should get some shut-eye,â Linc said.
They did not have to leave early, but Marley wasnât about to argue the point. Obviously, Linc really hadcome to the realization that Sharon was doing her best to attract his interest and was trying to put a stop to things.
âI should head upstairs, too,â Marley said.
There was nothing Sharon could say to that, at least not without sounding rude, and so Marley found herself standing, her upper body wobbling a bit. Linc came around and steadied her with his hand.
âEasy there,â Linc said. âYour brother will have my hide if I let something happen to you.â
Sharonâs eyes widened at the familiarity of the gesture, so much so that Marley found herself saying, âLincâs like a big brother to me,â as they walked out. âIâve known him since I was a teenager.â
âReally?â Sharon asked, seeming a bit appeased by the explanation.
âIn fact, I used to have the biggest crush on him.â She opened her arms wide, nearly clocking Linc in the nose. âOoo. Sorry,â she said.
They were in the main lobby now. Linc had to steady her again when they came to a stop.
âIâll just bet you did,â Sharon said, eyeing the two of them together.
âBut he rejected me and I got mad.â It was one of those moments when you know youâve had too much to drink, but you canât help saying the first thing that pops into your mind. âSo I set his race car on fire.â
âYou did what?â Sharon cried.
Marley nodded, swaying a bit. She knew she would hear about this later, but hoped Sharon wouldnât think any less of Double S Racing when the head of sponsor relations was clearly tipsy.
Oh, well.
âYup,â she said. âThrew a shop rag inside and lit it on fire.â
âYouâre kidding,â Sharon said, sounding more and more horrified.
âI didnât mean to catch the whole thing on fire,â she said. âI just wanted to scorch Lincâs custom race seat.â
âBut one of the techs had just used degreaser to clean off the interior,â Linc provided.
âOh, no,â Sharon said.
âIt, too, caught on fire,â Marley admitted.
âBefore we knew it, the whole car went up in flames,â Linc said. â Not one of my best moments,â Marley said.
âI bet not,â Sharon said, appearing genuinely amused.
âShe was a major pain in my rear when she was younger.â
Was it the champagne she had ingested, or was that a look of tenderness in Lincâs eyes. No way. She was definitely imagining it.
âAnyway,â Linc said. âI always try to keep an eye out for her.â
âHow sweet,â Sharon said, but it was obvious she didnât really think that. She looked at Marley as more of an imposition, Marley could tell.
âHe is, isnât he?â Marley said, painting a look of adoration on her face.
âI guess weâll find out,â Sharon said, suddenly all business. âThank you for joining me for dinner,â she said to Marley. âLinc, we look forward to working with you.â
âSame here,â Linc said.
And then they were alone.
âCome on,â Linc said. âLetâs get you to your room.â
But when he turned away, Marley was struck by the notion that she didnât want this night to end and, even more shockingly, that yet again her crush had come backâfull force, and that she was just tipsy enough to act on it.
âOh, dear,â she heard herself mutter.
CHAPTER FIVE
L INC KNEW she was tipsy. âWhat?â he asked. âAre you going to be sick?â
She shook her head, but on her face was a look of horror akin to someone whoâd just seen an apparition. âIâm fine,â she said softly.
âUh-huh,â he said, hooking his arm through hers so he could lead her past the registration