It was 1951 and Paul Hudson was living his dream. He was a race car driver and he thought he was the best thing since sliced bread. Wind whipped through the windows of his car tousling his hair as he drove towards the track he'd be racing on later. Smirking at himself in the rearview mirror, he lazily parked his car. With another glance in the mirror he adjusted his dark aviators further up on his face and ran a hand through his rebellious brown locks. It was a good day for a race.

The young man slipped out of his dark blue Hudson Hornet, gave the door a pat and started to stroll through the area around the racing grounds. There was a confident swagger to his steps that spoke of an attitude that was nearly as big as the sky. The strut in Paul's steps only deepened as he passed a group of young ladies. They smiled at him, a couple of them winked. He smirked and adjusted the collar on his leather jacket; it was good to be him.

"Hey Hud!" A southern voice called across the road. Paul turned his attention from the ladies to the source of the voice.

"Moon!" A lazy smirk crossed Paul's face. The racer swaggered away from the ladies to catch up to his friend. He crossed the street leaving the girls to swoon amongst themselves.

"Ready for the race Hud?" Junior Moon clasped Paul's hand firmly and shook it. The constant twinkle in his blue eyes seemed to taunt Paul.

"Every day, Moony." The brunette smirked at his blonde friend.

"You're still gonna' call me that?" Moon chuckled to himself and shook his head.

"If the shoe fits…"

"How's the lady?"

"Just gave her a wash and a drive." Paul slipped his aviators into his coat pocket to lock eyes with his friend.

"You treat that car better than you do your friends."

"Well, she treats me right. What can I say," He smirked at Moon and slipped his hands into his jeans.

"Hope she treats you right when we race today," A saucy female voice sounded from behind Hudson causing his grin to broaden.

"Nash, you just keep that clunker of yours away from my Hornet and we'll be just fine." Paul turned to wink at the pretty blonde behind him.

"Ninety-Four isn't a clunker! She's won more races than you have. Rookie." The blonde's eyes were sparking with competitive fire. She'd been racing a bit longer than Paul and had made a splash in the racing community.

"Sorry Nash, didn't mean to step on your toes," Paul's apology lacked sincerity. He loved to rile Nash before a race. His big baby blues sparkled with humor and self-assurance.

"You're so struck on yourself," She shoved his arm teasingly and shook her blonde locks in exasperation. "Better watch it or you'll wreck on that ego of yours. Didn't anyone teach you it's not to brag?"

"It's not bragging if you can back it up sweet cheeks." Bright blue eyes twinkled with arrogance. Paul practically preened as he adjusted his jacket again and grinned at Nash.

"We'll see how cocky you are when I beat you out there racing." Nash put a hand on her hip. She was grinning ear to ear.

"Y'all at it again?"

The group turned to spot a sturdy looking African American man strolling towards them. Smiles spread through the group and they all called out to the man.

"River!" Nash grinned at the man. The two shared a kinship, both being on the outer edges of the racing community. They were considered underdogs at first, but both were making a name for themselves in the world.

"How in the world are you Barnstormer?" Scott beamed at the unusual set of friends he'd made in the racing world. Even though prejudice had tried to keep them from forming a friendship, they'd all simply become closer.

"I'm just trying to knock Hud's ego down a bit. He's about to flood the track with his attitude." The only female in the group shot the rookie of the group a pointed look. Paul simply grinned and rocked back on his heels, hands in pocket. He looked at the others casually as if they were no competition at all.

"Careful Hud, you look like you could be Smokey's new rooster," Junior's blue eyes sparkled teasingly. "I think you would fit right in. What do you think River?"

"Well…Now that you mention it," River glanced over at his the youngest in the group. "He does look mighty sure of himself. Smokey might could use a substitute rooster."

"Rooster? Really, I mean, I doubt there's a rooster that looks this good," Hud plucked his aviators out of his pocket and slid them over his bright baby blues.

"Don't look now Rooster, but I think someone's over by your lady." River gave Paul a nudge and nodded towards his Hornet parked across the street.

The brunette in question turned sharply to look towards his car, checking to see if it was some vagrant. He paused and he felt his mouth gape a little, he swallowed and snapped his mouth shut before the others could notice. Standing beside his car was a woman in a soft green dress. It was at that moment Paul considered painting his car a deep shade of red to match the soft locks framing her face.

