She slipped her hand in her panties, and released the sound he liked, grateful that his parents slept downstairs. “This is a little wicked, doing this in your parents’

house.”

“That’s what makes it fun. If my mother wasn’t such a light sleeper and didn’t get up several times a night, I’d be in your room taking your clothes off right now.”

“I’d like that. I really wanted to go to your room with you tonight.”

“Pull your straps down, Evelyn. Let me see your breasts.”

It was hard to maneuver the phone with one hand and direct the camera in the right place, but she dropped the straps on her tank top, revealing her breasts.

“Nice. I wish I was there to suck them.”

Her pu**y tightened with arousal. She brought the camera back so she could see him. “When you say that, I get wet.”

“That’s good. Touch yourself for me, tell me how wet you are.”

“Hang on.” Anxious to be rid of her panties, she pulled them down and left them at the foot of the bed, then picked up the phone and spread her legs, patting her sex, teasing her clit, letting him watch her face as she tucked two fingers into her pussy.

“Oh, that’s so good.”

“I like watching you, Evelyn. Will you do that for me in person sometime?”

“Yes. Only if you’ll touch your c**k for me at the same time.”

He rolled to his side and she watched his arm. “I’d love to jack off for you.”

She found her cl*tand caressed it, using the heel of her hand to apply the right amount of pressure as she kept her fingers busy inside her pussy. “I wish you were here, that you were inside me.”

“I’d like that. My balls are tight and my cock’s so hard it’s ready to burst.”

“Show me how you do it, Gray.”

He moved the camera and she watched his hand gripping the base of his shaft, the way he squeezed as he pumped his fist over his cock, then eased up at the tip, rolling his thumb over it, then used a steady rhythm to pump up and down.

It was the most exciting thing she’d ever seen. She rolled her hand over her pu**y as she watched, mesmerized.

“I’m ready to come, Evelyn,” he said, and she looked at him, watching the strain on his face as the movements of his arm grew faster and more frantic.

“Me, too. Talk to me, Gray. Make me come for you.”

“Rub your pu**y faster. I want to hear you scream for me.”

“Oh, God. I can’t scream. Your parents will hear.”

“Then roll over and scream into the pillow. I just want to know you’re coming. And I’ll come with you.”

“No. I want to watch you come. I’ll hold back, but the next time you make love to me, I’ll scream loud for you.”

His hand was working hard over his c**k now. Sweat beaded down the side of his face. “Now, Evelyn. I want you to come now.”

“I’m so close.” Her ni**les tightened and she felt the stirrings of orgasm. “I’m going to come, Gray. I’m going to come.”

With his guttural groan, he rolled over onto his back, holding the camera out so she could see the streams of come spurting onto his belly.

“Oh, God, yes,” she said, fighting back the scream as her cl**ax slammed into her.

He turned his face to the camera, his c**k held tightly in his fist as he lifted his h*ps and she buried her fingers in her pu**y while she shuddered through a wild, crazy orgasm that left her shaking and sweaty.

When it was over, she dropped the phone onto the mattress and had to catch her breath.

“Hey,” he finally said. “I need a few minutes. I’ll be right back.”

“Me too,” she said, staring up at the ceiling fan, still trying to breathe normally. She rolled off the bed and went into the bathroom. When she came back, Gray’s face was smiling at her on the phone. He was stretched out on his side as he lay on the bed.

“Thanks for that,” he said. “That took away the last of the day’s tension.”

She grinned at him. “Mine, too. I think I might even be able to sleep tonight.”

“Good. I’d still like it better if you were in my bed.”

Her stomach fluttered. “I’d like it better, too.”

“Tomorrow night, you will be.”

“Good night, Gray.”

“’Night, Evelyn.”

She clicked off, rolled over, and closed her eyes, unable to remove the smile from her face.

TWENTY

GRAY HAD EVELYN CHANGE THEIR FLIGHT. NOW THAT HE knew Bill was sick, it was important that he at least stop by and see him. They were flying out later that afternoon, which would still give him plenty of time to meet up with his crew and prepare for practice and qualifying.

“Tell me about Bill Briscoe,” Evelyn said as they drove to the university.

Gray smiled as the memories flooded him. “He and his wife Ginger were dorm parents the entire four years I was at the university. And from day one, Bill was the father figure I needed—hell, the father figure all of us guys needed. He gave me advice and discipline and warmth and compassion, especially during those critical college years when I floundered, when I felt lost and alone after . . .”

He paused, realizing he was going on and on about stuff he normally didn’t talk about—with anyone.

“You can tell me, Gray. It’s not like this is going to end up in social media. This is personal and I understand that.”

“After my father and I had a falling out when I decided not to go to Harvard and took the baseball scholarship to Oklahoma. Things were rough after that.”

“Because your father thought your schooling and career should go one way, and you wanted to go in another direction.”

“Yes. He wanted me to go into law, and eventually follow him into politics. That was never my passion.”

She nodded. “Because sports had always been what you loved.”

Funny how easily she understood that, and his father never had. “Yeah. The old man was pissed when I turned down Harvard.”

“Understandable. It’s always a parent’s dream that a child will follow in their footsteps. I’m sure he was disappointed.”

“Oh, he was more than disappointed. He railed about it, called me a failure, and told me I was wasting my life. And then he cut me off financially from the family money.

He told me if I was going to insist on making this mistake, I’d be doing it on my own.”

“Oh, God.” She laid her hand on his leg. “I’m so sorry, Gray.”

He shrugged, keeping his gaze firmly on the road. “I was so used to him always having to have his own way, by the time he’d made that decision I’d already figured that’s probably what he was going to do.”

“Didn’t your mother run interference for you?”

