“Anyway, that’s enough about me,” Lola says. “Tell us about growing up in New Orleans.”
“I loved it, but we weren’t well-off.”
“I thought your dad was a racing champion?” Lola frowns.
I shrug. “Guess it didn’t make him rich. I think he blew any sponsorship deals he could have had with his drinking.”
“That’s too bad,” Isabella says with a sad expression.
“I love that you race,” Evelyn says. “I like to ride Harleys, but I think I’d be scared to death to get on one of those motocross tracks.”
Lola elbows her. “I told Maggie we’d go watch her practice this afternoon. You in?”
“Hell, yeah,” Evelyn replies. “But I’ll have to call Rock first.”
“How about you, Izzy?” Lola turns to Isabella.
“I’d love to. It sounds exciting.”
Evelyn calls Rock, and after speaking with him, she holds the phone out to me. “He wants to talk to you.”
I stare at the phone, wondering what he wants with me. Reaching for it, I swallow. “Yes?”
“Hey, Maggie. Keno told me about this race you entered, and the reason for it. If it’s about the money, I want you to know that if you need more time, I can give you that. I don’t want you risking your neck just to pay me back. But if you want to run this race, I want you to have time to practice, so I’m putting a coupleof guys in charge of the bar. They’ll get it up and running again, and you take the next two weeks to prepare. Okay?”
I’m stunned. “I’m sure that’s not necessary, I—”
“It’s all decided,” he cuts me off. “Don’t worry about it. Now put my ol’ lady back on the line.”
I hold the phone out to Evelyn, my mind reeling.
While she talks to him, Lola notices my expression and frowns.
“What did my father say?”
“He’s putting some of his guys in charge of the bar, so I’ll have time to practice for the race.”
She grins. “That’s my father for you. Why aren’t you happy about it?”
“I appreciate the gesture, but that’s my bar. It’s hard to have strangers in there. What if they mess everything up?”
“Then their heads will roll. Rock will make sure of it.” She tilts her head. “You want to race, right?”
“Yes, I do. I didn’t realize how much I missed riding. This may be my only shot at seeing if I’ve got what it takes, if I inherited my old man’s skills.”
“I think the part about the only shot may be true, because once Keno makes you his, he may not want you racing, that or he’ll knock you up.” Lola lifts a brow, grinning.
I hadn’t thought of it that way.
“I’m getting excited,” Isabella says. “How far is this track we’re going to today?”
“Not far. But I’ll need a trailer to bring my bike up there.”
Evelyn is still on the phone with Rock and overhears me. “Babe, we need a trailer to haul her bike to the track.” She puts the phone below her chin and speaks to me. “He’s on it.”
When she disconnects, she polishes off her drink, then waves a waiter over and orders another round. “He’s sending one of theguys up here with his F350 truck and trailer. We’ll ride up there in style, girls.”
“No way,” Lola exclaims. “Dad’s letting us take his baby?”
