There's something about a cowboy

Jean didn’t expect him to be at the staging area. She thought that he might have gotten bored or tired with all the people, and just took off for the closest hotel. Before staging, she did a little burnout to warm up the tires and make them hook better. Her opponent was a 2002 Trans Am, white. Her eyes drifted over the other car slowly. As they pulled to the start line, the other driver nodded at her. Alex was his name. She knew him all to well. A cocky little bastard who wanted so bad to be king of the track when it came to F-bodies. Yet he never managed to beat her on the quarter mile. His engine roared, such a pitiful attempt to intimidate her. Her foot pushed the acceleration. The entire frame of the car twisted and shuddered under the tension applied by the engine. One gloved finger pushed the little red button on the side of her dash board. Two high columns of NOS hissed loudly as they shot into the sky, right from the scoops of the ram air hood. A purge was a simple way of telling him that he was in trouble. Last time she was there, there was no NOS system on her vehicle. Alex seemed a little shocked by this. He did not expect such an improvement.
Trace leaned against the fence. He watched the showdown with curious eyes. A couple of women came to his side and started giggling, talking, trying to get his attention. The man smiled at them and tipped his cowboy hat. One of the ladies, a brunette, clad in a pair of tight Dazy-Dukes, an even more tight tank top with a generous cleavage, and black cowboy boots, decided to be a little more insistent. She leaned up against him. Her curiosity was not on the race, but on what reaction he will have. Trace looked at her, smiled, but then returned his attention to the two racers.
The light turned yellow, another yellow, Jean cast one glance to the side of the track. He was standing there. As the light turned green, the roar of the engines filled the air. Her back tires hooked to the black top, the front end of her car rose to the air under the immense torque. Two bags of concrete in the back of a rear wheel drive car with enough hp to move a 747, will always do that to you. Front end up, back end glued to the track. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and she was already in front of Alex. At full throttle her NOS would kick in thus adding the extra 150 hp that the wet system directed to her engine. 4th , 5th and 6th and it was over. 9.7 seconds and it was over. She looked in her rear view mirror and saw Alex back there, a few seconds behind her. Calmly she brought the car back around to the parking lot and dropped it there. Jean took a deep breath. She tried to calm down her body from the adrenaline rush. Her fingers fumbled to unlock the helmet and push it off of her head. Once she did that, another deep breath entered her lungs. Her heart calmed down a little bit, her body relaxed some more. The helmet landed on the passenger seat, the purring of the engine ceased. She stepped out of the car and slowly made her way to the spectator area.

-“Ah have all yer albums hun”, said the brunette that clung to Trace.

Her southern accent was so thick and fake. It was clear she tried hard to get his attention. Each time she took a breath, her chest would push outward as if to poke the poor man. When she moved, her hips seemed to swing out of place. It was rather funny to watch, and at the same time it was sad.

-“Ya were great tonight. Bless mah soul, but ah swear ah have nevah seen some one so full of energy like ya up there sugah. Didn’t ya see meh at the concert? Ah was right in the front row.” , continued the woman.

As any normal man, Trace did look at her. She was attractive, but she was laying it on so thick, that it made it some what repulsing. Once more he smiled at her. She clung to his arm like a tattoo. It made him feel a little uncomfortable. A part of his mind screamed to push her away. What if Jean came and saw all this? Surely she was not going to be thrilled about the sight.

-“Hey thanks. I do it all for people like you. I’m glad ya liked it.” He paused for a few moments and thought “Oh, I remember. I saw ya up front, singing to the songs. That was nice eh ?”

-“Ya saw meh?”, she giggled and jumped even closer to him, her breasts brushing up against the side of his arm “ Well, ahm glad ya liked it. Ah did it all for yah hun”

Jean was walking up to them. This sight made her sick to her stomach, but she was not going to act like a jealous woman. After all, he was not her property. He was not hers, and she doubted she meant anything to the man, other than a woman he watched race.

-“Well, I see you made a new friend Trace”, said Jean and cast a cold glance at the brunette.

The woman clung to him even tighter and smirked at her. Trace was uncomfortable with all this. He sneaked his arm away from the woman and stepped forward to Jean. Her glance was cold. Those jade eyes pierced through him, unforgiving, a little hurt, and perhaps even disappointed. She took a step back as he came up to her.

