Page 42 of Not So Fast
She sighed. “It’sso weird, Xander,” she pleaded. “People were wearing the T-shirts I designed. They wanted to take pictures with me. They asked me for my autograph. I’m nobody. One woman is starting aNot So Fastfan club. How does this even make any sense?”
“And to think it all started because you told everyone I was driving with my dick in my hand.”
“Oh, God. I’ll never live that down, will I?”
Xander laughed. “I don’t want you to live it down. I love that you owned it that first time I met you. I want you to keep owning it. It’s done fantastic things for you, darling. You should run with it as far as you care to go.”
“Darling?”
Xander was surprised he’d let that slip. But it had. “Well, now you know how I feel.”
“That’s sweet. So sweet. Especially in your adorable accent.”
“Some people think I sound pompous.”
“Not me.”
Quiet fell between them and he felt such a profound ache right in the center of his chest.
“Can I tell you something, Mia?”
“Of course. Anything.”
“I want to see you. Desperately.”
“I want to see you, too.”
He sucked in a deep breath and wondered if what he was about to say was the right thing. “Come to England. I have ten days until the race in Austria. We can spend time together. We can get to really know each other.”
“Get to know each other through talking? Or is this more of a transatlantic booty call?”
“There will be talking. Of course. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want a second chance at that kiss.”
She was quiet on the other end of the line, ramping up his nervousness. It wasn’t easy to put himself out there when he already felt like he couldn’t get anything right.
“It’s okay to tell me no. You won’t hurt my feelings.”
“I can probably only come for a few days.”
“I understand. You’re busy.”
“And we need to keep this quiet. Some of my listeners were not happy when they found out you paid for my trip to Monza. They expect me to be a regular fan like them.”
Xander wanted to say she shouldn’t care what other people thought or said, but he lived in the public eye, too. He knew it wasn’t that simple. Still, he might have to point out, eventually, that she wasn’t just a fan. Not anymore.
“I understand. We’ll keep a low profile. For both our sakes.”
“Okay, then. When should I come?”
“Can you leave tomorrow? You’d land in England Tuesday morning. Does that work?”
“Sure. I can do that.”
He wasn’t entirely sure of the timeline he’d suggested, since he would need to race home from Monaco and get the house ready for a visitor. But he was prepared to stay up all night to make that happen. A jolt of energy coursed through him. The prospect of seeing her soon gave him something to look forward to.
“Brilliant. I’ll book your ticket as soon as we get off the phone.”
Nine
