Page 48 of Racing for Redemption (Backmarker Love trilogy #1)

Close enough to see, far enough to touch

Violet

I wake to warmth—a cocoon of it wrapped around me in the form of William’s tattooed arms. Morning light filters through the half-drawn curtains, painting stripes across his sleeping face.

He looks younger like this, softer, even with that rugged, yet perfectly trimmed, soft beard.

His jaw is relaxed, his lips slightly parted.

The sight creates a strange ache in my chest. This wasn’t supposed to be tender.

It wasn’t supposed to feel like more than scratching an itch.

I shift slightly, and his arms tighten reflexively around me.

Protective. Possessive. I should find it stifling, because in the past, I’ve disliked it when guys were possessive of me…

Instead, I trace the lines of the tattoo that snakes up his forearm, wondering about the story behind each inked design.

“Don’t go,” he mumbles, eyes still closed. “Stay with me… ”

“I wasn’t going anywhere.” The admission comes too easily. "This is my hotel room, remember?"

He cracks one eye open, his mouth curving into a sleepy smile. “Good morning.” I swear this smile—so warm, satisfied and tender—could make many people go crazy. But what I love about this is that… this smile is all for me.

“Morning.”

He pulls me closer, burying his face in my hair. “What time is it?”

I glance at the bedside clock. “6:30.”

A groan rumbles through his chest. “Too early.”

“I have a flight to catch.” I make no move to extract myself from his embrace. “Dubai meetings all afternoon tomorrow.”

William stiffens slightly, then raises his head. “Dubai? Today?”

“Yes. Why?”

His smile returns, brighter now. “I’m on a flight to Dubai today, too.”

“You are?” I prop myself up on one elbow to look at him properly.

“Yep. Media commitments tomorrow, then some sponsor stuff. With Nicholas. Then flying to China for the triple header of China, Saudi and Bahrain.” He traces idle patterns on my back. “What time’s your flight?”

“10:45.”

His smile widens into a grin. “Emirates?”

I nod, a suspicion forming. “Don’t tell me…”

“Same flight.” The excitement in his voice is almost childlike. “We’re going together!”

“William…” I start, unsure how to navigate this new complication.

“Relax.” He cups my face, thumb stroking my cheek. “No one will think anything of it. Team Principal and driver traveling to the same destination on the same airline? Totally normal.”

He’s right, of course. But after last night, nothing feels normal anymore.

Perhaps I’m hyper aware of us now, not at the same level that other people will be, but…

I’m just worried about scandals in the paddock.

I don’t want to ruin the team’s perfect moment just because I was lusting over my driver and had to make him mine for the night.

“I should get ready,” I say, finally pulling away from his embrace. “And you should go back to your room to pack.”

“Trying to get rid of me already?” There’s humor in his voice, but something vulnerable flashes in his eyes.

“No.” I touch his face, a mirror of his gesture to me. “But we agreed to be discreet, remember?”

He turns his head to kiss my palm. “I remember.”

William slides out of bed, retrieving his clothes from where they’re scattered across the floor. I watch him dress, admiring the play of muscles under tattooed skin. His jeans hang low on his hips as he pulls his shirt over his head. When he catches me looking, he winks.

“Like what you see, boss?”

“Shut up.” But I’m smiling .

He checks the hallway before stepping out, then turns back to me. “See you at the airport?”

“See you there.”

After double checking the coast is clear, the door closes behind him, and suddenly, the room feels too large, too empty. I sink back onto the bed, his scent still lingering on the pillows.

What have I done?

Last night was supposed to resolve the tension between us, not amplify it. I was looking for release, for the simple pleasure of contact after too long without. What I found instead was something that felt dangerously close to connection. Attachment. Craving.

The way William touched me—like I was precious, like he was memorizing every inch of me. The way he looked at me—not just with desire, but with something deeper, something that made my chest tight, and my defenses weak.

It wasn’t just sex. Not for him.

And if I’m honest with myself, not for me, either.

I’ve been so careful for so long. Kept people at arm’s length. Focused on restoring Colton Racing to its former glory. Romance, intimacy—these were luxuries I couldn’t afford, distractions I didn’t need.

Then, William Foster came crashing into my life with his talent, and his tattoos, and his golden retriever enthusiasm that he shows off everywhere we go. But also with a care he tries so hard to hide from everyone but me .

You know what? I’m a coward for telling him to keep this casual. I’m not stupid. I may not have been dating in the past couple of years, but I have my experience. I can read him easily.

He clearly likes me.

The way his eyes sparkle. How he greeted me this morning.

He likes me.

And he accepted anything just to be around me when he clearly deserves good, caring and present love. Which I can’t give right now.

Good going, Violet, you’re gonna break this sweet guy’s heart.

I dress in comfortable clothes for the flight—khaki trousers, a simple shirt, and a leather jacket.

Practical, professional. As I pack my bag, I notice William forgot his watch on the nightstand.

An expensive-looking piece—quite vintage—sleek and understated.

I slip it into my pocket, meaning to return it to him.

The airport is crowded, a swirl of travelers hurrying to gates, or lingering at shops. I spot William immediately. He’s wearing different clothes now—dark jeans, and a faded band T-shirt under an open button-down. His eyes find mine across the terminal, and a smile spreads across his face .

