Love In The Fast Lane Part 16

Brielle smiled at the beautiful brunette in front of her and reached out to cover her hand with her own. "Em, you deserve some happiness. So, if you are having fun with Luca, then go for it. Just don't give him your heart unless he's willing to take care of it."

"Thanks, Bree. He's just different this time around. Like he's matured or something. In Brazil he was like a h.o.r.n.y man-child. And now he's more... refined."

"How did you even see him again?"

"It's so boring actually. We b.u.mped into each other at the gym. He was sparring with one of the instructors and then he took off his s.h.i.+rt and I was a goner."

"You dog you."

"Hey! Women have needs too."

"Preaching to the choir, honey."

"Well, what about you and Nate?

"What about me and Nate?"

"Well, there's clearly some s.e.xual tension there. Are you going to do the deed?"

"It's not so easy with us. We have Noah to think about you know. A s.e.xual relations.h.i.+p with us could lead to things getting confusing for Noah. I don't want him to think that we are suddenly going to be a regular family." Brielle conveniently left out the part where she had practically jumped Nate a few nights ago.

"Yeah I understand. The s.e.xual frustration has got to be killing you though."

"It's like an itch that I just cannot reach. But when I do get it scratched, I'm going to scratch and scratch till it itches no more."

"Hi, Momma," Noah greeted when Brielle picked him up from after care that afternoon.

"Hi sweetheart, how was your day?"

"It was great! I gops an A plus on my show and tell project."

"That's great Noah, well done."

Noah beamed. "Miss Lincoln said that it was well researched and that I had learnt so much about racing."

"That's amazing, I am so proud of you."

"Mr. Wolfe taught me everything, so it's all because of him."

"He sure did help you my angel, but it was you who did the presentation and you remembered all of what he taught you."

The young child looked thoughtful, mentally patting himself on the back.

"But you be sure to tell Nate that when you see him ok?"

Noah nodded excitedly. He continued to tell Brielle about his project presentation during the rest of the drive home. When they arrived, Brielle got busy preparing their meal for the night. Just before she could call Noah for dinner, the phone rang.

"h.e.l.lo," she answered.

"Hey, Brielle."

"Nate?" The sound of his voice had her relaxing muscles she hadn't realized were tense. "Hey, how are you?"

"I'm great, and you."

"I'm fine." It was like they were two strangers exchanging pleasantries. "Where are you?"

"I'm at the Madrid airport. Just thought I'd check in on Noah before I boarded."

"Oh. Yeah sure, just a sec."

She called for Noah and gave him the receiver.

"h.e.l.lo? Oh hi, Mr. Wolfe!" "Yeah I'm great, my race track was a huge hit, my teacher wants to meet you." "When are you coming back?" "Oh boy! Can we fly a kite? I've never done that before." "That will be great! Ok, bye Nate."

"Dinner's ready," Brielle called when she heard the receiver click back in place.

She was oddly disappointed that Nate hadn't wanted to speak to her. She chastised herself for the thought they were in no sort of relations.h.i.+p and she had no right expecting anything from him. Then why did it annoy her that Miss Lincoln, Noah's teacher had wanted to meet Nate. She was a young, attractive woman and the thought of the two of them together in a closed cla.s.sroom irritated her. She was in no position to feel possessive over Noah's father. It was the s.e.xual frustration talking, it had to be.

Noah chattered happily through dinner, distracting Brielle from her own thoughts.

"Noah?"

"Yes, Momma?"

"You know that you don't have to call your dad Nate or Mr. Wolfe."

Noah gave her an odd look, like he was conflicted.

"When you are ready," she explained, "you can call him 'dad' when you feel comfortable."

"Won't he mind?"

"No sweetheart, I don't think he would mind. That's his role in your life."

"Ok, Momma," he said quietly, before finis.h.i.+ng up his macaroni and cheese.

The next evening Nate got off the plane in Florida feeling exhausted. The trip was long and the team was in a foul mood because they hadn't even placed in the top five. They had dropped two places overall since Nate's accident. Luca was feeling the pressure as the lead driver now and the secondary driver, Martin, was just not cutting it as Nate and Luca had as a duo. As a result, the usually laid back and carefree Luca was now p.i.s.sed off and grumpy. He hadn't muttered so much as two words to anyone since they had boarded the plane. Nate knew when to leave him alone and this was one of those moments. He needed to work through his own feelings about the sport before he articulated anything to anyone else.

Nate's shoulder was killing him. The plane ride had him stiff and awkward and his muscles pulling in agony. He tried to roll the kinks out but the pain was running down his nerves. His shoulder was still strapped in place so he was limited in his movements. He got into a taxi and knew that he would have to use the jets in his shower to ease the pain tonight.

He instead found himself outside Brielle's one-story. He hadn't even realized what address he had given the driver. It was late and he really shouldn't be here but he wanted to see Noah. And as much as he was trying to kid himself, he wanted to see Brielle, too.

