“You’re forgiven.”

  Hope smiled, then sobered. “Sponsors are needed for drivers. A race team is extremely expensive to run. A sponsor might come on for the season, but there is no guarantee they’ll come back the next. A winning driver, if he’s inaccessible, won’t get people buying the sponsor’s products.”

  “I want Cameron to be successful even though every time he races it ties my stomach in knots.”

  “Then you know for Cameron it’s not about the money, but the race. For that, he needs sponsors willing to shell out the big bucks. He can’t have one without the other. I’ll do what’s necessary to make sure he has what he needs.”

  Caitlin saw the determination in the woman’s gaze. It couldn’t have been easy for her. She placed the dress over her arm. “Thank you.”

  She nodded. “Cameron is a great guy. He deserves to win. And I don’t plan to let anything stand in his way.”

  Caitlin understood that while Hope might be willing to help Caitlin and Joshua, her main focus was Cameron, because what happened to Caitlin and Joshua ultimately affected Cameron. “This might sound strange, but I’m glad he has you in his corner.”

  “Thanks. The other day I wouldn’t have cared what you thought.” She picked up the shoes and handed them to Caitlin, then went to the door. “Luckily, Cameron knew your shoe size. You better hurry and get dressed.”

  Caitlin accepted the items, but didn’t move. “Why does it make a difference now?”

  “It should be obvious.” Hope opened the door. “You love him.”

  For the second time that night Hope had shocked Caitlin. “Y-you’re mistaken.”

  “I think not, but don’t worry. Cameron won’t hear it from me,” Hope assured her. “I don’t interfere in my clients’ personal lives unless it affects their performance or presents problems like it did tonight. Besides, if Cameron knew how you felt, I don’t think he’d let you go.”

  Caitlin clutched the clothes to her chest. “He won’t have a choice.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” Hope closed the door before Caitlin could ask what she meant.

  Chapter 13

  Cameron tried to keep an eye on the door to the room where the party was going on, but someone always got in the way: Hilliard, a sponsor, a member of the media, a fan or, as now, a woman who wanted more than his autograph or his photograph.

  “Seeing you race always gives me goose bumps,” the dark-haired woman said, sliding closer to Cameron with each word.

  “Me, too,” said her companion, managing to press her breast against his arm.

  Mindful that they were fans and related to one of his biggest sponsors, Cameron smiled. “Thank you, ladies. If you’ll excuse me, I need to speak to Mike.”

  Both women pouted and protested, but Cameron made good his escape. He spotted Russ Simpson and Mario by the bar and headed in their direction, surprised they weren’t being pursued. He said as much when he neared.

  Mario, darkly handsome, looked at Russ and grinned. “Should we tell him?”

  “It will spoil the fun,” Russ said, taking a sip of his beer.

  “Tell me what?” Cameron asked, a frown marring his brow.

  Just in the nick of time, it seemed, because the door across the room opened. Hope and Caitlin walked in. For a moment, they stood there. If it had been any other women, Cameron would have said they were doing it for effect and not just to get their bearings. He knew better, but the result was the same.

  Like a ripple effect, one man after another turned to stare. It was impossible not to. Caitlin and Hope were dazzling. Both had a gleam in their eyes that said they were up for any challenge. Men would fight to get in line to take that challenge.

  Cameron had no intention of letting any man near Caitlin. He started for her. This time, he didn’t let a reporter or the two women who tried to waylay him again stop him. With a smile, he sidestepped each one and kept moving until he stood in front of Caitlin.

  “You’re stunning.”

  “You’re not so bad yourself,” she said, a smile tugging the corners of the mouth that he planned to kiss later on that night. Heck, he planned on doing a lot more than kissing. He introduced Mario and Russ.

  “Hello,” Caitlin greeted.

  Mario folded his arms. “I can see why Cameron was watching the door so much. You’re worth waiting for.”

  “Ease off, Mario,” Cameron warned. “She’s taken.”

  Mario held up his hand in mock surrender, then winked at Caitlin. She laughed.

