Читать книгу Riding Into Love - Nicki Night - Страница 11

Chapter 2

“Hey, Ma!” Drew yelled as he strolled through the first floor of his parents’ spacious home on Long Island’s Gold Coast. “Ma, I’m home! Pop, where are you?”

“Drew, is that you?” Joyce came down the stairs as fast as her middle-aged legs could carry her. “Happy birthday, baby boy!”

“Thanks, Ma!” Drew wrapped his arms around his mother, lifted her off her feet and swung her around. He planted a big kiss on her forehead. “Where’s Pop?”

“I’m right here, boy!” Floyd carefully made his way down the winding staircase, taking one cautious step at a time.

“What happened to you, Pop?”

“Pulled another muscle at the gym trying to keep up with the young boys,” Joyce said.

When Floyd reached the landing, he gave Drew a bright smile and shook his hand and then pulled him in for a hug. “Happy birthday, son! Are you staying for a while this time?”

“A few weeks. I’m heading back to Europe in February to train for the first race of the season in March.”

“Oh, good. I can see more of my baby. I wish I knew you were coming. I would have had something here for you. I sent you a card. Did you get it?”

Drew nodded as Joyce headed toward the kitchen.

“Let’s have a nice breakfast. I just bought some sage sausages. I know how much you love them,” she said.

“Oh yes!” Floyd clapped his hands together and rubbed them greedily.

“Just one for you, Floyd,” she warned, pointing her finger at him. “You need to watch that blood pressure of yours. It’s been running high lately.” She directed her last sentence to Drew.

“How are you feeling, Dad?”

Floyd waved away their concern. “I’m just fine. I could still lay you out if I needed to.” Floyd put up his fists, bobbed and then weaved.

Drew looked at his mother with his brows raised and laughed. “Don’t worry, old man. I won’t put you to the test.”

“Stop teasing your father, boy. Let him think he’s still got it.” She winked at Floyd. “Well, actually he does,” she said, sauntering toward the counter.

Drew scrunched his nose. “That’s too much information.” They all laughed. “Ma—” Drew walked over to where his mother stood and placed his hand on her shoulder “—you always cook for me when I come. This time, I’d like to treat you and Dad to breakfast. Let’s go. I’ll drive.”

“No!” Floyd and Joyce said at the same time.

“I’ll drive,” Floyd offered.

“Yes. Let’s take your dad’s truck. My heart would be in my throat by the time we got to the restaurant if you drove. I wouldn’t be able to swallow my food.” Joyce went toward the foyer. Floyd was on her heels.

Drew scrunched his face again. “I don’t drive that fast.” Both Joyce and Floyd stopped walking to look at Drew. “What?” Drew asked incredulously.

Joyce peered at him over the rim of her glasses. “We won’t talk about that, sweetheart. Let’s go have a nice breakfast. I’m glad you’re here—in one piece!” The two of them snickered and Drew shook his head, chuckling at his parents.

He’d always had a penchant for speed, which is why he chose the life of a professional motorcycle racer over becoming an attorney.

The sanitation crew had plowed a narrow path down his parents’ winding block, but once they made it to the main streets, the roads were clear. Within ten short minutes, they had reached one of his father’s favorite restaurants for breakfast. Even at the early hour, the place was packed. Once they were served, conversation continued to flow without interruption.

“I’m thinking about buying a place in Manhattan.”

“Save your money and take the guesthouse. No one has used it in years.”

“Thanks, Ma, but I prefer the city and I need my own space.”

“Yeah?” Floyd said, taking in a forkful of pancakes. “What about your house in Brooklyn?”

“The dude I’m renting from wants to sell the place this year and even though I’m hardly there, he asked if I was interested in buying it. I’d rather buy in Manhattan. I plan to look at a few places while I’m here.”

“Will you spend more time in the States?” Joyce asked.

“It’s possible. I’m thinking about making some changes in the next few years.”

Floyd put his fork down. “You’re going to quit racing?”

“No.” Drew reared his head back. “Not yet. You know I just signed a new two-year contract with the Delgado team. I’ve been wondering what life after racing would look like for me. I want to begin preparing for that transition. There are a lot of options.”

Floyd nodded and picked up his fork. “I can understand that, and I’m glad to see that you’re thinking more about your future.”

“I was hoping you were quitting. It’s so dangerous. I worry about you so much. I can’t even watch those races on TV,” Joyce said. “Every time I hear about a crash, I cringe.”

