No Place to Hide (Rocking Racers Book 2) Read online

  It’s my turn to shrug. “I’m not stupid. I heard the crowd’s reaction, saw the comments on YouTube. I knew there’d be a market for it, so I went to the label myself. They were more than happy to back it.”

  Cole squeezes me tight. “I’m so proud you did that.”

  “So am I,” I say, laughing. “I will freely admit that approaching them was one of the most daunting things I’ve done in my life, but I’m really glad I did it, glad I had someone who pushed me and encouraged me to break out of my comfort zone.”

  “Who is that wonderful guy? He sounds like a keeper.”

  I elbow him in the ribs. “Actually, his name is Frank. Well, it’s not, but that’s what I call him. He’s kind of like a music industry/PR Yoda.”

  “Yoda, huh?”

  I nod. “Yeah, he interviewed me a few days before the Palais show and raised some questions. I got to thinking about them, and combined with what my pushy then ex-boyfriend had already set in motion, that resulted in what happened on stage.”

  “Well this Frank-Yoda guy sounds cool.”

  “He is, he’s like my fairy godfather.” I laugh. “My mother hates him because she never arranged for him to interview me, and now he’s the only one I’ll deal with.”

  “Good for you.”

  “Even better for him.” I snicker.

  “So what happens now?” Cole asks.

  “Well, we have about a week left in the studio, then the tracks will be mixed and mastered. I don’t think the record company will want to sit on it for too long, so maybe a release a month after that.”

  “Another tour?”

  “Just promo appearances, signings, radio interviews, stuff like that.”

  “No shows?”

  I shake my head. “Not so close to the end of the last one, and the Northern Hemisphere is going into their winter, so if we did an overseas tour it wouldn’t be until their summer. I doubt one could be organised before then anyway.”

  “So I have you to myself for a while then?” he says, hugging me tighter to him and rolling us so I’m on my back.

  “You can have me to yourself for as long as you like,” I tell him honestly.

  “Forever?”

  I nod, unable to make sound pass my lips. Cole’s brown eyes burn with happiness and love, his lips crashing to mine.

  Finally he pulls back. “Did that mean what I think it meant?”

  “Depends on what you think it meant.”

  “Did you agree to marry me?”

  “Did you ask?” I raise an eyebrow.

  “If you accepted,” he replies.

  I smile. “Well, if you asked, then I accepted.”

  Cole laughs. “That was the most casual proposal in history.”

  “Oh, so you did propose?” I tease.

  He takes my face in his hands. “If it means I get to have you by my side for the rest of my life, then you can bet your arse I proposed.”

  “Then I guess I accepted.” His smile is blinding. I’m sure mine matches it.

  “I don’t even have a ring,” he says apologetically.

  “It’ll come.”

  “You don’t want one right away?” he asks.

  I cup his face. “I don’t need a shiny ring to prove I love you, Cole.”

  “You do want one though?”

  “A girl can never have too much jewellery,” I tell him. “Right now, though, I’m good with just having you.”

  “Well that you do have,” he says.

  I have him long into the night.

  Cole and I are feasting on leftover BBQ the next morning, me sitting on a stool, Cole behind me sitting on the kitchen bench.

  “So what happens now?” Cole asks.

  “Well,” I say as I lean back and rest my head against his chest, “I have to get back to Melbourne. We have to finish recording and I have to supervise the mixing.”

  “Do you usually do that?”

  “Not usually, but I’m producing, so I do this time.”

  “You’re producing?”

  “Yeah,” I say, my cheeks heating.

  “That’s incredible, love.”

  “You think so?”

  “This way it’s truly your project. No outside influences. This is you putting it all out there on the line.”

  “No hiding,” I whisper.

  “Exactly.” He hugs me tight.

  “It’s only an EP, though.”

  “Everyone starts somewhere, someone once told me that.”

  “So yeah,” I say, trying to steer the conversation away from me and the massive risk I’m taking with this record, “I’ve got to do that, and you’ve got five more races.”

