Dirty Looks (Dirt Track Dogs: The Second Lap Book 1) (12 page)

Seraphina shrugged with her mouth. “In a manner of speaking. We believe if we’re under the protection of a powerful alpha, such as yourself, they’ll leave us alone.”

Sally nodded, running her hands through her windblown hair and locking them behind her head. “If we belong to someone else, if we’re no longer
their people
, they’ll move on. At least, that’s what we’re hanging all this on.”

Aaron didn’t miss Tana’s whole body shiver. She didn’t like how the vixens were talking. Going by the expressions on the rest of the dogs, neither did the others.

“Are you saying you want to join our club?” Destiny the Elder asked, but she didn’t seem extremely curious. She sounded like she was confirming something she already knew. And since many Elders had the gift of foresight, perhaps she’d expected this.

Lexington let out a heavy breath. “That’s exactly what we’re saying. We want to pledge our allegiance to the Dirt Track Dogs and become contributing members of your pack, in exchange for protection if it’s needed.”

Everyone went quiet. With it all laid out on the table like that, there was nothing left to do but wait for Drake’s answer. Aaron hadn’t meant for it to happen like this, but you couldn’t control the way the wind blew. All you could do was wait to see where everything landed once the storm was over.

This fate shit was growing on him.

Drake rubbed his whiskered jaw with calloused fingers. “What if we’re the ones you need protecting from? Did you consider that? You don’t know us from the mailman.”

A tiny smile creeped up Lexington’s face.

“We did consider it. But your fruits bear witness to your deeds. Look at little Gracie, how welcoming she is. How kind. Same with Annie.”

“Oh, Annie’s nice to everyone,” Punk cut in.

“And your reputation precedes you. Ask anyone in this town—and trust me, we did ask—they’d say DTD is a group of honest, hard-working, good ‘ol boys and gals. Not an evil bone in them, as long as you don’t jerk ‘em around. That sound about right?”

Beast raised an eyebrow. “Sounds right to me.”

Surge nodded, twirling his grilling tongs between his fingers like a baton.

“Damn it. Think our cover’s blown,” Diz said. “Now no one will believe we’re outlaw badasses.”

Punk stared at him skeptically. “Is that what you were going for, Dizzy? Because if so, you’re missing some crucial tattoos and piercings.”

He grinned like a shark. “I’m a work in progress.”

“Look,” Lexington said. “I know this isn’t how things usually happen around here, but you’re known for taking in shifters of all types, and we don’t want anything from you that we can’t give back. There is strength in numbers and you’re gaining six. We’ll fight for DTD, whether it be on the track or in battle. We just want a place to call home, and good people to raise Kit with.”

“And steak,” Rod spoke up. “We want steak. They smell reeeeeal good.”

Drake pursed his lips, but Surge nodded like it was serious business, as he traded spots with Annie and forked a hunk of meat. “You like it rare, Hot Rod.”

“Slightly mooing please.”

“Coming right up.”

Drake eyed his mate considering the vixens’ request, but Ella wasn’t giving anything away with her expression.

“I don’t know,” he said. “This isn’t sitting right with me. I don’t like this indentured servant feel. It gets my wolf all twitching.”

“Ditto,” Tana muttered, another shiver evident.

“Each of you should get a future of your choosing without needing the protection of an alpha or a pack. It should be your choice what to do with your lives. Goddamn it, I hate what our animals do to some of us. Takes the humanity right out of a male.” The alpha shook his head, troubled. And Aaron knew how he felt. He’d seen shifters with very little humanity left at all. Some breeds were worse than others.

Destiny cleared her throat and raised one hand delicately in the air. “I have a suggestion.”

“Aw, yeah baby,” Diz murmured. “I love it when her brains get problem solve-y. Ideas are so damn sexy.”

She blew him a quick kiss before laying out her plan.

“Might I suggest a sister-pack type situation as a solution that could satisfy all involved.”

Aaron wasn’t sure, but it seemed like Diz’s eyes actually flared with animal emotion just at her words. Before, maybe Aaron wouldn’t have understood feeling that way about another, but now he was beginning to. Watching Lexington negotiate with the wolves made him proud.

Which also made him hard. Shit.

“Explain,” Drake murmured.

“Like a tree,” Destiny said. “DTD is the trunk and the vixens would be a branch. As for business, they would be our bike team, separate from the cars. As a pack, they would be their own group, have their own leader, their own rules… but under the ultimate protection of our people. A pack within a pack so to speak. Part of the family, but under their own authority. It also gives us all time to get to know each other. Work together, grow together.”

The vixens’ gazes swung to Lexington, and Aaron could practically feel their relief like it was palpable. His fox chewed her lip as if the deal was too good to be true. A bargain.

