A Bad Boy's Gift

Chapter 45

We arrive at the car park where everyone is waiting to get on the road. 

Standing by the car I notice a few cars that I've seen plenty of times before, with a couple that I've not. The one that sticks out is an old Golf GTI with a young boy leaning against the bonnet, his eyes trained on me while talking to his friend, keeping a smirk on his face. 

His baby face sits on top of a set of broad shoulders and a strong chest, which is all I can see above the crowd. He looks like he's about 23, I notice a tattoo peeking out on the side of his neck and although I can't see all of it, the top of it looks like some form of army or marine symbol. 

"Well, I don't know if I got chance to tell you before we left the rabbit warren, but you look hot as hell!" Jenna says, standing in front of me, drawing my attention back to my support group.

I frown at her, "I don't know whether the take that as a compliment?" I mumble, my mind still focussed somewhere else. 

I recognise his face, but it's not recent. 

The sound of a voice over a loud speaker changes my focus and I turn in the direction it came from. 

"Gentlemen! A...and Lady," the man smirks, looking in my direction, "we're starting at junction five and working our way up to junction fifteen tonight, start rolling at 15 miles an hour until you get to junction six, then let rip! Remember, you're on the motorway, so please don't cause any accidents, stay focused." He looks round, earning a few nods from the crowd. "Okay, get yourselves on the road."

Archer gives me a kiss and wishes me luck before the three of them walk away to where the spectators wait.

The man climbs down from his truck bed and makes his way over toward me as I start my engine. 

"River, I'm glad you're back." He shakes my hand, "I don't expect you to win today, you've been out for six weeks, but I know you'll give it your hardest try." He smirks. 

"Thanks, John." I smile at him, "Thanks for coming to Mum and Dad's funeral by the way. It was nice to see some of the boys too."

"I think Jake is here tonight, he only started racing a few months ago, but he's our best driver out in the field so he's been doing pretty well. Took a couple of firsts round the raceway near yours." He smirks.

"Jake? What does he drive?" I ask, recognising the name as one of the guys who worked for my Dad.

"GTI I think," he looks around, then in the direction I was looking before his announcement. "There." He points, and I already know where he's looking.

The lad that was watching me a few minutes before finishes his conversation with his friend before staring to make his way over. 

With a lot less people between us, I notice the design on his tee-shirt and I gulp. 

The words say - Abbott Security - with my Dad's company emblem above it. 

"John," Jake greets, "Miss Abbott."

I can feel the frown sitting on my face, "Have I met you before?" I ask.

"I saw you a couple of times at the raceway, but I worked for your Dad, John here is my team leader." He extends his hand for a hand shake, "Jake."

"River," I tell him, returning his handshake, "I think I remember seeing you at my last race at the raceway, you were hot on my heels..."

"Yeah, that was me," his smirk is almost a grin, remembering that he was close behind me. 

I just nod before turning to John.

"Hey, John, does that mean I'm Jake's boss now?" I smirk back, knowing the answer.