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CHAPTER NINETEEN

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Charlie Amor: We’re here at pre-season testing in Espana. It’s beautiful, if a little chilly.

Geoff Askew: Well, in the mornings at least. It’ll warm up later. Which is exactly why the teams aren’t testing in the same order over the next three days. They need as much data as possible, and that includes the way the tyres perform in various temperatures. Sure, drivers can use the track to heat their tyres, but starting from cold is a world of difference than starting in heat.

Charlie: It can mean a shift between a car sliding like it’s on ice or being a speeding bullet. It does come down to the temperature, and the driver.

Geoff: This is the first real look everyone will get at the cars. The teams will be stalking their competition just as fiercely as those of us in the media to find the differences between the cars they showed previously and now.

Charlie: [laughs] Never reveal all your cards at once.

Geoff: Never. But we’ll see how it goes. Today isn’t open to the public, so the teams don’t have to worry about crowd response. That will come starting tomorrow.

Charlie: Three very long, very important days for all the teams. Especially this year when the schedule is a little tighter than they’re used to. The first car is about to take to the circuit, so let’s listen in on the radios.

Espana was warmer than Britannia in February, but it was still chilly today. Especially early morning, like right now. “It’s too early,” I grumbled.

“You’re just jet lagged,” Annika said.

We weren’t really. The flight wasn’t that far. It was everything else that was tiring. “I mean, yes, but it’s still too early.”

The actual testing started later, which meant the photo and video call for all the drivers was now. While the sun was up and bright but before we all had to take over the track.

Cars were arranged in teams all along a portion of the track and already the drivers were mingling as they waited. Talking and chatting. This was the first time I’d be with all the other drivers at once, and while I wasn’t nervous, I was… on edge. Mainly because I would be standing next to Lars the whole time we were filming, and I doubted that would be a pleasant experience.

And because I hadn’t seen my pack in over a day.

My pack.

The way my face flushed wasn’t from the chill in the air. I had to pack my things and we didn’t travel together. With team responsibilities, last night was so late and this morning so early that we hadn’t had a chance to see each other, even with the connecting rooms Grayson arranged.

I’d spotted Grayson earlier and I saw River from a distance now, but I hated it. Pretending there was nothing between us was about to be so much harder than I’d anticipated.

After only a single night in with them, it felt wrong to be separated. Thank fuck Grayson had figured out a way to make it work in the hotels. Mostly.

“Stop staring at him,” Annika said under her breath.

I pulled my eyes away from River. “I’m not.”

“Yeah, and I’m the bloody Queen of Britannia,” she muttered. “If you don’t want anyone to know, you’ll have to do better than that.”

“Fine.”

“Don’t come crying to me when people ask why you were staring at him.” She gave me a look so full of sass that I laughed. “Give me that, and good luck. Feel free to prove me wrong. Oh, and don’t forget about the meeting right after this. With the owners.”

I handed her my water bottle. “You’re the worst.”

“I know.” She saluted and skipped away before I could say anything else. Guess I’d had enough stalling.

And though he wasn’t the person I wanted to talk to, Johnny spotted me as soon as I stepped onto the track and waved. At least I wouldn’t be standing alone like the outcast at a party.

The Lockwood racing suit was mostly orange this year, with navy accents. He looked good, but any appeal he’d held for me had disappeared a long time ago. Even before the rest of them crashed into my world like a meteor.

“I had a bet going with Dad to see if you’d actually come.”

“Which side were you on?”

“Oh, I knew you’d show up.” He grinned. “Dad thought you would too, but he was seeing if Paragon would back down after the whole sponsor thing.”

I snorted. “I was going to say, if either of you actually bet against me for that I would question how well you knew me. And I think we’re doing just fine.” I spun and lifted my hair to show the new LORE logo that spread across my shoulders. Not only the giant fashion company, but half a dozen other women-centric brands had signed on with Paragon, more than making up for the loss of the other sponsors. Including a lingerie company. They’d worked fast on the new livery.

No one would ever get me to admit it aloud, but seeing Lars look at this particular livery with disdain brought me joy. He’d probably get to see more lingerie if he didn’t look at it like it was a bug under his shoe, but that was his business.

“I saw,” Johnny said. “Dad was impressed.”

“Impressed enough to get another woman on the grid?”

