“That’s what I’m talking about! Yeah!” I shouted as Waldo congratulated me.
“Congratulations. See you in victory lane.”
Fucking yeah. Adaline was my good luck charm all the way.
November—Championship Race
I WATCHED AS EVERYONE SURROUNDED Emmit as he climbed out of his car. I held onto Landon as I stood back away from the crowd. Victory lane was probably not the best place to be with a two-month-old baby.
Emmit looked around and I couldn’t help but smile. Our eyes met and I could have sworn I saw tears in Emmit’s. The interview started and for a moment it looked like Emmit was at a loss for words. He snapped out of it and began talking. I was getting turned on just by watching my sexy-ass husband. Something about that baseball cap and that smile of his, it drove me mad with desire. Taking in a deep breath, I pushed aside the crazy feelings my body was having.
When the interview ended, Daddy walked up and gave Emmit a quick hug and a slap on the back.
I finally made my way over to him as Emmit kissed me softly on the lips.
“Congratulations,” I said with a smile and wink.
Emmit’s eyes were burning with excitement. Glancing down, he smiled as our son slept peacefully in my arms, totally unaware of everything going on around him. I swore the boy would sleep through a hurricane. Nothing woke him up.
“How’s he doing?”
“Good,” I said with a giggle. “How are you doing?”
Emmit shook his head and smiled bigger. “Honestly, babe, I can’t even put it into words. You and Landon being here for this just makes it all the better. I don’t think life could possibly get better than this.”
I had to agree. Everything about our life was magical.
My whole pregnancy had seemed to be one big fairy tale. With Emmit sneaking in picnics, and surprise day trips to visit everything from plantations to shopping trips to Babies R Us. Once Landon came along it felt like our little family was complete.
I smiled at Emmit as I said, “I’m headed back to the bus so I can get him away from all of this. I love you.”
Emmit kissed me one more time on the lips, before saying, “Okay, pumpkin. I love you too. Make sure Mom or Ashley goes with you.”
I rolled my eyes as I said, “Yes, Dad.”
As I made my way back through the crowd, the security guard that Emmit had hired was right on my heels. After everything that happened with Becca, Emmit decided I needed to have a bodyguard during the races. I loved him for being so worried, but I had every intention of nipping this in the bud before next season.
The trial had been fairly quick. Of course, it wasn’t a surprise when Becca pleaded guilty and then started talking about the voices in her head that told her Emmit loved her. She was now in a psychiatric ward where she would serve out her time and hopefully get better. As of right now though, she was the least of my worries.
“Joel, you really don’t have to follow me to the bus.”
With a polite smile, Joel said, “Oh yes, ma’am, I do.”
Laughing, I shook my head and walked with Landon toward our bus. Ashley came running up and kissed me, then Landon on the forehead. “Oh my God, he won! How crazy insane is that?”
“I knew he would,” I said with a naughty smile.
“Ha! So what are the plans for tonight? Are we going out to celebrate, we’re in Miami after all!”
Ashley had more energy than the damn Energizer Bunny, I swear. “Not sure what the plans are but I highly doubt we’ll be hitting any clubs, Ashley.”
Ashley smiled before glancing over my shoulder and frowning.
“Oh my God, who is that skank hanging around Malcolm’s bus?”
My eyes looked over toward Malcolm’s bus. There was a tall blonde dressed in a skirt that was so short I was almost positive I saw her ass cheeks.
“Don’t know. I’ve never seen her before, but then again I don’t think I’ve ever seen Malcolm with the same girl twice.”
I stopped walking and looked at Ashley as she almost ran into me because she was looking back at the girl.
“Ashley, please tell me you took my advice and never hooked up with Malcolm.”
“Why is everyone so concerned about my sex life?”
“Ugh. Don’t say that. It gives me a visual.”
Ashley placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head as she looked at me. “Excuse me, but you talk about your sex life with my brother all the time!”
I rolled my eyes and walked as I took one more peek over at the blonde.
“Please, I’m married to your brother and he isn’t a man-whore. Malcolm on the other hand will screw anything with a vagina attached to it.”
Ashley laughed and said, “That’s true.”
With a shake of my head, I looked back at her as I stopped at the door to our bus. “Ashley, he has a reputation for being fast in and out of the car. Do you really want someone like that?”
The smirk that spread across her face caused me to start chewing nervously on the inside of me cheek. “Trust me, there is one thing Malcolm Wallace is not fast at. He is very slow and very very good at it.”
I made a gagging motion as I looked away. “Oh, gross.” Turning back to Ashley, I gave her that look only a mother gives. “You better hope Emmit doesn’t find out you and Malcolm have been . . . um . . . doing . . . ah . . . well um.”
“Fucking?”
Thud.
There went my heart.
Now I knew the truth. I was sucked into this and as soon as Emmit found out I knew about it, he was going to be pissed.
“Oh God. I think I’m about to be sick.”
Opening the door to the bus, I jetted in as Ashley laughed. Taking Landon from my arms, she motioned for me to go away. “Let me spend some time with my little man here. Why don’t you go lay down or something?”
I jerked my head back and made a gasping sound. “Go lay down? What the hell? I’m not tired.”
“Well, I want to spend some time with my nephew.”
“Ash, I think we should talk about Malcolm. It’s not safe, you sleeping with him. I mean, doesn’t it bother you there was some girl waiting outside his bus for him?”
Looking lovingly down at my son, Ashley shook her head. “Nope. We’re just enjoying each other, Adaline. That’s it. It’s purely a physical thing and I like it that way.”
Ashley headed back toward the bedroom as I rolled my eyes and grabbed my Kindle as I sat down on the sofa. It would be awhile before Emmit was finished with all the press and stuff. I might as well enjoy a good book while Ashley was here.
It didn’t take long for my eyes to start closing and the words on my Kindle to grow blurry.
The smell of Emmit’s cologne caused me to stir as I realized I was being carried. Opening my eyes, I looked around. “W-where are we?”
Emmit grinned as he looked down at me. “At a hotel.”
“Landon!” I said as I became fully awake.
“Is with your parents. Tonight it’s just you and me, baby.”
My lower stomach pulled with desire as I thought about a solid night of nothing but Emmit. “But, we’ve never left Landon alone with anyone before, Emmit. He’s only two-months old!”
My body vibrated as Emmit laughed. “I’m pretty sure your parents know how to take care of a baby. You survived, didn’t you?”
Stopping at a double door, Emmit balanced me and held a key card up to the black pad, causing the door to click. With a quick push of his foot, the door swung open and revealed a beautiful hotel room.
“Oh, Emmit. Where are we?”
Emmit slowly lowered me, making sure I felt his blooming desire. “The Carillon Hotel and Spa.”
I took a moment to look around the suite. It was amazing. The modern décor was sleek and romantic. The soft music playing was coming from the TV that was mounted over the fireplace, which was lit.