Page 27 of Lights Out (Love in the Paddock #1)

This is one of the most incredible places I’ve been in my life.

I stand in front of the historic Casino de Monte-Carlo, simply staring at it.

The Belle époque facade of the building is iconic, and it beckons with a promise of nothing but opulence to follow once you step inside its hallowed doors.

Palm trees rustle with the breeze coming in off the Mediterranean Sea, and the temperature is a perfect sixty-five degrees.

Luxury cars are parked in front, and I watch as a gorgeous woman in designer clothing leaves her car with the valet.

As I turn to the left, I see the famous Café de Paris, where people sit outside under umbrellas, eating or sipping coffee, with petunias tumbling out of flower boxes along the terrace railing.

To my right is the posh Hotel de Paris, which overlooks Casino Square.

And when I turn around and face the front of Casino Square, I’m provided a sweeping view of the breathtaking Maritime Alps.

I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that this is my life.

Yesterday I boarded a plane in Miami. Today I landed in France.

And now I’m walking the streets of Monte Carlo in the early evening, taking in every bit of this unique spot of the world, bathed in beauty—and impossible luxury and wealth.

All for my job.

I still can’t believe I get to do F2 segments tomorrow for The Downforce Network website.

Right now, I’m shooting some content for my channels.

I set up my tripod and use my phone to get me standing at the entrance to Casino Square, explaining how this is part of the F1 circuit in Monaco, and drivers go right around this very square as part of the race.

Then I talked about all the historic places here on the square.

I plan to film myself having a coffee at Café de Paris next so I can clip that into my segment.

In addition to my content creation and assignments tomorrow, I have the Emilia Wentworth-Hay party, which I’m very excited about. Her posh boutique is on Avenue des Beaux-Arts, one of the most exclusive shopping destinations in the world.

I’m loving every minute of this. I can’t believe it’s real.

But this whole time, something else is in the back of my mind. Something else I’m looking forward to, and something else I can’t believe is happening to me.

I’m having a late-night date with Caleb tonight.

In his penthouse.

My stomach flutters. He’s got meetings today and sponsorship activities tonight—a big fancy dinner. But we agreed to meet up for a date after.

I smile to myself. It’s an odd kind of a date, because it’s going to be around ten-thirty. He said he doesn’t eat at functions, so he offered me a late dinner. Maybe coffee afterward? Will we hang out and talk some more? I’ve been invited to his home, which makes me excited and nervous.

I’m excited because I’ll be in his personal space, which will tell me so much more about him. What’s his home like? What are his favorite possessions? How is it decorated? Is the room where his driving simulator is his favorite room in the house?

As I stand in the city that is Caleb’s home, looking up at the hillsides stacked with high-rise apartment buildings, I wonder where he lives. Does he have a view of the mountains? The sea? Of Port Hercules, with all those luxury yachts?

Then the thought that keeps running on a loop in my head appears, a thought that makes me blush, grow hot, and feel anxious all at the same time.

Will Caleb kiss me tonight?

I can visualize it so perfectly. His full lips on mine.

I can feel the heat of his body, the lean muscle underneath his clothing, the black stubble shading his face, the sensual cologne lingering on his skin.

I imagine what it’s like to have his hands on my body, sinking into my hair, Caleb drawing my lower lip between his teeth …

Sigh.

I love this daydream. LOVE IT. But it’s chased down with a bit of anxiety.

I don’t know what his expectations are as far as getting physical goes. I know a man like Caleb is probably used to having sex on the regular.

It’s not that I don’t want to have sex with him. I just don’t want to jump into a sexual relationship with him right away. I’ve thought hard about this. After all, I’ve had a lot of time in airports and on transatlantic flights to ponder what I want with Caleb. He’s different.

And I want us to be different, too.

I bite my lip. That’s why I’m nervous. Caleb has been incredible so far, but we haven’t been alone together outside of having coffee.

I know Hadleigh is right—no man, especially Caleb Collings, would go to all this trouble for a hookup.

He made me a friendship bracelet. Rented a conference room just to spend time with me. Sent me flowers.

But I’m sure he has his own expectations for tonight. Will they involve something like sex on the coffee table or something?

I furrow my brow. Coffee table? Good God, the man is tall, that would be awkwa—

Suddenly I’m picturing him naked. Like me peeling him out of his driving suit, getting those fireproofs off, and being all over him.

Wait a second. Why would he be wearing his racing suit at his penthouse?

To be fair, if drivers really wanted to turn their dates on, I think they totally should wear the driving suit around the house. Unzipped and hanging off the hips, of course.

My phone buzzes in my hand, and I jump, startled by the direction my thoughts went. I need to FOCUS. I glance down at it, and my heart leaps when I see it’s a text from Caleb.

Just arrived at the sponsorship dinner. What are you doing? Are you having fun?

