“I know they would contribute. It’s not like they don’t need the tax write-off, anyhow.”

 Holly bites her lower lip to try and contain her smile. “That would make things so much easier.” The smile on her face turns into a frown as her line of sight trails off into the distance like she’s lost in thought. “Trying to get money off larger companies is like pulling teeth. It’s one of the main reasons Dad stopped holding events here. Once the attendance dwindled the sponsorships stopped too. There is no way the track can fund something like that on its own, and Dad doesn’t have a penny saved up because Grace always figures out a way to take it.”

It kills me to see her hurting like this. I wish there was a way to take the pain that she feels when she thinks about her mother away, but the past isn’t something we can change. God knows how many times I wish I could go back and convince myself to not marry Jessica. She put me through pure hell, and I can tell Holly’s mother has done the same to her.

What makes it worse is that I know Grace’s fault Bill is ill. Eventually, Bill’s secret will come out, and when it does Holly will hate her mother even more. Not saying that I blame her. From what I’ve gathered, Grace is a selfish woman. Holly is the complete opposite. Instead of always taking from people for her own personal gain, she gives. She quit school to help her father, and stopped riding dirt bikes because that fucker Jackson told her he didn’t like her doing it. Giving up those two things alone proves she isn’t a selfish person.

I take the pen out of her hand and lay it on the counter before threading my fingers through hers. “I think things are going to start getting better for you and Bill now.”

Her eyes search my face. “How can you be so sure?”

 I open my mouth to tell her everything—to tell her I have enough money to take care of her and Bill and turn this place into a Mecca for motocross. But the fear of rejection won’t allow me to. If I tell her, and she hates me, I’m not sure I can recover.

I tuck a lock of her blonde hair behind her ear. “I’m going to take care of you, Holly. Anything you want, it’s now my job to make sure you have it.”

She smiles and leans her cheek into my hand. “You shouldn’t promise me the world because when you say stuff like that, I feel like you can actually make that happen.”

“It is the truth. I’ll always find a way.”

The sound of the office door opening startles me and I pull away from Holly just as Bill shuffles in. His shoulders sag as he makes his way towards his office, before plopping down in the chair at the desk. I know he doesn’t want Holly to know just how sick he actually is, but by the looks of him, I don’t know how much longer he can keep up the pretense his fatal illness will go away.

Holly stands up and slides the stool back under the counter as she leans against the doorframe of Bill’s office. “You don’t look so good, Dad. I think it’s time you let me to take you to the hospital.”

Bill busies himself with stacking a few loose papers on his desk. “I’m fine, honey. This will pass.”

She folds her arms over her chest. “No, Dad. You’ve been saying that since I got home at the beginning of the summer. It’s time to get checked out.”

“No!” Bill yells and slams his fist onto the desk. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Holly flinches and her face twists. Bill scrubs his hands down his face and then stares up at his daughter. Things would be so much easier if he would only tell her the truth. She’ll understand—I know she will—then they can cherish the time they have left together. It’s not fair that he’s keeping something so huge from her.

“Bill…” I feel like outing him in front of her, but I quickly stop myself, knowing I’m keeping something from her too—something that her father has promised to keep secret as long as I keep his.

Bill’s gray eyes shift in my direction and I know he knows exactly what’s on my mind. “You got something to say, Trip?”

“I do, actually.” Bill’s eyes narrow at me, and I clear my throat. “Holly and I have come up with a plan to help get this place back on its feet.”

He softens his gaze and tilts his head, clearly shocked that I didn’t come out and tell Holly about his disease. “What’s that?”

Holly’s stance relaxes and she smiles and I can tell she’s trying let go of the topic of forcing Bill to the doctor. “We’re going to hold a motocross race here.”

He leans back in the chair and smoothes his thinning hair back. “How do you propose we do that? We don’t have the kind of clout needed to pull any big names here, not to mention the funding.”

“We do now.” Holly glances at me and smiles. “Trip works for a famous rock band called Black Falcon and he’s got them to agree to come here and play a couple of songs. They will draw thousands of people, Dad. Trip thinks they might even be willing to donate money, too.”

Bill chuckles and his eyes flit to me. “Is that so?”

