“What makes you think I’m not all those things?”

  His question caught her off-guard. She hadn’t expected him to use her words against her.

  Justin took advantage of her shocked silence. “I’ve never lied to you or any other woman. My family would tell you I’d take a bullet for any one of them, and my friends would tell you I’m the first guy they call when they’re in trouble.” A slow smile spread across his face. “And you have to see me with my nieces and nephews. They think I’m the coolest uncle ever.”

  She was falling just a little deeper in like with Justin, and she couldn’t let that happen. “That’s not all.” She looked him in the eye. “I need a man who’s respectable and who shares my vision for the future.”

  “I may not be all that respectable, but I’m not a loser, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

  Anna suddenly realized she sounded as though she thought he wasn’t good enough for her, and that couldn’t have been further from the truth. Stepping forward, she brushed her fingers across the stubble covering his jaw. “You’re an incredible man. You’re strong and sexy, handsome and driven. Rich, successful, charming…” She pressed a tender kiss to his lips. “Many women would say you’re their ideal partner.”

  “But not you?” He let his hands fall to his sides. “I get it. I’m not going to beg you to feel something you don’t.”

  She hated hurting anyone, especially someone she cared about. “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings,” she said, running a hand through his hair.

  He grabbed her hand, holding it against his face as he turned his mouth into her palm. “You didn’t hurt my feelings. You hurt my heart. There’s a difference.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Justin didn’t know why he’d even bothered coming to the Hotshots head office for their sales meeting. Yes, he did. Anna knew he was in Nashville, and he held out hope she would call and ask to see him while he was in town.

  “What’s up with you?” Deacon asked after their sales managers and associates had cleared the boardroom.

  Justin and Deacon had been friends since college, which meant Deacon wouldn’t be satisfied until he’d uncovered Justin’s problem.

  “What makes you think anything’s going on with me?”

  “For starters, you decided to get back out on the track sooner than planned. I thought you said you were going to take the rest of the season off to get your head together?”

  “Turns out it didn’t take as long as I thought. I came back when I was ready.”

  Once he met Anna, Justin knew he would get in too deep if he stayed on the island with her for the rest of the summer as planned. Going home wasn’t an option unless he was prepared to man up and accept his responsibilities, so the decision seemed like a no brainer.

  Justin continued, “It feels good to be racing again.” Racing made him feel alive, but between the races, training, meetings with his team, and sponsorship events, he still had too much time to think about her.

  “Glad to hear it.” Deacon stroked his dark goatee. “So, why do I get the feeling something else is going on with you, something you’re not telling me?”

  “I don’t know. Everything’s fine. It’s good.” Good may be a stretch, but his friend didn’t have to know that. “I’m winning again. I’ve managed to bury my demons, and that’s the only thing that matters, right?”

  “I don’t know. Is it?”

  Deacon got married a few years after they graduated from college. He and his wife, Mallory, had a beautiful baby girl. According to Deacon, all Justin needed was the love of a good woman to complete his life. Justin had always laughed at that, but since he met Anna, it didn’t seem quite so outlandish.

  “You know me, man. Racing’s the only thing that matters.”

  “Interesting.” Deacon’s stare was penetrating, as though he was trying to read Justin’s mind. “Why have you spent so much time in Nashville lately?”

  “I don’t know.” Justin rubbed his hands over his face, wishing he could end the interrogation. He feared Deacon would come at him again the next day if he didn’t get the answers he was looking for though. “You’re the one who’s always on me about making more time for our business. Maybe I finally decided to start listening.”

  Deacon chuckled. “We both know that’s bullshit. You do what you wanna do. Always have and I suspect you always will.”

  “What’s your point?”

  “I want to know the real reason you’ve been coming to Nashville so much the past month or so.”

  Knowing his friend wouldn’t let it go, Justin sighed. “I met a girl who lives here, all right?”

  Deacon leaned over the polished wood table and pushed his coffee mug aside. “Now we’re getting somewhere. Tell me about her. She must be something special if you’re willing to haul ass all the way to Nashville.”

  “I didn’t come here today to see her. In fact, we’re not even seeing each other anymore.”

  “What the hell happened?”

  “She came to the race in Jacksonville this weekend. It turns out she’s not much of a fan.” That was putting it mildly. Most women were impressed by his successful career, but Justin knew he would have a better shot with Anna if he was a plumber or a computer programmer.

  “So what? That doesn’t mean you guys can’t still see each other, does it?”

  “Apparently that’s exactly what it means.” Justin rubbed the stubble peppering his jaw. He should have made more of an effort to look presentable for the meeting, but he hadn’t slept well in days, and he couldn’t be bothered to impress a bunch of men and women whose paychecks he signed. “She basically let me know she didn’t wanna get mixed up with someone who puts his life on the line for a living. Apparently it’s not worth the risk. She wants someone safe and boring, like her ex.”

  Deacon chuckled. “Bitter much?”

  Tipping his head back, Justin stared at the ceiling before closing his eyes. “I know I don’t have the right to be, but I can’t help it. This is the first girl I’ve been into in a hell of a long time, and she won’t give me a chance. I know she’s into me; that’s the frustrating part. If she wasn’t feeling it, I could just move on, but fear is holding her back, and I don’t know how the hell to get past that.”

