Page 52

CHAPTER 52

Senna

I stretch in my bed.

“Good morning, baby,” Connor says over the video call we’ve had all night.

“Good morning, beautiful. Did you sleep okay?” We declared our love for each other two weeks ago, and it’s been bliss ever since.

“Like a cat cuddled up to his favourite owner,” he says with a wink. He’s only on the floor below me, but we must keep my staff unaware of our relationship. “I’m going to head to the gym and call Layla while I’m there. Do you want to join me and say hello to your future intern?”

I chuckle. “She might change her mind. She’s still got to finish university.”

“She won’t change her mind. She thinks you’re incredible, as I do, although she admires your business mind and social media skills, whereas I admire that and everything else.”

I cuddle into my blanket as I stare at Connor, who beams at me through the screen. “I love you, Connor fucking Dane.”

“And I love you, too, Coults. And you’re ready for our date tonight after the race?”

“Yes.”

“And you promise to turn your phone off so you can relax. You need to relax.”

“Yes, Con.” I roll my eyes. I need to let others look after me sometimes, especially him, even though I worry about the team and how they’ll cope without me. “But this isn’t about you protecting me, is it?”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

My phone rings.

“Who’s that?”

“It’s Dad,” I say with a shrug. “I haven’t spoken to him since that meal.”

It goes to voicemail and then rings again. This time, it’s my mum.

“Connor, I’d best get that. You have fun at the gym, and don’t get distracted by the slot machines.”

Connor jumps up, and I see the famous Dane dick. I can’t believe this sexy and kind man is mine.

“Do you think they have them in the gym, too?”

I chuckle. “It is Vegas. I’ll message you when I’ve finished talking with my parents.”

“Love you, and good luck. You know where I am if you need backup.” He moves into a boxing stance that does nothing to hide his penis.

I roll my eyes as I say, “Love you,” and hang up the call on my laptop while answering my phone.

“Mum, what’s up?”

“It’s me,” Dad replies.

My finger hovers over the red end call symbol.

“Before you hang up, I need to talk to you. I had another health scare this morning.”

“Are you okay?” I stutter.

“I am,” his voice wavers. “But I thought that was it for me. I’ve tried calling your brother, but I can’t reach him. It’s time we found out where he is.”

“If you’re sure. I haven’t heard from him for a few weeks.”

“Me neither,” he replies.

“Are you all right now? Should I come home?”

“Of course not. You’ve got the race today. Nothing is more important than that.”

“Sorry, yes.” I don’t know why I’m apologising for caring about my dad, especially based on how he’s treated me. I check my watch. I’ve got a couple of hours before I need to leave. “Dad?”

He clears his throat. “I called to apologise for the meal. I regret how I treated you and for ruining a perfectly good dinner. It’s just… I worry about you,” he says gruffly.

“Oh, right. That wasn’t a good evening, was it?” My words are stilted. I’m not used to my dad apologising for things or sharing anything related to feelings.

“No, and I’m partly to blame.” Partly?

“Right. Well, you don’t need to worry about me. I was fine.”

“That’s not what I mean. I worry about you all the time. I worry about you leading the team when you should live differently. That’s why I wanted Niki as the team boss. This isn’t your life.”

As apologies go, this is shit, but I don’t want to argue and give him another heart attack. “I love everything about racing.”

“Do you? I still feel sick when I remember your crash. That day Connor slammed you into a wall, your mum and I panicked that something more serious had happened. I’ll never forget that moment.”

“Connor didn’t do it?—”

“I remember the terror as we waited to see if you were safe. My plans for your future flashed in front of my eyes. Not the life you’d had but the one you should have. I thought about how I’d never get to walk you down the aisle, hold a grandchild, or have Christmas celebrations with a big family. I didn’t think about how you’d never race again, although I know it was important to you.”

He never asked what was important to me. Even now, he’s telling me what my future should have been.

