Page 10 of High Velocity

Roark sat for a few more moments, finishing off the bottle of water.The pill wouldn’t instantly take effect, but just knowing they always provided relief was enough to have him moving toward the door a few moments later.He didn’t want to disappoint Bradley or the kids who looked forward to this night.

Slipping on his shades, he pushed open the door and walked into the sunshine.Even nearing 6:00 PM, the desert evenings remained warm until the sun went down.He looked up at the clear, blue sky and took a deep breath.The smell of gasoline fumes and traces of dinner mixed with the fresh air.Nothing quite like it, he thought.

Bradley approached with two riders, sixteen-year-old twins, Kaydence and Kadon.It was their second year racing under his brother’s tutelage, and they were naturals.Their mom, Konstance, was a widow who opened a shop, K’s Book Boutique, in Eden last year after moving down from Lewiston four years ago.

Roark wasn’t blind to the covert glances and subtle interest between Bradley and the young mother, and why his brother didn’t act upon it continued to puzzle him.But they had to figure it out and make their moves when ready.

“Hey, Roark,” Bradley greeted.“Feeling better?”

“Some.”

“You know you can head out if you need to.We got this covered.”

“I’m good.”Roark turned to the twins.“You two make good time?”

“Yes, sir,” Kadon answered.“Kaydence took first and I got second.”The young boy radiated pride, never minding he’d been bested by a girl.Oh, yeah, plenty of thoughts like that still happening these days, and it irked Roark to no end.

“Good for you two.Keep it up and you’ll go big-time.”

While Kaydence smiled, Kadon’s eyes widened.“You think?”

“Why not?You two got it in ya.”

“Thanks, Mr.Roark!”

“No need for themister.”He grinned when the memory of his dad popped into his head.Always telling people to drop the mister.Always telling Charli.

Shit, where had that thought come from?He hadn’t thought about her in ...well, in a while.

Liar.

Roark didn’t want to admit how often thoughts of Charli Campbell entered his mind.Too often to be healthy, that’s for sure.Hell, it’d been twenty years and he’d had plenty of women in that time.But none of them occupied space in his brain the way she had.

Roark shook his head, trying to clear those thoughts.“Let’s see how your bikes faired after that round.”

He and his brother spent ten minutes going over the bikes and adjustments.They already knew plenty from Bradley, but reinforcement never hurt.Their mother couldn’t afford bikes for them on her own, so his brother ensured these bikes were dedicated only to the twins.

The Club helped fund bikes and events for those who couldn’t readily afford the expense.Just another way of giving back to the community they grew up in.Cared for.Protected.

With one final race for the evening, the twins headed back to the track.

“Good kiddos,” Roark said to Bradley.

“They are.So damned smart and so supportive of each other.”

“So when you gonna ask Konstance out on a date?”Bradley spun around to stare at him with wide eyes.“Oh, come on, brother.You ain’t blind, so you gotta see that woman is crazy for you.And I happen to think it’s mutual.”

Bradley turned away.“Maybe,” he mumbled.

“What’s the hold up?”

“I don’t know, I just...”His brother blew out a breath, shaking his head.

“Hey,” Roark slapped his hand on his brother’s shoulder.“It’s dinner.Doesn’t have to be anything complicated.Unless you want to take her to bed, then...”

“Jesus, Roark.”Bradley knocked his hand away.“Have some respect.Not everyone just wants an easy fuck and a never gonna see you again because they don’t want any strings.”

Roark narrowed his eyes at that comment that hit too close to home.