"Keep the meter running," he instructed the cab driver before he got out and walked up to her door.

He knocked and waited while Brielle came to the door.

"Hey," she said in unfeigned surprise. "What are you doing here?"

He took in her short silky gown, starting at her slender neck, revealing a trail of creamy pale skin. "I came to see Noah."

Something flashed in her azure eyes and then she silently stood aside and let him in.

"I know it's late," he continued. "I just found myself here. Is Noah awake?"

"You're in luck, he just got tucked in."

Nate made his way to the child's room, aware of Brielle following a distance behind him.

He knocked lightly and then opened the door to walk in.

"Momma?" Noah asked groggily.

Nate put on the side light and sat on the bed beside the small boy. "No buddy, it's me."

"Hi, Nate," he rolled around to face Nate. "Is it morning already? I feel like I've only been asleep for five seconds."

Nate smiled. "It's still night-time buddy. I'm sorry to wake you. I came straight from the airport. I just wanted to say goodnight."

The young child smiled up at Nate, almost as though appreciating the gesture. "Are you going to come by tomorrow?"

"I don't know, Buddy. Maybe on Sat.u.r.day ok?"

Noah nodded and without so much as a second thought, fell back to sleep.

Nate lifted the duvet to cover his small shoulders and took a minute to appreciate his son. So many moments missed but he was slowly earning his time with Noah. He turned off the light and left the room. He found Brielle in the doorway and he was careful to keep a safe distance from her. He wasn't sure if he was ready for a happily-ever-after scene with her just because they had a child together, and the feelings he experienced around her scared him. Some physical and emotional distance was in order.

"That's awfully nice, what you did." She commented as she walked him to the door.

"This parenting thing makes you do things without thinking."

"You look tired." She looked at him, as though looking right through him. "And in pain." She touched his injured shoulder and he nearly winced in pain. "Let me ma.s.sage it out."

"No," he said quickly. "I have to get home, I have a cab waiting."

"Oh." She looked like he'd hurt her.

Dammit.

"I'd like to take Noah for the weekend. I have a beach house and I'd like to take him fis.h.i.+ng."

"Nate, I don't think it's a great idea. I know you mean well but Noah has never left home without me before."

Before he could stop himself he said, "Then you come too. It's a big house with enough rooms. I promised him I'd teach him how to fly a kite and the beach house will give us the privacy we need."

Brielle was quiet for a while before she nodded, ok.

"Great, I will pick you up on Sat.u.r.day morning."

With that said, he turned and walked to the waiting taxi cab.

CHAPTER 13.

WHEN SAt.u.r.dAY ROLLED AROUND BRIELLE was apprehensive. She was packed and ready to go but she was seriously doubting whether it was a good idea to go at all. Nate had been acting hot and cold. During her recent encounters with him, he appeared to be so aloof. Whenever he called, he barely engaged her in any pleasantries before he asked for Noah with whom he chatted merrily.

She knew she shouldn't feel offended, considering he was Noah's father first before anything to her. They had shared a s.e.xual encounter six years ago and had had no emotional ties to each other since then.

When he arrived, he came to the door and Brielle had to look twice to appreciate his beauty. He was decked out in dark jeans and a t-s.h.i.+rt with his aviators on the bridge of his nose. The man looked like he should be on a modeling runway. Looks this good should be illegal. His hair had that soft, mussed-up look and Brielle was tempted to lean forward and brush her fingers through it.

"Hey," he greeted. "You guys ready to go?"

"Yeah."

He picked up her luggage as she turned back into the house to call for Noah.

"I'm here!!" he shouted as he hurtled out in his beach shorts with snorkel gear attached to his head.

Nate looked amused.

"Noah, what is this now?"

"I'm ready for the beach, Momma."

"Snorkel? Honey you can't even swim."

"How is that possible?" Nate asked incredulously. "How can he not know how to swim?"

"We never got around to it," she stated defensively. "I will teach him soon enough." She turned back to her over-zealous child. "Noah, pack your toys and put on a s.h.i.+rt please."

He left the room and came back dressed for their trip.

Brielle locked up behind her and stared at the gleaming Land Rover ahead of her. The SUV looked big and intimidating. Not to mention fancy and expensive. She had never been in anything fancier than a family car before and as she slipped into the pa.s.senger seat, she sunk into luxury. She closed her eyes to appreciate it for a moment, seeing as she would probably never make enough money to afford a cla.s.s act like this.

She turned toward Nate as he slipped into the driver's seat. "Are you ok to drive?" gesturing to his arm, which two days ago had been wrapped in a sling.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Feeling better each day."

He turned around to face Noah. "You ok there buddy? Strapped in and ready to go?"

"Are we there yet?" Noah asked playfully.

"I take that as a yes."