Holly doesn’t give me a chance to address her father’s question. “Isn’t that great?”

He nods. “Yes, and as long as Trip is helping you out, I have the feeling it’s all going to turn out even better than you expect.”

Holly runs into her father’s office, no longer able to contain her excitement. She hugs him tight. “This is all going to work out, Dad. You’ll see.” She releases him and smiles. “I need to go out to the garage and see if I can dig up all the sound equipment. Do you think it’s all still out there? We haven’t used it in a while.”

“It should be, but I think it’s a good idea to get it all out and make sure it all still works since we haven’t used it in a couple years.”

“Oh. I hadn’t thought about that.” She frowns. “If it doesn’t work that’s just more money that we don’t have that we’ll have to spend.”

Bill pats her hand. “I’m sure it’ll be fine, honey.”

“Okay. I’m going. Cross your fingers,” she tells us as she turns and heads for the door.

The moment she’s gone, Bill sets his sights on me. “You know this is going to blow your cover. It will be impossible for you to play in your own band and Holly not notice.”

“She’s going to find out sooner than that.” I pick at my thumbnail. “The moment she gets on the computer to look up the band for promotional pictures it’ll be over.”

“Ah, yes—the internet. One of the beauties of modern day technology is you can find out information about anyone from the safety of your own home. Are you worried that she will no longer be interested in you once she discovers who you are?”

I sigh. “Yes. She told me herself that she would never date anyone famous.”

“But that’s before the two of you slept together.”

My eyes widen and my heart jumps into my throat. “I…uh…um…what?”

Bill rolls his eyes. “I may be sick, but I’m not deaf. We were all staying under the same roof last night…and this morning. I know what the two of you have been up to.”

Fuck. Nothing like the father of the girl you’re sleeping with calling you out, although I will say he’s rather calm about the entire situation. If some punk like me was shagging my daughter under my nose, I would kick his fucking ass. I know his laid-back demeanor has to be a front for what he’s really thinking about me.

The best thing in this situation is to try and smooth things over. “Look, Bill, I apologize for that. I meant no disrespect towards you, or Holly for that matter. I guess I lost my head and didn’t consider my surroundings. For that, I’m sorry.”

He rests his elbows on his desk and folds his arms. “I can accept that. I remember what it was like to be young once. The thing I’m worried about is your intention.”

“About what?” I question.

“I want to know what your intentions are with not only with this place, but with my daughter as well. Getting involved with her changes the dynamics of our deal a bit, don’t you think?”

“It changes a lot,” I agree. “But I still want to be in business with you, and I’m keeping my promise to pay for your medical expenses. Holly needs you in her life.”

He frowns. “I know she does. That’s my biggest fear—leaving her all alone. When I’m gone she won’t have anyone except Max, and that scares me.”

“You don’t have to worry, Bill. I’ll take care of her,” I say.

“But you barely know her.”

“I know enough to know she’s a good person. She’s loyal and selfless. If you ask me those are some damn good traits to have. To be honest with you, Bill, I’ve been looking for someone like her all my life.” It’s odd to hear my deepest, most private thoughts said out in the open.

Holly is exactly the kind of woman I’ve always wanted. I don’t believe she’d ever betray me. It’s just not her style.

Bill leans back in his chair. “I’m glad to hear you say that, because with this disease there’s no promise of tomorrow. Knowing you and Holly are together, and that you can take care of her even better than I can, takes a load off my shoulders. I have to know, do you love her?”

How can I answer that? Love? Is that even possible to know after only a few weeks time?

When I don’t answer right away, Bill says, “You don’t have to answer that, Trip. Just do me a favor and think on it. All the best financial intentions in the world won’t matter to Holly if you don’t love her. She cares for you. I see the way she looks at you. You’re the real reason she was able to finally tell Jackson goodbye and mean it. My daughter has been searching for real love ever since her mom ran out on us. She thought she’d found that in Jackson, but all that boy did was lie to her. I’m asking you to always be honest with her and don’t lead her on if you don’t see an actual future with her. There’s something that happens to people who miss out on a mother’s love. It triggers a never-ending search for unconditional love. So don’t tell her you love her unless you really mean it. Lying to her will only hurt her more.”