“When you recovered, which was the best day, and got a university place, I felt you’d be safe from racing and have a future away from this business. Yet you’re working every hour of the day and taking on the stress that gave me a heart attack. I want more for you, Senna.”

I rub my forehead with my fingers. “But what about the things I want?”

He makes a humph sound. “This business ruins lives, and I’d hate my daughter to have her life ruined.”

“Dad,” I say gently, “I love this life. Yes, it’s hard, and the strain sometimes gets to me. But I have Connor now. I have what I want.” My dad, the guy who used to hold me on his shoulders as I waved my trophies in the air, the man I worshipped and wanted to achieve for seems less powerful—I don’t need his pride anymore. I need his acceptance.

“But you should have more. You should know that I’m still talking to that buyer. If you can’t walk away, I must make you.”

“You promised me that if we came sixth, you wouldn’t.”

“It’s in your best interests.”

Tears collect in my eyes, but I refuse to back down. “We’re still going to be sixth, and we’ll do it as a team because we can. And I will continue to work in racing because I can.”

“Senna, I love you.”

“I love you, too. But right now, I’m not sure if I like you. Goodbye, Dad. Look after yourself.”

“Vegas, baby!” Connor shouts as he swaggers around the garage.

I watch the screens with Jacs and Macca, although my attention occasionally drifts to Connor making finger guns at the team. In one day, he’s obliterated all the anxiety left over from my conversation with my dad. I will find a way to change Dad’s mind. I must. “Stop putting us off. We’re determining if we’re changing pit strategy for the race.”

“Who cares? It’s Vegas, baby.”

He dances across the garage, persuading the crew to join him. I shake my head and squeeze my lips tight to hide my grin.

“I know. You’ve shouted that for the last four days we’ve been here.” And I loved it every time except when he shouted it in my ear while I attempted to sleep on the plane.

He wears his racing suit on his bottom half with the top half hanging down. He’s delectable in his white long-sleeved T-shirt under the suit. I want to run over and kiss him, but we’re attempting professionalism when we’re at work, except the two times we’ve had sex in my office and the other time in the garage. But aside from that, complete professionalism.

He winks at me as if he knows what I’m thinking as he spins. Tawny runs to his side and performs some kind of body popping. He high-fives her as if they’re wrestling teammates, and he’s tapping her in. He strides to me. My toes curl and my stomach flops.

I couldn’t want him more.

So far, it’s not damaged my ability to run the team. We removed the upgrades for the last race, and it paid off, because Connor and Tawny were P4 and P5. We’re on the cusp of sixth in the championship, but it would take another podium and a win.

“Dane, I need to ask you about positions.” His eyebrows jump, and I turn away and cover my mouth to keep the laughter at bay. “Positions for the race,” I add gruffly.

My whole body will explode at his proximity if I look at him.

“Yes, boss,” he says. I’d place bets he’s wearing the smuggest smile. “What have I got to do to get us top six by the end of the season? With this race and the last one in Abu Dhabi next week, we can do it.”

He’s repeating what I said in bed the other morning before we left for the States. He’s such a cocky bellend.

“My thoughts exactly,” I say with a side-eye. His grin is disarming. “But it will take another two podiums. As much as I believe in you, we can’t do it.”

“There’s no ‘I’ in can’t.”

Jacs giggles as Connor showboats. This is the Connor of years earlier, who didn’t get scared about driving and slept before races. I know he sleeps now because of our overnight video calls. We take it in turn to have cuddly toy Coults, too, so it always smells of both of us.

“Connor with sleep is terrifying. I preferred you when you were an insomniac,” Macca jokes.

“Me too,” Jacs replies. “Although I reckon Connor with sleep can get on the podium.”

“At least one of you believes in me,” Connor adds.

I swivel in my chair and stare at him. He raises an eyebrow as I prepare my contrition. My fingers tap my best lap time tattoo. “Ignore me. I’m being negative. You can do this, and you’ve got the team’s full support behind you.”

“Do you believe in me, boss?”