“But how does an arrangement like this benefit the dogs?” she asked.

“Well, like I said, you’ll race for us and take jobs around the club. But also...”

Destiny glanced at Drake and some kind of lightbulb went off in his head. “Old man Hubbard,” he murmured, and the Elder nodded, her mouth curving into an anxious grin.

Seraphina frowned. “The man who owns the motel we’re staying in?”

Drake nodded. “We’ve taken him under our wing for a spell. We’ve dedicated this racing season to helping the old man get back on his feet.”

“Sweetest fella you ever met,” Annie said. “He’d give the shirt off his back if he knew ya needed it.”

“His wife passed away just after Christmas and he’s got it rough right now,” Blister added. “Works hard as anyone you ever seen, but he’s up to his eyeballs in debt and his place needs fixing.”

“And as members of DTD, you’d like us to help him?” Lexington asked.

Drake tilted his head. “We’re pooling our winnings for him, but having a crew around to help him with his day-to-day shit would probably be worth gold.”

Lexington glanced at her vixens.

Sally shrugged. “I kinda like the old guy. I threatened to goose him and he told me he’d put me in the corner for a time out.”

“I caught him schooling Kit on how to hook a worm for fishing,” Ragan murmured.

Seraphina agreed. “He gave me extra towels and I didn’t even have to ask. Said I’d probably need them for my hair.”

Sally arched an eyebrow. “Thoughtful of him.”

Seraphina nodded.

Lexington glanced at Aaron, and then out to the field where Barb was surely listening in. Just before Kit tagged her, she held up a thumbs-up for Lexington, letting her know she was on board with the idea.

“Well, what do you say?” Drake asked.

Lexington smiled, a little unsure, and Aaron could feel the relief through their bond.

“I say, hell yeah. Just call us Dirt Track Vixens.”

Drake’s mouth curved up in a sideways grin.

“I like it. What do you think, boys?” Nods from each of the dogs confirmed they were on board. “Mates?” Another round of nods from the females. “Alright then,” he murmured, strolling forward and holding his fist out. “Get ‘em in there.”

Lexington added her hand on top of his as each of the dogs and their mates followed suit. The vixens fell in as well, until there were so many hands they were a mountain.
Strength in numbers
.

“Dirt track
life
,” Drake barked.

“Huh!” the dogs said in unison. The growing smiles on the vixens was like watching a sunrise.

“Dirt track
love
.”

“Huh!” This time the foxes joined in.

“Dirt track
daaaaawgs
.”

“Win!”

“Dirt Track Dogs.”

“Win!”

Then, as one voice, the pack howled.

“Owoooooooooo!”

Chapter Twelve

Lexington broke away from the mountain of hands and searched for Aaron. There were tears in her eyes but she didn’t mind if he saw them. This was too important to pretend she wasn’t affected.

She didn’t have to look far. Her human was standing right behind her, his eyes burning with emotion she could only guess at. Whatever it was, his blue gaze was searing into her like he meant to brand her soul with it. She smiled at him, victorious, and he reached for her—

But they were interrupted by Sally who was still howling obnoxiously. “
Owoooooooooo!
Damn, this howling thing is
fun
. I could get down with this, for sure.”

Surge, who still wore his sunglasses, swigged his drink. Ironically, a bright green carbonated beverage that was obviously his namesake. He stared at Sally, a smirk playing at his lips.

“Well, I’ll be a hotdog in hell. I never knew a fox could howl like that. But then again, I was never really sure what a fox does. Enlighten me, Sally, would’ya. What does a fox say?”

Sally froze, staring at the wolf while he chugged another swallow. “You’re really doing this, huh?”

Surge pressed his lips together while the others snickered in the background.

“I’m a curious wolf. What can I say.”

Sally shot Seraphina a look that said,
this guy
, and Sera laughed loud and free. The change in the vixens was already apparent. The liberating feeling of not having to look over their shoulder left a giddiness among them. It made Lexington’s heart grow to swollen. They’d worked their asses off to get here—and would continue to—and now the payoff was going to be so damn sweet.

“Okay, yeah. I’ve prepared for this,” Sally said, nodding and turning to face the wolf. “But bear with me, okay? Might be a bit
ruff
starting off.” She cocked her head, her long hair dipping with it. “Naw, who am I kidding. It’s like Jurassic Bark in here. No chance your puns are as fly as mine.”

“
Ooooooh
,” Seraphina howled, tossing Sally a high five. “Jurassic Bark. Good one.”

“Are you calling us…
old
?” Diz asked, shock making his eyebrows rise into his forehead.

Sally shrugged one shoulder. “If the paw fits.”

“Wait a goddamn second,” Surge said, moving his glasses to sit on the top of his head. “Are we… are we having a pun-off?”