His eyes drifted over her figure examining his car and a small smirk crossed his lips. The petite looking redhead was glancing inside the driver's window. Paul felt his mouth go dry and a lump form in his throat. She was gorgeous. The cocky young racer couldn't tear his eyes away from her as she began circling his car and gingerly tracing its frame.

"Shoo, she's pretty Hud," Moon threw an arm around the dumbfounded rookie. "I might just go talk to her myself."

"I don't think so Moon. That's my Hornet she's looking at." Paul shot his friend a glare. His gaze quickly flitted back to the pretty redhead.

"Better make a move Rooster." River spoke up with a noticeable grin in his voice. "Moon here might get the girl."

"Not a chance," Paul shook Moon's arm off his shoulder.

"Alright," Moon grinned at his friend and stepped back beside River and Nash.

Paul shot the trio a smug self-assured look, he adjusted his jacket hooked a thumb in the pocket of his jeans and strutted across the street. With every step he felt his heart trying to beat out of his chest. What to say…What to say? His mind was racing, his hands felt clammy and sweaty, he subtly dried his left hand on the seat of his jeans.

The redhead circled the car and stopped with her back to him. Paul's eyes respectfully took in her figure. "Shoot, she's tiny," He marveled to himself. It was an innocent feeling in his chest, it bubbled deep from the pit of his stomach and curled up to his chest and wrapped around his heart.

"He's hopeless." Nash commented quietly.

"Ten bucks says he uses a pickup line from a movie." Moon wagered with a grin.

"I say it's going to be an original… and awful." River added as he watched Hud standing dumbstruck and watching the redhead.

Silence hung in the air, Paul seemed to be holding his breath just waiting for the vision before him to turn around and notice him. He swallowed four or five times trying to gather his courage. Confusion touched his mind, he'd never had this hard of a time talking to a girl. Licking his lips he mustered up the words to get her attention.

"If you think the car is nice to look at, you ought to see the driver, Doll… By the way…That's my car." The words came out smooth as silk and with confidence. He took off his aviators with a grin.

Suddenly, Paul was faced with the stunning face of the redhead. He felt all coherent thoughts leave his head and found he was staring into the most beautiful face he'd ever seen. Soft brown eyes flecked with green stared at him intensely and he felt a spark in his chest blossom into a full flame. It was official; red was his new favorite color. He's fingers itched to touch the red waves curved around her face.

He didn't even notice he was gaping at her. The racer was completely enamored by the sight before him. Her skin was pale and free of freckles giving her an angelic look. A soft love-struck sigh escaped his lips and the redhead raised an eyebrow at him.

The expression on the redhead's face seemed to ask Paul if he was serious or joking with his flirtations. Her eyes held a challenge as she sized up the racer before her. Paul felt his eyes widen as he realized how stupid his pickup line had sounded.

"Idiot…Using a line like that," Paul's tongue felt like sandpaper. He stuttered, "Hi… I'm Paul Hudson. Impressed yet?" Paul let a groan escape his mouth at the sheer stupidity of his words.

"Win the race…Then I'll be impressed" The redhead spoke and Paul felt his heart do a somersault. She turned her back on him and began to walk away.

"Wait! I didn't get the time for our date!" The self-confident rookie called after her.

"What date? You haven't impressed me Hotrod." She glanced over her shoulder at him, brown eyes sparkled teasingly.

"I'll win," He stuttered.

A soft smile crossed the redhead's lips after a second. She felt sorry for him, he was adorable, tripping over his words and trying to impress her. Still smiling she gave Paul an answer.

"Well…If you win, I'll consider a date." She turned and started walking again.

Paul stood staring after her dumbfounded. The beautiful girl of his dreams had gotten a hundred feet away before he suddenly snapped out of his daze and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"What's your name!?"

"Katherine. Katherine Weathers," The redhead shouted back with a laugh before continuing on her way.

Katherine… it was the most perfect name he'd ever heard. He sighed as he let himself daydream. He slipped his aviators back on and strutted towards his friends that were waiting.

"So…You going to try and win a race?" Moon prodded teasingly.

"Try? I'm winning." Hud's jaw tightened in a determined line. This race was his. He was winning his date.

"Better watch ourselves…Looks like Hud is racing for a girl." Nash grinned at the others.

"You better believe I am. I'm marrying that girl." There was a firm look on Hud's face as he sauntered over to his Hornet to check it over before the race.

"Oh…this is going to be a historic race." River smirked as the other three made their way over to their own cars.

It was time for the most important race of Paul Hudson's life. A race for love.