need to understand that racing isn’t just racing for the Mathesons,” Gaby explained, trying not to sound like a desperate rescue mission. “Zack’s entire family is involved in the team. Naturally, his wife would be too, to whatever extent she chose.”
“Tell me about your family’s history in NASCAR,” Kaye said.
Zack stretched, and Gaby’s gaze got hung up on his lean length, the play of muscles in his arms as he clasped his hands behind his head. Kaye appeared equally fascinated. “It all started with my father,” he said. “Dad was a NASCAR champion back in the 1960s. He still has the blood of a champion in his veins, strong as ever. He’s an inspiration.”
Zack’s respect and love for his father were obvious; Gaby thought she spied a minuscule softening in the reporter’s demeanor. “Your brothers,” Kaye said. “They’re involved in the team, too, right?”
Uh-oh. Gaby was racking her brain for a way around certain trouble when Zack said, “In recent years, Chad and Trent have been a lot more involved than I have.”
“You’re the odd one out,” Kaye suggested. Zack’s face darkened.
“He sure is,” Gaby chirped. “He’s the only one who’s still a bachelor.” Zack’s glare told her he didn’t welcome a return to that topic.
“I covered Trent’s wedding for the magazine.” Kaye’s expression turned dreamy. “What a wonderful day. We did a photo shoot of Chad and Brianna, too.”
Trent’s wedding had been a highlight of the NASCAR social calendar earlier this year, and the announcement of Chad’s reunion with Brianna, his “secret wife,” had generated many column inches in the women’s magazines.
Zack gave a noncommittal grunt.
“Both your brothers married career women,” Kaye observed.
“More to the point,” Zack said, “they both married incredible women. Kelly is perfect for Trent, she puts a dent in his ego while still making him feel like the luckiest, happiest guy in the world.”
Kaye laughed.
“And Brianna…” Zack pondered Chad’s wife, and a slow smile took over his face. “She has this amazing knack for taking the pressure off Chad. He can get pretty uptight, but when Brianna’s in the room, he’s doesn’t give a damn about anything.”
“Wonderful,” Kaye breathed. She wasn’t talking about Chad, Gaby figured. Nope, she was looking at the way Zack’s harsh face had softened, and the wistfulness in his eyes.
“Then there’s Dad and Julie-Anne,” Zack said. “Dad’s not an easy guy, but in Julie-Anne’s hands, he’s like butter.”
“Mmm-hmm.” Kaye didn’t dare do more than make an encouraging noise. Gaby contented herself with a silent nod.
“I guess,” Zack said contemplatively, “my brothers and my dad found the women who were right for them. None of those women met any checklist, they probably weren’t logical choices. But as it turns out, those three are the happiest guys I know.”
A flash of white light broke the mood. Kaye glared at the photographer, who shrugged without apology. “Too good to miss,” he said.
Zack yawned. “Are we done here?”
“Did you get that wave in Zack’s hair in that shot?” Gaby asked.
“I don’t have a wave in my hair,” Zack said, alarmed.
“Got it,” the photographer said.
“What wave?” Zack ran a hand over his head.
“Very nice,” Kaye approved.
Zack got a hunted look. “There’s no wave.”
“It’s scarcely visible,” Gaby assured him.
“Then why did you want a photo of it?” he said suspiciously.
Gaby exchanged a humorous look with Kaye—the man had so little vanity, it was endearing.
“Smile, please, Zack.” The photographer took a half-dozen more shots, Zack’s cooperation decreasing with each one. At last, they were finished. Kaye shook Zack’s hand and said, “Good luck at Watkins Glen.”
Exhaustion fled, Zack’s face lit up. Kaye’s mouth dropped open at the sheer beauty of him; Gaby knew just how she felt. Carefully, the
“Tell me about your family’s history in NASCAR,” Kaye said.
Zack stretched, and Gaby’s gaze got hung up on his lean length, the play of muscles in his arms as he clasped his hands behind his head. Kaye appeared equally fascinated. “It all started with my father,” he said. “Dad was a NASCAR champion back in the 1960s. He still has the blood of a champion in his veins, strong as ever. He’s an inspiration.”
Zack’s respect and love for his father were obvious; Gaby thought she spied a minuscule softening in the reporter’s demeanor. “Your brothers,” Kaye said. “They’re involved in the team, too, right?”
Uh-oh. Gaby was racking her brain for a way around certain trouble when Zack said, “In recent years, Chad and Trent have been a lot more involved than I have.”
“You’re the odd one out,” Kaye suggested. Zack’s face darkened.
“He sure is,” Gaby chirped. “He’s the only one who’s still a bachelor.” Zack’s glare told her he didn’t welcome a return to that topic.
“I covered Trent’s wedding for the magazine.” Kaye’s expression turned dreamy. “What a wonderful day. We did a photo shoot of Chad and Brianna, too.”
Trent’s wedding had been a highlight of the NASCAR social calendar earlier this year, and the announcement of Chad’s reunion with Brianna, his “secret wife,” had generated many column inches in the women’s magazines.
Zack gave a noncommittal grunt.
“Both your brothers married career women,” Kaye observed.
“More to the point,” Zack said, “they both married incredible women. Kelly is perfect for Trent, she puts a dent in his ego while still making him feel like the luckiest, happiest guy in the world.”
Kaye laughed.
“And Brianna…” Zack pondered Chad’s wife, and a slow smile took over his face. “She has this amazing knack for taking the pressure off Chad. He can get pretty uptight, but when Brianna’s in the room, he’s doesn’t give a damn about anything.”
“Wonderful,” Kaye breathed. She wasn’t talking about Chad, Gaby figured. Nope, she was looking at the way Zack’s harsh face had softened, and the wistfulness in his eyes.
“Then there’s Dad and Julie-Anne,” Zack said. “Dad’s not an easy guy, but in Julie-Anne’s hands, he’s like butter.”
“Mmm-hmm.” Kaye didn’t dare do more than make an encouraging noise. Gaby contented herself with a silent nod.
“I guess,” Zack said contemplatively, “my brothers and my dad found the women who were right for them. None of those women met any checklist, they probably weren’t logical choices. But as it turns out, those three are the happiest guys I know.”
A flash of white light broke the mood. Kaye glared at the photographer, who shrugged without apology. “Too good to miss,” he said.
Zack yawned. “Are we done here?”
“Did you get that wave in Zack’s hair in that shot?” Gaby asked.
“I don’t have a wave in my hair,” Zack said, alarmed.
“Got it,” the photographer said.
“What wave?” Zack ran a hand over his head.
“Very nice,” Kaye approved.
Zack got a hunted look. “There’s no wave.”
“It’s scarcely visible,” Gaby assured him.
“Then why did you want a photo of it?” he said suspiciously.
Gaby exchanged a humorous look with Kaye—the man had so little vanity, it was endearing.
“Smile, please, Zack.” The photographer took a half-dozen more shots, Zack’s cooperation decreasing with each one. At last, they were finished. Kaye shook Zack’s hand and said, “Good luck at Watkins Glen.”
Exhaustion fled, Zack’s face lit up. Kaye’s mouth dropped open at the sheer beauty of him; Gaby knew just how she felt. Carefully, the
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