I took a step closer. “Maybe you should stop eye fucking her, asshole.”
Malcolm held up his hands and laughed. “Whoa, settle yourself down there, top gun. Even if I wanted to get into Adaline’s pants, she’d never let me. And believe me, I’ve tried.”
I grabbed onto his shirt and pushed him against the wall. “You motherfucker,” I said as I reached back to knock the shit out of him.
Waldo ran up and grabbed me as he pulled me off of Malcolm. Laughing, Malcolm shook his head as he fixed his shirt and tie. “You always were hot headed, Emmit.”
I tried to bust out of the arms of Waldo to go after Malcolm again. “You’re lucky Waldo saved your ass again, you prick.”
Malcolm walked up to me and whispered, “Maybe I’ll take another shot at her.”
Breaking free of Waldo, I reached back and went to punch Malcolm when Adaline stood in front of me and placed both hands on my chest, giving me a hard push.
“Emmit! Stop this now. Don’t let him egg you on. He’s trying to get you to punch him on purpose.”
My eyes landed on Adaline’s pleading face. It killed me to see that look of disappointment in her eyes. “Please, let whatever it is go. He’s not worth it.”
I pointed to Malcolm. “This isn’t over.”
Malcolm threw his head back and laughed. “I’ll be waiting whenever you’re ready, Emmit.”
I turned to Waldo. “I’m sorry. I’m headed back to the bus. It’s been a long day.”
With a nod, Waldo said, “I think that’s for the best.”
I made my way over to Jack. “I’m sorry, Jack; he knows how to push my buttons. I’m a little on edge this evening.”
Jack looked over my shoulder and I knew he was looking at Adaline. “I’m glad she stopped you before you did something you would have regretted.”
My hand went through my hair as I let out a sigh. “Yeah, I’m tired and I think I’ll head back to my bus.” Glancing over to Lynn, I asked, “I can stay if you’d like me to escort you back to the hotel?”
With a sweet smile, Lynn nodded. “I’m tired myself, and I think I’ll take you up on that offer right now.” Giving Jack a kiss on the cheek, Lynn said, “Do you mind if I bug out, Uncle Jack? I can probably catch Brandon if I get back in time to call him.”
Jack gave Lynn a warm smile. “Of course. I’m sure this is all overwhelming.”
Lynn lifted her hand and said, “Nonsense! I’m loving it. Night, Uncle Jack. I’ll see you first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Welcome to Elliot Racing. Never a dull moment.” Jack kissed her back.
Lynn laughed before glancing my way. “I see that.”
Lynn took my arm as we said goodnight to a few people and made our way to the elevators.
“She can’t keep her eyes off of us. You do know that, right?” Lynn asked me as I hit the down button and waited for an elevator.
Taking a quick look back into the room, Adaline was staring at us. She looked away when I caught her stare. “Well, I’m no longer her concern. She made that clear three years ago when she turned down my marriage proposal.”
“Oh,” Lynn said under her breath. “Did she have a reason?”
I cracked my neck from side to side as I let out the breath I had been holding. “Yeah, she didn’t want to be a NASCAR wife. Seems she didn’t love me as much as I loved her.”
Lynn turned and faced me. “Really? Because the fact that she hasn’t been able to take her eyes off of you all evening says different.”
My heart dropped at Lynn’s comment. Had Adaline been watching me all evening? Shrugging my shoulders, I wanted to change the subject. “She wanted other things. Things I couldn’t give her. It is what it is.”
Lynn was silent as we rode the elevator down and out to the limo that was waiting for us.
We rode to the hotel in silence. The limo pulled up and I smiled at Lynn. “Would you like for me to walk you up to your room?”
Lynn stepped out of the limo and then leaned back in. “No, thank you. Hey Emmit?”
“Yeah?”
Lynn’s face turned serious as she said, “Don’t do something you’ll regret tomorrow morning.”
With a half hearted smile and a quick head nod, I said, “Night, Lynn. See you tomorrow.”
“Night. See ya tomorrow.”
The door to the limo shut, and the driver asked, “Where to Mr. Lewis?”
I pulled my phone out as I searched for the number I was looking for.
“One second please,” I said as I hit her number.
“Hey, Emmit!”
Closing my eyes, I shook my head. “You busy?”
Hearing the noise in the background, I knew my baby sister was most likely at a party somewhere in Dallas. She’d been up since yesterday and watched my qualifying run, hung out with Lynn and me for a bit and then took off to hit the nightlife of Dallas.
“Nope! Just met up with some friends, but I’m totally down with leaving.” My sister just turned twenty-one, and I knew she had been looking forward to this trip with her two best friends. “Your girls with you still?”