This Time, Forever (5 page)

“You look nice,” he said.

“Thank you,” she said, looking around for Sharon, who obviously hadn't arrived yet. “You look nice, too,” she added.

He wore an off-white button-down shirt that turned his skin a honey brown. He had smile wrinkles near the corners of his eyes, she noticed, and a tiny scar on his forehead. Was it from the accident?

“Should we go on in?” she asked, because whenever she thought of what he'd been through, her stomach twisted. No matter how much she'd tried to loathe him over the years, she'd never quite managed to pull it off. And so when she'd heard about the wreck, she'd been overcome by emotion. She wouldn't wish something like that on her worst enemy.

“I don't see why not,” Linc said. “We can ask the maître d' to show her to our table.”

Perhaps they should wait, Marley found herself thinking, but Linc was already off arranging matters. She wouldn't mind sitting down. She hated standing around making small talk. At least if they were seated, she could pretend to be interested in her menu.

“Off we go,” Linc said when he returned a few moments later.

What other scars did he live with? she wondered. Besides the limp and his inability to sit in a passenger seat? But then she caught a glimpse of the room they were entering and she almost drew up short.

“Wow,” Marley said as they were shown to their table. A number of heads turned as they crossed along the lush carpet, but Marley wasn't certain if that was because of Linc's good looks, or because he was instantly recognizable to NASCAR fans.

“This looks great,” Linc said, taking a seat opposite her.

“It does,” Marley echoed, instantly using the huge menu to shield her face. But as it turned out, they didn't have long to wait.

“Don't you just love this place?” Sharon announced as she approached.

Marley heard Linc say, “It's beautiful, Sharon. And the food smells scrumptious.”

“Well, you better order champagne to go with your meal because I have some terrific news.”

And Marley's heart stopped. She set her menu down.

“Linc,” Sharon said after she took her seat and pulled closer to Linc. “I just got off the phone with our
chairman of the board. It's unanimous. Shelter Home Improvement has agreed to a two-year sponsorship.”

Marley felt her breath catch.

But she wasn't prepared for the emotion she saw in Linc's eyes. There was such a profound look of gratitude—and relief—that Marley felt tears come to her eyes.

“Congratulations,” Sharon said, having obviously spotted the same thing because she leaned in and squeezed his upper arm. Her nails were painted bright red, Marley suddenly noticed.

“Thank you,” Linc said.

When the champagne came, they lifted their glasses, clinking them and making the crystal ring.

“To a long and successful business venture,” Marley said.

“I'll drink to that,” Linc said.

Perhaps it was relief. Perhaps it was how horribly she struggled with keeping her emotions in check, but for whatever reason, she found herself drinking a bit more than usual. She was pretty fuzzy-headed by the time they finished dinner. That was unusual for her because she never, ever drank during business dinners. It was unprofessional.

“I think I should probably have some water,” Marley said when Sharon tried to pour her another glass.

“Don't be silly,” she said. “Let's drink this down,” but she had eyes only for Linc.

“Actually, I think I'm going to retire for the evening. We have to head back to town early tomorrow morning and so I think I should get some shut-eye,” Linc said.

They did not have to leave early, but Marley wasn't about to argue the point. Obviously, Linc really had
come to the realization that Sharon was doing her best to attract his interest and was trying to put a stop to things.

“I should head upstairs, too,” Marley said.

There was nothing Sharon could say to that, at least not without sounding rude, and so Marley found herself standing, her upper body wobbling a bit. Linc came around and steadied her with his hand.

“Easy there,” Linc said. “Your brother will have my hide if I let something happen to you.”

Sharon's eyes widened at the familiarity of the gesture, so much so that Marley found herself saying, “Linc's like a big brother to me,” as they walked out. “I've known him since I was a teenager.”

“Really?” Sharon asked, seeming a bit appeased by the explanation.

“In fact, I used to have the biggest crush on him.” She opened her arms wide, nearly clocking Linc in the nose. “Ooo. Sorry,” she said.

They were in the main lobby now. Linc had to steady her again when they came to a stop.

“I'll just bet you did,” Sharon said, eyeing the two of them together.

“But he rejected me and I got mad.” It was one of those moments when you know you've had too much to drink, but you can't help saying the first thing that pops into your mind. “So I set his race car on fire.”

