Page 12 of Lights Out (Love in the Paddock #1)

“You know what blew my mind about the garage? It’s shipped all over the world in containers, and it takes twenty people to set up the garage at each track we visit.

And we try to keep it looking the same for each race, but of course, that depends on the facility at each track.

We even have the floors painted before we arrive to ensure they are clean.

Reduces the risk of falls from a dirty surface. ”

“Really? That’s amazing.” I had no idea that was done.

Mason shows me everything from the helmets on the wall the pit crew will use to the VIP section, where visitors can observe what is going on in the garage during the weekend.

Then we come back to where Zach is waiting for Mason, and mechanics are all around his car, hard at work preparing for the first and only practice session of the day before qualifying.

“So now you’re getting ready for FP1,” I say.

“Yeah. During this session, you get a feel for the track. Identify braking points, stuff like that. It’s also when I give feedback on how the car feels, what needs to be adjusted.

Zach and I will look at the data, and that will help both the mechanics and me get ready for sprint qualifying.

This is harder for us on sprint weekends because we only get one practice session instead of three. ”

“That’s more pressure.”

“For sure. But we’ll get it done and hopefully land on pole for the race tomorrow,” Mason says.

“One more question. It’s very serious.”

He looks at me curiously, but there’s still a smile on his face. “Why do I feel like I should be alarmed?”

“Oh, you should be,” I say, grinning at him. “Ready?”

“No.”

We both laugh.

“Come on, you drive a race car for a living, my question is nothing.”

“All right. Go on.”

“What is an underrated kitchen tool or appliance?” I ask gravely.

Mason looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “What?”

“You know, like I love my blender.”

“I don’t really have an underrated tool, but I think mango chutney is an underrated condiment.”

“Interesting.” I like the fact that Mason took the assignment and ran with it.

“It’s great on a sandwich,” he explains.

“Do you travel with it?” I ask.

He laughs. “Yes, I do.”

“So there you have it. Mason’s tour of the Collings Motors garage, and we know he travels with mango chutney. Next up? I’m getting inside Caleb Collings’s race car, and I can’t wait. Let’s go check it out.” I pause for a moment. “Okay, that’s great, thank you, Catherine.”

“Mango chutney?” she asks Mason.

“Yes, mango chutney. It makes everything better.”

“And you travel with it?” she continues.

“Go look in the fridge in my room,” he urges. “I also recommend it with cheese and crackers. With meat. It works on everything.”

Catherine makes a face that tells me she’s not a believer.

“Trust me,” he says, reading her expression like I did.

She shakes her head. “I’m not a fan.”

“What?” Mason cries. “You’re British!”

“That doesn’t mean I’m obsessed with tea, fish and chips, sausage rolls, or mango chutney.”

“You’re secretly American, aren’t you?”

“Shut up,” Catherine banters back.

Mason takes his leave, heading back over to his engineer to study data. I watch as Catherine’s eyes linger on him for the briefest of moments. And I don’t blame her. Mason is charismatic and good-looking.

Yet I didn’t respond to him at all in the way I’ve responded to Caleb.

Catherine grabs my tote, handing it to me.

I thank her for it, and she leads me back to the other side of the garage, where Caleb’s team is working on his car.

My heartbeat quickens as I stare at the sleek chrome vehicle.

Not because I get to be inside the cockpit, but for another reason.

This is Caleb’s car. It’s like an extension of him when he races so fiercely on the track during the F1 season.

It’s him, I think as I stare down at it.

Catherine tells a member of Caleb’s crew that we’re going to briefly film, just a few minutes’ worth, and they back away from the car.

“You can get in, Isla,” she says, standing in front of it.

“Give me a minute to switch out my shoes,” I say. “I brought some ballet shoes, so I won’t leave marks on the car. They’re in my tote bag.”

I move to the edge of the row of monitors, setting my bag down. I carefully slip out of my stilettos and into the ballet shoes, which feel wonderful after walking in the heels all morning. Then I approach Caleb’s car, hardly believing I’m about to get inside of it.

“Okay, I’ll record from the side first, then move to the front,” Catherine says.

I stand at the side of the car, staring down into the cockpit. I’m about to take a step up when I hear a British voice from behind me.

“May I assist you?” the sexy voice asks.

And I turn around and find myself face to face with Caleb.

But it’s not just Caleb.

It’s Caleb in his sleek black-and-white racing suit, unzipped and hanging off his hips. His fireproof undershirt is visible, with the big Collings Motors “CM” on it along with sponsor logos. His black hair is tousled, raven stubble shades his jawline, and his blue eyes are lasered in on mine.

I gulp as my heart rate quickens.

I know I just saw Mason in the exact same suit, worn the same way. It did nothing for me.

But seeing Caleb in his racing suit like this? Next-level lethal .

I know I’m in serious trouble now. Because it’s going to take everything I have to fight my growing attraction to this man.