“Well, it depends. Howl furrrious would you be if I won?”

“Oh, daaamn,” Drake hissed, glancing at his mate.

“She’s good,” Ella whispered.

Surge cocked his jaw sideways, narrowing his gaze at her, his hands hooked over his hips.

“Well, for fox sake. What would… well,
you
… say if I said,
bring. It. On. S
on.”

“I’d say get ready to be knocked on your puns, because nobody fox with me.”

“Okay, alright.” He nodded his head, narrowing his gaze. “I have one question for you though. And this is serious. Because I can’t commit to a contest like this unless I know… are you in
fox
icated?”

This time the wolves howled a victorious
ohhhhhhh
.

“Not yet,” Sally answered. “I don’t know if you’re
aware
-wolf, but I hold my liquor well.”

“I did not know. I was an una-werewolf.”

“It’s okay. Don’t
terrier
self up about it.”

“Trust me, I have zero fox to give.”

Sally’s expression turned serious and she held her hands up in surrender. “Look, I really don’t mean to
hound
you about it.
Wolf
-ind a way through this. Just aim for originality, okay? That’ll get you more points.”

Lexington was full on laughing now. Maybe she was biased, but Sally was kicking ass.

Surge’s mouth twisted with humor, but he nodded like it was on. “Originality, huh?” He paused to check the hotdogs on the grill. “Don’t you worry, little woman. I’m
vixen
to lay some smack down.”

“Ooh, good one, baby!” Tana cheered, and he blew her a kiss.

Sally’s brows raised in shock. “Better, wolf. Much better.”

Surge laughed, pulling hotdogs off the grill. “That’s not all I’ve got, you just wait until—” He fumbled one of the links and it fell through the grill into the fire, meeting its demise among the hot coals. “Aw, damn,” he said, pouting. “It’s all fun and games until someone loses a wiener.”

The collective laughter thundered.

Sally breathed deep, closing her eyes. “Smell that?”

“Charred mush meat?” Seraphina asked.

“Nope. That’s the smell of my victory,” Sally said, grinning like a shark.

Seraphina and Ragan high fived her.

“Can I just say, your victory stinks,” Rod said, fanning his hand in front of his face.

There was the slam of a truck door in the distance and Drake cleared his throat.

“Well, slamma-lamma-damn-dong,” Surge muttered. “Uninformed human heading our direction. We’ll have to finish our pun-off later.”

Sally laughed. “I’ve already won, wolf.”

“Naw,” Surge said, as the male approached. “This isn’t over, Sally. Ain’t over ‘til they wave the flag. I don’t see no one giving up but you. So.” He shrugged casually.

Lexington recognized the dark-haired man with a neatly trimmed beard as one who’d been drinking with Aaron that first night, along with Rider and Rod. When he glanced out to the field and spotted the kids playing, his face went from neutral to frowning.

Surge grinned a friendly greeting. “Hey, bro. You’re late.”

The male slapped hands with Surge and Rider before punching Rod in the shoulder, and staring down Aaron like… well, like he was just tired of seeing him even though he’d only been there five seconds.

“Yeah,” he sighed. “I got stuck at the factory. Damn turbine flopped out on us and it had to be fixed before the overnight crew came in.”

“It’s no problem,” Tana said as she passed out drinks.

Lexington took her Raz-ber-rita and cracked open the top, and passed a Bud to Aaron.

“Well, thanks for keeping Megan,” the male muttered. “Appreciate it.”

Tana smiled. “She’s great, and Gracie loves playing with her.”

He barked out a laugh. “She’s ornery as heck. You sure my girl is the one you’re talking about?”

“Wait,” Aaron interrupted. “Megan is yours?”

The male stared at Aaron, shrugging a shoulder. “You missed a lot, man.”

“But… who… when…?” Aaron sputtered.

“Don’t matter does it?” He turned to Lexington with his hand outstretched. “I’m Adam. This joker treating you alright?” His voice was dull and distracted, and he kept glancing away to the field.

Even if she wasn’t a shifter, she’d be able to feel the animosity Adam had for her human. And she didn’t like it. Aaron said he’d left Cedar Valley without telling his friends goodbye. And he’d stayed gone, and presumably out of contact, for nearly a decade. That wasn’t a very nice thing to do, she could admit. But maybe this guy needed to be more understanding of his reasons.

Lexington stared at Adam’s hand and answered without shaking it.

“This ‘joker’ is
mine
, and he’s treating me just fine. But I don’t think you really care, do you? You’re just checking off the marks so you can cut outta here as fast as possible. Am I right?”

His hand continued to hang between them as his expression went slack-jawed. Everyone else seemed just as surprised as he was, but Lexington knew it was because she’d just laid claim to Aaron. Marked him as hers even though no claws were used. The significance was heavy, but she couldn’t regret spouting off the way she did.