  “Evening, Caitlin, Hope,” Russ greeted, then turned firmly to Hope. “You look beautiful.”

  “Don’t tell her that,” Mario said with a laugh. “She’s difficult enough to live with.”

  “Mario,” Hope cooed. “You know I’ll pay you back when you least expect it.”

  He frowned, then smiled. “I’ll tell Mama.”

  “No you won’t,” she said cryptically. This time the frown on Mario’s face remained.

  Cameron chuckled. “You know she will, too. Glad I’m not in your shoes.”

  “It looks as if all the fun is over here.”

  Cameron looked around to see Sean Hilliard, tall, broad-shouldered, and elegant. Like everything he did, Hilliard wore his tux with panache and ease. He’d come from old money and made bucketloads of it on his own. Rumor was that his ex-wife had tried to get her hands on a lion’s share when they divorced four years ago. A prenup, the best lawyers in the country, and Hilliard had stood in the way. Hilliard wasn’t a man you’d want to cross, not if you didn’t want to keep looking over your shoulder.

  “Hello, Caitlin,” he said, extending his hand. “It’s nice to see you again.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Hilliard,” Caitlin said.

  “I thought we agreed on Sean,” he said smoothly.

  Cameron frowned. Of course Caitlin had met Hilliard when they had been together and engaged, but she hadn’t been around him much. Hilliard hadn’t been as hands-on with the racing teams as he was the last two seasons.

  Cameron watched the man he supposed some women would call handsome watch Caitlin. Was his owner trying to come on to Caitlin or just being nice? Hilliard was always more magnanimous after a win. But just to establish his claim, Cameron curved his arm around her waist.

  Caitlin glanced up at him and smiled as if she’d read his mind. “It looks as if everyone is having a great time,” she finally answered Hilliard.

  “If the amount of liquor is any indication, they are,” he said with a smile. “I believe there is going to be dancing later on. Isn’t that right, Hope?”

  “Yes,” Hope said, her voice flat, then she faced Russ with a flirtatious smile. “Why don’t we go check it out and get the dancing started.”

  Russ’s eyes sparked like a boy with his first quarter-midget. “Lead the way.”

  “If you’ll excuse us.” Hope curved her arm through his and walked away.

  Hilliard and Mario watched them. Cameron studied Hilliard. He held his body stiffly, as if the sight of Russ and Hope together bothered him.

  “Excuse me, too,” Mario said. “I better make this night count while I can.”

  “Surely you aren’t afraid of your sister?”

  He looked at Hilliard and Cameron before answering. “No offense, but women are more devious than men, and some have it down to a fine art. Nice meeting you, Caitlin.”

  Cameron felt Caitlin shiver and knew she was thinking about her keeping Joshua’s birth a secret. He pulled her closer. “What do you say we hit the dance floor as soon as Hope gets things moving?”

  “I’d like that,” she said. The words were barely out of her mouth before the sounds of “Break Every Rule” filled the room.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” Hope said, mic in hand. “Hilliard Motorsports thanks you for coming to celebrate the second win of the NASCAR season by Cameron McBride.”

  People in the room searched until they found Cameron and Hilliard. Applause erupted. The way they were standing, it was difficult to tell who Caitlin was with, especially when Hilliard stepped closer.

  “We’d also like to thank the sponsors of number twenty-three, and the other cars that make up Hilliard Motorsports,” Hope said, calling out the names of the sponsors. More applause. “Tonight we celebrate the phenomenal driving skills of Cameron McBride under the awesome leadership of Sean Hilliard that you, the sponsors, make possible. It’s fitting that the song leading off the dancing tonight is ‘Break Every Rule,’ because Hilliard Motorsports’s racing team is going to break records in NASCAR. Let the party begin!”

  Two men pushed back a screen to show the seven-piece band. Giving the mic to one of them, Hope crooked her finger and Russ joined her, taking her into his arms and swinging her out. Hope did a smart turn, shimmied, laughing all the way.

  “She can really dance,” Caitlin said.