Before he can approach, Blake waves at me from near the check-in counters. Shit. I’d forgotten he was traveling to Dubai with me.

“Morning, Violet,” Blake calls as I approach. His gaze shifts to something over my shoulder, smelling like mango, and his smile falters slightly. “And William. Didn’t realize you were on this flight, as well.”

“It caught me by surprise! I thought the marketing department handed me flight tickets to go alone. This is still quite a long flight plan, because then I head to China for the triple header,” William replies smoothly, stopping beside me with a carefully professional distance between us.

“But yeah, I have media stuff to do in Dubai.”

Blake’s gaze flicks between us, assessing. “Well, always good to have company on a long flight. And especially someone with this much energy, although Violet there looks a tad exhausted.”

We check in together, the three of us moving through security as a unit. Blake keeps up a steady stream of conversation about the upcoming meetings in Dubai, but his attention is focused on the way William and I interact—the carefully avoided glances, the deliberate space we maintain.

On the plane, I’m seated next to Blake, with William across the aisle. It’s both relief and torture—close enough to see him, too far to touch. Every time our eyes meet, a jolt of electricity courses through me, a reminder of what we shared last night.

“You seem distracted,” Blake observes quietly as the flight takes off .

“Just thinking about the prospective sponsor meetings. It's been bugging me lately.”

He makes a noncommittal sound. “Anything else on your mind? Perhaps something to do with our driver, who keeps looking at you when he thinks no one’s watching?”

My stomach drops. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Violet.” His voice is gentle. “I’ve known you since you were a little kid. I can tell when something’s changed.”

I stare straight ahead, unwilling to confirm or deny anything. Blake sighs.

“Just be careful, okay? Whatever it is.”

The rest of the flight passes in relative silence. When we land in Dubai, the heat hits us like a wall as we exit the plane. I really hate this weather.

William falls into step beside me as we walk through the terminal.

“What’s the plan?” he asks, voice neutral, expression anything but.

“Blake and I have meetings with potential sponsors all afternoon,” I reply. “You’re free until your media commitments tomorrow.”

“So, I’ll see you later?”

The question hangs between us.

“I don’t know,” I say, knowing I’m just here in passing, then I’m off to more meetings in Europe, and won’t be on the road with the team for a couple of weeks. Then I add, “I have a ridiculously busy week, and you should focus on the PR things marketing handed you, so…”

Blake appears at my side with our transportation details, and William takes the hint, nodding a polite goodbye before heading toward the taxi stand. I watch him go, the distance between us growing with each step.

“Ready?” Blake asks, his expression carefully neutral.

I nod, turning away from William’s retreating figure. The taxi is waiting, the air conditioning a blessed relief from the Dubai heat. As we pull away from the airport, my phone buzzes in my pocket.

William: Left something in your room this morning. Please tell me you picked it up.

I smile despite myself, fingers hovering over the screen. Before I can reply, another message appears.

William: Also, you look really hot in that leather jacket.

Heat rises to my face. I glance at Blake, but he’s focused on his own phone, seemingly oblivious. Gosh, he’s not holding back anymore, is he?

Me: I found your watch. And thanks.

Three dots appear immediately, then:

William: Hold on to it. The watch was an excuse. I just want to see you.

His honesty disarms me. No games, no pretense. Just simple want.

Me: I’ll be away for a couple of weeks. I didn’t tell you, because it made no sense, but now that we’re… in this ar rangement… I’ll see you again for the triple header in Europe, starting in Imola. Please behave while I’m away.

William: Always.

Me: Can we move that concert to the end of the season? It'll get hectic in the next couple of months. I doubt I'll have a breather.

William: You're killing me here… So many awesome shows to go to, and you say end of the season? But okay. It's a deal.

Me: Deal. Stay safe.

I put my phone away, but the warmth of his messages lingers. I pull it back out and open a different conversation.

Me: I did something crazy last night .

Anna replies almost instantly: !!!! Tell me everything. Who? What? How good?

I smile, typing quickly: William. And… very good. Too good. Divine, even.

Anna: OMG YOUR DRIVER??? VIOLET COLTON, YOU MINX!!!!

Me: It was only supposed to be once. To get it out of our systems.

Anna: And?

Me: And now, I don’t know what it is. I want more.

Her reply comes after a pause:

Anna: Be careful with your heart, Vi. But also… live a little. You deserve it.

I stare at her words, letting them sink in. Do I deserve it? This complicated, potentially disastrous thing with William?

“Everything okay?” Blake asks, noticing my expression.

“Fine,” I reply, pocketing my phone .

He leans closer, a frown creasing his forehead. Then, he widens his eyes slightly. What did I do now?

“Interesting,” he murmurs as he picks up a short, bouncy, light-brown curl from my T-shirt. Damn .

“What is it?” I try to mask my embarrassment as quickly as possible.

“Nothing.” He settles back in his seat. “That's quite the different style of curl you've got there.” He chuckles and adds, “It was only a matter of time.”

My heart stops, then races. Blake says nothing more, but his knowing look speaks volumes. I want to crawl into a hole.

The taxi speeds through Dubai’s gleaming streets, carrying us toward meetings that suddenly seem trivial compared to the complication I’ve introduced into my life.

Into our team. Blessed be Blake, because he’s too smart and knows his time and place, having noticed what happened, yet not prying at all.