“You did what?” Sharon cried.

Marley nodded, swaying a bit. She knew she would hear about this later, but hoped Sharon wouldn't think any less of Double S Racing when the head of sponsor relations was clearly tipsy.

Oh, well.

“Yup,” she said. “Threw a shop rag inside and lit it on fire.”

“You're kidding,” Sharon said, sounding more and more horrified.

“I didn't mean to catch the whole
thing
on fire,” she said. “I just wanted to scorch Linc's custom race seat.”

“But one of the techs had just used degreaser to clean off the interior,” Linc provided.

“Oh, no,” Sharon said.

“It, too, caught on fire,” Marley admitted.

“Before we knew it, the whole car went up in flames,” Linc said. “
Not
one of my best moments,” Marley said.

“I bet not,” Sharon said, appearing genuinely amused.

“She was a major pain in my rear when she was younger.”

Was it the champagne she had ingested, or was that a look of tenderness in Linc's eyes. No way. She was definitely imagining it.

“Anyway,” Linc said. “I always try to keep an eye out for her.”

“How sweet,” Sharon said, but it was obvious she didn't really think that. She looked at Marley as more of an imposition, Marley could tell.

“He is, isn't he?” Marley said, painting a look of adoration on her face.

“I guess we'll find out,” Sharon said, suddenly all business. “Thank you for joining me for dinner,” she said to Marley. “Linc, we look forward to working with you.”

“Same here,” Linc said.

And then they were alone.

“Come on,” Linc said. “Let's get you to your room.”

But when he turned away, Marley was struck by the notion that she didn't want this night to end and, even more shockingly, that yet again her crush had come back—full force, and that she was just tipsy enough to act on it.

“Oh, dear,” she heard herself mutter.

L
INC KNEW
she was tipsy. “What?” he asked. “Are you going to be sick?”

She shook her head, but on her face was a look of horror akin to someone who'd just seen an apparition. “I'm fine,” she said softly.

“Uh-huh,” he said, hooking his arm through hers so he could lead her past the registration desk.

“Don't,” she said quickly.

He glanced down at her in surprise, and now she was frowning up at him. “I can walk just fine.”

Aha. She was the type of person that believed there was nothing wrong with them when, in fact, there was. “Just the same,” he said, “I'm going to walk you to your room.”

“No,” she said with a sharp shake of her head. “I do not need your assistance.” When she noticed him staring down skeptically, she added, “But I thank you kindly for your offer.”

Linc nearly smiled. She sounded just like Scarlett O'Hara. And for a moment he found himself wondering what she'd look like with soft curls atop her head, maybe even a low-cut ball gown—

And where the hell had
that
thought come from?

“Where's your key?” he asked her.

She shook her head—as if arguing with herself over
something—then fished around in her purse and handed the thing over without a word.

“I'm in the Flower Room,” Marley said.

“I know,” Linc said. He'd heard the receptionist tell her that earlier.

“Come on,” he said, lightly touching her arms.

He led her toward a stairwell as wide as a car; plum-colored carpet padded their steps. He had to hold on to the banister at the same time he gripped her arm. She didn't pull away this time, seeming to recognize that she needed some guidance. While she wasn't drunk, she was definitely tipsy. Her hair had started to come loose. As if she'd scratched at it absently when he hadn't been looking. The light brown strands swooped around her face gently, softening it. She had sweeping brows, the kind usually found on models or actresses. They framed her eyes in a way that highlighted their unique color.

Now, now, Linc…keep your thoughts out of the gutter.

Because he couldn't help but admit that after today, he saw her in whole new light. She'd handled herself so professionally throughout the hours, and yet beneath the cool exterior he'd caught a glimpse of the headstrong youth she'd been years ago. When he looked back at that time, he had to admit he'd been amused by the whole situation. And, yes, secretly flattered. She was just a kid, but
boy
, had she ever had the hots for him.

Did she still?

Stop staring at her.

He knew he should heed the voice. She was years younger than him. Too young. Plus, he doubted his new boss would welcome Linc getting involved with his kid sister. Just what he needed. To get off on the wrong
foot with Gil before his professional relationship with him even started. But he couldn't deny that earlier, as they'd stood in the lobby below, there'd been a moment when he'd found himself wondering what it'd be like to touch her. Too bad he felt honor-bound to stay away from her.

