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CHASING THE TRUTH

As an assistant on a powerful racing team, Emma-Lee Dalton wants to prove herself in the thrill-a-minute NASCAR world—and impress Holt Forrester, the man she can’t stop thinking about.

But when she gives Holt the inside track, unaware of his real agenda, she falls hard and fast for him. Now she needs her billionaire boyfriend to admit the truth about everything—including how he feels about her.

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~*~*~

WHAT HE DIDN’T SAY ~ Chasing the Truth – Carol Stephenson
Release Date: August 1, 2010 – Harlequin NASCAR

He’d been lying to himself, Holt Forrester conceded as he dodged three men chest-bumping in the graveled parking area by the New Gorge River.  Minutes earlier the trio had parachuted together to a flawless bull’s-eye landing.  “Congratulations,” Holt called out without stopping.

Had he really thought he could handle the crush of people in attendance today?  Managing his investments based on cold, hard data was one thing.  Directing a tired mother with a wailing toddler to a port-a-potty was totally outside his comfort zone.  Still…

Pausing, he glanced up to the gleaming span of bridge eight hundred and seventy-six feet above.  Another jumper yelled a battle cry as he somersaulted off the platform.  Moments later a white parachute popped open against the blue sky.  Holt smiled.

Unbelievable.  He’d actually done it.  He’d pulled off the fund-raising event for breast cancer without a hitch.  All the months of convincing everyone in the West Virginia government from the governor to the Division of Highways to allow this special day of BASE —bridge, antennae, spans or earth— jumping had paid off.

The adrenaline buzz of his own jump still pumped through Holt along with pride and satisfaction.

He had known those adventurers who thrilled to parachute free falls wouldn’t be able to resist the lure of a legal jump off the second highest bridge in the United States.  All in the name of a good cause, the ‘Amanda Forrester Jump for Cancer’.

An event to honor his mother.  He’d been only twelve when she had lost her battle to breast cancer, but the memories of her efforts to maintain a normal life for him and his father despite her pain remained seared in his soul.

The latest jumper splashed into the river.  Volunteers gunned motorized inflatable rafts and raced toward the man to pluck him from the water.

Holt released a sigh of relief.  So far the event had gone without any major injury to any of the participants.  Only a cut here, a bruise there.

The only other thing that would make this day perfect would be to meet the woman with the smoky-warm voice who had called him from Double S Racing.  Emma-Lee Dalton.

He looked around for his assistant.  Ted would know if she had registered.  He might not be able to find her in this crowd, but surely she would be at the auction following the jumps.  Double S Racing had been more than generous in its donation of NASCAR racing memorabilia, and Holt suspected that the very enthusiastic Ms. Dalton was largely responsible.  He wanted the opportunity to thank her in person…and see if the woman matched the voice, he admitted.

“Hey, Holt!”  Stan Preston hurried toward him.  “Did you see all NASCAR bumper stickers in the lot?”

“Yes, I did.”

Stan huffed to a stop.  The older, heavier set man wore carefully-creased khaki’s, a blue oxford-collared shirt and navy windbreaker.  He pulled a handkerchief from his pants pocket and mopped his brow.

“Wasn’t I right about NASCAR?  The fan loyalty is incredible.  Once I got the word out that the organization had donated items for the auction, the fans hotfooted here.”

“You were right, Stan.”  Not only had Holt been impressed with the man’s contacts at NASCAR, but he’d been amazed by the surge of registrations after the auction announcement.

The man beamed.  “You understand now why a NASCAR sponsorship would be a smart business move for your launch of the new software line?”

“I’d be a fool not to.”  Holt had met the insurance magnate when Stan had consulted with him about developing computer programs.  When Stan had gotten it in his head that he wanted to start his own NASCAR team, Holt had been one of the first he’d hit up for sponsorships.  A sponsorship seemed to be good business, but Stan’s new team might not be a good fit.

Holt never jumped into a deal, which is how he made his millions.  He needed more data before he made his decision.  He hadn’t even divulged to Stan the true nature of his latest computer venture.  Although the Internet was alive with rumors, he was keeping the game under wraps for now.

“Holt.”  Stan looked concerned.  “When I was checking out the auction, I noticed several items from Double S Racing.  The owner Gil Sizemore isn’t wooing you as a sponsor, is he?”

No point mentioning to Stan that he had found himself flirting with the Double S’s representative.