Page 60 of Too Fast To Fall
“It’s iconic. I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Okay, great. I’ll see you then.” He looked over at Piper, desperately wanting to give her a kiss. But Isabel didn’t knowabout any of this and neither did Harmony. He thought it best to play it safe, so he patted her on the shoulder. “I’ll seeyou later, Piper.”
“Yes, you will.”
Spanish Grand Prix
Barcelona, Spain
Emilio’s thoughts were a bit of a jumble by the time he climbed into the car. New sponsor. His mom’s new boyfriend. His momnot showing up. And, in the midst of all of that, he and Piper growing closer. Just in time for her to leave in little morethan a week. He really wished there was a way to convince her to stay, but he didn’t think there was, and every time he thoughthe saw an opportunity to bring it up, she somehow managed to remind him she’d be going home to Florida soon.
“Emilio. Radio check?” His engineer’s voice sounded in his helmet.
“Check, Tom. I’m here. Sounds good.”
“Are we ready to kick some ass today?”
Emilio drew in a cleansing breath.Focus.“I’m certainly going to try.”
“How long have you been a dog nanny?” Harmony asked as she and Piper got settled in the paddock club with the dogs.
“Only a few weeks full-time. I’ve been a dog walker forever and a dog sitter, but this is my first time nannying.”
“How are you liking it?”
If ever there was a loaded question, that was it. She adored Gus. She adored Emilio, but in a decidedly different way. Andshe loved the adventure of traveling from place to place, but she was also starting to feel a bit homesick. This was a lotof nonstop excitement for a person like Piper, who loved her quiet. Loved her downtime. “Gus is the best. I couldn’t ask fora better dog to care for. But it’s only for another ten days or so. Then I head back home to Florida. My sister’s gettingmarried. The company I work for wants me back.”
“Do you know what Emilio is going to do? About having care for Gus?”
“I guess he’ll try to find another dog nanny.” The thought made her queasy, but she’d known this job wouldn’t last forever.“I just don’t think he’s done anything about it. Driving keeps him so busy.”
“I think I can help with that,” Harmony said.
Piper glanced up at the TV screen. The cars had started the formation lap. “Hold on. I want to hear more about that. Afterthe race starts.”
Emilio pulled into his starting spot on the grid and reminded himself of two things.
First,focus.
And second,everything you need is already inside you.It was Piper’s tried and true, and when he thought about it, it was almost like she was there.
He took a deep breath and waited for the five lights to go out.
“It’s lights out and away we go!” the announcer said. “Preston Hubbard and Brett Lockford are battling for position headinginto the first turn, and oh, my word! That’s a mega move from Emilio Baquero—”
Piper shot up out of her seat. “Oh, my God! Emilio!” What was happening? It was only the start of the race.
“—around the outside and look who’s right behind him, his teammate, Xander Bishop! The two Mega Racing cars have gone fromseventh and eighth to third and fourth in the blink of an eye!”
Harmony was right there with Piper. “Holy crap!”
“What just happened?” Piper could hardly believe her own eyes, but Emilio had made a brilliant but aggressive move, and Xanderhad the foresight to follow. It was the most exciting thing Piper had ever seen on track. And she was so proud of Emilio shecould hardly contain her feelings. In fact, a tiny tear leaked from the corner of her eye.It’s a long race,she reminded herself.Keep it together.
Gumdrop and Gus were anxious and confused, now milling about their table. Piper scrambled for the treats to distract them.“It’s okay, guys.” She held Gus’s face in her hands and looked into his sweet eyes. “Daddy’s doing great, buddy. Keep yourpaws crossed.”
There was a long way to go, but twenty laps in, Emilio and Xander were both holding their positions.
“Emilio, for now, we’re on Plan B, but we’re recalculating a few things,” his race engineer said. “We hadn’t quite expectedto be this far up in the order. Especially not at this juncture of the race.”
