Winning It All Read online

  Praise for the Garrison family series by

  LIZ ALLISON & WENDY ETHERINGTON

  RISKING HER HEART

  “There is action, drama, romance and a touch of suspense, and the characters are charming, realistic and very engaging…. I recommend Risking Her Heart to everyone.”

  —Wendy Keel, The Romance Readers Connection

  “Only a dire emergency can keep me away from the television between February and November when the men of NASCAR take to the track. These ladies know the sport so well that you can visualize everything they write about the men and women of NASCAR. Whether you’re a race fan or not, these ladies give you a great read.”

  —Nickie Langdon, Romance Junkies

  “Risking Her Heart will keep readers riveted to the pages, as the plot moves smoothly from track to track…. There is plenty of humor and strong emotion to hold the groove and take the tight turns with ease. I can’t wait to see what this talented duo has planned for big brother Bryan.”

  —A Romance Review

  NO HOLDING BACK

  “No Holding Back is a wonderful introduction to the racing world and an even better romantic read.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  “The writing team of Liz Allison and Wendy Etherington has produced an excellent novel in No Holding Back. Between the roar of engines and the cheering crowd, two people discover that nothing should stand in the way when love is the prize.”

  —A Romance Review

  LIZ ALLISON & WENDY ETHERINGTON

  titles in the NASCAR Library Collection

  No Holding Back

  Risking Her Heart

  Winning It All

  Also by

  LIZ ALLISON

  The Girl’s Guide to NASCAR

  (A NASCAR Library Collection title)

  NASCAR Wives:

  The Women Behind the Sunday Drivers

  (A NASCAR Library Collection title)

  Also by

  WENDY ETHERINGTON

  Full Throttle (A NASCAR Library Collection title)

  Hot Pursuit (A NASCAR Library Collection title)

  LIZ ALLISON & WENDY ETHERINGTON

  WINNING IT ALL

  Dear Reader,

  It’s hard to believe our journey with the Garrison family is coming to a close. As we wind up everything with Bryan, we look forward to sharing his story with you, even though we’re sad to see the trilogy end.

  If you’ve been following us all along, you know Bryan has issues (and if you haven’t, don’t worry—you’ll catch on quickly). He’s been through a career-ending injury and a contentious divorce, and watched his parents’ marriage fall apart while he was struggling to keep the family racing business the best in NASCAR.

  After much nagging and encouraging by his family, he’s finally agreed to seek help for his continued pain resulting from his accident. But physical therapist—and push-up challenger—Darcy Butler isn’t exactly what he’s expecting. Lovely and tiny, she doesn’t seem strong enough to handle the volatile Bryan, but he finds out quickly just how wrong perceptions can be.

  As a widow, Darcy has experienced her share of love and loss. She blocks her emotional pain with work and looks forward to the challenge of getting Bryan back in shape. But when she still has so much healing to do herself, can she really help a man who no longer believes in the power of love?

  Thanks to all the readers who have hung in there with us throughout all the books! It’s been a joy to share our fictional, behind-the-scenes peek into the exhilarating, high-speed world of NASCAR.

  Race on!

  Liz and Wendy

  To Lesa France Kennedy, whose love, dedication and

  passion for NASCAR racing exemplify the heartbeat

  of this trilogy.

  WINNING IT ALL

  CONTENTS

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  EPILOGUE

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  PROLOGUE

  January 2005

  “I’M SORRY, Mr. Garrison, but the news isn’t positive.”

  Seated in front of Dr. Neil Epstein’s desk, Bryan Garrison drummed his fingers on the wooden arm of his chair. “How bad?”

  “While the damage to your knee is significant, with a great deal of physical therapy, I think there’s a good chance you’ll have nearly complete mobility. It’s your head injury that concerns me most.”

  Bryan resisted the urge to raise his hand to the bandage covering his forehead. Like the cast on his leg, there were moments when it was difficult to believe the flaw was actually there.

  “Eventually, you should go on to lead a normal life,” the doctor continued, his hands folded calmly on his desk. He met Bryan’s gaze directly.

  “I don’t have a normal life,” Bryan said.

  “I’m aware of that, of course.” Epstein sighed. Regret filled his eyes. “The neurological trauma is too severe. Your racing career is over.”

  Even as the verdict echoed through the room, the grandfather clock in the corner ticking as loudly as a bomb, Bryan shook his head. “No.”

  “I know this news is difficult for you to hear, but your head injury is severe enough that any further exposure to your job could kill you.”

  Annoyed, Bryan waved that aside. There were always risks.

  Epstein narrowed his eyes and leaned forward. “Even a minor incident on the track might be too much.”

  “Might?” Bryan leapt on the word.

  “A mild concussion, a hit that would barely cause another driver to feel dizzy…It’s not fair or right, but those are the facts.”

  “No.” Bryan lurched to his feet, glaring at the doctor, intimidating him as he had hundreds of competitors over the years. “What about therapy? Exercises? Another operation?”

