so I could reach out to her and find out what was going on. I could have asked Quentin for her contact information. He’d obviously been in touch with her to arrange for the interview, so he would have her email address if not her phone number. But I couldn’t ask him for that. I needed the time to think through everything and figure out exactly how I felt and what I was going to do.
I knew the intense attraction was real. It was a magnetism I’d never felt, an attachment that consumed me when I was in the same room with her. I wanted her something fierce. We never had the chance to try anything real, to see if there was any sort of way for us to be more than just a night of incredible sex. Now that she was back, I knew I wanted to explore that potential, but didn’t know if it was the right time or even how to start. I needed time.
Fortunately, I had it. My dad and Quentin steered clear of me for the next couple of days. I worked on my bike and took laps around the practice track, going into my office to eat rather than going to the field in the middle of the complex or the break room like I usually did. I knew eventually they would approach me, but it ended up being Quentin’s wife, Merry, who broke the silence. She showed up in my office late one afternoon while I was going over some orders I’d made for parts and peered in at me.
“Got a minute?” she asked.
“Sure,” I said.
She came into the room and dropped down into the chair across the desk from me. One hand came to rest on her swollen belly, and she rubbed it affectionately.
“He’s active today,” she told me.
“He just wants to get out of there so he can be a part of race season,” I said.