A smile tickles my lips, but I remain stoic. “Yes, Dane. You can do it.”

He tips his shoulders and rejoins the dancing. Tawny executes a perfect worm move on the dirty garage floor.

“That’s all I needed to hear. On it, boss.” His wink isn’t subtle, but I’m the only one looking into his eyes due to the unexpected Irish dancing and kicking up of his legs he’s performing.

“Can I join them?” Macca asks.

I roll my eyes, although that tickling smile is a full beam now. “Have at it, mate.”

My nose itches, and a lump forms in my throat. I’ve helped develop a team that manages their pre-race anxiety by having fun and not by fighting and shouting. Based on the stares from pit crews peeking through our open garage doors, it’s unusual, but it works.

“Are you okay?” Jacs asks. Tawny giggles as she high-fives the pit crew.

“I don’t want to lose this because my dad wouldn’t believe in me. In just over a week, this crew could be broken up with Tawny kicked out because Antoine and his dad or some other piece of shit buys the team. And Connor loves racing now and wants to make this team great. I want this to be the future for all of us,” I say as Connor jumps on someone’s back. “Oi,” I shout, pointing at him to get back on the ground.

“Sorry, boss,” he shouts and obeys, but his smile remains.

“Sen, being in the top six doesn’t mean anything to your dad, because he’s already made his decision, but it means something to your family, your team. We are doing it for each other, but more importantly, we’re doing it for you because you’re the best boss we’ve ever had. No matter what happens next, you made something amazing, okay?”

That’s when the tears fall. I’ve never been happier because, win or lose, I’ve found a family who truly believes in me, and there’s nothing more I want.

“Connor told me he’s taking you out tonight,” she says, handing me a tissue.

“He wants me to turn my phone off. He says I need to relax more than ever, especially after hearing about my dad and his scare. He doesn’t want that to happen to me.”

“He’s got a point, and we can manage without you. If there’s an emergency, I’ll call Connor. Okay?”

I grip her hand tightly. “Okay. Love you, Jacs.”

“Love you, too, Sen.”

I check my watch and raise my voice above the music. “Right, enough of this shit. We’ve got a podium to get. It’s tradition time.”

Our new ritual replaced Connor’s compulsive preparations before he got in the car, but it was also to celebrate what we have and not be another team ruled by fear.

“Everyone, a cheer for Tawny.” The crew cheers. “A cheer for Connor.” The crew cheers. “And a cheer for all of you. Because we’re all brilliant.”

“She forgot someone,” one of the crew shouts. She’s new and the quietest one, but she can holler. “A cheer for the best boss.”

The garage goes wild, cheering like they’re at a concert. I shake my head before I throw it back and laugh. “You’re a bunch of dicks. Now let’s do this.”

Jacs has a quick word with Tawny as I give Connor his earbuds.

“You can do this. I believe in you more than anyone and anything,” I say to him. I want to kiss him, but I can’t here. “Now get ready, and don’t forget to listen to your song.”

“Yes, baby,” he whispers. I shiver from head to toe. “I’d never forget the song the most beautiful woman in the world found for me because she always thought about me like I thought about her.”

It’s not a kiss to my lips but one to my heart. He walks backwards, his stare never leaving mine, and I press the heel of my palm to my chest.

As we reach my corridor after the awesome date Connor arranged, I lean up and ghost Connor’s lips with mine. His hands wrap around me, and I whisper against his mouth, “I’m so proud of you today. Your driving was intense, and your support and the discussions with Tawny are helping her, too.”

“It’s all for you and the team, baby. And well done for relaxing tonight. I’m glad you let me look after you. I’ve had no calls. The team functioned fine without you.”

I wrap my arms around his neck and deepen the kiss. His murmur is filled with words of adoration. I might be about to lose my team, but I will return from that, especially with Connor by my side.

A clearing throat makes us turn to the door of my suite. Niki sits on the floor, his eyes pinched and his mouth tight.

“What the fuck?” Niki snaps.