Chapter 8

At the track, Speed pulled through the entrance gates, noting that the Maverick team pit was a hubbub of activity. There was a stirring in his groin at the site of Dallas standing by her car talking to one of her crew. "Down boy," he said, taking a deep breath as he emerged from the Mach Five. "Okay, Speed, you gotta act like nothing happened."

Dallas smiled when she saw him and started walking in his direction. "Stay calm, stay calm…" he said, repeating the mantra in his head.

"Hi, sugar," she said in her lilting drawl. "Ah've been waiting for you."

"Uh yeah, me too." He tried to act casual. "Had to eat breakfast and stuff before I came here."

She leaned forward and whispered, "You were so incredible last night. Ah swear fireworks went off in mah head."

Speed blushed. "You were pretty amazing yourself."

"Ah'm sorry Ah had to leave you alone like that, but Ah was afraid Daddy would come out and see us."

"Your father, yeah I guess it's a good thing he didn't see us. Uh, he didn't, did he?" Speed asked.

"Oh no, he had to get up early for a meeting. Ah managed to steer him clear of the yard."

"That's good." He smiled and then, looking around, took hold of her hand. "Can we go somewhere a little more private?"

She nodded. "Follow me." She let go of his hand, led him into her pit and ducked inside the garage. The mechanics and drivers were busy readying the cars for practice. "Ah think what you really meant when you asked to go someplace private, was away from your team, right?"

"Yes, I guess that is what I meant." He closed his eyes, trying to think of the exact words to say before continuing. "Dallas, about last night…I…I didn't plan on doing what I…we…did, it just kinda happened."

"Ah know, and it was wonderful." She reached up and kissed him.

He didn't want to return the kiss, but he did. He could feel himself wanting her again. It took all his will to pull away from her. "Dallas…I think we might've rushed things a bit. I mean, I've only known you a few days." He gazed at her face, lord she was beautiful. "I have this image, this way people see me. And I also…" his voice trailed off.

"And you also have a girlfriend," she finished the sentence for him. "Ah understand."

"You do?" Relief washed over him. "Then you don't mind keeping what happened a secret, something just between us?"

"Sure, on one condition," she replied.

"Okay," he said, wondering what it was.

"Ah'll keep quiet, if you'll meet me tonight at The Pines Motor Lodge." She smiled. "Out on Route 90, I'm sure you've heard of the place."

He knew all about The Pines, it was where the guys from his high school took their dates after the Senior Prom. Well, the other guys, he and Trixie had gone to the diner and then home. The most they'd done that night was some heavy kissing. "I know where it is. I'll be there, but I'm not sure what time."

"Don't worry, Darlin', I'll wait, no matter how late it is." She kissed him on his cheek. "Ah guess we'd best get out and practice, the race is only two days away."

"Uh huh. See you later," he said as he walked away wondering what he'd gotten himself into.

---

Sparky grumbled to himself as he waited for Speed to return from wherever he was. Obviously, he was here since the Mach Five sat on the tarmac.

He looked towards the Girl Team's pit. Normally, the site of so many beautiful, and talented, women in once place would have brought a smile to his face. Right now, though, he was too annoyed to feel anything but frustration.

"Speed's gonna be pissed when he finds out that we can't use the track today." He was glad that Pops was busy working on the plans for Maverick's cars. The last thing he needed today were two irate Racer men on his back.

Speed noticed Sparky's grim expression as he approached him. "Hey, what's up?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing. What were you doing in the girls' pit?" he asked.

"Um, just talking to Dallas about the race," he replied.

"Musta been some talk, you've got lipstick on your cheek." Sparky said, smiling in spite of himself.

Speed quickly wiped the mark off with the back of his hand. "Um, that was from my Mom. She kissed me goodbye when I left the house. You know how she is." His face burned from embarrassment.

"Sure Speed, whatever you say." Sparky's grin turned to serious. "I just got some bad news." He watched as his friend's expression changed to concern. "You can't practice today, nobody can." He motioned to the right side of the track. "See those men out there? They're repairing the surface. The heat wave really messed it up. It didn't really get bad until it cooled down, then it started to crack."

"Oh great, that's just great. I didn't get to practice yesterday." He shot Sparky a look as he knew the mechanic was going to point out that it was his choice not to practice, having coffee with Dallas was more important. "I won't be able to get any laps in tomorrow because they're having time trials. I guess I'll just hafta try my best, it's all I can do."

"Hey, if anybody can pull off getting pole without much practice, it's you, buddy," Sparky reassured his friend.

He crossed his fingers. "I hope so."

---

Speed stood outside the garden apartment wondering if he'd lost his mind. Could guilt do that to a guy, make him insane? "What am I doing here?" he asked himself. "She's mad at me. I doubt she's going want to even see me, let alone talk to me." He stared at the doorbell before ringing it.