  “That’s a tough one,” Deacon admitted, setting his cell phone on the table. “But I’ve never known you to give up when you want something. You ready to give up on her?”

  “I don’t want to, but I can’t force it either.” He opened his eyes and looked at his friend. “I still have my pride.”

  Deacon chuckled. “Man, pride doesn’t keep you warm at night. Sometimes it’s better to just suck it up, even when you think you’re right.”

  “So, what am I supposed to do? It’s not like I can give up racing.”

  “I’m not suggesting that.”

  “Okay, you tell me how I’m going to convince her to give me a chance as long as she sees the racing as an obstacle.”

  “Maybe you just need to let her know there’s more to you than racing. It’s a small part of who you are. Let her get to know the rest of you.”

  His friend had a point. Perhaps he’d tried to introduce her to that part of his life too soon. “I’ll think about it, Deacon. Thanks.”

  “Anytime,” Deacon said, getting to his feet. “I have another meeting I need to get to. You gonna be around a while? We’d love to have you over for dinner tonight.”

  “I’m not sure,” Justin said, pulling his phone out of his pocket. “Can I let you know?”

  “Sure thing.” Deacon grabbed Justin’s shoulder as he walked past. “Good luck. Let me know how it goes, okay?”

  “Will do.” After scrolling through his contacts, Justin selected Nick’s number.

  “Hello,” Nick said after the third ring.

  “Hey, man, it’s Justin. Sorry I couldn’t connect with you while you were in Jacksonville. You guys have a good time at the race?”

  “Yeah, it was great, thanks. What are you up to, man?”

  “Just finished up a meeting at the Hotshots head office.”

  “You’re here? In Nashville?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “We’re having an anniversary party for my parents tonight at the ranch. It’s just family and a few close friends. You should come by. I know my folks would love to see you.”

  Justin was reluctant to intrude on a family party, especially after the way he’d left things with Anna. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Nick. If your sister wanted me there, she would have asked me.”

  “I want you there. Isn’t that enough?”

  Justin valued his friendship with Nick and his relationship with Avery and Ty. He didn’t want their time together on the island to be awkward just because he’d had a brief relationship with Anna… assuming it couldn’t evolve into more. “You sure I won’t be intruding?”

  “Are you kiddin’? My old man would never forgive you if he found out you’d been in town and didn’t show your face.”

  “Okay, I’ll come. Thanks for the invite.”

  “My pleasure. I’ll text you the details in a bit.”

  “Sounds good.” Justin clutched his phone and smiled. Anna didn’t know it yet, but she hadn’t seen the last of him.

  ***

  “I can’t believe you brought that guy to mom and dad’s anniversary party,” Nick said through clenched teeth. “What the hell were you thinkin’?”

  “I didn’t want everyone interrogating me about my relationship with Justin. I figured if Steven came, y’all would have to back off,” Anna said.

  “Does he know he’s just a buffer?”

  “He’s not just a buffer. He’s my friend.” Steven was a sixth grade teacher at her elementary school. Ever since her breakup with Tom, he’d made it clear he would like to date her, but she’d told him she wasn’t ready to start seeing someone new.

  “I hope that’s all he is,” Nick muttered. “Man, what is it with you, sis? You have the worst taste in men. Except for Justin.”

  “Excuse me?” she asked, turning to face him. “Where the hell do you get off reprimanding me? You don’t even have a girlfriend. In fact, I can’t remember the last time you dated anyone seriously.”

  “And that’s the way I like it.” Nick always said he was too busy running the ranch and breeding and racing his horses to think about getting involved with anyone who would demand time he couldn’t spare.

  “Whatever.” She rolled her eyes. “You just like hooking up with those girls who follow you around Jimmy’s as though they’d like to slip a lasso around your neck and-”

  “Enough,” he said, sliding an arm around her shoulders and covering her mouth. “We’re talkin’ about you, not me. Remember?”

  She pulled his hand away from her face. “And I thought I made it clear that I…” Anna couldn’t believe her eyes. Justin stood at the front door, embracing her father like they were old friends. “What the hell is he doing here?”

  “I invited him,” Nick said, shrugging. “He’s a family friend, and this party is about our parents, not you.”

  “How could you?” If she wasn’t opposed to making a scene, she would gladly slap her brother upside the head. “After the way I left Jacksonville-”

  “That’s why I did it. Y’all need to talk things out now that you’ve had some time to cool off.”

  “You don’t get to decide that. I do.” She glanced at her date, standing at the buffet table, filling his plate to overflowing with appetizers. “I’m here with a date. How am I going to explain this to Steven?”

  “Who cares?” Nick looked at the man in question. “He reminds me of Tom… in a cheap suit.”

  Anna elbowed Nick in the ribs, smiling when his drink sloshed over the edge of his glass onto his shirt. “I didn’t ask for your opinion, and I don’t want it.” She sucked in a breath when Justin’s eyes landed on her. She had hoped she would never have to see that proprietary look in his eyes again, but not because it didn’t appeal to her. It did. Too much.