I text him back:

I’m at Casino Square shooting footage for a social media video. I think I’m in love with Monaco. This place is BEAUTIFUL, Caleb. I’m looking at all the apartment buildings and wondering where you live.

Caleb Collings is typing …

I live in the Jardin Exotique ward. Named after the garden in the area. Too bad you don’t have more time. The garden has some great views. And lots of cacti.

I text back:

I never pictured Monaco having cacti.

He replies:

Then it’s good you know a local to tell you these important things, isn’t it?

I smile at that.

Caleb Collings is typing …

While I wait for his answer to come in, I feel someone taking my picture. I look up, and sure enough, some people have recognized me and are approaching for a selfie.

This happened earlier this morning and I can’t get my head around it.

That interview on The Downforce Network—along with my own social media pieces—have made me known in the F1 community.

But there are people who walk right up to me and take selfies—sometimes without even asking—and it’s really weird.

I’ve also gotten more troll comments on social media, but luckily, I’ve got a pretty thick skin when it comes to that. I don’t go looking for reviews and comments, however. Those are for fans and viewers.

Not for me.

I decide that if I want to chat with Caleb, I might as well go into the Café de Paris so I can be left alone. As I walk toward it, his next message drops in:

About tonight—did you happen to bring a swimming costume? I have a heated pool, so we could swim if you want.

First, I smile at his British term for swimsuit, then I start clocking his reality. He lives in a penthouse . He has a pool.

Oh my God, does he have a rooftop pool? I can’t imagine anything sexier for a date.

Or seeing him in swim trunks.

F1 drivers are some of the fittest athletes on the planet. Caleb has to not only work on his neck muscles, but his arm strength, too. He has to be able to turn that steering wheel—which is incredibly hard due to downforces and g-forces—so his arms have to be strong. So does his core.

Which means I’ll be seeing his athletic body in a whole new way tonight in swim trunks.

Okay, as soon as I get a table, I need to address the sex issue. Because being in a pool with Caleb could get steamy rather quickly.

I reach the café, and I am lucky enough to be seated on the terrace. I reply to his last message:

I did pack a swimsuit because I figured I might get some time at the hotel pool, but this is infinitely better.

Caleb, I do need to address something before I see you tonight.

It could change how you feel, so I figure I’ll just say it.

I can’t wait to spend time with you this evening.

I want to get to know you better, but I don’t want to rush into sex.

I’m not saying I don’t want to be physical.

But I just thought I should put that out there, so you know where I’m at, and if it changes anything for you tonight, I completely understand. No hard feelings .

I reread my message. It’s to the point—I don’t want to play games with him. Or get there and have things get weird because we had different expectations for what the night would bring.

I hit send.

I glance down at my menu, and my stomach swirls with anxiety. Suddenly coffee feels like a bad idea.

Within seconds I see he’s typing. I hold my breath as I wait for Caleb’s message to drop in. Finally, it does:

For the record, I planned on breaking out the shrimp foam sweets and not condoms.

I stare at his reply. I’m relieved. Amused. But also surprised.

Another message quickly drops in:

Okay, being serious now. I wasn’t planning on sex tonight, Isla. I mean, if you would have insisted on having sex, I could have been convinced to give it a go just for you (JK). I just want more alone time with you. I haven’t stopped thinking about you since I was with you in that conference room.

The anxiety has completely swirled away, like going down a drain. It has been replaced by excitement instead.

Caleb Collings is typing …

I just lied to you. I didn’t think about you all the time.

I hope you won’t be offended, but I don’t think about you when I’m on the racetrack.

All I think about there is how I’m going to keep my position when Xavier throws his elbows out and tries to overtake me.

Or how I’m going to work harder so I can be the number-one driver over Mason, no nepotism needed.

I chuckle and text him back:

I’d be deeply offended if thinking of me caused you to end up in the wall during qualifying.

Then I send him another message:

Thank you for having that conversation with me. It was on my mind, and I wanted to be fair to you.

He replies:

One of the things that attracted me to you is that you don’t hold back. It’s incredibly HOT.

Ooh!

Caleb Collings is typing …

And you don’t make things easy. ALSO HOT.

I resist the urge to pick up my menu and fan myself. I decide to flirt back:

Well, your ability to have a conversation about this is the biggest turn-on EVER.

He responds:

Note to self. We are not having sex tonight. Right?

I laugh and tell him I’ll see him this evening. The server comes by, and not only am I in the mood for an iced coffee, but I decide to have the affogato fresco—a cold coffee with whipped cream and a biscuit.

I smile to myself, my worries about this evening lifted.

This conversation just reaffirmed that Caleb is definitely a man worth taking a chance on. I feel so lucky to be able to spend time with him tonight.

And I can’t wait to see what this evening will bring.