Page 10 of Speed

"I see how you carry on. I see all the women you date, one after another. I'm not going to be one of your throwaways. You're a race car driver just like your father, and you're a womanizer, just like your father."

Axel pushed up out of his chair and walked a couple of steps away before storming back. "What makes you think you can talk to me that way? You don't even know me. You haven't known me for ten years. Fuck, Kayla."

He stared at me angrily, and I glared back. But I could see that my accusations had gone too far, and that under his anger, he was actually hurt.

"You don't know me," he repeated in a lower voice, his anger retreating as fast as it had come.

I stood, ready to conclude our conversation. "You're right, I don't know you. But there's no point in us seeing more of each other. What happened yesterday never should've happened. You were my stepbrother, for god's sake! But I know I'm to blame too, and I'm sorry for letting things get carried away."

Axel reached to touch my arm, but I stepped around him, avoiding his hand. I moved just out of reach and turned to look at him before leaving. "I'm going to write a really nice story about you, and then I'm never going to look back. Goodbye, Axel."

CHAPTER 7

JUST LIKE THAT

AXEL

She left me, just like that. A few quick, angry steps across the bright lobby, and she was gone.

I was too stunned to go after her. She was so unlike the girl I'd known. The Kayla who'd lived in our house had been quiet, shy, and really sweet. The Kayla who'd just stormed off had no problem speaking her mind.

And I was stunned by what was on her mind. How could she just assume that I was like my dad? Sure, I loved racing like he did, but I knew damn well that he was a bastard when it came to women, and I'd made a very conscious choice never to emulate that behavior. I knew how badly my father had hurt Kayla's mom, and by extension he'd hurt Kayla too. I understood her anger toward him, even after all these years, but why was I guilty by association? It made no sense.

I'd sunk into a chair when she'd left, my head heavy in my hands. I looked up to see that she'd left the flowers I'd given her. I grabbed them, tossed them in the trash on my way out, and found my car. Today I was going to drive fast. I needed it.

Thirty minutes later, the city shrinking in the rear view mirror, thoughts were still racing around my head faster than I was driving. I thought about my father. He was a good dad but a lousy husband. He couldn't keep his dick in his pants, even after he got married. He was on his fifth wife now, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was fooling around on her too. I was nothing like him. I hadn't been married or even in a serious relationship. I liked women; I liked them a lot, but I didn't make commitments and promises that I didn't plan to keep. I was careful that none of the women got attached, so that I wouldn't hurt them. Why in the world would Kayla think I was anything like my old man?

Some of her angry words replayed in my head. She'd said something about me “adding her to my list.” That sounded like something my manager had mentioned a few months ago. He warned me that I was dating too much, and that I was getting a reputation in the media. I'd shrugged off his comments without a second thought, knowing he was just concerned about sponsorship dollars. Was this what Kayla had been talking about?

I pulled off at the next exit for gas and had the bizarre impulse to search the Internet for my name, just to see what would come up. I had to assume this was where Kayla had gotten her information about me. What did she see?

I smiled at first as I started to flip through the image results. There were some good memories there; some fun nights. But the longer I looked, the more I realized how this might look to Kayla. I had dated a lot. I had been with a lot of women. But I didn't hurt them; I made it clear at the start that things wouldn't get serious.

Part of me had known that kissing Kayla might complicate things, but I couldn't resist her. Her body was amazing, and it had felt so good against mine. She was drop dead gorgeous, but she didn't act like she knew it, like most of the women I dated. And she was clearly a racing fan; I had to laugh about that. I pulled back onto the highway, knowing I would never be able to drive far enough to get her out of my head.

I needed to get in touch with her again, and I needed her to listen to me this time. She was obviously hurt by what had happened in our family, and I needed to make things right with her. I needed her to understand that I'm not like my father.

Since Kayla hadn't been honest with me when we'd met for the interview, I felt justified using a little deceit to get a chance to see her again. Actually, I wasn't going to be full-on deceitful, but I knew she wouldn't be happy about my plan.

Two days had passed, and I hoped that had been enough cooling-off time for her. I needed to leave town tomorrow, but first I had to see her one more time.

I brought up her magazine's website again and found the real Marlee Lawson. I could be wrong, but my guess was that Kayla and Marlee were friends, since Kayla had chosen her name as an alias.

I dialed Marlee's direct number and she answered on the second ring.

"Marlee Lawson." The sound of fast tapping on a keyboard accompanied her greeting.

"Marlee, this call is going to sound unusual, so I'm hoping you'll bear with me."

"Okay." She drew the word out, the typing slowed, and I could tell I had her full attention.

"This is Axel Beckers. Your associate Kayla Brewster met with me earlier this week for an interview." I paused and Marlee indicated that she was already aware of that information. "Are you and Kayla friends?"

Marlee took a few moments before finally saying, "We hang out after work sometimes. And… I know that you and Kayla have a history."

I was relieved that Marlee had some familiarity with the situation. Hell, maybe Marlee knew what was going on inside Kayla's head, and I was almost tempted to ask her, because I could really use the insight. God, I felt like a schoolboy trying to get through to a girl I liked by way of her friend.

"I could really use your help. I'm about to leave town, and I need to see Kayla before I go. I don't think she'll see me if I just show up to meet with her at the office."