Page 7 of High Velocity

And Roark.God, Charli’s knees nearly went weak at the sight of him.He stood taller than his father and brother.Broader, too.He had shaggy black hair that reached his shoulders along with a nicely groomed beard and mustache.Tattoos decorated his arms, but she couldn’t make out the details.Brown eyes like molasses stared back at her from the image, and she was taken back to that split second in the stands.When she thought he was going to kiss her.Before—

“Ready, Charli?”

She jumped slightly at Harvey’s voice.“Um, yeah.Ready.”

He came to stand by her side, looking at the picture she’d been studying.“Them Ferris men are a force, ain’t they?Those boys grew up to be good men.Bradley’s running the track now, and Roark is the Club’s SAA.”

Charli sucked in her breath.SAA.That’d been her dad’s position.

Harvey didn’t seem to notice as he continued.“Also owns a brewery over in Twin Falls.”

“Yeah?Can’t wait to hear more.I really need to get caught up if I’m going to consider myself a local again.Or was I ever?”

“Damn straight you were.Distance made no never mind.You’re a Campbell and always a part of the SoS.Remember that.”

Charli nodded at Harvey who led her out of the shop, locking the door behind them.When he looked up and spotted her car, he let out a whistle.

“Well, I’ll be,” he murmured.“A 1966 Chevy II Nova Super Sport.Tell me you got a V8 in that beauty.”

“Was there any doubt?”Charli teased.“427 Rat motor with a double pumper 750 carburetor producing over 500 horsepower.”

“Oo, wee!”Harv then whistled again.

They walked to the vehicle which was painted pristine white with an orange pin stripe along the body line from headlight to taillight.As Harvey inspected the car, he bent down near the front wheel on the driver’s side and froze.When he straightened, his gaze met Charli’s.

“Twenty-one,” he whispered.

“Twenty-one,” she echoed.

Above the Super Sport badge was the number twenty-one with angel wings.A tribute to her dad and his race car number.

“You build this beauty?”

“Sure did.”She beamed.“Only took about four years.”She chuckled, then held out the key.“Want the honor?”

“You sure?”

“Yep.”

“Then, hell, yeah.”He took the key and got comfortable in the driver’s seat while Charli strapped into the passenger seat.When he fired it up and heard the growl of the engine, Harv turned to her with a wide smile.“Hot damn.”

Charli laughed while Harv put the car in gear and rolled out of the parking lot, heading south into the small town of Eden.Harvey’s shop was almost midway between Hunt and Eden.The drive was quick, so Charli didn’t have much time to take in the scenery.She did notice a few new businesses, and off in the distance she could see a housing development taking shape.

“Town’s growing,” Harv said.“Even got us a few of those fancy coffee shacks.Glenda owns them and has put girls to work that may not have had many other options.Even put one up in lil’ ol’ Hunt.Getting more traffic coming through with the farms and fields being prosperous.As well as the racetrack.”

“That’s great.Momma to all, that woman.”

“Yes, she is.”Harv parked the car near the back of the lot behind The Grill where only a few other vehicles sat.“Early for the dinner rush, so won’t be crowded yet.”He met her gaze.“You ready?”

Charli felt her brow wrinkle.“Sure.Why wouldn’t I be?”

He chuckled.“Well, for one, this car gets noticed.And something about a new girlie in town stirs the gossip mill.Wouldn’t doubt if the entire SoS descended on the place within the hour.”Harv winked then laughed when he saw Charli’s eyes widen.“No time like now to make your presence known.And if you don’t want that, well, then, I’ll get something to go, and we can head back to the shop.”

“No.No, it’s fine.You’re correct.Best to jump on in,” she said, mimicking his twang.

“That’s my girl.”

Those words touched Charli’s heart.