Page 55 of Too Fast To Fall
They sat down to a lovely breakfast of eggs baked in a delectable tomato sauce with toasted bread. Every bite was as deliciousas everything they’d enjoyed yesterday. As soon as they were done eating, Emilio gathered the plates, brought them to thesink and started washing.
“I’ve enjoyed my time with you, Piper,” Ximena said. “I hope you’ll come to see me when you return to Spain.”
Return to Spain.Piper hadn’t taken the time to think about coming back to any of this new world she was experiencing. It had always seemedlike it was a one-shot sort of deal. And deep in her gut, she felt that was true. She had to go back to Florida. She had toultimately be with her family again. But every passing minute made it more difficult to imagine. “This is actually my firsttime outside the US. I guess you could say I’m a homebody.”
Ximena smiled. “I’m glad my grandson can open up your world to so much more.”
You can say that again.
They took Gus outside for one last pee break, then they exchanged hugs with Ximena, climbed into the car and were soon ontheir way to the track. It would take them a little more than an hour. Piper didn’t know what the Spanish Grand Prix had instore for either of them, but she suspected things were about to get heated...
She glanced over at Emilio as he drove. With sunglasses on and the wind blowing his hair back from his face, he was nothingshort of perfect. His handsome profile was made so much better by the effortless smile now on his lips. Hot damn, she couldstill feel his incredible body pressed against her an hour ago in bed. That hadn’t been on her bingo card for the year. Orher life. She’d always been a big fan of her comfort zone, but she was learning that stepping outside it was the best thingshe ever could have done.
Thirteen
The first two days at the Spanish Grand Prix were an absolute blur. Emilio was busy with his regular workload, while Piperwas consumed by Gus and his social media. For now, the rumors about them as a couple were barely simmering, but they hadn’tgone away completely. Because of that, he and Piper had agreed they’d keep some distance when at the track. Life would besimpler if they didn’t fan any flames. It didn’t bother either of them too much—they simply erased that space the second theywere alone.
Emilio hadn’t had this much sex in a long time. He wasn’t complaining. It was so good he woke up every morning feeling likehe was walking on air. But it was more than that—he and Piper had fallen into sync. They enjoyed their time together, whetherit was talking about his day on track or Gus’s latest antics, or they were simply occupying the same space while he was studyingdata and she was reading. Had he ever felt this relaxed for a race weekend? He wasn’t sure he had. That left him to wrestlewith the realization that this feeling he had with Piper was what he’d always wanted in his personal life. Leave it to himto find that with someone who wouldn’t be around much longer.
“I’m going to take Gus out for a bit,” Emilio said to Piper, who was curled up on the couch in the motorhome, her nose ina book. Night had fallen and he needed a good night’s sleep before qualifying tomorrow. He hoped he could clear his head witha bit of fresh air. “Do you want to come with us?”
“Of course.”
There it was—in sync. Emilio grabbed Gus’s leash, and they stepped out into the night air. It was warm and a bit sticky withhumidity, with a clear sky—so clear you could see a few stars twinkling overhead. There was also the chatter of quiet conversation.The drivers did often socialize in this area. It was one of the only places where they could be themselves. Emilio enjoyedthat aspect of this arrangement.
They strolled through the grass between the motorhomes. Up ahead there was a flicker of light. Someone had a fire pit going.Emilio’s mind immediately went to the other night at his grandmother’s, when his heart softened even more for Piper. He wouldbe sad to say goodbye to her, but that was the reality of his life right now. Everything was a mixed bag. The good with thebad. But being with Piper at his grandmother’s had reminded him the good things didn’t need to be big for him to appreciatethem. They could still make his life better, as long as he took the time to notice.
“It’s nice out tonight,” Piper said.
“It is. That’s part of why I wanted to come out.” He let Gus lead the way over to the fencing, where he took a pee break.
“How are you feeling about qualifying tomorrow?”
“Obviously, I want to do well. My mom will be here.”
“With Rico?”
“With Rico.” He drew in a deep breath and let out a heavy exhale. “She sent me a text. She’s excited for me to meet him.”
“Has she heard the rumors? About us? I wasn’t sure which way I should play it.”
Emilio hated that he and Piper couldn’t simply be the way they wanted to be, but such was the fishbowl of Formula One. “Idon’t think she’s been paying attention. She would’ve said something. My mom loves gossip.”
“Okay. Good.” Piper nodded. “And it’s not a problem anyway. I’m pretty good at ad-libbing.”
Emilio still wasn’t so sure their approach was the best one. Part of him wanted to be open about the fact that he and Piperwere romantically involved. Another part of him, a far more realistic part, knew it would only buy him problems. When Piperleft, he’d only get endless questions about why they were no longer together. He’d already endured too many queries abouthis personal life. He wished people didn’t care so much.
With Gus’s pee break over, they continued with their walk. When they rounded one of the motorhomes, Emilio nearly ran intoBrett Lockford. He was hand in hand with Victoria.
Emilio froze. His stomach soured. Not from seeing them together, but from the realization that he didn’t know how to react.For a guy with lightning-fast reflexes, it felt like his brain and body were moving in slow motion. “Victoria. Brett.” Statingthe obvious seemed like a halfway decent place to start.
“Emilio, hi,” Brett said.
“Hello, Emilio,” Victoria said, then immediately directed her gaze at Piper. “Oh, my God. You really are dating yourdog nanny, aren’t you?” She turned to Brett and let out a breathy laugh. “It’s the scoop of the season, right in front of our veryeyes.”
Emilio wished he were surprised by her tactless response, but Victoria tended to lash out when she felt threatened. He wouldn’tlet it faze him. “Victoria. Brett. This is Piper Murphy.” He then did the only thing that came naturally. The only thing thatmade sense. Because just like at the swipe gates in Imola, he felt the need to shield Piper in any way he could. So he slippedhis hand into hers.
Piper turned to him for an instant, and it was like an entire conversation happened between them, in the blink of an eye.Does this mean...?