“Here we go,” he said, turning at the top of the stairs.

You will
not
touch her.

He knew he wouldn't. Not that she appeared to have anything other than getting to her room on her mind.

“Which one is yours?” she asked.

“I'm at the end of the hall. You're right next door.”

“Oh,” she said.

He opened the door for her, but she didn't move once the green light beeped.

“What is it?” he asked.

She met his gaze then and Linc knew he was doomed.

“Don't go,” she said softly.

“Marley—”

“I saw the look in your eyes earlier,” she interjected.

“The one you tried so hard to conceal. You were thinking about what it'd be like to go to bed with me.”

How the hell had she figured
that
out?

“You forget I've known you for years,” she said, seeming to read his mind…again. “And I've wondered the same thing, too, oh so many times.”

He swallowed.

She tipped her chin up. “I want to find out.”

“No,” he said. “It's a bad idea. Your brother—”

“Won't care,” she said. “Especially if we keep this to ourselves.”

But what if he
did
find out? What if Gil learned he'd seduced his little sister. He knew he was protective of her. Everyone in the garage knew that. Linc had a feeling Gil wouldn't be happy with the two of them hooking up. Not now. Not with so much on the line. Hell, he had a career to relaunch.

“I can't,” he said.

She pressed a hand against his chest. He swallowed again.

But what if
she
seduced
him?
That wouldn't be his fault now, would it?

“Yes, you can,” she said, her hand sliding down his belly, but she didn't go any further than his waistline. Instead she clasped his hand, holding on to it as she took her room key away from him, then turned and opened her door.

“Come on,” she said softly.

 

M
ARLEY HEARD
the door close behind them.

This couldn't be happening, she found herself thinking.

After so many teenage fantasies, she wasn't really here, now, about to make love to him.

He pulled her up against him, her back crushed against his chest.

She sighed. She was.

He turned her quickly. Their lips connected and Marley's mouth opened before she could stop herself.

Chocolate. He tasted like dessert. A slice of mousse. And then he was pressing his body up against hers, Marley's head tipping sideways as his mouth slid to the left and trailed kisses down her jaw…

She shivered.

And her ear…

She shivered again.

His teeth found her neck. “Linc,” she whispered.

He bit her. Not hard, but enough that she moaned, her hands finding his shirt, her fingers running over the taut ridges of his chest that she could feel through the fabric that covered him. She wanted him to take the thing off, wanted to run her mouth over his flesh.

“Marley,” he said, his hands moving to her shoulders. She thought he might push her away as he drew back for a moment. “Are you on birth control?” he asked.

Every muscle in his body relaxed, then just as quickly tensed again. “Yes,” she said.

“Good,” he said, pushing her back toward the bed. Marley knew—she just knew—where this would end.

And she didn't care.

Lord help her, she just didn't care.

H
E'D SLEPT
with her.

Linc resisted the urge to roll to the edge of the bed, cover his head and groan.

Morning had dawned.

Bright, nearly neon light blasted in from the windows to his left. They hadn't even bothered to close the blinds last night, that's how all-consuming their lovemaking had been.

What had he done?

His new boss would kill him if he found out he'd bedded his little sister. And with his first race only days away, the timing couldn't have been worse. What? Was he trying to sabotage his newfound career?

“Mmm,” he heard Marley murmur. Warm hands slipped beneath his arms, the front of Marley's body pressed up against his back.

He had to stop this.

If one of them didn't do something quick, trouble lay ahead.

He heard the rustling of the sheets and then the words, “Oh my gosh,” all but a moan.

When he rolled onto his back and looked up at her, she was clutching her loose hair. “What have we done?” she groaned. She caught him staring at her and immediately jerked the covers up around her midsection.

“Marley—”

“We have to go,” she said, her eyes darting around the room. “We're due back in the shop by noon. What time is it?” She turned toward the nightstand. “Nine o'clock! We were supposed to be out of here by eight!”

“Marley, calm down,” he tried again.

She'd slipped from bed before he could stop her. “Get dressed.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” he said. “Relax a little, would you? No one knows we're here.”

