reviews_and_ramblings | Excerpt: Chasing Victory by Tory Temple

Chasing Victory by Tory Temple
Release Date: 09/2009
Publisher: Torquere Books
ISBN: 978-1-60370-811-1
1-60370-811-1
Buy Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2181

Blurb: Mitchell Baker has been driving fast cars since he was old enough to reach the pedals. A professional, seasoned driver on the top level of the stock car circuit, Mitch has sponsors who are looking to him for a championship. Mitch is having issues with his job, wondering if he still has the passion for what he does. Mitch just knows if he can just find a true good luck charm, a first place finish is in his future. Pacey Evans is a traveling track paramedic during race season. When a minor crash during a race introduces him to Mitch, Mitch discovers that Pacey might be just what he needs to take the checkered flag and please his hungry sponsors. He's willing to keep their friendship with benefits revved up if he can keep winning. But what happens if Pacey wants to be more than Mitch’s lucky charm? And what is Mitch going to do if he has to choose between his personal relationships and his job. Can Mitch and Pacey find a smooth road without sending up a caution flag? Read Chasing Victory to find out!

Excerpt:

He was still yanking ineffectually at his seat harness by the time medical showed up. Mitch barely registered the men in blue that were surrounding his car. He was too intent on getting free, getting out of his car before what happened last time happened again, so when his window webbing was torn down, Mitch swallowed a startled gasp and looked up.

"Keep still, man." Serious blue eyes, the lightest shade Mitch could ever remember seeing, were searching Mitch´s face. "Anything hurt? Are you stuck?"

"My harness," Mitch said lamely. His thumb remained on the button, trying to get it to unsnap.

Dark brows drew together and the medic reached a hand inside the car. He put his fingers over Mitch´s and pressed down. There was audible click that Mitch could hear even through his helmet, and then he was suddenly free.

He shrugged the harness off and scrambled for the window, anxious to get out of the confined space. Once he was outside the car, maybe his heart would stop pounding so hard.

"Whoa, hey, easy there." Strong hands were on Mitch´s forearms, easing him back down in his seat. "You should know the rules. You don´t move until medical checks you out." Blue Eyes gave a quick smile, but something told Mitch there was seriousness behind it. "Got any neck or back pain?"

"Uh." Mitch blinked and tried to concentrate on how he was feeling. His harness was unsnapped, so there was no more reason for his harsh breathing or shaking fingers. "No. No neck pain. He didn´t hit me that hard."

It was true; Mitch had known as soon as Danny had made contact that they´d both walk away from it. There had been worse wrecks. Much worse.

"Hard enough," the medic said casually. "Sit tight, I´ll let you out in a minute." He scanned the inside of the car and then gave Mitch an up-down look that would have gotten Mitch´s phone number in his pocket if they´d been in a bar.

While the paramedic inspected as much of Mitch as he could from outside the car, Mitch gathered himself together enough to at least light his gaze on the medic´s shiny silver name tag beneath his badge. Pacey Evans.

"Pacey?" Mitch said before he could stop himself. There was a crackling bit of transmission feedback in his ear and he winced. He´d forgotten his mic was on. "That´s your real name?"

Those light blue eyes snapped up to meet Mitch´s own. "Yeah," he said, a hint of a smile playing about his lips. "That´s my real name. You can climb out now."