Sweet Carolina (25 page)

“I don't know, Dell. Are you sure you aren't
just trying to get your hands on my engine?” she teased.

“Oh, honey, I fully intend to get my hands on
every inch of you, including your engine,” he said with a wink.

“Well…since you put it that way… yes!”

Dell let out a victory whoop and pulled her
in for a kiss that curled her toes. The crowd went crazy around
them, and someone dumped what felt like a magnum of champagne over
their heads. Eventually, Dell broke the kiss, but he didn't let her
go as he grabbed the microphone from the stunned reporter who was
scrambling to keep up with the unexpected marriage proposal in
Victory Lane.

“So, folks. Looks like I'm going to marry my
team owner. Maybe I'll change my name to Caudell Hawkins, what do
you think?”

The crowd roared their approval. Dell looked
around, then waved someone over. Caro smiled as Richard Warner
shouldered his way through the crowd. “Did you get it?” Dell asked
his brother.

“Yeah,” he said, handing something to Dell.
“You've got to quit ordering people around,” he added with a smile.
He clapped Dell on the back. “Congratulations, man.” Then he faded
back into the crowd.

“Sorry, sweetheart. I couldn't figure out a
way to carry this in the car with me and not lose it.” Caro's heart
lodged in her throat when Dell opened the small velvet box to
reveal the most stunning diamond she'd ever seen. “You can have
this, or if you'd prefer, I'll give you the guitar trophy I just
won,” he said. “But, so you know, I come with both of them. You
aren't getting away from me now.”

And there she was, completely off balance,
and dizzy with love for this impossible man.

“Sweet Carolina,” he waved the ring under her
nose. “Which will it be?”

Caro eyed the unique trophy awarded at
Richmond. She studied the ring in its blue velvet box. “As much as
I love the trophy, Dell, you can keep it. I'll take the ring, and
you.”

Dell slid the ring on her finger, then
crushed her lips beneath his. As he kissed her senseless, she heard
the reporter say, “And there you have it folks. This wraps up our
coverage today from Richmond International Raceway in beautiful,
Richmond, Virginia, where Dell Wayne is a double winner today –
taking home the winner's trophy and a bride!”

* * * *

Roz Lee has been married to her best friend,
and high school sweetheart, for over three decades. These days she
splits her time between their home in rural New Jersey, and
Southern California, where her husband works. Even though she’s
lived on both coasts, her heart lies in between, in Texas. A Texan
by birth, she can trace her family back to the Republic of Texas.
With roots that deep, she says, “You can’t ever really leave.”

Roz and her husband have two grown daughters
they couldn’t be more proud of, and are currently raising an
eleven-year-old Labrador Retriever, Betty Boop, who isn’t aware of
her canine heritage.

When Roz isn’t writing, she’s reading, or
traipsing around the country on one adventure or another. No trip
is too small, no tourist trap too cheesy, and no road unworthy of
traveling.

Inside
Heat

Making it On
Broadway

Still Taking Chances

The Lust Boat

Show Me the Ropes

Love Me Twice

Four of Hearts

Under the Covers

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