  Justin’s smile slipped as he hugged Avery, but he recovered quickly, fixing his attention on the guest of honor once again.

  “I’m not going to talk to him, and you can’t make me,” Anna whispered.

  Steven approached them, balancing his drink in one hand and his full plate in the other.

  “I see you decided to try a bit of everything, Steven,” Nick said, grinning. “You didn’t stuff your pockets when we weren’t lookin’, did ya?”

  Steven blushed and pushed his glasses up his nose. “Uh, no. I guess I was hungrier than I thought.” He thrust the plate at Anna. “We can share, if you want.”

  Anna stepped back when the onion dip got too close to her dress. “That’s okay, thanks.”

  “Hey, look who it is,” Steven said, raising his glass. “Justin Hunt, the race car driver. I didn’t know you knew him, Anna. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Anna wished she could hide. The last thing she needed was for her date to gush all over Justin. “He’s a… family friend. He, uh, owns the property next to ours in St. Thomas-”

  “Talking about me?” Justin whispered in her ear. One hand landed on the small of her back as he extended the other to Nick. “Hey, thanks for inviting me, man. Great party.” Kissing Anna’s cheek, he said, “And it’s always nice to see you, beautiful.”

  Clearing her throat, Anna tried to resist the urge to look at him. Gesturing to Steven, she said, “Justin, I’d like you to meet my friend, Steven Galloway.”

  Steven clumsily balanced the plate, eventually setting it on a nearby table so he could shake Justin’s hand. “I’m a huge fan.” He pumped Justin’s hand enthusiastically. “I was so glad to see you back out there. It’s too bad you won’t be able to accumulate enough points to be a contender for the Cup this year.”

  Anna cringed when Justin and Nick exchanged an amused look.

  “Uh, Steven, you said you wanted to meet my Aunt Nikki. She’s right over there. Why don’t I introduce y’all now?” Anna offered, hoping to separate her date from Nick and Justin.

  “This is so cool,” Steven said, beaming. “Getting to meet all these famous people. If I’d known this was one of the perks, I’d have started dating Anna a long time ago.” He laughed a little too loudly, drawing attention from the people standing nearby. “Not that she was available before.” He nudged Justin’s arm. “As soon as she was, I was first in line.”

  “Is that so?” Justin asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Anna. “You two are dating? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Knowing Justin deserved an explanation, she slipped her arm through his. “If you’ll excuse us,” Anna said, smiling at Steven, “I just remembered I have something important to discuss with Justin. It really can’t wait.”

  Steven looked disappointed as he reached for his plate. “But I thought you were going to introduce me to Nikki Spencer McCall? I’ve wanted to meet her ever since I saw her at the Ryman.”

  “You will meet her. I promise.” Anna dragged Justin away as she heard her brother chuckling. “I’m gonna kill Nick,” she muttered.

  “Where are we going?” Justin asked, stopping short.

  “We need to talk.”

  “Really? You gonna tell me why you never mentioned the fact that you’re dating… what’s his name?” he asked, hooking a thumb over his shoulder.

  “Please,” Anna said, when she noticed her parents watching them, “can’t we talk about this outside?”

  “Can I at least grab a beer first?”

  “Fine. I’ll be out there,” she said, pointing to a set of glass doors. “Join me whenever you’re ready.”

  A few minutes later, Justin stepped onto the stone patio carrying a beer and a glass of white wine. “The bartender said this is what you’re drinking.”

  “Thanks.” As she reached for the glass, she made the mistake of looking into his eyes. “I was surprised to see you here tonight.”

  “Obviously.”

  The hard set of his jaw told her he was still upset about seeing her with another man, but she didn’t think she had to apologize for anything. She’d been honest with him about where things stood, and she’d certainly never agreed to date him exclusively. “How’ve you been?”

  “You have to ask?”

  “Justin, please,” she said, running her hand over the front of his shirt. “Just because we’ll never be a couple doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. We’re bound to see each other on the island from time to time. I’d hate for things to be awkward between us.”

  “Here’s the deal,” he said, wrapping his free arm around her waist. “I still want you. I can’t pretend I don’t, and seeing you with someone else, when you should be with me, pisses me off.”

  Anna drew a sharp breath. She’d never dated a territorial man. It was kind of hot. “Steven is just a friend.”

  “Good.” He skimmed her ear with his lips. “I’ve missed you.”

  “Justin, I meant what I said at the hotel. Nothing’s changed.”

  “I’ve been thinking about that.”

  She couldn’t think straight with his mouth grazing her ear lobe. “Mmmm…”

  He pulled her closer, letting his lips explore her neck. “There’s a whole lot more to me than racing. Why don’t you get to know me better before you write me off?”

  Thinking logically was difficult when her body was at his mercy. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Why waste time-”

  He chuckled as he drew her earlobe between his teeth. “Trust me, any time you spend with me will be well spent.”

  “I don’t doubt that.” A part of her, the reckless part she constantly battled, hungered for a lover who could help her abandon her fears and learn to love as though it was her last day on earth.

  “What have you got to lose, Anna?” he whispered, sliding his tongue up the column of her neck.

  My heart. “I… uh…”