Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 73568 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73568 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
“Come on,” Lex says, steering me toward the bar. “Let’s get you a drink.”
“You’re not going to have one?” I ask. I know he’s been abstaining, but I figured he’d partake of at least one cocktail.
He grins at me and shakes his head. “Don’t you remember… I’ve turned over a new leaf since Posey Evans came into my life.”
I blush to the roots of my hair, not from the words, but rather from the actual happiness I hear in his tone. I can hear just how real this is for him and if my heart wasn’t already dangerously on the precipice of being lost to him forever, it’s hanging by a thread now.
Then Lex does the unthinkable. He takes my hand in his and winds through the crowd in search of a bar. I glance around, afraid of the messaging, and curious eyes follow our movements. I have the urge to pull away and yet, I love the feel of him against me too much to do so.
A familiar voice calls out and I turn to see Carlos Moreno heading our way. His warm smile instantly puts me at ease and I tug my hand from Lex’s.
“Posey!” Carlos exclaims, pulling me into a friendly hug. “It’s good to see you again. How’s the article coming along?”
“Good,” I say as we pull apart, but I can’t think of anything else to say about it since I haven’t even attempted to write anything yet.
But that’s good enough for Carlos. He turns to Lex, the men clasping hands.
“Ready for the race?” Lex asks.
Carlos shrugs casually, but there’s a twinkle in his eye. “As ready as I’ll ever be. But let’s be honest, it’s not about being ready—it’s about being lucky, right?”
Lex scoffs, but there’s affection in his tone. “You’ve never needed luck, mate. Just try not to run me off the track.”
Carlos chuckles. “No promises.”
Before the banter can continue, another driver approaches, and I recognize the tall, striking man with sun-kissed blond hair and sharp blue eyes.
Aussie Reid Hemsworth—he was one of my documentary crushes—who drives for Matterhorn FI Racing based out of Zurich. He’s dressed in a tailored suit that fits him perfectly, and the laid-back smile he flashes like he just got done with a surfing competition is enough to make anyone swoon.
Lex introduces us and apparently word has gotten around. He nods at me with sparkling eyes. “The beautiful reporter I heard is shadowing you.” He takes my hand, giving a firm, yet gentlemanly shake. “Pleasure to meet you, Posey.”
I immediately like him in real life as opposed to what I saw on TV. He seems like the type of guy you’d sit down and have a few beers with while discussing climate change or endangered species.
Reid turns to Lex and pokes at him. “Now I see why you’ve been hiding her.”
Lex chuckles, shaking his head. “Merely keeping her safe from the likes of you, Hemsworth.”
Reid laughs, the sound deep and infectious. “Oh, come on, mate. I’m harmless.”
“Harmless, my ass,” a deep voice with a distinct German accent says.
I turn to see a broad-shouldered man who’s a bit older than Lex, Carlos and Reid, with dark hair and piercing gray eyes. He’s dressed in a sleek black suit, his expression serious but with a hint of amusement in his eyes as he shakes Reid’s and Carlos’s hands.
“Stefan Wagner,” Lex says to me, motioning toward the German driver, although I recognized him too. “Racing for Rosso Corso GTX. And he’s a menace on the track.”
Stefan turns to me. “Don’t listen to him. I’m only a menace to people who can’t keep up.”
“Hi, I’m Posey,” I say.
“She’s writing an article about Crown Velocity,” Carlos explains, and I cringe internally every time that lie is repeated. I cannot wait for this race to be over so Lex can help me come clean to Harley.
“Ah,” he says with a sly smile toward Lex. “No wonder I haven’t read about you in the headlines lately.”
“Funny guy,” Lex mutters. “You won’t be laughing Sunday when the only thing you’re able to see are the ERS lights on the back of my car.”
Stefan laughs and I do have to marvel how these guys can be so fiercely competitive on the track and yet jest as old friends off it.
Reid chuckles, clearly enjoying the smack talk. “You two have been at each other’s throats since the first practice lap last year.”
Lex grins. “What can I say? Some rivalries never die.”
“Just make sure you both keep it clean on Sunday,” Carlos adds with a grin. “I don’t want to be dodging debris like last season.”
I watch the back-and-forth with amusement. The camaraderie among these men is obvious, even when they’re teasing. It’s clear they respect one another, but the competitive fire runs deep.
“So, who’s your money on?” Stefan asks, turning to me with a mischievous glint in his eyes.