The Rookie (Racing On The Edge #7) by Shey Stahl Read Free Book Online Page B

at sixteen months old. Daddy, mama, papa and race. And recently, win.
    Typical Riley child.
    Lexi took off immediately when we got to the track and found Abigale, the Pretty Princess as we called her. Lane’s only daughter hated dirt. And here she was being raised at dirt tracks. The kid didn’t stand a chance.
    Bailey was constantly having to clean her off with baby wipes. It wasn’t because she wanted to either. It was because Abigale would literally go crazy if any dirt was on her or her clothes. People in my family definitely had their skin phobias.
    Beside me, Brody stood watching the boys putting heat in Axel and Rager’s cars.
    Casten, Dad and Justin were on the track doing hot laps.
    I couldn’t see Rager but knew he was around somewhere. It’d been a few months since I saw him and it never got easier. I may be married now but you never forget your first love. The one who broke my heart too. I doubt anyone knew Rager Sweet was my first love. I don’t even think Rager knows.
    He might, but maybe not.
    My attention was pulled to the pits around me and the hallow sound of sprint cars pulling off the track. Being in the pits at an Outlaw race is different than being at a NASCAR race. More laid back but just as busy.
    Rager and Axel emerged from his hauler, both laughing and dressed in their racing suits. Tommy followed behind them and it appeared they were laughing at something he was telling them. More than likely inappropriate banter that’s best left to their set of ears.
    Neither of them saw me, tucked behind Brody. Rager looked over at Brody, and then the other way. It wasn’t that they didn’t get along, it was that Rager didn’t talk much. He’s pretty quiet…a lot like me, always listening and observing his surroundings.
    Dad, Casten and Justin all came in from hot laps at the same time, one right after another. The throaty pop as the engines surged caught my attention. I loved that sound.
    Dad saw me and revved his engine as he came to a stop in front of the haulers.
    I backed up slighting when a few fans gathered, two or three asking for autographs as soon as dad was out of the car.
    To my left Tommy and Willie hopped on black 4-wheelers and pushed Axel and Rager onto the track for their hot lap session.
    Mom came up behind me and wrapped her arms around me. She smelled like beer, methanol and her Victoria’s Secret perfume she always wore.
    Smiling, I turned and hugged her, my arms wrapping around her delicate body. She had most certainly lost weight since Gray’s birthday party.
    “You okay?” I asked, pulling back to look at her.
    Hayden did the same giving my mom a once over. Everyone knew something was up but she denied it.
    “Feeling great!” She wasn’t fooling me. From the corner of my eye, I saw dad to my left watching her, sadness present and that’s when I knew she wasn’t okay. The look at his face said it all.
    The commotion of the second hot laps session ended and all the guys giving feedback made us girls move aside. I did sneak a quick hug from my dad and Casten and then found Dave beside Axel’s hauler smoking ribs. I’m pretty sure Dave was kept around only because he could cook. He was full of a shitload of dumb ideas and bad decisions and that’s saying something since he makes Tommy look like a saint.
    “That smells fucking amazing!” Lexi said, opening the door to the smoker.
    “Don’t touch that.” Dave slapped her hand away. “You’ll fuck up my process.”
    “When will they be done?”
    “Soon. Just don’t touch.”
    Lexi glared, her dark eyebrows pushed together in a scowl. “Slap my hand again Dave and I’ll shove it up your ass.” He was actually taking this cooking gig to a whole new level…process, my ass. The smoker does all the work.
    When the heat races begin Lexi and I went and sat in the stands. She’s was afraid she was going to chew someone’s arm off so we stopped by the concession stands and got some food and beer.
    “When are you