  “There isn’t much Hope Alvarado can’t do,” Hilliard said, his voice tight. “If you’ll excuse me. I need to circulate.”

  Cameron glanced from Hope on the dance floor enthralling Russ to Hilliard talking to an elderly man, his back to the dance floor.

  “Are we going to dance or what?” Caitlin asked.

  Cameron grinned down at her, then swung her into his arms. “Dance. The ‘what’ comes later.”

  Caitlin grinned back.

  Chapter 14

  Life was good. Legs crossed at the ankles, his arms folded, Cameron leaned near the side door of the hauler on the infield of the Bristol Motor Speedway preparing to watch the replay again of the crash at the California Speedway. While Mike readied things, Cameron let his mind wander.

  Since the night in Vegas, he and Caitlin had continued to grow closer. They were becoming a family. She hadn’t protested when they left Charlotte last week for the Atlanta Speedway, nor this week when they headed to Tennessee. He didn’t fool himself into thinking they didn’t still have some bumps, but he believed this time their love for each other and Joshua would see them through.

  Their love. Neither one of them had admitted it to the other yet. It was as if both were afraid of unsettling the delicate balance.

  “Ready, Cameron?” Mike asked.

  “Ready.” The film began to roll.

  Cameron admitted it was a jolt the first time he saw the car ram head first into the wall, then slowly slide back down the track. It was a blessing that no other cars had hit him, and although number 28 had clipped him, the car hadn’t sustained any major damage and was able to finish the race.

  Crashing was bad enough. Taking out another car with you twisted your gut. Although it was an accident, it was as if another driver were paying for your stupidity or bad luck. The results were the same.

  Out of the race through no fault of your own.

  “Cameron, we think the problem was the shocks,” Mike said. “The gearshift is a bit tight as well. That’s what we believe you were experiencing before the blowout. Which, I think, was just a bad coincidence.”

  “Probably. Let’s see it again. I felt a slight vibration just before the tire blew.” Cameron straightened as the film zeroed in on him. He’d had a camera on him at the time. The helmet prevented a clear picture of his face, which he thought was a good thing.

  The impact jolted through him as if he were going through the accident again. The camera was knocked out. There was static until the other TV cameras zoomed in on him again.

  His head peeked out of the escape hatch on the roof. The TV camera caught every disjointed movement as he hoisted his body out of the car. He jumped to the ground, staggered, then righted himself and removed his helmet.

  “Daddy!”

  Cameron jerked around to see Joshua, his face pale, his little body trembling, his frightened gaze glued on the TV monitor. “Stop the tape!” Cameron yelled, scooping up Joshua and quickly leaving the hauler, heading for the motor coach.

  “I’m all right, Joshua,” Cameron soothed. “It was just a film. I’m all right.” His hand stroked his son’s trembling back.

  The desperate grip around Cameron’s neck didn’t lessen. He increased his pace on feeling moisture dampen his T-shirt. Tears.

  Bounding up the steps, he opened the door, calling Caitlin’s name, heading down the hall to the second bedroom where she worked. “Caitlin. Caitlin.”

  “Cameron!” she cried, running into the hall.

  “He saw the accident footage,” Cameron explained. “I didn’t know he was there.”

  Caitlin’s gaze lanced up to his, then she stepped to his side so she could see Joshua’s face, stroke his trembling back. “Your daddy is all right,” she soothed. “I know it was scary, but it happened the day you had your accident. Just like you’re all right, he’s all right.”

  Joshua finally lifted his eyes. The misery in his son’s little face tore at Cameron’s heart.

  “Your daddy is fine,” Caitlin repeated.

  Cameron’s gaze met Caitlin’s. He knew she was thinking of her father, and of his teammate who was killed, of his son seeing his father die.

  He wanted to promise that it wouldn’t happen to him, that he’d always come back. But accidents happened; there were fatalities. He couldn’t promise what he couldn’t control.

  “Why don’t we go for a drive and get some ice cream?” Caitlin suggested.

  Joshua placed his head back on his father’s shoulder, his arms curled around his neck. “You’re going, too, aren’t you, Daddy?”