He shrugged as we walked toward the cars together. “I don’t know. Ask me again after the season. Vanessa, this is Aran Toma.”

The other Lockwood driver reached out to shake my hand, and I switched my helmet to the other to take it. He was a rookie too, but we’d missed each other in Formula 2. “Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

One look told me he would be popular. The Alpha had the kind of looks that couldn’t be bought, with dark hair and dark eyes, sharp, handsome features, and height. Frankly, he was gorgeous. If there was any kind of uptick in women watching this year, he’d be one they loved.

In the corner of my eye, I saw River look toward me where I still shook Aran’s hand. I smiled at him. “You ready for this?”

“I think we both better be.”

“You’re telling me,” I laughed, but I saw the production team was starting to gather. We’d be underway soon. “Us newbies have to stick together.”

Aran chuckled. “Sure.”

I didn’t get a bad vibe from him, and thankfully I knew neither John Lockwood nor his father would tolerate any of that attitude in a driver.

“VAH-NESS-UHHH!” My name got shouted across the track, and I was smiling before I even turned around. “That’s my girl .”

Ronan Phillips strode toward me and I met him halfway. He swept me up in a giant hug. Tight enough to know he had my back, just like he had when we were in Formula 2 together. Now he was River’s teammate.

He lifted me off the ground, and over his shoulder, I finally got a full view of River standing near their cars for the photoshoot. Glaring. At me. Or rather, glaring at the way Ronan was hugging me. There was nothing he could do about it, and I teased him a little by smirking and leaning into the hug a little more.

“You causing trouble already?” Ronan asked.

“Obviously.”

When he put me down, he smiled at me. Ronan had the kind of smile that lit up everything around him. Plus, he was a genuinely good and kind person. Even his rivals didn’t hate him.

He was one of the people who’d congratulated me publicly. I looked him up and down, still aware that River watched us like a hawk. “You look good, Ro.”

“You don’t look so bad yourself. But you’re right. I do look incredible.”

I snorted in my attempt to keep my laughter in and failed entirely. The powder blue racing suits for Xelerate set off his dark skin and eyes. That, combined with his smile, was a winning and deadly combination. He was another one the ladies loved.

What? Just because I had a pack now didn’t mean I couldn’t acknowledge someone being hot. And Ronan was hot.

Ronan and I had bonded over being outsiders in the racing world. He beat me, but I beat him more, with him taking second place in Formula 2 in the season I won. But he’d been elevated to Formula 1 the very next season.

Clearly it had taken more time for me.

“Ready for me to kick your ass this year?”

“Am I ready?” He blew out a breath and began walking with me back toward the Xelerate and Paragon cars, which were at the back of the long line. “Honestly? Yeah. Racing with this guy is getting a little boring.” One thumb pointed at River.

“Hey,” River said. “I’m a delight to race.”

Ronan held out his hand and wiggled it back and forth. “I don’t know. You’re getting kind of predictable. This woman here is who we need to shake things up.” Slinging an arm around my shoulders, Ronan pulled me against his side and I watched River go rigid while also trying to control his face. I couldn’t control my grin.

Would he make me pay for it later? Probably. Did I care?

Nope.

“I think I’ve shaken things up enough,” I said. “I just want to race and leave the other bullshit behind.”

“I feel that. Anyway, have you met River?”

“No,” River said, stepping forward and holding out a hand to shake mine. The second our skin touched and his scent entered my space, all the teasing I’d felt dropped away. It was all replaced by heat, and this time River got to smirk, though it was only there if you were looking for it, which I was. “It’s nice to meet you, Vanessa.”

“Nice to meet you.”

The director with a bullhorn stood back by the starting line. He looked annoyed already. “Okay, if we can get the drivers in their pairings, please. Let’s not let this take all day.”

I glanced between the guys. “Duty calls.”

“See you later.” Ronan saluted with two fingers.

River didn’t say anything. The way he looked at me was more than enough. He would see me later. Hopefully all of me.

I took my place next to Lars in front of our cars. He didn’t even look at me.

“Lars.”

“Vanessa.”

For the sake of the team, I knew I needed to try to smooth things over. I didn’t want to, but I would still try. “I’m sorry you were surprised by me joining the team. It wasn’t my decision to keep it that quiet. I hope we can work well together as teammates.” I turned toward him and offered my hand.