  “And after that?” Cole asks as he nuzzles my neck.

  “What do you want to happen after that?”

  “You think there might be time for a wedding?” he asks almost shyly. I spin to face him.

  “I suppose I could find the time.”

  “You do still, I mean, um, shit,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck.

  “Cole,” I say, cupping his cheek. His hand covers mine and I feel him relax marginally. “My answer is still yes. It’ll always be yes.”

  “Okay.” He exhales in a rush.

  “You good?” I ask.

  “Yeah.” He nods.

  “So how are we going to do this?”

  “The wedding?”

  “That and being married in general. We live in different places.”

  “Well,” he says, “I’m thinking small for the wedding. I don’t want to have it turn into one of those horrible celebrity affairs where we confiscate people’s phones and have them bussed to a mysterious location only to have helicopters hover overhead and you walk under a canopy in order to have some semblance of privacy.”

  I shudder. “Small is good. Spur of the moment, registry office might be even better.”

  “You don’t want to have a full-on ceremony?”

  “Not if it’s going to become a circus, which, knowing me and the media, it’s very likely to.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “The most important thing to me is tying myself to you. Our wedding day is about us. I don’t want that ruined by journos and paparazzi.”

  “Whatever you say, love,” he says, then kisses my nose.

  “And the living together bit?” I ask. The thought had run through my head briefly during the rare moments of respite I got last night, and I admit, it made me nervous.

  “I don’t have to be based here. I could just as easily commute from the city,” Cole says.

  “Three hours each way?”

  “It’s not perfect, but you need to be in the city. We can keep this house, and if I need to I can stay overnight.”

  I think for a minute. “I don’t absolutely have to be in the city.”

  “You don’t?” There’s a touch of surprise on his face.

  I shake my head. “I mean, if we’re recording and I continue to produce, then yeah, I’d need to be there for that, but during our downtime I could be anywhere I want.” I take a breath and continue. “I want to be wherever you are. Plus, it makes more sense for me to move. I like it here. I like not being in the city, and away from all the shit that comes with it. Having that distance makes it easier to keep everything in perspective. There’s no place to hide here. In the city, it’s all too easy.”

  “You’re really all-in, huh?”

  I nod. “I wasn’t happy before. Now I am, and I don’t want to go back.”

  Cole kisses me hungrily. “You are amazing, McKnley Rhodes.”

  “You’re not so bad yourself, Cole Matthews.”

  “So you’ll move in here after your promo tour?” I nod. “Then what?”

  “What do you mean, ‘then what?’ Then we’ll be married.”

  He pulls me closer to him, his fingers threading together at the small of my back. “I mean,” he says, his voice low and husky, sending a rush of moisture between my legs, “do you see any little Knleys or Coles in
our future?”

  “Kids?”

  “Mmm. You’d look hot with a baby on your hip. I’ve still got the image of you with Avery in my head. I like the picture of you with a kid.”

  “You like the idea of me barefoot and pregnant?”

  “I like the process of making aforementioned baby, but you haven’t answered the question. Do you see kids in our future?”

  “I hadn’t really thought about kids.”

  “You don’t want them?”

  “They never really crossed my mind. I hadn’t ever really given much thought to marriage either before you came back in my life.”

  “That’s sweet, love.” I blush. “So does the idea of kids sound like something you’d be interested in?”

  I stop to consider his words for a minute. I don’t have that much experience with babies, save for when Quinn and Sloane were born. I was nine when Sloane was born, but I don’t really remember much about what it was like with a baby in the house. Most of my friends are too caught up in their careers to have kids. Honestly, it’s not something I’m bothered with either way, but I look at Cole, his blond hair a mess, his blue eyes bright with hope and possibility. The image of him out the back teaching a boy with blond hair to ride a bike pops into my head, and my heart swells.

  “Sure,” I say, “having kids would be something I’d be interested in, but....” I stop.

  “But what, love?”