-“Great race Jean, ya really taught him something about racing”, said the man

-“It was ok.”, she coldly answered.

-“Hey Trace, wanna go grab a beer?” asked the sultry brunette.

Jean couldn’t stand this woman no more. Her eyes rested on her, her voice came out like a monotone sound, but it was deep and harsh.

-“Take a walk girlie”, said Jean

Trace could only snicker at her. She was not possessive, but she sure as hell knew when to set her foot down, when to chase away annoying flies. The other girl narrowed her eyes at Jean and got ready to say something but the red head cut her off.

-“Don’t even start, just go.”, she spoke without looking at the woman. Then she turned to glance at her “ I mean it. Take that waste of dash board silicone you call a chest, that fake southern accent, and go try to make your 100$ somewhere else”

-“Ya know ya got a perdy big mouth there. Ya got any idea to whom yer speaking?

-“Yes I do, I gave you 10$ to wash my car earlier, no go shoot yourself and put your ass out of my misery”

Once more, Trace was left speechless. He felt good to see her jump like that, but he also felt a little sorry for the poor dumb woman next to him. He had to do something, even if it was for public image alone.

-“Ladies please, let’s not fight”

-“I’m not fighting. She’s still breathing”, said Jean and turned to walk back to her car.

There was no point in her standing there anymore. If such a woman was the kind of company he wanted, then he might as well have it. She did not tolerate that kind of females. It made her sick to her stomach each time she saw another girl act that way. It was so degrading to all the ladies out there. The brunette looked at Trace and smiled innocently, but he was not going to stand there.

-“Thanks for coming to the show. I’ll see ya around”, he said and immediately took off after Jean.

She was already at her car when he caught up to her. Her hand was on the door, about to get into her car when he placed his hand on the window and stopped her from closing the door. Jean looked up at him and tilted her head slightly.

-“What?”, she snapped.

A sigh escaped her lips. Her glance moved down to stare at the gravel under her feet before speaking once more.

-“Ok, I am sorry. I over reacted to that, but ohhh my GOD, I can’t stand the likes of that woman. So pathetic, so vulgar, so despicable, just damn right outrageous, and I will not tolerate such behavior around me.”, continued Jean

Trace smiled and extended his hand to her. A few moments of hesitation followed before she took his hand and got back out of the car. He pulled her to him. Jean felt the air leave her chest, felt unable to breathe. His scent was intoxicating her senses, making her dizzy. All that rough attitude melted in his arms. How she needed to be held, and some how, he knew that, he gave that to her.

-“Ya don’t need to apologize”, he murmured.

His deep voice sent shivers down her spine. Another sigh left her lips. Her head rested against his broad shoulders. Hesitating arms wrapped around his waist. For a few moments they just stood there like that. Nothing more was said.

-“Wanna get out of here ?”, he asked and pulled back a little to look into those deep eyes of hers.

-“And go where?”, she asked.

-“I dunno. What the heck is to do around here?”

-“Umm… nothing. This is a dead ass town Trace”, said Jean and laughed. “Your concert was one of the biggest events of the year…so go figure… no offence intended”

-“Hah, none taken. But really, isn’t there some sort of club, bar..”

Jean paused to think for a few seconds. Then she released her grip on him so she could look at her watch. It was past midnight. Most of the places were closed at this time, either that or about to close.

-“Nope, to late for that”

He sighed with disappointment. He didn’t want this evening to end. Not when he had this feisty, foxy, seductive and yet ice cold woman in his arms. He bet he could melt her like the sun melts the spring snow. He wanted to try that. For no reason she brought some sort of deep hidden feelings out inside of him. It was so strange it scared the man, but then again, it felt so good that he didn’t want to give it up just yet.

-“So, what do we do ?”

-“I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but if you are not tired, you could always stop by my place. If you are hungry I can throw some steak on the grill and relax a little bit?”

Trace smiled. Well this was going better than planned. Not only was he going to spend more time with her and try to unlock this enigma of a woman before him, but he was going to be alone with her, away from all the craziness of his usual life.

-“Man, that’s a great idea. Let’s go”


NEXT CHAPTER- Trace learns a little more about Jean and sparks fly.