Drew smiled and placed his hand over his mother’s hand. “There’s nothing to worry about, Ma. Don’t forget, I learned from the best.” He looked at his father and smiled.

“I’m always going to worry about you. You and your brothers with your adventurous spirits have given me fits over the years.”

“We get it from Dad!”

Floyd shrugged, unable to deny Drew’s statement. They got their proclivity for adventure from him, a biker himself.

“Have you thought about settling down? All this traipsing across the globe and high-speed races don’t leave much hope for grandkids. You don’t want to be old and lonely, do you? Both Hunter and Blake have managed to find nice girls.”

“I may get old, but I don’t think I’ll ever have to worry about being lonely.” Drew rubbed his chin. His father laughed, but his mother shot a narrow-eyed glare his way. “I’m just kidding, Ma. I’ll settle down one day—just not today.”

Drew paid the tab, but they stayed and talked for a while longer. They left the restaurant and he spent a few more hours with them before heading back to his place to change for a night out with his brothers. They were meeting at Blake’s condominium. As he dressed, he responded to various calls and texts from friends, mostly women wishing him a happy birthday. A few even offered to help him celebrate. One sent him a message with a picture of her lying across the bed with the words Happy Birthday written across her bare breasts. That gave Drew a laugh as he reminisced about the week he’d spent with her in Valencia, Spain, during the fall. The daughter of a Spanish dignitary, Lucia loved adventure as much as he did. She always made time to see him when his work brought him to her homeland, but his casual rendezvous with her was over.

Donned in all black with a fresh haircut and a sparkling diamond in his ear, Drew headed for Blake’s place. During the ride, he actually thought about calling Lucia. It wouldn’t take much for her to hop a plane and meet him for a birthday rendezvous. However, he had already planned to take care of a lot of business during his stay in New York and she would certainly be a huge distraction. He silently applauded himself for always being one to know his priorities. Occupied with all the thinking he’d done about his women and his plans, Drew made it to Blake’s in no time. One thing he did decide was that it was definitely time for some changes.

The snow crunched under Drew’s tires as he drove into an available space. He pulled his coat together at the collar, hopped out the car and ran to Blake’s door. Drew heard music and several voices and assumed his cousins were partying with them. Eager to get the night started, he rang the bell several times to pierce the chatter.

Blake swung the door open and, before Drew could say a word, the crowd behind Blake yelled, “Surprise!”

“Oh!” Drew’s hand covered his gaping mouth as he reared back. He bent over laughing. Hunter hugged Drew and then Blake pulled him in for a hug. Drew made his way through the crowd, greeting his guests. “Wait!” Everyone stopped and set their focus on Drew. “Does this mean we’re not going out?”

Blake swatted him on the head. “The party is here, fool.”

Drew sauntered over to the bar and grabbed a bottle of cognac and held it in the air. “Then let’s get this party started!”

The guests cheered. Hunter cranked up the music and Drew started dancing right where he stood. Cadence went up to Drew, danced with him for a moment and then hugged him, wishing him a happy birthday before heading back to dance with Blake. Still holding his bottle, Drew continued through the mass of folks, hugging, chatting and giving high fives.

Someone pulled his arm. Drew turned around to his ex Stacey, who attended prep school with the brothers before becoming a Wall Street executive and moving to the same complex as Blake.

“Stacey?” Drew said unbelievingly.

“Yep! I haven’t seen you in years. You’re looking good.” She nodded her approval.

“Thanks.” She smiled wide as Drew looked her over from head to toe, pleased with how well her curves filled her little black dress. He lifted her arm and twirled her around. “You’re looking pretty damn fine yourself, lady. What’s up with you these days?”

“I’m well. I’ve watched some of your races.”

Drew lifted his brows. “Really? That’s cool.”

They danced for a few songs as more guests arrived. When Hunter opened the door and Alana appeared in the doorway, Drew’s focus shifted instantly. Alana arrived alone. He watched as she walked in and embraced Blake, Hunter and Chey before walking off with Cadence. He admired her silky-straight hair as it gracefully framed her face and flowed below her shoulders. He watched her hips sway under her electric-blue dress and allowed his eyes to roam over her legs concealed in black stockings to the sexy pair of high-heeled riding boots. He imagined how sweet she must have smelled, remembering what type of fragrances she preferred. Drew continued to watch as she and Cadence disappeared behind the wall separating the kitchen from the living room and wondered if she had noticed him. Suddenly, he wasn’t so interested in Stacey’s whereabouts in recent years. He didn’t want to be rude, so he continued dancing and chatting with Stacey, but Alana had stolen his focus.