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)
“You know I’m not willing to let this go when you head back to the States,” Lex had said, his voice low as he scrolled through his calendar. “We’re going to figure out how to make this work.”
I turned to look at him, my heart flipping at the sincerity in his voice. “We will. First things first, we’ll talk to Harley after the race. Then we can figure out what races I can attend and when you’ll have breaks to come visit me.”
He nodded, his thumb flicking over his phone screen as he scrolled. “Here—after next week’s race in Jeddah, I have a week gap before the Australian race. I have to be back at Crown Velocity probably by Wednesday, but we could spend a few days together at the beginning of the week.”
I shake my head, fingers flying over my phone to search flights. “That’s like a thirteen-hour flight from Jeddah to North Carolina. And to just stay a few days, then fly to England. That’s too hard on you.”
“Then you come to Jeddah, then to England with me. Then the Australian race—”
“I don’t think I can be gone that long from my house. Maybe I should go to North Carolina after Jeddah and then meet you in Australia.”
“Nope,” he said with surety. “I’ll just come to North Carolina.”
It was hard, trying to figure this out because he has a home in London, I have a home in North Carolina, and in between he’ll be flying to a different race two to three times per month, sometimes on opposite sides of the world.
When it was all said and done, we managed to plan out the next month.
“What about April?” Lex asked, but it was getting late and he needed sleep because of qualifying. I also knew that we weren’t going to sleep until he had his way with my body, so I tried to push off continued travel plans.
He wasn’t having any of it and insisted we nail down April. “I’ve got a book signing in New York City the first week of April.”
Lex looked at the race calendar. “That’s perfect. We have two weeks between Australia and Japan. I can meet you there and help you.”
I laughed, imagining Lex Hamilton, world-class Formula International driver, helping me sell books. “Okay, but you’ll have to handle taking payments and manning the table.”
He grinned, utterly unfazed. “Done. I’ll charm all your readers into buying extra copies.”
Of that, I had no doubt. I leaned into him, the warmth of his skin against mine grounding me. It was crazy, talking about the future like this, but it felt… right. Like we’re building something real. I kissed him and then our phones were tossed aside and we forgot all about schedules.
But that was last night.
Right now, the sound of the engines screaming down the straights jolts me back to the present, to Q3, where everything is on the line.
Lex made it into the final qualifying session, as did Ronan who set the fastest lap time in Q2. The tension in the air is palpable as the drivers prepare for their final runs. The first few laps have been solid, but nothing earth-shattering. As I watch the board displaying lap times just past the pit wall, I see that Carlos sets the fastest lap, but I have no clue if it’s enough to keep him in contention for pole. Stefan’s car rockets by on the main straight and I watch on the big screen as he slices through the corners with the precision he’s known for. When he finishes the lap, he moves ahead of Carlos on the leaderboard.
For now.
Lex and Ronan are still in the garage, their teams making final adjustments. Lex told me that part of their strategy is to let other cars go out, warm the track and lay down some gripping rubber. Those little details are so fascinating to me, but I’m not sure they’re worth mentioning to my readers.
I’m jolted when Maeve appears at my side, handing me a bottle of water. “Thought you might need this. Nerves getting to you?”
“Why would you say that?” I ask casually, because she has no clue my insides are knotted with anxiety for Lex’s run.
Maeve tilts her head, lips pursed as her gaze lasers onto me. “Come on, love. I see how you and Lex talk to each other and I see how he looks at you.”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” I reply with a nervous laugh.
“I saw him kiss you before you two got out of the car this morning in the paddock,” she says with a sparkling grin.
I groan and cover my eyes with one hand. “Oh God.” I peek up at her. “Did anyone else see?”
She shakes her head, red curls bouncing, still grinning at me like a lunatic. “No. But I demand you tell me all the details. Are you having a hot, passionate affair before you head back home to America, then?”