  I sigh. “You’re not worried I’ll turn out like my mother?” I hate that the thought has entered my mind, but it’s a real possibility.

  Cole shakes me gently to get my attention. “That’s the last thing I’d ever be worried about. You’re no more like your mother than I’m like my father. If we’re lucky enough to have children, then at least we know what not to do.”

  I smile, knowing the man in front of me is going to be an incredible father.

  “So what do you say?” he asks.

  “I say there’s nowhere I’d rather be.”

  His answering smile is blinding.

  Things Falling into Place for Coley?

  New songs, new start? That’s what we’re thinking as McKnley Rhodes is once again spotted trackside at the NRS and in the garage of a certain ex-boyquaintance. You’ll recall, of course, that at Places’ now infamous Palais show, McKnley told the audience she had something to prove to a mysterious “he.” Well it would seem that point was made, and now Coley 2.0 is on! Which should make for an interesting time, given Mama Rhodes continues to disapprove of the relationship and is smarting after McKnley went behind her back to get support for Places’ recently released EP, No Place to Hide. A source tells us Helen was vehemently opposed to the band recording and releasing the new material, but quickly realised she had been outfoxed by her middle daughter. Given the success of the EP, we can’t help but think McKnley was right to push the project. While Helen may be down right now, we know her well enough to know she’s never out, so stay tuned, Mongers. We’ve got a feeling this has only just begun!

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Cole

  The next few weeks fly by. Knley went back to Melbourne a few days after we got engaged—which I still can’t believe. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that when I first saw her at the Rocking Racers gala all those months ago, she would end up being my fiancée. We haven’t formally announced it for fear of inciting a wedding frenzy, but the Ryans and her sisters—under strict instructions not to tell their mother—know. My father has been left out of the loop as well. He went on a rager after word reached him that Knley and I had made up. Not able to stomach any more of his shit, I told him our business relationship was over. I did let him know that if he wanted to continue to be a part of my life as just my father, I was more than happy to do that. He hung up. As much as it hurt for him to do that though, I have Knley and that’s all that matters now. She’s my fiancée, soon she’ll be my wife and the only family, besides the Ryans, that I need.

  Recording of the EP has finished and it’s now mixed and mastered. Helen tried to organise a nationwide release tour when she realised the record company was backing the girls, but Knley outfoxed her again, organising a quick capital city promo tour with help from Frank. In all, they were away for a week and a half. I had a race that weekend and, as promised, Knley was in the pits with me.

  Racing has been good. I’ve had two more third-place finishes, a fourth, and a sixth. We’re now at the final race of the season, and while I’m not where I hoped I would be at the start of the season, I’m still pretty happy with the races I put together, especially considering our bad luck with a serious engine handicap. This season has been a learning curve, and when we go around next year, I’ll know exactly what to expect.

  We’re down to the final laps of the season. Liam, as he has been all year, is out in front. I’ve been stuck down in fourth for most of the race, but have just managed to sneak up to third. As we go round one more time, I glance at my pit board, the guys encouraging me on. The guy in front of me is about half a second ahead, but the gap is coming down all the time.

  With three laps to go, I’m right on his rear. I watch him, trying to decide when to make my move. He’s on a Honda as opposed to my Yamaha, meaning he’ll get massive drive on the straight but I’ll get the drive out of the corners. Knowing that, my best bet is to take him early and use the corners to my advantage to put some time between me and him. We hit the start/finish line to start the second last lap, and I stay in his slipstream. He still manages to put a bit of space between us, but I’ve caught up by the third corner.

  I’m running out of time and coming to the best part of the track for my machine, so I line him up and pass on the next corner. He tries to shut the door, but I’m already past him and he has to pick up his bike. It’s only as I go past that I realise the rider is Robinson; not that it makes any difference, but it’s just a little sweeter. As I thought, he can’t stick with me through the chicanes, so I twist the throttle to gain the space I need. He’s a stubborn fucker though, pushing his machine to the limits.

