Slide Job (Cameron Motorsports) (19 page)

“I love you, Morgan.”

Chapter 20

The last show was over. Another hit for Hanover Entertainment. Tyler felt nothing but relief as he stood quietly by the car, allowing Morgan to say goodbye to her father. Alone.

Sam Hanover was furious Morgan had won. Tyler smiled thinking of it.
The old coot.
He’d threatened to void Tyler’s contract. So what? Tyler had tried to tell him from the beginning, the fan vote at the end decided everything.

Who could’ve guessed Jim’s article would strike such a chord with the fans? Instead of embarrassing Morgan and making her look incompetent, it gave everyone an underdog to root for. And to vote for.

Blake had done a great job of filming Morgan onstage weeping. Annie handing Morgan her shoe had sealed it. More votes poured in during the last fifteen minutes of the show than in all his other series combined.

Watching Morgan stand and brush dirt from the knees of her jeans, he walked toward her. His woman
.
It felt good to think it. It felt right.

He kept a team of attorneys on retainer for items like Sam Hanover and Jim O’Bannon. Jim was threatening to sue him, Hanover, and anyone else he could think of. Now his lawyers could damn well earn their keep.

Tyler smiled tenderly at Morgan. What a woman. Like his daddy said. Tough as nails, soft as butter-cream frosting. One hell of a combination. It made his heart sing. He licked his lips thinking about it.

His time belonged to him now, to do with as he wished. What he wished would be to wake up every day and see this lovely woman’s face just like it was now. Smiling up at him, eyes full of love.

Between Morgan and Annie, he had no doubt his life would be full of joy.

*

For the second time in as many weeks, Morgan knelt in the dirt. Dappled sunlight filtered through summer green leaves overhead. It cast a rippling pattern on the mound of wilted flowers. She grabbed a handful of dirt and worked it through her fingers as she spoke softly.

“I won, Daddy. I won.” Her eyes filled, but the tears didn’t fall. “I wish you could have been there. I looked like a fool. I sat on the stage and cried like a baby. On national television!” A small laugh escaped her and she sat back on her heels. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d made a fool of herself, just maybe the biggest.

“The crowd went crazy. That jerk, O’Bannon. So sure he’d won. Well, truth be known, I’d thought he’d won too. They announced me as the winner and he acted like he lost his mind. I’m standing there with my mouth hanging open, gaping like a fish. He starts screaming at me about writing another slimy article and how he was going to sue everyone. It was wild. He had a real shiner, too.” She didn’t have any idea how he’d come by that. She distinctly remembered hitting him in the chin.

Morgan marveled at the serenity she felt, here amid the headstones. She knew her father’s stone would be placed here. For now only a mass of flowers marked his spot, next to Lily’s. Acceptance filled her with a sense of tranquility. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t change the past.

Letting go was so tough. She’d finally come to understand what her father had been trying to tell her for so many years. Moving forward didn’t have to mean forgetting. But she had to let go of the pain or it would consume her. It wasn’t meant to keep. That’s what the memories were for. Just like Lily’s shoe, it was gone. Maybe it was time.

She sat forward silently, her hands resting on her thighs, contemplating life’s ever-changing tapestry.

“I’m glad you’re not suffering anymore. Mom told me you felt great up until the end. Going in your sleep.” She shrugged her shoulders, looking up at the red-winged hawk soaring in the cerulean sky. “You’ll watch over my Lily, won’t you, Daddy?”

It felt good, somehow, having this last moment with him. “You were right, you know. I have to move forward. For the better.” Morgan picked at the dried leaves on the mass of flowers. “I’ll miss that, most. Your being right so much of the time. You never stopped believing in me. Not for a moment. Thank you, Daddy.”

A single tear made its way slowly down her cheek to fall unnoticed in the dirt.

“I wish you could have met Tyler. Mom says he’s a good man, like you. And he has the sweetest little girl. Named Annie.” Emerald leaves whispered in the breeze ruffling her hair, soft as a father’s touch.

She looked toward the parking lot, and saw Tyler moving in her direction. The hawk’s call drew her gaze upward. She watched it circle, swoop down, then skyward, and fly off into the distance. It seemed appropriate. A last goodbye, a new beginning. Her father laid to rest here, yet his soul flew high and free, and his love would live forever in her heart.

Standing, she brushed the dirt from her knees, and reached out to the man who made the hope in her heart flare to life. She knew what she had to do. His hand felt warm holding hers. Morgan marveled at the feeling as they walked back to the car. Thinking back to their last night in North Carolina, she shook her head.

When the fifteen minutes were up, Butch Cameron had announced to everyone that she’d won. It had totally floored her.

