Page 16 of Racing for Redemption (Backmarker Love trilogy #1)

“I wasn’t going to hit you. I’ve never hit a woman in my life.

Guys, yes. Women, never, and I'll be keeping it like that. I… I just needed to hit something, and… you were there, and I’m so fucking stupid for doing it…

Worse yet, I offended you in front of the cameras…

” I swallow dryly. “I was not going to hit you that day, Violet. I wasn’t.

I want you to know that. I’m stupid and hot-blooded, but not a monster.

I treat women like treasures, not like how it seemed. ”

She lets out a long sigh. I can’t figure out if it is relief or frustration, because her expression is neutral.

Then, she says, “I trusted you wouldn’t.

Even without knowing you, I trusted you wouldn’t.

And if you did hit me, just know I was ready to kick your ass.

I’ve got a black belt in Krav Maga; you wouldn’t leave the paddock walking straight. ”

I let out a low whistle. “Damn. I dodged a bullet. Actually, a well-placed fist or two.”

She laughs, sounding warm and relaxed. “That you did.”

A comfortable silence falls between us. I study Violet’s face in the soft lighting, noticing details I hadn’t before—the slight crinkle at the corners of her eyes when she smiles, the faint freckles dusting her nose.

She’s beautiful, I realize with a jolt. Not just in a conventional sense, but in the way her passion and determination shine through.

She’s smart. Self-made. A powerful woman. Hell. I like that. A lot.

Violet catches me staring and raises an eyebrow. “Something on your mind, Foster?”

I clear my throat, my cheeks flushing crimson. “Just thinking about the season ahead. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”

She nods, her expression turning serious. “That we do. But I think we might surprise some people if we keep up our unpredictable, slightly chaotic, momentum.”

“I know it’s only been a month since I joined, but I think we make a good team,” I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them.

Violet’s eyes meet mine, and for a moment, there’s a flicker of warmth, maybe even affection. But it’s gone as quickly as it appeared. She gives a small smile. “We do work well together,” she says carefully. “But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. There’s still a long road ahead.”

I nod, understanding her caution. “Of course. One step at a time.”

She glances at her watch and sighs. “I should get going. Early start tomorrow. The glamour of being a CEO and Team Principal, you know? ”

I nod again, trying to hide my disappointment that the evening is ending. “Of course. Thanks again for dinner. And for everything, really.”

Violet stands, gathering her things. “You’re welcome. Just keep up the good work, and we’ll call it even.”

As we walk out of the restaurant together, I’m acutely aware of her presence beside me. The night air is cool.

“Here,” I say, shrugging off my parka and holding it out to her to calm the slight shivers she is trying to hide.

She hesitates for a moment before accepting it with a small smile. “Thanks.”

We pause at the curb, an awkward silence falling between us. I’m not sure how to say goodbye—a handshake feels too formal after the evening we’ve shared, but anything else might be crossing a line.

As we stand there, a sudden urge to prolong the moment comes out of nowhere. “Let me walk you to your car,” I offer.

Violet hesitates, then nods. “Alright.”

We walk in companionable silence, our shoulders occasionally brushing. When we reach her sleek, ice-blue Porsche, she turns to face me.

“Well, this is me,” she says a little awkwardly, a hint of reluctance in her voice.

“Right,” I reply, suddenly at a loss for words as I scratch the back of my neck. “Drive safe.”

She smiles, shrugging off my jacket and handing it back. “Thanks for the loan. And for… being here tonight. It was nice. ”

As she turns to unlock her car, I don’t want this evening to end. And I still haven’t completed my mission.

“Violet,” I say softly.

She stops in her tracks, her eyes lingering on mine, eyebrows slightly raised, as if silently asking me for reassurance or clarity.

I take a deep breath. “I’m really glad you took a chance on me. Not just for my career, but… I think we could be good friends.”

Violet’s expression softens, a small smirk on her lips. “Friends, huh?” she says, her tone teasing, but not unkind. “I thought I was just your boss.”

I chuckle, running a hand through my hair. “Well, yeah, you are. But… I don’t know. There’s something here, isn’t there? A connection. And I’m not just talking on the track. We share the same passion for this, and it seems you don't hate my guts, so…”

She studies me for a long moment, her dark-brown eyes unreadable in the dim parking lot lighting. Just as I’m starting to regret my boldness, she speaks.

“You’re right,” she says softly.

My heart leaps at her words, but I try to keep my expression neutral. “I am?”

Violet’s expression softens slightly at my words. She looks conflicted, like she’s wrestling with something internally.

“William…” she starts, then pauses. “You’re right, there is a connection between us. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy spending time with you tonight.”

My chest tightens, and the thudding of my heart echoes in my ears. A warm flush creeps up my neck, and my palms begin to sweat as I try to process what she just confessed. Though, I sense a “but” coming.

“But,” she continues, confirming my suspicion, “I'll make this clear; the media is watching our every move. If they got even a hint there was—and I’m not saying there is—something more between us…”

“I know,” I say quickly. “I’m not suggesting anything inappropriate.

Just… friendship. A chance to get to know each other without the pressure of the paddock.

Just two people complaining about problems at their workplace, and having a pint or two together to wind down.

Maybe go to a local venue together. I don’t ask for much; I’m a simple guy. ”

Violet studies me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. "So, basically, you want to complain about work to… your boss?" Slowly, a small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth.

"Well, hopefully, I don't find reasons to complain, but you know, the coffee machine near engineering hasn't been working well, so… I need to vent to someone."

That earned me a bark of laughter. “Friends,” she repeats, as if testing out the word on her perfect lips. “That’s a rare word in my vocabulary these days. I suppose I could use more of those.”

A surge of warmth floods my chest at her words. “Great,” I say, trying not to sound too eager. “So, friends, then?”

She nods, her smile widening slightly. “Friends.” After pausing for a moment, she continues. “But, we need to set some ground rules. ”

Of course, she’s setting rules. Damn. This woman loves her rules. She loves control. And if… No. I shouldn’t go there, but oh boy, if she’s like that in private, I—

Focus, William .

“Absolutely,” I agree, trying to contain my excitement. “Whatever you’re comfortable with.”

She takes a deep breath. “Alright. We can spend time together outside of work occasionally. But no public outings that could be misconstrued. And at the track, it’s strictly professional. Deal?”

“Understood,” I say solemnly, holding up my hand as if taking an oath. “I promise to be the very picture of professional friendship.”

Violet laughs then, a warm and genuine sound that makes my heart skip a beat. “Somehow, I doubt that, Foster. But I appreciate the sentiment.”

We stand there for a moment, smiling at each other like idiots. Then, she clears her throat, breaking the spell.

“I really should get going,” she says, reaching for her car door. “Early start tomorrow, remember?”

I nod, stepping back to give her space. “Of course. Wouldn’t want to keep the boss up past her bedtime.”

She rolls her eyes, but there’s fondness in the gesture. “Goodnight, William.”

“Goodnight, Violet,” I reply softly.

As she drives away, I stand there for a moment, watching her tail lights disappear into the night .

For now, I’ve got a friend in Violet Colton. And somehow, that’s the biggest victory of all.

The team likes me.

The car is developing.

Even Blake likes having me around.

It seems I’ve finally charmed everyone at Colton Racing, so that’s one less thing to stress about—people hating and wanting me out. Now, the focus is solely on racing. On having fun. On helping this team. And on what we can achieve together.