After several tense moments, Adam seemed to recover and pulled his hand back.

“Done read my mail, lady. Can I at least have your name before I leave? It’d be a nice change to know who my… friend… belongs to now.”

“I’m Lexington,” she said, and then because he looked like she’d slapped him, and she couldn’t stand for anyone to be sad right now, she introduced the rest of the vixens. “These are my girls, Sally, Seraphina, and Ragan. That’s Barb out there, playing with your daughter. And Kit, our little one.”

He nodded at the others before his eyes wandered out to the field to see Barb cutting up with Megan. She grabbed the little human around the waist and spun her around in a circle, laughing with her as they both tumbled to the dirt while Kit and Gracie jumped up and down, giggling.

Like plaster turning from liquid to solid, Adam’s expression went hard, his mouth forming a harsh line. “Megan,” he called. “Time to go.”

The little girl’s grin faded, and Barb brushed her hair aside to see who was pouring water on their fun.

“But daddy—”

“Don’t make me tell you again, Nutmeg. Say your goodbyes and getcha tush in the truck.”

“Oh, alright,” she muttered, kicking the dirt to stir up some dust with her frustration.

As she stomped toward his truck, Adam murmured his own uncomfortable goodbyes.

“Thanks again for watching Megan,” he said to Tana before turning to Aaron with a grim expression. “Got you a woman who values brutal honesty. Good thing for a man like you. Don’t fuck it up.”

With that, he strolled off to catch up with his little girl.

***

Aaron sat perched on one of the tree trunk stools that surrounded the little bonfire the dogs had prepared. Hours had passed since the wolves and the foxes reached an agreement and the odd exchange between him and Adam.

He still couldn’t believe his friend had a kid. He’d asked Rider who her mama was, but he’d only told him she wasn’t in the picture anymore. The idea that he’d know the story if he’d cared to keep in touch was spoken with Rider’s arched eyebrow, and softened with a light shove to the shoulder.

So while Adam’s story haunted the recesses of Aaron’s mind, the rest of them brushed off his gruffness minutes after he’d left. It implied they were used to the man keeping his distance, and respected it.

Aaron would too. It was the least he could do since he hadn’t been around for him all these years. He would work his way back into that friendship, and he wasn’t a fool. He knew it’d take time.

The light chatter around the fire soothed Aaron’s rough edges and once again he marveled at how quickly he was finding his way. Things felt… good. More than good. He felt great.

For so many years, he’d woken with the sun, fighting, and went down with the moon, still fighting. There was never any calm within the storm. Never any peace. Only anxiety and worry and so much anger he didn’t recognize himself in the mirror.

Somehow all that was fading. And it had everything to do with his shifter lady.

Lexington laughed softly and it drew his attention to the stool beside him. He’d dragged it close to his before she sat down. Something was being said across the flames but it was all white noise as he stared. The way her cheeks bunched up at the corners when her pretty lips spread in a smile. The way her eyes twinkled in delight, the way they were no long creasing with unspoken worry. The way her body leaned into his, almost as an afterthought, just because whether her mind knew it or not, that body needed him. All of it, every little detail was a balm to his shredded heart.

She was patching him up with every smile and fluttering eyelash and semi-accidental touch. She was the glue that would put him back together, and keep him there until his time was over.

He couldn’t wait to tell her how he felt. Couldn’t wait to take this farther, to lay everything out. Say
this is what I have to offer, it ain’t much, but it’s good
, and see if she wanted in on this deal.

Because she had him good. He was a hooked fish, swimming his way to the bank to be caught, no regrets.

Lexington turned to look at him and in a rush all the sound returned to his world. Someone had cranked the country music up loud. A grinding beat that sounded naughty, but maybe it was just because he was looking at her. Anything under that filter would fill him with wild thoughts.

With a whooping holler, Surge pulled Tana up and into his arms, swaying with her in a sultry rhythm as she chuckled. “It’s dancing time,” he murmured, and they were off, whispering things only meant for each other’s ears.

Aaron raised an eyebrow. “Heard what he said, baby girl.” He stood offering Lexington his hand. “Wanna dance?”

She pursed her lips, considering. “Are you telling me the mysterious hunter with the heap o’ junk truck can cut a rug?” she asked, placing her hand in his.

“I got moves that would blow your mind,” he said, pulling her up and right against his body where she belonged. She gasped at the contact, and it shook him how perfect they felt together.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. And also, my truck is
not
a heap o’ junk.”

He didn’t give her a chance to argue. He spun her away from the fire to their own little corner of darkness. They weren’t alone but it was a touch more private. And they needed it, because he had some communicating to do with his girl.