“No one knows,” she said. “No one knows,” she repeated, jerking on her clothes.
“I know,”
she said.

“Yeah, but nobody else has to know.”

“This is bad,” he heard her murmur. “This is really bad. If Gil finds out…”

It didn't matter that he'd been thinking much the same thing not less than two minutes ago. Suddenly he felt on the defensive. “If Gil finds out, we'll deal with it.”

“No,” she said, her hands frozen on her skirt. “He can't find out.”

“Why not?” Linc asked, sitting up on his elbows.

“Because he'll fire you.”

“No, he won't.”

“Then he'll fire me.”

“Give me a break—”

“I promised him I'd stay away from you.”

“You did
what?
”

She paused for a moment. “After everything that had happened between us, do you blame him for demanding I stay away from you?”

Well, when she put it that way…

“He said he needs you to focus on driving, not on me.”

And he was right, Linc admitted.

“Of course, back then he was afraid I'd start stalking you again. He never anticipated… Never thought…” He saw her swallow. “I've got to go. My brother will be watching the clock, waiting for me to get back.”

And Linc couldn't believe it. She was dumping him. Sure, she hadn't said the words, but he wasn't stupid. He knew where this conversation was headed.

“I want to have breakfast before we leave,” he said.

“We'll get something on the way.”

“I want a
good
breakfast.”

“Good Lord,” she said. “You can't be serious.”

“I'm starving.” He moved toward her. “Marley,” he said again. “Calm down. Your brother's not going to think anything of us getting back to North Carolina late. He knows we bagged Shelter Home Improvement. We'll tell him we stayed up late to celebrate.”

“He doesn't know,” she said.

“You didn't call him?” Linc asked.

“When would I have done that? Before or
after
the second glass of champagne?”

She'd left her shirt partly undone and she looked sexy as hell standing there. Linc was half tempted to kiss her. Maybe that would stem the flow of words, but he sensed that would be a mistake.

“I'll call him and tell him.”

“You will not,” Marley said. “He can't know we're together.”

“I'm not going to tell him that,” Linc all but cried, running a hand through his hair. Damn it. He could still taste her, wanted to kiss her all over again.

“Nobody can know about this,” she said. “And it can
never
happen again.”

There they were—the words he'd been expecting. “So that's it? Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am? You're just going to use me and lose me?”

“That's exactly what I'm going to do…what I've done,” she swiftly corrected, stuffing her belongings into her suitcase.

He couldn't believe it. Sure, he'd been expecting her to say that, but it still stung. Usually
he
was the one who broke up with a woman. “And you expect me to just walk away?”

“Of course,” she said, picking up her purse and depositing it next to her briefcase on the credenza. “Isn't that what you normally do?”

“Well…” It was. He couldn't deny it. He'd never had a serious relationship in his life. He'd been too busy driving race cars. And then the accident had happened. To be honest, there'd been many times while he'd been recovering when he'd asked himself why he hadn't found the time to settle down.

“Look,” he said, realizing she had turned to stare at him. He was bare-chested, out of sorts and unable to think clearly for some reason. “Last night was incredible.” And it had been. “Really, Marley, you can't deny that.”

He saw her face soften, saw the look of pain that entered her eyes. “I know,” she said. “It was for me, too. But we can't do this again, Linc, we really can't. You have a new car to drive. I have a job to do. A brother I answer to. I can't tell you how sorry I am to have to tell you this, but we've got to be realistic.”

He moved in closer. “No, we don't.”

She lifted her chin, those sweeping eyebrows of hers lowering in determination. “I'm not going to risk my job, your job and
my
relationship with my brother—not for someone who's known for their inability to commit to a woman.”

“Hey,” he said. “That's not fair. Maybe I've never met the right woman.”

Her eyes clouded. She shook her head. “It's over, Linc. I'll meet you downstairs.” She unfurled the handle of her suitcase and slipped out the door.

Over
, he repeated in his head. “No, it's not,” he muttered. Not if he had anything to say about it.

 

T
HE DRIVE
back home was excruciating. Marley knew Linc was upset, and she didn't blame him. It had to have chaffed when she'd broken up with him.

Broken up with him before it'd even began.