He still didn’t look at me. “You’re not my teammate.”

“According to the contract I signed, I am.”

“Not to me. You don’t belong here.”

I dropped my hand and turned back to face where the cameras were. “If that’s how you want this to go, Lars, then fine. But I’m letting you know that we don’t have to be enemies. And we have the same resume. We both placed second in Formula 3 and won Formula 2. In fact, I think I’ve won more junior category races than you have. But sure. I don’t belong here.”

The anger pouring off him was obvious as he seethed. I was beyond caring. We were going to share space for at least a year. He could think whatever he wanted about me, but I wasn’t going to pretend he was correct. If he belonged here with his record, then so did I.

Lars didn’t speak to me again as we filmed all the spots in the various formations the director had to corral all the drivers into. I didn’t goof off or participate in the banter. Because I couldn’t. That was the difference. My actions needed to be exemplary at all times. I wasn’t going to give anyone any reason to question my presence here, whether it was Lars or some random person off the street.

Still, it felt like hours before the director finally released us. Annika waited near the paddock. “Meeting. It’s in the Paragon trailers.”

“Thanks.”

“Looked tense between you and Lars.”

I glanced at her. “I’ll tell you later.” There were still too many ears around.

Ahead of me, I spotted River walking through the Paragon doors. Perfect. “I’m going to head to my driver to drop off my helmet and freshen up if you’ll let Grayson know I’ll be right there?”

“Sure thing.” Her smirk told me she knew exactly what was about to happen.

Because it was still early, there weren’t as many staff. I didn’t see River. My plan had been to pull him into my driver room, but he might have gone straight to the office. I tried not to be disappointed. We’d still see each other back at the hotel.

As soon as I opened the door he was on me, shutting the door and pushing me back against it, his body fully pressed to mine. I gasped. “What are you doing in here? What if someone saw you?”

“They didn’t. I made sure.” Then his mouth claimed mine in a brutal kiss that had me melting.

I sank into him for a heartbeat before I pushed him away. “We’re going to look like we just made out.”

“Like I give a fuck.”

“ River .”

He growled, that sound reaching places it had absolutely no right to. “Remember how I said I was going to be a pain in the ass because I can’t touch you in public? This is that.”

“No,” I said, keeping my tone light and teasing. “This is because I spoke to Johnny, Aran, and Ronan.”

“He put his hands on you.”

I swatted his shoulder as he kissed me again. “Ronan hugged me. We’re friends. He’s your friend too.”

“Not so sure about that anymore.”

Sliding my hands up his chest, I took his face in my hands. “Look at me and see me, River.”

“I do see you, baby. All I see is you.” The look I gave him told him exactly what I meant, and it wasn’t that. He huffed out a breath and leaned his forehead against mine. “I know. I know. I’m sorry.”

“I have enough enemies. I want to have friends on the grid too. Ronan had my back when we were in Formula 2.”

Shades of guilt flashed across his face. “Yeah. I just didn’t think it would be so hard to pretend.”

“I’m with you,” I whispered. “Annika already scolded me for staring at you earlier. You’re not the only one who’s feeling it.”

This time when he kissed me, it was softer. “I hate it. I already miss you and we’ve barely been apart for a full day.”

The ache in my chest made my eyes sting. “Me too. So let’s go to this meeting and get one step closer to not needing to hide anymore.”

River nodded and pulled me away from the door and fully into his arms. The racing suit he wore hid most of his scent, but I still got traces of his mint and chocolate along with the warm, comforting sound of his purr.

“Let me check the hallway first,” I said. “Are my lips swollen?”

He smirked, telling me with that one little gesture that he honestly didn’t care if they were, but he shook his head. “No. Not any more than the cold would do.”

“Same.”

The hallway was clear, and I pushed him out of the door. “So… does this mean you like me?” I teased.

“Baby, don’t ask questions like that when I can’t show you the answers.”

I shrugged. “Guess you’ll have to do that later.”

He heaved in breath after breath, face full of such heat that I was wondering just how far we could push this meeting back before he cursed under his breath and forced himself back down the hallway.

My body sagged against the doorframe. All the teasing was fun, but River wasn’t the only victim. And he certainly wasn’t the only one counting down the hours. We needed to get this fucking meeting over with so we could move on to the rest of the day and get to tonight. Otherwise, all five of us were going to explode.