  Epstein rose, then walked around his desk, leaning back against the mahogany surface.

  His calmness only increased Bryan’s rage. How could he so quickly and easily tell Bryan his life was over? This couldn’t be happening. Not to him.

  “Certainly therapy will improve your memory and motor functions,” the doctor said. “But no operation currently practiced will change your condition. I can’t give you medical clearance to race.”

  Bryan clenched his fist. “Then I’ll find a doctor who will.”

  Epstein shook his head sadly. “You won’t.”

  “I’m the defending champion!”

  “I know. I’m very sorry.”

  Blood rushed to Bryan’s head. He actually swayed on his feet.

  Epstein grabbed his arm. “Sit down, Bryan.”

  Bryan jerked his arm away, but he sat, because he knew he’d pass out if he didn’t. Though one more humiliation would hardly affect him after all the ones he’d endured over the last few weeks.

  He was supposed to get the first garage stall all season. He was supposed to strut into Daytona qualifying with all the promise of repeating his championship season. He was supposed to be respected and admired. He was supposed to be great.

  “It’s a miracle you’re alive,” Epstein continued. “Anyone else involved in that highway pileup, anyone without your reflexes and instincts, would hav
e died and taken several people with him. If only—”

  “If only the old couple hadn’t hit me at the end of the crash. I know. I read the police report.” A thousand times.

  “I wish my diagnosis could be different. You’re a racing champion. Nothing can ever diminish that accomplishment.”

  Pushed beyond the limits of his pride and fighting to deny the truth, however gently and definitively it was delivered, Bryan leaned his forearms on his thighs and hung his head. “My family’s counting on me. We race. We don’t have anything else.”

  “You have each other.” The doctor paused, then added quietly, “I understand you have a younger brother.”

  Bryan laughed harshly, tunneling his hand through his hair. “Cade’s not ready to take over my ride.”

  Bryan had tested the car over the season break, but he could get anyone to test and give the engineers the data they needed for the all-important opening race next month. Cade was too busy having fun. He should be allowed to have fun, not be buried under responsibility.

  Thank God I lied to Nicole and told her to go to lunch with her friends.

  He’d convinced his wife this appointment with the doctor was a routine one. She’d suffered as much as he, becoming his nursemaid, helping him walk to the bathroom and dress himself, driving him to his appointments. Because he could do none of those things on his own. He was a disgusting, pathetic shell of the man he’d been. He didn’t know how she could stand to look at him.

  He couldn’t even look at himself.

  If he wasn’t a race car driver, what was he?

  CHAPTER ONE

  February 2009

  A CHIP THE SIZE of Lake Lloyd on his shoulder, Bryan Garrison walked through Daytona’s busy garage area.

  They needed more speed.

  He nearly laughed aloud at the ridiculous wish. Every team wanted, needed, craved speed. Wasn’t that why they were all in this crazy business?

  Still, he’d like his team’s practice times to be better.

  “What are you doing here?” a familiar voice called from behind him.

  Clenching his jaw, Bryan turned to face his brother-in-law, Parker Huntington. “Walking.”

  “You’re supposed to be in the hauler, interviewing.”

  “I don’t need a physical therapist,” he muttered, ignoring the pain in his knee as he dodged a war wagon of equipment being pushed toward pit road. “I’m managing fine on my own.”

  Parker raised his eyebrows. “Are you now?”

  Parker knew he wasn’t. And the humiliation rolled over Bryan anew.

  His family had coddled him and nagged him, then outright demanded he see a professional about the continuing pain and stiffness in his knee. In a weak moment, he’d relented. So Parker had him interviewing physical therapists at the track. At Daytona. Less than a week before the opening races.

  ‘Cause, gee, he didn’t have anything else to do but make sure Cade and his teammates had cars worthy to race in the biggest event of the year. To be a strong, supportive leader for his teams. To uphold the Garrison family tradition of trophies and championships.

  Legends of excellence. Success was expected, not hoped for.

  Garrison Racing International had won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series trophy last year with a longtime driver, who was now running only a partial schedule and training a developmental driver. Their newest full-time driver, Shawn Stayton, had finished fourteenth last season and clearly had more successful years ahead. The third driver in the GRI stables, Bryan’s younger brother, had missed winning his first championship by only sixty-four points.

  Bryan intended to have that trophy again—this time with Cade’s name on it.

  And if that was all he had to worry about, his life would be blissfully, pleasantly single-minded. But, no. He had physical therapy interviews. And family to deal with. And now in-laws.

  Though supposedly firmly single people, both his brother and sister had gotten married in the last two years, and now Bryan had to bear the burden of romance. In fact, love was so full in the air, he was surprised the clouds hadn’t blossomed into baby cupids, their bows pulled back, their faces wreathed in smiles.

  Disgustingly trite for a completely, utterly temporary emotion.

  Aggravation, obligations and heartache were all love got you. He and his ex-wife’s divorce attorney had made sure of that.

