Chapter Twenty Nine

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"That tie is terrible," Dixie said from Cade's couch as he sped back and forth between his bedroom and the mirror in the bathroom, looking like a girl getting ready for her first prom.

"I want to look good for my woman," Cade grumbled. "Help me. Use your powers of girlness for good in helping a man out."

Dixie smiled and stood, walking back to join her friend in front of his closet, noting the array of clothes available. "Okay, where are you taking Jackie?"

"Some swanky place on the water," Cade said. "I have the name written down, you know, somewhere," he said, sounding uncertain. "I really want to impress her, and this place is supposed to be wicked awesome."

"Okay, then you want to look hot, not stuffy like some English professor," Dixie said, casting aside his suit jacket. "Roll up your sleeves to the elbow, for starters," she said, gesturing to his white button down shirt. "And put on your best watch for some bling."

"You mean not my black plastic Casio that I got in ninth grade?"

"Yeah, not that one," Dixie said, rooting around looking for a different tie. Finding one, she slung it around her neck, tying it deftly in a knot then taking it off and putting it around Cade's neck.

"Jeans," she said simply. "Put 'em on."

"But, shouldn't I wear suit pants?"

"Jeans," she repeated. "Put 'em on."

She turned her back while she heard Cade shuck off his pants and put on his faded, broken in Levis.

"Seriously, so much better," Dixie said. "I know it feels like dressing down, but it's an up on the hotness factor scale."

"I'll take your word for it," Cade said, nervously messing with his cuffs.

She stood back, appraising, her eyes landing on his hair. "Um, what's going on... up there?" she asked, gesturing with her hand.

"It's the surfer look," Cade defended, touching his hair lightly.

"It's the 'I haven't brushed my hair in three weeks after a barroom brawl and a night in jail' look," Dixie corrected.

"Hey!" Cade protested, but grabbed a brush and tried to tame the blond mane.

"Are you wearing cologne?" Dixie asked, sniffing.

"No," Cade told her. "Should I?"

"Yeah, but don't splash it around. Just a little bit like... that," she said, misting him lightly.

She faced her friend now, looking at him from head to toe. "Okay, you look hot. You know, if I felt that way. I'm sure Jackie will probably not be embarrassed to be seen with you now."

"You sure do know how to make a guy feel pretty," Cade said, deadpan.

Dixie laughed. "I'm just jealous... Nicky has been so insanely busy since we got to California, I've barely seen him. I guess... I guess I wish he was taking me to dinner, instead of me being your Cinderella."

Cade studied her for a long moment. "Didn't... didn't Nicky say anything to you about this week?"

Dixie shook her head, sinking down onto Cade's bed as he picked up the hairbrush again, ready to do battle while she watched. "No. He's just been gone morning, noon and night. I mean, I understand, I'm sure when he's on American turf he has a lot more to do, but... I guess I'm kind of... lonely without him. I'm not working with Javier anymore, and with Nicky gone, I just... I just kind of lay around all day, and you know I'm not good at that at all. And I just keep thinking... what if next year Nicky and I are still together, and he's on the circuit, and I'm back in California with my practice? Are we ever going to see each other? Are we going to break up after the first two races? I swear, when I lay down at night, all these thoughts keep spinning in my head."

Cade sat down beside her, choosing his words carefully. "First, I think you guys are the real deal, and are in it for the long haul. Second, I don't know why you couldn't be on the circuit too. Lots of wives and girlfriends just travel as part of the team..."

"I couldn't just be arm candy for a living, Cade, you know that," Dixie protested. "I'd go out of my mind with boredom."

"Work for Dorna, then, as a trainer," Cade suggested.

Dixie shrugged, but bit her lip thoughtfully, the suggestion never having crossed her mind before.

"Anyway, second and more immediately... even though I shouldn't be telling you this, as I'm sure Nicky had a reason to keep it from you..."

"Keep what from me?" Dixie asked heatedly.

"The reason he's been so busy since we got here?" Cade explained, "It's because he went to Javier and agreed to take on his appearances and engagements so that Javier could have surgery to repair his shoulder. They made a gentleman's agreement at Nicky's suggestion so that De Costa could get surgery, heal up, and get back to racing."

Dixie processed this for a long moment. "Huh?"

Cade nodded. "He wanted a fair fight with De Costa for the championship, and he knew if it was him, he wouldn't be able to blow off his appearances either. Plus, and maybe more importantly, he wanted you to stop feeling so responsible for Javier's health. He's been so worried because you've been so stressed and worried."

Dixie sniffed. "Are you sure it wasn't because he was afraid Javier and I would jump each other's bones?"

Cade laughed. "No, he seems pretty secure with you now," he said. "In fact, in all the time I've known Nicky, I've never seen him this calm or centered or focused – or happy, sugar. You make him goofily happy and for that, I'm grateful."

Dixie smiled, then leaned over and kissed Cade's cheek. "Knock her dead at dinner tonight, Creeper," she said. "And thank you."

"Where are you going?" Cade called to her retreating back.

"To have mind-blowingly good sex with my boyfriend as a reward for all his hard work this week," Dixie said with a pretend leer.

"Oh, ish. I don'tneed the visual, but hey, go for it," Cade said, laughing as the door slammedshut.

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