  “Sure.” He had planned on going to the garage after watching the footage. That would have to wait until Joshua had settled down. Cameron grabbed his car keys off the ring in the kitchen. “We can make an afternoon of it.”

  Caitlin’s worried gaze caught his. He just hoped it was enough, but somehow he knew it wouldn’t be that easy.

  “Daddy!”

  Cameron was out of the bed before Joshua’s cry faded. His heart pounding, he raced down the hall, Caitlin on his heels. Going into the room, he picked Joshua up. His eyes were closed, but tears coated his lashes.

  Caitlin clicked on the light, rushing to her son in Cameron’s arms. “Baby, it’s all right.”

  “Wake up, son. It’s all right. Wake up.”

  Joshua’s lashes fluttered open. He stared at his father, his lips trembling. “I’m scared.”

  “Oh, Lord,” Cameron cried, clutching Joshua tighter to him.

  “Joshua, your daddy is here and safe, and so are you,” Caitlin soothed, swallowing and blinking. “Would you like to sleep with us?”

  He nodded.

  “Come on.” Taking Cameron’s arm, she guided him back to their bedroom. “You can sleep in the middle.”

  Cameron leaned over to put Joshua on the bed, but his grip tightened. “No.”

  “It’s all right,” Cameron soothed. Lying down, he tucked Joshua against him with his face toward him. “Go to sleep. We’ll leave the light on so if you wake up you’ll know that your father and mother are here.”

  Joshua didn’t say anything or close his eyes.

  Helplessly, Cameron looked at Caitlin. “I’m sor—”

  Shaking her head, she began to hum a lullaby, stroking Joshua’s head.

  Cameron rested his head against Joshua’s. Caitlin might not blame him, but he blamed himself. He should have been more careful.

  Cameron didn’t go to sleep, neither did Caitlin. Saturday morning, he eased away from Joshua, then stood and simply stared at the sleeping child. There were tearstains on his cheeks. The first time he’d seen his son cry had been his fault—and he had promised to protect and love him.

  “This isn’t your fault,” Caitlin said softly.

  He looked across at her, leaning on one elbow. “You were afraid I’d hurt him.”

  Getting out of bed, she went to him. “You’re a good father. Joshua loves you.”

  “I’d give anything if this hadn’t happened,” Cameron said, his voice hoarse.

  “I know.” She looked back at the sleeping Joshua. “Why don’t you shower and get dressed in the other bedroom? I want to be here when he wakes up.”

  “Maybe I should can—”

  “No,” she interrupted. “You might be back before he wakes up.”

  “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he promised.

  “I know.” Standing on tiptoe, she kissed him on the jaw. “Now get dressed and get out of here.”

  Caitlin watched Cameron grab his racing suit and underclothes. The two people she loved most were hurting, and there was nothing she could do about it. She’d wanted Joshua to dislike racing, but not this way.

  Sitting on the side of the bed, she watched Joshua sleep. He’d fought going to sleep and had held on to his father tightly. Of all the problems that could have occurred, she’d never imagined this one. If there was blame, she’d have to share it. She’d been daydreaming about Cameron instead of watching Joshua. He’d slipped out of the motor coach, and she hadn’t even noticed.

  Cameron appeared in the doorway in his racing suit and baseball cap with the team’s logo. “Hope called. There are about a hundred people already in line for the autograph session.”

  “Most of them are probably women,” she quipped, wanting to ease the self-recrimination in his face.

  He crossed the room and pulled her into his arms. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll be thinking about you and Joshua.”

  Her arms slid around his neck, loving him, wanting him to know she understood, wished things were different. “Just like ours thoughts will be with you.”

  A whimper came from the bed. She wheeled around to see Joshua sitting up and crying. “Don’t go, Daddy.”

  Caitlin’s heart ached for him. She scooped him up in her arms and set him on her hip so he could see his father and be reassured. She’d lost her father, knew the mindless fear. “It’s all right, sweetheart. Daddy isn’t going to race.”