  We cross the line to start the last lap and he’s still on me, using my slipstream this time. I know he’s lining me up and he pulls out to pass me as we hit the first corner. For a brief moment he’s in front, but runs it wide as he’s too late in braking, and I retake second. I can feel him plotting the entire lap. I need to make sure I don’t give him an opportunity to pass me. We reach the final corner, and I know this is when he’s going to make his move—he has to if he wants second place. I stay tight to the corner so I can get the drive I need, forcing him to go on the outside. In my peripheral vision I can just see him, but I stick to my line. The last thing I need is to start next season with a penalty because I impeded him.

  One second Robinson’s right next to me, the next, he’s gone. I saw later on the replays that he lost the front, just like in the first race. Being a back end heavy rider, meaning he drifts into the corners, his tyre combo is hard rear, softer front, so as the race goes on, with the wearing of the rubber, the grip on the front is less than normal. I cross the line a second later, giving Ryan Racing its first one-two finish of the year. It may have taken all season, but I’m hoping I can build on it next season.

  My beaming fiancée is the first person I see when I pull into parc fermé, and not for the first time I thank my lucky stars she came back into my life. The hot Victorian sun is beaming down on us and shows off the natural red highlights in her black hair, taking my breath away. I take off my helmet, seeing her pupils dilate as I disturb the helmet hair I’m no doubt rocking, and head in her direction.

  “Nice riding, handsome,” she says as she hands me a drink bottle and sponsor’s cap.

  “Thanks, love,” I reply, before swooping down and giving her a quick but heated kiss. There are quick congratulations from the others before I have to do my post-race interview. Unfortunately, it’s the same guy who interviewed me after my first podium.

  “So, Cole, second place, that’s got to feel
good,” he says.

  I nod. “Absolutely. Any podium place feels amazing, but I’m stoked with today’s result.”

  “The last half of the season you hit a vein of form. What do you attribute that to?”

  “Hard work and perseverance. All season the guys have had the bike running amazing, but on race day it never quite came together for whatever reason. That’s racing, it happens, but not once did we get disheartened or worn down. We just put our heads down and worked harder.”

  “Did your engine situation ever come into play?”

  “Of course, but we did our best to work with what we had, and I think we did a pretty good job.”

  “I see McKnley Rhodes is back trackside.”

  I grit my teeth. “That she is.”

  “So the relationship is back on?” Seriously? What the fuck? I thought this guy was supposed to be a pit lane reporter, not a gossip hound. He wiggles the mic in front of me, reminding me there’s a question pending. I take a deep breath and remember Bria’s media relations advice from the start of the season.

  I smile. “I’ve had a lot of great support throughout the season. I just want to thank Nate, Reed, Rome, and everyone at Ryan Racing for taking a punt on me, and hope that this is only the start of the great things we can accomplish,” I say, and walk away. I get a nod and slap on the back from Liam as we walk up the stairs to the podium together.

  “Hell of a season,” I tell him.

  “I doubt I’ll have it this easy next year. We might have to put up a wall in the garage, like Rossi and Lorenzo did a few years back.”

  “Nah, man, it’s cool. I don’t mind if you need to steal tips from me,” I reply, and we laugh.

  The view from the podium never gets old, and I know next season I’ll be battling with Liam for the top step. As long as I have Knley by my side though, I could finish last in every race and not care. Okay, that’s a lie. I would care, but going home to her every night would take a lot of the sting away.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Knley

  I can party with the best of them. Hell, some would say I have partied with the best of them, but the end of season party the Ryans throw? Outdoes them all. Probably the best party I’ve ever been to. After an awesome dinner in the city, we—Bria, Reed, Liam, Mason, Rome, Grayson, Mav, Jax, Cole, and me—go back to our suite where drinks are aplenty and the conversation is lively. Jax’s eyes light up when Quinn and Sloane join us, but otherwise things don’t get too out of hand. Not quite what you were expecting, huh? I mean, I did have some strippers lined up, but we decided we were wild enough on our own.