Chapter Nine

Macayla followed Dale through throngs of people that stood around the garage area. Some of them belonged there but most were fans and the moment Dale came into view the cameras came out and flashes started going off.

He pulled Kellen’s hoodie tighter around his face, not wanting pictures of his son plastered all over the internet and slowed slight for Macayla to catch up with him.

“Is it always like this?”

He took a deep breath and rolled his eyes, his jaw flexing in irritation. “Yeah but I haven’t had Kellen here before so that’s just another added irritation. I don’t want my son’s picture all over the place because I can guarantee you someone’s gonna try to take him and I will die before I let that happen.”

“So I guess I need to keep him covered when I’m with him outside?”

Dale nodded his head. “Martin’s got him a little Pro Shops hat that he wears most of the time so if he just keeps that on, pulled down low it’ll be alright. Plus not a lot of people know you so maybe they won’t catch on.” He slowed as they reached the 8 garage and he passed Kellen over to her. “Hold him for a few minutes I’ve gotta explain some issues I’ve been having with this car.”

She nodded, taking Kellen out of his arms as the child quickly latched onto her neck. He placed a wet kiss on her cheek and she laughed at him, wiping the slobber away with the sleeve of his sweatshirt. “That was gross, Kel Kel…” she cooed making the child giggle exposing the beginnings of two tiny teeth in the center of his bottom gum.

“Mac…” Dale called waving her over towards another garage stall where he stood with a tall man with uncontrollable hair. “This is Michael Waltrip… Mikey this is Macayla Kirkpatrick. She’s Kellen’s nanny.”

Michael held out his hand shaking her’s firmly when she took his. “You’re tall…” he said matter of factly, causing Macayla to wonder if he was slightly slow or just Captain Obvious. “How tall are you?”

“Six foot.”

“Wow…” he curled his mouth in thought and shrugged. “Well nice to meet ya Macayla. I hope you’re taking good care of Mr. Kellen…”

“Absolutely.”

Mikey patted Kellen on the head and slapped Dale on the back then walked away.

“He’s peculiar…” she said softly not realizing she’d been heard.

Dale laughed and shook his head. “Michael’s unique that’s for sure. He’s the best walking billboard there is though.”

She nodded slowly and followed him to a large hauler with chairs set up outside and Dale’s face on the side of it. He slid open the door and stepped inside motioning for her to follow then he closed the door behind her. “Wow…”

“This is where I veg before a race when I’m not at the coach.” He opened a few cabinets and the refrigerator. “If you get hungry or anything, I got I right here. Don’t bother askin for it, just take it. And if you’ll come back here.”

She followed him down the length of the hauler and walked up a few stairs to see a small room with a television and couch.

“So this is it… You’ve seen my coach, the garage, and my hauler. All that’s left is the inside of my car and you really have no need for that.”

“Nice.” Macayla replied as she shifted her weight back and forth, trying to even out the burden Kellen was putting on the right side of her body.

“I’ll take him for a little while,” Dale jumped in, noticing she was uncomfortable. He pried Kellen out of her arms and flopped down on the couch with him. “You can sit down if you want…”

She sat next to him, putting a bit of distance between them then turned to lean her side against the back of the couch and pulled her right leg up under her, watching Kellen play with Dale. She had no idea how Dale thought he would be able to hide Kellen’s identity because the child looked just like him. Except for those eyes.

Dale glanced at her quickly, wondering why she’d gotten so quiet and she seemed to be off in her own world. That’s when he noticed the light bruising on near the collar of her t-shirt and the soft wet sheen that covered it and shook his head, turning to his son. “Starting early aren’t you?”

“Huh?”

“Kellen gave you a present…” he said motioning towards her throat.

Macayla frowned and pressed her hand to her neck, once again coming in contact with Earnhardt slobber. “Ugh… Did he get his slobbering problem from you?”

She shifted and turned to look in the mirror behind the couch and her eyes widened in surprise. “I’ve been given a hickey by a one year old.”

Dale laughed and held his hand up to Kellen. “Give me five son…” He picked up Kellen’s tiny arm and pressed his little hand against his. “That’s my boy.”