Tyler had climbed on the stage and swung her around in circles, kissing her on television! The gossip rags were in full swing, having a field day. Feeling like a fool for blaming him about the article, she’d apologized right away. He’d just laughed it off, saying it didn’t matter.

Butch had given them the use of his private jet. Everyone flew back home for Daddy’s funeral. He’d even had some of his crewmen drive the hauler back so Jack and Phil could fly home too.

Tyler stayed with her the whole time, doing everything he could to help and smooth things out. Her mother adored him.

She glanced sideways at him when he lightly brushed the tear from her cheek. Knowing he loved her still made her dizzy.

“Are you sure you forgive me for thinking you wrote that article?”

The sound of his laughter warmed her heart. “Of course I forgive you. I told you that.” Tyler squeezed her hand, and then brought it to his lips for a kiss. “It was an honest mistake.”

Her heart full, she stopped to hug him. “Are you sure you won’t mind living in North Carolina?”

Acting exasperated, he picked her up and swung her around, her legs locked on his waist. “If I minded, I wouldn’t have suggested it. It’s an hour and a half flight to Nashville. With the time change, it’s a half hour tops. No big deal.”

Her elbows resting on his shoulders, Morgan placed a hand on either side of his face, looking deeply into his eyes. “If we’re going to do this, I guess I better make an honest man out of you. Will you marry me?”

Tyler kissed her thoroughly, and then answered without hesitation.

“As you wish.”

Morgan gazed over his shoulder at the mound of flowers, and smiled.

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to my critique partners Autumn, Kate, and Morgan, I’d be lost without your expertise, friendship and support. To the rest of you: Mandi, Kimberly, Kate, KJ, Mary, Cindy, Deb, Carol and Darcy. Each of you touched this story in your own way and helped to make
it shine. You have my gratitude.

About The Author

An avid reader since childhood, Sutton was captured early by the written word. As a teenager she filled notebook upon notebook with angst-ridden poetry or dramatic short stories, and spent many hours making up tales on long walks home from school. Many years passed, and then came the day she realized she wanted to share her stories with the world.

She currently enjoys the life of a mostly full time writer. When not writing, Sutton listens to all kinds of music, gardens, and travels.

A native Coloradan, Sutton now calls the bluegrass state of Kentucky home. One she happily shares with the love of her life, a dog and two cats.

Would she consider herself a woman living her dreams with passion? Absolutely!

Sutton loves to hear from readers. You can find her around the web at:

Website:
http://www.suttonfox.com

Blog:
http://suttonfox.blogspot.com/

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/suttonfox

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/suttonfoxauthor

Other Books by Sutton Fox

Beyond the Winner’s Circle –
Cameron Motorsports Book Two

Two desperate souls entwined by murder, set free by passion.

After inheriting billions, auto-racing heiress, Julia Cameron, is under investigation by the police for the deaths of her adoptive parents. Growing up on the streets has given Julia a deep distrust of the law, now she’s determined to take justice into her own hands and find the real killer.
Scarred from a nasty divorce, ex-cop, Roane Jameson, is through with lying, scheming women. Assigned as Julia’s bodyguard, he believes she is just one more—this time trying to get away with murder. But the poor little rich girl turns out to be a smart, savvy woman who’ll do whatever it takes to protect those she loves, even allow a former cop

into her life.
It isn’t long before Roane realizes Julia is innocent, there’s a murderer on the loose, and he’s coming after her. Now the race is on, and Roane and Julia must work together to find a killer. A happy ending doesn’t seem to be on track for these two, will they find love Beyond the Winner’s Circle?

Christmas Knight
– A holiday novella

Glory Dawson needs to catch a break. Thanks to the economic downturn, she’s lost her job, her home, and her child. Just when things can’t seem to get worse, they get weird. A crazy grandmother, muggers, heirlooms, and armor. Armor? Just what a girl needs to save the day.

Christian Knight has spent his life trying to make sense of his family’s patriarchal lore. In the process, he’s built a dynasty. It’s given him everything. And nothing. Despite his sibling’s best efforts, he still spends every Christmas, and most of his life, alone.

In the search for true love, do two kindred souls look to the future, or the past?

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2013 by Sutton Fox.

Ebooks are not transferable. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.

Hearts Desire Press

http://www.heartsdesirepress.com

Edited by Piper Denna

Cover design by Twyla Hart

Interior by

THE KILLION GROUP INC.

www.thekilliongroupinc.com

Ebook ISBN 978-0-9897236-0-2

Manufactured in the United States of America

First Hearts Desire Press electronic edition: August 2013