“She tried, but once Mitchell Preston makes a decision, no one can change his mind. There wasn’t much she could do. The family money is all his. But I had the scholarship to Oklahoma, so I didn’t need his money. I worked my ass off at school, worked part-time to cover whatever the scholarship didn’t. I managed just fine. Even got an offer from a major league team.”

He glanced over at her. She was frowning.

“But you didn’t pursue baseball.”

“Yeah, I know. It was enough to know I could have succeeded. I liked playing ball, but my love was always in racing. After I graduated college I pursued it professionally, made it my full-time career.”

“You’ve done very well for yourself. You should be proud. And all without Preston money.”

Hearing the words from Evelyn sank deep into his chest. “Thanks. I got lucky and raced with someone who showed me the ropes and allowed me to hone my instincts.

He gave me a car and let me show what I could do. After I won a championship, the money from sponsors started rolling in, enough to sustain me until I turned twenty-five. That’s when I received the inheritance my grandfather left for me, something my father couldn’t control.

“I took that money and started Preston Racing, went out on my own and built a successful race team, won another championship.”

When she didn’t say anything, he shifted his gaze to hers. “What?”

Her lips curved. “There’s such a spark when you talk about racing. I can’t imagine you ever having that kind of fire in you in law or politics.”

He let out a laugh. “I’d have hated it. I’d have been miserable.”

“Not many people get to do what they love.”

He took the exit that would lead to the main road and the college. When he stopped at the light, he turned to her. “You are.”

“That’s true. I guess both of us are very lucky.”

“I guess we are. And I have Bill Briscoe to thank for that. He kept me focused, made me pull my head out of my ass. I arrived with a huge chip on my shoulder and a lot to prove. He knocked that off and told me to stop thinking about my dad, stop being mad at him and start focusing on myself.”

He turned left at the light and made his way down the road. “He helped shape who I am today. I owe him a lot. I just hope he’s okay.”

Evelyn leaned over and squeezed his leg. “Me, too.”

Bill and Ginger’s house was on campus, just down the street from the dorms. Gray parked in front and got out.

“Drew and Trevor aren’t here yet, but there’s a car I don’t recognize in the driveway. It might be Haven,” he said as he held the door for Evelyn.

“Haven being their daughter?”

“Yeah. She was around a lot when we were in school. Even attended the college.

She’s the same age as Carolina. She tutored Trevor for a while.” Gray smiled. “God, he hated that.”

The house looked the same, though it could have used a new coat of paint. The white trim was flaked in spots, and a few of the porch steps looked like they could use some reinforcing—or maybe replacing. Otherwise, the one-story ranch-style house still had hanging geraniums, the same two white rocking chairs on the porch, and the front door was open as always.

Gray knocked on the screen door. “Anyone home?”

“Someone’s always home,” Ginger Briscoe said. “Come on in.”

Gray shook his head and turned to Evelyn. “Ginger and Bill don’t believe in strangers. You knock, you’re always welcome to come in.”

Evelyn looked a little wide eyed with disbelief over that one. So had Gray, the first time Bill had told him that, but that’s the kind of people they were.

He held the door open for Evelyn and they stepped in. Something was cooking.

Smelled like chicken.

Ginger came down the long hallway, her face beaming in a wide smile as she spotted him.

“Grayson Preston. I can’t believe you’re here.” She opened her arms and he picked her up in a hug.

“Miss Ginger. It’s been too long.”

She squeezed him, patted him on the back, and when he set her down, her smile was still as wide as the entire state.

“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be out somewhere breaking speed limits?”

He laughed. “I was at the ranch for the Fourth, so thought I’d drop by. Miss Ginger, this is my friend Evelyn Hill. Evelyn, this is Ginger Briscoe, best cook in all of Oklahoma and the most gorgeous woman in the state.”

“Oh, you’re still a sweet talker, I see.” Ginger turned to Evelyn and, though Evelyn had started to extend her hand, she folded her into a hug. “If you’re with Gray, you get a hug from me. Nice to meet you, Evelyn.”

Evelyn blinked and looked surprised. “Nice to meet you too, Ginger . . . Mrs. . . .

Miss Ginger.”

“There you go. Now you two must be thirsty. How about some sweet tea? I just made a fresh batch.”

Gray nodded. “That’d be great. Where’s Bill?”

“He’s in the kitchen bothering me while I’m trying to cook. Come on back. He’ll be pleased as punch to see you.”

Gray took Evelyn’s hand and led her down the hall. Yeah, still the same yellow and blue striped wallpaper, still the same dark hardwood floors throughout the house, the same white tile in the kitchen. And everything polished and clean and smelling like lemon oil. It reminded him of home, way more than the ranch ever had.

Ginger looked the same, maybe a little older and a little heftier than the last time he’d seen her. But still sharp and filled with energy.

When they walked into the kitchen, though, his heart sank.

Bill, on the other hand, had changed. He’d lost a considerable amount of weight, his hair was thinner, his skin sallow.

“Well, look who decided to drop by. I thought you forgot our address.” With a wide grin, Bill stood, though not without some effort.

Gray went over and put his arms around him, trying not to tear up at the sight of the man who’d been more of a father to him than his own father. He fought back the tears and forced a smile as the two of them parted.

“Yeah, I know. I’ve been bad about coming to visit, but I’m here now, aren’t I?”

Bill offered up a smile. “Yeah, I guess you are.”

Gray introduced Bill to Evelyn.

“Isn’t she just the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen—aside from my Ginger, of course,”

Bill said, then turned to Gray. “Prettier than most of those floozies I’ve seen you with on TV. This one has class, Gray. You should marry her.”

Evelyn coughed and Gray’s lips curved into a smile. “She’s definitely pretty, and classy.”