  Still, he was doing his family duty. Didn’t he always? He’d already met with Beverly and Amy, both young women straight out of college. Knowing he’d have them screaming for their mommas inside a week, he’d sent them on their way.

  He’d also interviewed a Swedish exchange student named Sven, who, given the size of his hands and biceps, would someday give a helluva massage to society chicks in upscale spas, but he wasn’t really Bryan’s type.

  Then he’d met a former army sergeant, Mack Bowman. Mack was a no-nonsense guy built like a pit bull who barked orders even when he was simply making conversation. This was someone Bryan could relate to. No small talk. No fear he’d be offended by Bryan’s short temper. A guy who understood the pace and commitment of racing, since his brother was the hauler driver for another team.

  Bryan had decided to hire Mack. All he had to do was get rid of the last interviewee.

  Suddenly he saw his perfect opportunity to do so, plus make his brother-in-law break the news. “I want to hire Mack,” he said to Parker.

  “You still have to interview Darcy.”

  “No, I don’t. Tell her the job’s been filled.” Considering the business settled, Bryan started to walk off.

  Parker stepped in front of him. “Surely you’re not going to dismiss her without the courtesy of a simple introduction.”

  Bryan sighed. His brother-in-law, for all his polite manners and blue-blood vocabulary, had a rod of titanium for a spine. And he was determined as hell. Who else, really, could have managed to charm Bryan’s stubborn sister?

  “You need to give Darcy a chance,” Parker added.

  “She’s a widow.”

  “So?”

  “Love and pain are the last things I need.”

  Parker sighed. “I seriously doubt Darcy will burden you with her personal troubles. She’s a professional.”

  Bryan increased his pace. “Yay for her. I want to hire Mack.”

  “Darcy is lovely, smart and extremely competent. And she needs the job.”

  Fighting a wince, Bryan kept moving. He already had anger and regret living with him every day. He didn’t need guilt to move in, too.

  But they didn’t call him “Steel” for nothing.

  “I don’t need to know about the drama,” he said briskly to Parker. “Can she do the job?”

  “She can. She’s simply had a hard time dealing with her husband’s passing,” Parker continued. “She needs a change and—”

  Bryan held up his hand. “I thought you weren’t going to tell me her personal troubles.”

  “No, I said she wouldn’t.”

  Next thing, Parker would launch into a story about how this poor woman was devastated and she would be unable to get out of bed unless Bryan gave her a job. Arguing with the man was futile. As head of Huntington Hotels International, Parker charmed, schmoozed and worked deals with everybody from high-powered corporate executives to the waitstaff at his restaurants. “Fine,” Bryan said, feeling like a sap. “I’ll talk to…”

  “Darcy.” Parker gave him a confident smile. “Darcy Butler.”

  Bryan started to turn away, then stopped. “What’s so great about her?”

  Apparently, Parker had been waiting for this opening. “She’s firm, but kind. Smart, but not a know-it-all.”

  “Unlike some people we know.”

  Since Parker knew this comment was directed at him and he was used to the ragging, he simply nodded and moved on. “She’s specialized in athletic rehabilitation, and she can handle herself.” He paused, looking amused. “Around you or anybody.” He slid his hands into the pockets of his charcoal pa
nts, which looked neat, pressed and comfortable, despite the oppressive heat. “We’re also friends. She’s the therapist who helped Allen get back to work so quickly last year.”

  One of Cade’s pit crew members had been hurt in Pocono, but after several months of therapy, he was back, fit and ready for the new season. Despite his pessimism, Bryan was impressed. “If she’s a friend, and you set up the interviews, why all the others?”

  “If I presented you with a fait accompli you’d have balked.”

  Fait…Hell. Who said stuff like that?

  Still, he got the gist. If Parker had rolled Darcy Whoever out on stage as his already-cast therapist, Bryan would have rejected her outright. Ornery? Definitely.

  But then that was practically the Garrison family motto.

  Bryan addressed the one detail he could deal with. “If she helped Allen, then she understands racing, right?”

  “Her uncle is a NASCAR official, and her husband was a firefighter who used to volunteer at the races in Concord.” He paused, his voice quieted. “He died about two years ago, fighting a fire in a local furniture store.”

  “Sorry to hear it.”

  “She just needs a change of pace.” Parker’s gaze met Bryan’s. In addition to the obvious determination in his eyes, there was now a hint of humor. “Oh, and she’s a great cook.”

  “Why didn’t you say that to start with?”

  “The way to a man’s heart…” He started off. “It’s nice to know the cliché hasn’t died.”

  Yeah. That would be true. If I had a heart.

  Shrugging, Bryan headed toward the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series No. 56, Huntington Hotels International hauler.

  Great. Now I can add commercial hack to my aches and pains.

  He spoke briefly to a couple of crew members from another team, then waved at a fellow team owner. Their expressions varied from giddy to annoyance. The races being run in the next week were the most important of the season. Money, prestige and momentum would greet the ones who performed well. Frustration and humiliation awaited the rest.