Chapter 5

The sky had just started to lighten when they'd left the overlook. Eliot had looked sideways at Parker as he'd started down the hill road, and asked if she didn't want to stay and see the sunrise. Parker had shrugged and said that she liked the night best. Eliot hadn't said anything, but he'd silently agreed. He liked the darkness better, too.

When they'd gotten back to the hotel, Parker had disappeared and Eliot had headed for the gym after a quick change of clothes. On the one hand, he was relaxed and calm after stargazing with Parker. On the other hand, he was wound as tight as a spring. His mind and body couldn't seem to make up their mind and he knew the only thing that would center him and get him through the upcoming day was the burn of muscles and the drip of sweat.

It was going on 7am by the time he stepped back into his hotel room, and as he headed for the shower his cell rang.

Eliot picked it up and saw Nate's name.

"Eliot," Nate's voice said. "You and Parker got the cameras placed?"

"Yeah," Eliot said, voice dropping as his earlier irritation came back to him. "What the hell, Nate? You were going to send Parker out alone?"

"I knew she'd go get you," the older man said calmly. "Listen, breakfast meeting in fifteen minutes, in Sophie's suite. I'll order you a steak."

Eliot didn't bother to answer, after all, Nate had already hung up. He headed for the shower. Fifteen minutes, he'd get a quick shower and shave before breakfast. And if Parker's blonde head popped into his mind while he was soaping off, well, it was work related. Purely work related.

Eliot slipped his mirrored shades on before he stepped out of the car after Parker. Today, they were qualifying for the race, and hoping to draw the attention of their mechanical saboteur. Both he and Parker had driving suits, matching blue and white with Sophie's fake tech business printed on the chest. He scanned the scene. Lots of cars, lots of people milling around.

Sure, it was amateurs, but these weren't demolition derby drivers. The guys driving in these races usually had to pay their own way, support their own cars. They took their stuff pretty seriously, and only some of them had sponsors. No one did it for the money. They did it for the sheer thrill of driving.

There were a number of cars, all looking ready to go. Eliot eyed a particularly nice looking Audi Quattro as he and Parker strolled by, and wondered what kind of a turbo they'd fitted it with.

Parker growled softly next to him, and Eliot looked at her with surprise. "Did you just growl?" he asked, eyebrow lifting.

"Big dumbass," she muttered, and although she had her own shades on, he could tell she was glaring by the way those pretty blonde eyebrows were scrunched together.

"Dumbass, huh," he said softly, looking in the direction of her gaze. Sure enough, there was Dumbass, otherwise known as Gage Darrien. Six foot three, two hundred fifty pounds, real estate mogul from Fresno, California. Married with two children, all of whom stayed at home while he took time to go on the road and race. Darrien usually hit about ten races in a year, a good amount for an amateur. He usually finished in the top segment, too. Not very well liked by his peers, he had a reputation for not-quite-clean moves off the track.

Eliot's own eyes narrowed behind his shades as he realized Darrien was gazing back at them, a smirk on his face and then said something to the guy next to him. Must be his co-driver. The two men laughed and looked again at Parker and Eliot.

"Did YOU just growl?" Parker asked.

"… Maybe," Eliot said.

"Come on," Parker said, her voice suddenly happy and bubbling again, although he had no idea why. It was Parker. How on earth was he supposed to keep up with her moods? "Let's get registered and crap and go kick some Dumbass ass." She grabbed his hand in hers and started pulling him along with her towards the registration booth.

"Hey, let go," Eliot protested, wiggling his fingers in hers, "Lotta macho guys here, Parker, drivers don't hold hands!"

Parker blew a raspberry at him and kept towing him along with her, quick little strides eating up the ground. Eliot couldn't find it in him to pull away when she was holding on, even though he just knew someone was going to make a comment.

"Does Eliot need help, Parker?" Sophie's amused voice in his ear said. See? Dammit.

"Did you just growl again, Eliot?" Parker asked.

They were headed back to the car to get into starting position when Dumbass decided to make his move.

"Well, if it isn't the little blondie and her bitch," he drawled, stepping in front of their path and blocking their way. Darrien folded his arms and stared down at the two of them. "Thought you'd have wised up by now, chickie. This is a man's sport." He pulled his shades off and trailed his eyes slowly down Parker's body.

Eliot tensed up. He really didn't want to have to beat the crap out of this guy again. But if Darrien didn't quit eyeing Parker like she was some kinda two-bit hooker, he was going to. "Eliot, relax…" Nate's voice in his ear warned.

To his surprise, Parker didn't get mad. Nope. Parker laughed.

"Hey, Dumbass," she said, giggling. "Good to see you, too. I'm sooo flattered that you're that scared of my time."

Darrien glared. "Please, women can't drive. And you," he said toward Eliot. "You a nancy-boy or something, letting yourself get driven around by a chick?" At that, Parker laughed out loud, a good full belly-laugh.

Somewhat to his surprise, Eliot found himself curving his own lips in an amused smirk. "Whatever makes it easier for you to eat our dust, Darrien," he said casually. "I got fifty bucks that says Parker smokes your time today." He felt the sudden stillness coming from the woman next to him, and wondered at it just for a moment.

Darrien brayed a laugh. "Happy to take your money," he said, arrogance practically dripping off him. "See you after, blondie."

Eliot kept his eyes on the big man while he walked away, pretty sure that Darrien posed no real threat to them on the track, but still a little uneasy. Seemed like the guy was a little too fixated on Parker for his taste.

"Eliot," Parker said next to him.

"Hmm? What?" he asked, looking down at her. He still couldn't see her eyes, but her face was pretty blank.

"Why'd you bet on me?" Parker asked.

Eliot blinked behind his own glasses. "Because you're gonna win, darlin', that's why. Never bad to bet on a sure thing." He grinned at her, trying to be reassuring. She seemed like she needed it for some reason.

Parker was looking at him, studying him. "But…" she paused. "You bet money." Eliot felt his brows draw together in puzzlement. He wasn't sure what the issue was. Parker turned abruptly. "Come on," she said, "Let's go." Eliot was left to follow in her wake as she plunged ahead through the crowd, toward their car.

"What…" Eliot shook his head. "Something wrong with that girl," he muttered as he followed.

When it was their turn at the start, Parker was still acting a little off. Eliot couldn't put his finger on it, but her head wasn't all there. He knew it wasn't.

"Hey," he said, as they were waiting to be told to pull onto the track. Parker looked over at him, face blank. He really didn't like that look, it just didn't sit right with him. Parker wasn't meant to be emotionless.

"You ok?" he asked, studying her.

Parker blinked and looked back forward through the windshield. "I'm fine," she said. Eliot resisted the urge to cringe. Now, he loved women. All sized and shapes and so on, but one thing he'd learned the hard way was that when a woman said she was 'fine', then she was lying through her teeth and he better be prompt about figuring out what the hell was goin' on.

"Parker," he said again. They were being waved forward, and he shifted the pacenotes in his lap impatiently.

"Not now, Eliot," she said coolly as she shifted gears and started pulling forward.

Eliot abruptly reached out and laid a hand over hers on the gearshift. "Parker," he said again, maybe more sternly than he should. She pulled to stop at the start line and started revving the engine. She turned her head and stared down at his hand while the engine growled, and then glanced quickly at him. He smiled at her, slow and steady and squeezed her hand.

"Let's go kick some ass," he said.

Parker stared at him, and then smiled back, a quicksilver flash that had her eyes sparkling. "Ok," she said. She dropped her foot and they were gone.

No smut yet! I promise, some is coming. I'm thinking the next chapter, but it all depends on how Eliot and Parker are feeling. They don't always cooperate, you know.