Page 38 of Too Fast To Fall
“I love it. It’s so beautiful. Having the ocean nearby. Blue skies. Lots of sunshine. And my family, of course. I can’t imagineliving anywhere else, to be honest.”
Emilio nodded slowly, then Evie brought over their beers. “Food will be right up.”
“What about you? You grew up in Spain, so you must be looking forward to the Grand Prix there. Do both of your parents come?”
He laughed and took a sip of his beer. “Absolutely not. In fact, they’re not supposed to come to the same races. My mom getsSpain this year. My dad gets it next year. And I am looking forward to it. Very much.” He looked at her in a quizzical waythat made her feel vulnerable. “Which reminds me, we need to talk about travel plans.”
“Okay.”
“My grandmother always asks me to visit her before the race. She never comes to the track. It makes her too nervous. Wouldyou have any interest in coming with me and Gus to stay with her? It would just be for a night, and she has plenty of space.You’d have your own room, of course. It would be nice. She’d get to see Gus. She hasn’t seen him since last year, and he wasa puppy. She loves dogs, but she really loves him.”
Piper was taken aback by the invitation, partly because this came so close on the heels of the dinner invite. She liked it.She could get used to him being a bit more relaxed and way more friendly. “Your grandmother and I might be soul mates.”
Evie arrived with their food and slid it onto the table, along with a bottle of malt vinegar. “Let me know if you need anotherround.”
“Thank you,” Emilio answered, then returned his gaze to Piper. His eyes turned a shade darker, sending her heart racing. “Isthat a yes?”
How else could she possibly answer? “I’d love to. It’ll be an honor.” She popped a French fry into her mouth to make it seemlike it was no big deal, but it felt like a very big deal.
Emilio was allowing her into his life.
His warm eyes seemed to smile. “Perfect. I’ll make arrangements. We’ll leave Wednesday morning.”
They tucked into their food, and although Evie had brought small plates for them each to use, it felt almost intimate to sharean entrée. Like she and Emilio had been friends for years. The fish was light and flaky and a little sweet, while the fries—orchips, as she’d been corrected—were crisp and salty. They chatted about Gus, visiting Emilio’s grandmother in Spain and Piper’sremaining races. There were only two. Just as quickly as it had started, it was going to end. They’d agreed this first fiveweeks would be a trial period, and it seemed like it was going great, but if she had to endure the one-sided sexual tensionof being around Emilio all the time, she would be better off returning to her normal life. Plus, she couldn’t deny she missedher family.
They finished as much of the generous portion as they could, declined a second round of beers and Emilio paid the check, thenthey headed home. As they strolled along the quiet sidewalks and the last strains of day faded into darkness, Emilio’s handbrushed Piper’s. Unfortunately, her reflex was to jump.
“Oh. Sorry.” He glanced over at her.
“No. No. It’s fine. It surprised me. That’s all.” Piper’s heartbeat thumped in her ears. What was that expression on his face?Was he sending messages? Or wassheoverreacting?
“Just an accident.”
She swallowed a sigh. She was definitely overreacting.
The instant Emilio opened the back door, Gus nearly plowed them over, jumping and licking as they walked inside and closedthe door behind them. Piper was about to suggest they chat more when her phone beeped with a text from Gabby.
I’ve examined the photos from every available angle. He wants you. I can tell.
Piper let out a nervous laugh. She was sure her face had turned every possible shade of red.
“Something funny?” Emilio asked.
Piper shook her head. “My sister. She’s being ridiculous.”
“Ah. Well, I’m going to head to bed. I didn’t sleep well last night, and I need to be at Mega early in the morning for a teammeeting.”
Another text came through, but Piper wasn’t about to look. She’d be horrified if Emilio knew her sister was talking abouthim. “Oh, yeah. Me, too. I mean, not the part about having a team meeting tomorrow morning,” she said, flustered. “I shouldprobably just go to bed.”
As soon as she got upstairs, she closed the door behind her. She leaned against it, feeling a strange mix of confusion andexcitement. What had just happened in the past few hours? A heart-to-heart conversation in the living room led to dinner andan invitation to stay with him at his grandmother’s in Spain? How was that even possible?
Her phone lit up with another text.
You’re not going to answer me?
Don’t you have better things to do? You’re getting married soon.
Mom is nagging me about the wedding so I’m distracting myself with your love life.
