Paxton's Promise (Gloves Off #3)(35)

Scooping Adam up into his arms, he chuckled and looked at me. “Sorry, little man, but the girl’s taken. I tell you what though. Do you mind watching over her while I race? That way you can fight off all of the boys who try to kiss her.”

“Do I get to kiss her?” he asked shyly.

Paxton smiled and winked over at me. “We’ll see. She might let you give her a little kiss on the cheek. But now I’ve got to go.” He held up his fist for a fist bump. “Give me some luck, tiger.” Adam smacked his fist against Paxton’s and giggled when he set him down. “All right, sunshine,” he said, grabbing my hands, “I have to change and get ready.”

Leaning up on my toes, I planted a kiss on his cheek. “Go get ‘em.”

He disappeared through the crowd and I was left alone with April and Adam. “Paxton tells me you’re a fighter too. I never thought you’d be so beautiful,” she said.

“Thanks,” I laughed. “I’m new at it. My brother’s been training me.”

“Oh, I know your brother. I used to have the hugest crush on him a long time ago. I met him when Paxton was working on his car.”

I think everyone had a crush on my brother at one time or another. “He did a good job on it. I didn’t think anyone would be able to restore that piece of sh . . . I mean junk.” Adam’s little ears were listening and I didn’t think April would want him hearing my foul mouth.

“Paxton’s extremely talented. For the longest time, I thought we’d lost him when he started getting into trouble. He stopped racing and basically pushed everyone away. I’m glad to see he’s matured.”

I am too. Up ahead, I recognized Paxton’s Aunt Jackie and pointed. “Isn’t that your mother over there?” I asked.

April turned and smiled when she caught Jackie’s attention. “Yep.” She started off toward her mother and I followed. “She loves watching Pax race. So does my father, but my mom’s always had a soft spot for him. He looks just like my aunt, Paxton’s mother. My mom and she were really close. When she died, he was the only link to her.”

“I can’t imagine,” I whispered. “I’m really close to my brother, and if anything happened to him, I’d be lost. My father left when I was three, so I didn’t exactly have a close family bond.”

April smiled down at Adam and then turned a weary gaze my way. “I know how you feel.” As quietly as she could, she leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Adam’s father left us when he was just a baby. It’s been just me ever since.”

“When I got older, I watched my mom struggle to make ends meet. I know it’s not easy.”

She snorted. “Tell me about it. I make decent money, but if it wasn’t for Paxton and my parents, I’d be lost. Thankfully, now I don’t have to work a night job anymore. Adam was bummed when his nights with Uncle Pax stopped.”

Jackie closed the distance and scooped Adam up in her arms. “There’s my big boy,” she exclaimed. “What are you ladies talking about?”

April smiled and ruffled Adam’s hair. “Oh, we’re just talking about when I stopped working nights and Adam missed staying at uncle’s place.”

Jackie giggled and squeezed Adam harder. “Did you tell her about the time you picked Adam up at Paxton’s and he was covered in tattoos? Apparently, he wanted to look like his uncle, so they went out and bought a bunch of temporary tats to put all over his body.” Adam buried his head in Jackie’s shoulder, smiling shyly.

“I bet that had to be interesting,” I laughed.

With a huge smile on her face, April nodded. “Oh, believe me, it was. I took pictures of them together. They were both flexing their muscles in the mirror.”

“You have got to let me see those pictures some time.”

“Definitely. Come over and I’ll show you one day.”

“I’d be happy to.”

About that time, Paxton came strolling out, dressed in his racing suit with a helmet tucked under an arm. He was walking alongside a man who I assumed was his uncle. He was a short man with perfectly combed white hair, dressed in a pair of greasy coveralls.

Looking over at us, Paxton grinned and nodded before turning to the stands and waving at the people. The crowd was insane, shouting and screaming from the stands. The energy was amazing, almost like it was in the arenas during a fight. Before getting into the car, Paxton walked over to me and presented me to his uncle.

“John, this is Gabriella. Gabby, this is my Uncle John.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I said, extending my hand.

John shook it and smiled wide. “Likewise, young lady. I’ve watched you fight. Good stuff.”

“Thanks,” I replied.

“Are you two staying for the party tonight? There’s going to be fireworks.”

Paxton lifted his brows, waiting on my answer. I nodded. “All right, then we’ll stay, but I have a favor to ask,” he said to his uncle.

“Sure, son, what is it?”

“Have you ever thought about having go kart races here? I know a pretty talented racer who’d love to tear up the track.”

John pursed his lips and rubbed his chin. “Go karts, you say? Hmm . . . I never really thought about it. It could work though. I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who’d be interested in it. Who do you know that races?”