The door opened a crack. "Oh, it's you."

He pushed himself inside. "I knew if I called you, you'd just hang up on me. I figured that this is the only way I'd get you to listen to me."

Trixie glared at him. "I should call the police and have you arrested for forcible entry."

"You wouldn't do that," he said smiling flirtatiously, "it would ruin my reputation with Inspector Detector."

"Try me," she said coldly as she made a move towards the phone.

"Oh, no you don't!" He leapt over to her, grabbing the phone before she could reach it.

She crossed her arms. "What do you want, Speed?"

He placed the phone back on its cradle. "I came here to apologize for acting like a jerk the past couple of days. I'm really, really sorry."

"Fine, you apologized, now go."

"No." He sat down on the couch. He patted the space next to him. "Please, I really need to talk to you."

She sighed and joined him. There was something about him, a self-assurance that she had never seen before. "Okay, Speed, talk."

"Trixie, you know how much I care for you, that I'd never deliberately do anything to hurt you. But, you also know how I get a little crazy around pretty girls…how I kinda lose any good sense that I might have. That's what happened when I saw Dallas. She's this… this incredibly beautiful woman, the kind most guys can only dream about. And here she is, my," he pointed to his chest, "neighbor. I just couldn't believe it! Then, at dinner, when she paid so much attention to me, it was like WOW! This hot chick likes a plain old guy like me. How could I not be flattered?"

"You were more than flattered, Speed, I could see it in your eyes and the way you were acting. Do you know how that made me feel?" She wiped a tear from her eyes. Damn him for making her cry.

He took hold of her hand. "Trix, don't cry, please, you know what it does to me when you cry. I'm sorry, so, so sorry."

She gazed at him, the expression on his face. She wasn't sure if all of what he said was the truth, perhaps he believed it to be. But, she did know that he was sorry for the way he treated her. She decided to give him one more chance. "Okay, Speed, I forgive you, even though it's against my better judgment."

He smiled. "Oh baby, I'm so glad. And I promise, I will make all of it up to you." He leaned in and kissed her.

She put her hand to her face and giggled. "Speed, I do believe you need a shave!"

He grinned, knowing how much she hated facial hair. "I'm thinking of maybe growing a beard."

"I know you're just kidding," she said, remembering when he was in the endurance race last year and couldn't shave for three days. He nearly went crazy from the itching from his growing beard.

"Yeah, I am," he said. "Hey, how about we go and do something? That is, if you don't mind being seen with a rather scruffy looking guy."

"I guess I can make an exception just this once," she said with a smile.

---

They drove up the coast and dined at an outdoor cafe. Afterwards, they took a walk along the shore. The conversation was pleasant, though at first, Trixie was somewhat reserved. There was still a bit of doubt as to Speed's sincerity. As the day progressed, she started to relent. She couldn't help but laugh at the silly jokes he made, the way the ocean reflected off his sapphire eyes, how his smile sent tingles through her body. She loved him, with all her heart, which is why by the time they'd gotten back to her apartment, she'd completely forgiven him.

"Do you want to come inside?" she asked him as they reached her door. "I can make some coffee."

He took a quick glance at his watch, it was nearly 7:00, he still had to go home and get ready to meet Dallas. "Hon, would you mind if I took a rain check? I'm beat from all that salt air."

"Sure," she said, feeling a bit tired herself. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"

"You bet!" he pulled her close and gave her a long, lingering kiss.

"Hmmm… That was nice," she sighed as she turned the key in the lock.

"I'll be by at eight a.m. sharp, okay?"

She nodded as she went inside.

---

Speed pulled into the Pines Motor Lodge. He was relieved to find that there were only a couple of cars in the lot, Dallas' and another, probably the building manager's. "Thank God school's out for the summer or else this place would be packed with anxious high school kids. Last thing I need is anybody seeing the Mach Five parked outside a sleazy motel." He decided to park behind the place, just in case.

He stole a look in the rear-view mirror, glad he'd gone home to shower and shave. He'd also made a stop at the drug store, realizing that he had better be more responsible if he was going to be involved in an intimate relationship.

Speed walked around to the front of the motel. He went on the door that Dallas' car was parked in front of. Before he could knock on it, it opened and he was yanked inside.

"Oh, Darlin', Ah've missed you," Dallas said, covering him with kisses.

"Mpfh!" Speed's eyes widened as he returned the kisses. He finally managed to remove himself from her grasp. "Oh wow!" he exclaimed breathlessly, "I didn't expect that!"

"There's more where that came from," she said as she backed away from him.

His eyes moved from her face to her body, she was wearing a sheer, black lace teddy. "Oh my God, Dallas…" he whispered as he felt his body react to her.

She smiled and fell onto the bed, pulling him on top of her.