Hitting the Brakes by Ken Casper

Author:Ken Casper
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Category, Widowers, Man-Woman Relationships, Racing, Women Public Relations Personnel, Contemporary, General, Romance, Automobiles, NASCAR (Association), Businessmen, Single Fathers, Automobile Racing, Fiction, Sports, Love Stories
ISBN: 9780373217915
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2008-06-09T16:00:00+00:00

“DAD, I KNOW WHAT I want to be when I grow up,” Billy announced.

Jim looked over at Anita and winked. “An accountant, of course, just like your old man.” He studied his son’s somber face and laughed. “Not.”

Billy squirmed, not wanting to alienate his father by saying no, but even less enthusiastic about saying yes.

“So what do you really want to be?” Jim asked casually. “A race car driver?”

The boy’s face lit up. “How did you know?”

Jim had to smile. Didn’t every kid want to be a fireman or a policeman or a race car driver at some point? “Call it a lucky guess.”

“So can I?”

“I think you can become just about anything you want to be, son. You’re a little young, though, to get behind the wheel of a NASCAR stock car. You may have to start out in something a little smaller.”

“Well, sure.” The boy was leery, as if agreeing to this was some kind of trick.

“There’s a go-kart track not far from here,” Anita observed. “That might be a good place to begin.”

Billy stared at her with deep gratitude for her support. “Can I, Dad? Can we go there now? Please?” He jumped up and down, then raced to the kitchen. “Let’s go.” Seconds later they heard the door to the garage slam.

“A fine mess you’ve gotten me into this time, Anita,” Jim mimicked, grinning widely.

“You know about the Charlotte Juniors, don’t you?”

The Charlotte Junior Driving Club had been organized more than twenty years ago to teach kids from six to sixteen how to drive sport vehicles in a controlled and safe environment.

Jim nodded. “I was wondering how long it would take him. I already checked. I can get him in the new group of ten-to-twelve year olds next week.”

Anita smiled happily and patted his cheek. “You’re a sly one. Didn’t say a word.”

“I figured I’d better be prepared. Let’s see how well he does with the go-karts tonight before we say anything. He might drive like a granny.”

She laughed. “Yeah, right.”

Billy didn’t. He was too aggressive the first time, too cautious the second, then he seemed to settle into concentration mode. He was fearless through it all, but thanks to the safety measures they had in place, Jim felt relatively unafraid. Squeezing Anita’s hand as they watched Billy zoom around the track seemed perfectly natural, comfortable. He wanted to ask her if she felt the same, but he was afraid he would break the spell.

“It’s a good thing we’ve already had supper,” Anita observed. “I’m not sure how he would be able to eat with that grin plastered permanently on his face.”

“He’s a boy,” Jim replied. “He’ll eat.”

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