That was the saddest thing of all. For years she'd dreamed about being with Linc. Now that she'd finally managed to snag his attention, she couldn't see past her professional and family obligations to have a relationship with him.

Linc drove like a maniac the whole way back. The entire time he tried to persuade her to his way of thinking. She held firm. She told herself that he would thank her one day. That she wasn't cut out to be the girlfriend of a NASCAR driver. Especially one whose focus should be on relaunching his career. That's where her brother would want Linc's focus to be, too. After everything Gil had done for her in the past, she owed it to her brother to help his newest driver accomplish that goal.

“Thanks for driving,” she told him as they pulled into Double S Racing's parking lot.

“No problem,” he said, his jaw tense.

“I'll see you at the track this weekend?”

“I guess so.”

He was furious. She told herself he'd get over it. She knew he had appointments this afternoon with his car chief and her brother. They'd called Gil on their way back to North Carolina. Gil had been overjoyed to learn she'd signed Shelter Home Improvement. He hadn't sounded the least bit suspicious, either, about their late departure. That had been a relief.

“See ya around, Martian Girl,” Linc said, opening the driver's side door. Marley didn't immediately follow. But as she sat there she could admit to herself that she was devastated it had ended this way.

It's your own darn fault.

She'd wanted to play with fire and, look, she'd been burned. But she'd get over it quickly. They'd spent one night together. One flippin' night. Sure, it'd been amazing. She closed her eyes, allowed herself a moment to recall the way his mouth had felt against her own, how just the touch of his hands could make her sigh…how the look in his eyes could melt her heart.

“Damn it,” she muttered, surprised to note tears in her eyes. “Get a grip, Marley.”

She was doing the right thing. It might not seem like it now, but one day they would both look back and be grateful for her sensible actions.

She just wished she really believed that.

 

M
ARLEY SPENT
the rest of the week doing everything she could to avoid Linc. It wasn't all that hard. Finalizing the deal between Double S Racing and Shelter Home Improvement took every moment of her time. Contracts
needed to be drawn, but because there was a race this weekend—and Sharon wanted her company's name on the hood of Linc's car—they'd had to expedite matters. That meant trips to their corporate attorney's office, late hours at the office as she reviewed his recommended legal clauses, more trips to the attorney's office—and faxing. Lots and lots of faxing. It was almost a surprise to learn that it was Friday and Sharon expected to be at the track tomorrow. Apparently, she had no idea how difficult it was to secure Hot Passes.

“Okay,” Emma-Lee said, bursting into her office late Friday afternoon. “I have you on a late-night flight to Kansas City. You'll leave at eight p.m.”

Great, Marley thought.

“Sorry, but that was the best I could do on such short notice. Ms. Taylor will be taking the corporate jet and so she'll be there first thing Saturday morning and she wanted
you
there to greet her. Rhonda in the credential office has promised me she'd have everything covered for all the Shelter Home Improvement VIPs, but if you need anything—”

Emma-Lee didn't need to finish. The woman was always the epitome of efficiency.

“Thanks, Emma-Lee,” Marley said.

“You're welcome, but I'm leaving for the day. Whew. I'm beat.”

So was Marley. She didn't know how she'd make it to the airport on time what with everything she still had to do, but that was the nature of the NASCAR beast. It was a crazy lifestyle when one followed the circuit, one she didn't really want for herself. She preferred to stay at home. To enjoy her weekends relaxing. She rarely flew to the track once the sponsors were on board, but things
had happened so quickly with Shelter Home Improvement that she really had no choice. Sharon needed to meet their public relations manager for Linc, the associate sponsors, Linc's team…the list went on, and Gil had asked her to make the introductions.

And so she forced herself aboard the commercial flight. Marley was never more relieved than when she fell into her hotel room bed near midnight.

She dreamed of Linc.

They were back at The Plantation and he was kissing her, only something kept buzzing near her ear and the sound was an annoyance….

She woke up with a start.

The alarm she had set was going off. That was the buzzing noise she heard. But she still had goose bumps from her dream, could still perfectly recall the way it'd felt to have Linc's lips traipsing up her belly and toward—

She groaned, clutched her head, then forced herself out of bed.

What she needed was a cold shower.