“Geez… you Earnhardt’s start young don’t’ ya…”

“Haha.” He laughed, ruffling the light auburn fuzz on Kellen’s head. “Just make sure Martin knows I’m not the Earnhardt that did it. He bout knocked my head off this morning.”

“What? Why? What happened?”

“I was wearing boxers. And I was wearing them around you.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh my Lord. It’s not like it’s the first time I’ve seen you in them. And I’ve seen him in boxers…”

“See that’s the problem. You’re allowed to see him. Not me.”

Macayla just leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “You boys need to grow up. I’m a twenty-eight year old widow, I’m not playing games. And I’m pretty sure I’ve got more than enough self control not to jump you just cause you’re in boxers.”

“What!? I’m damn fine in my boxers girl…”

“Watch your language around the baby…”

---

Martin had been searching for Macayla for the last few hours. He’d checked the play center, the garage, Dale’s hauler, Dale’s coach and he’d knocked on her door for a good ten minutes but she hadn’t answered. So he found himself walking in circles, signing autographs, posing for pictures and just waiting for her to catch his eye. How the hell did you lose a six foot tall blond hottie?

 “So did it work?”

“Huh?” Martin was pulled from his search by a tug at his elbow and the upturned smiling face of the previous evening’s accomplice. “Ashley?”

“Wow, you remembered my name. I’m honored.” She gave him a soft punch in the arm and followed his gaze into the distance. “What are you looking for?”

“Macayla.”

“You lost her?” She squealed in surprise.

Martin looked down at the woman that barely reached his shoulder and shook his head. “I guess you’re a natural blond?”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. No, the last time I saw her was at Dale’s coach earlier and I haven’t been able to find her sense.”

Ashley shrugged and rolled her eyes as a young woman with tight jeans and even tighter shirt approached them, her eyes raking over Ashley with anger. “I’ll help. I don’t have anything to do right now.”

“Why are you here anyway?” Martin smiled at the young woman and signed her program thanking her before he turned to face Ashley.

“Ash!”

They turned to find Tony Stewart running towards them, more precisely stumbling towards them out of breath and sweaty. “Tony…”

“Ash…”

“Tony.”

Martin looked between them in confusion before throwing in his two cents worth. “Martin.”

Tony cast him a confused glance and shook his head. “What’d you do with the times from our practice session down here?”

“Gave them to Zippy after we practiced down here. Tell him to look in the hauler where her normally keeps his clipboard. They’re in there.”

“K…” Tony continued to breath heavily and rested his hands on his hips before looking at Martin suspiciously. “What are you doing talking to my cousin?”

“Your cousin?”

“That didn’t answer my question.”

Ashley rolled her eyes. “Shut up. He’s trying to find his girlfriend.”

“What’s the got to do with you?”

“Tony. Go away. I don’t need you playing big brother right now alright. I can handle myself.”

“Yeah… you’d like to handle him yourself. Let’s go.”

Ashley rolled her eyes at him and looked at Martin. “Sorry. I’ll see you around.” She stalked off behind Tony leaving Martin to stare after them in amusement.

“Martin!”

He turned around and saw Macayla waving at him as she pushed through a crowd of onlookers. “Hey…” she kissed him quickly and waited for him to say something about her neck. She wasn’t going to hide it cause that would probably make him more angry and even more wary.

“Hey,” he smiled back, slipping his arms around her waist and pulling her against him. “Where’s Kellen?”

“I left him napping with Dale.”

He took her hand and started towards the drivers lot. “Does that mean you have the rest of the day free?”

“I don until Dale needs me to take Kellen. I’m not sure when that will be.”

When they got back to her coach, he took the key from her and unlocked the door and followed her inside immediately pushing her against the wall once they’d cleared the stairs. Before she knew what was going on, his lips were crushing against hers as his tongue plunged the depths of her mouth.

He pulled back and looked into her dark eyes, her need mirroring his. He peppered kissed along her jaw then down the column of her throat before a dark mark at the hollow of her throat caught his eye.

Martin stepped back from her and his eyes narrowed angrily. “What the hell is that?”

-next-

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