Page 37 of Fast-Track Fiancé

As she drove into her starting position on the grid, she looked up to the box where she hoped Tristan would be, even though he had no reason to stay for today’s race. He’d done his part in launching the event and had participated in countless press calls. Now that the end of his role as team owner had arrived he could slip away without anyone knowing any differently.

As her eyes scanned the crowd of guests in the box, she felt her chest tighten with relief. He’d stayed. He stood head and shoulders above everyone else, his handsome features looking pinched and drawn. He was still here, standing guard in his brooding fallen-angel way, silently supporting her even after she’d rejected him and walked away.

She knew family wasn’t supposed to give up on you, unlike her parents. Her aunt Lola had always said love meant always being there, even if you were fighting, even when you messed up. Real love was unconditional. She had never known that kind of love, she hadn’t known how to accept it when he’d so bravely tried to make her see what he was offering to her.

But now...she wanted to try.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

SHE’D DONE IT.

Tristan almost burst with pride as he watched Nina take her third place upon the podium. The first podium of her career in Elite One and, judging by the calibre of her driving today, it would not be the last.

As well as winning third place, their team had sealed their win of the constructors’ championship. Alain, looking awkward as ever, had to take the stage to accept the trophy for Falco Roux, which he did with an emotional cheer coming from the crowd. Tristan felt a maelstrom of emotion as he watched the siblings embrace, and he knew that if this was the only good thing that had come from his involvement in their lives, it would be enough.

He had been the one to suggest that Alain stepped back into management early now that he was well. But still, it hurt to know that he would not be the one to congratulate the woman he loved in person today. He was content to stand back and allow her to shine, enjoying the moment she’d thoroughly earned. She had an entire crowd of screaming fans waiting for her, press and experts all waiting to dissect her drive and hear her speak about the sport she was a true expert in. She was a superstar, and he was glad that the world was finally seeing it too.

Perhaps it was cowardly, but he had only intended to stay long enough to see her take her place on that podium. Now that it was done, he needed to get away.

Walking away from the crowd, he took a shortcut through the long corridor that led behind the garages, unable to resist taking one last look into the world she’d shown him and made him fall for too. The Falco Roux garage was still lit up, rows upon rows of tyres and instruments shining in disarray as they’d all been dropped in the midst of their celebrations. He would never be near the scent of engine oil and not think of Nina Roux.

Sounds behind him caught his attention and he turned to see a familiar figure in the doorway. Her red racing suit was covered in liquid as though she’d been in heavy rain, her hair wet with celebratory champagne and plastered to her face. But the look in her eyes was what made him pause.

‘You didn’t leave.’ She breathed heavily, as though she’d been running.

‘I came to watch you race. I couldn’t stay away. You’re amazing and I can’t believe I ever signed Apollo instead of you. Is that the only reason you chased me down here?’

‘I didn’t chase...’ she began, and then shook her head. ‘No, I told myself I wasn’t going to fight you. I told myself it was time to be brave.’

‘You’re always brave,’ he said huskily.

‘Am I? Because you told me that you loved me and you told me that when you love someone, you grow and you change, and you choose to put eachother first. But I did the opposite of all that. I ran from your love. I was the coward.’

He dared to hope that what he was hearing was exactly what he thought it was, that she’d finally realised she could trust him with her heart. That he would always be there for her. But still he remained in place, not daring to touch her until he knew for sure. ‘What are you saying, exactly, Nina?’

‘I’m saying, I’m hopelessly in love with you, Tristan Falco. I couldn’t stop loving you if I tried.’

Nina felt as though her heart were about to beat out of her chest as Tristan remained silent, his feet still planted firmly in the centre of the garage where he remained frozen in place. She had seen him in the crowd as she’d accepted her third-place trophy and as the traditional champagne bottles had been popped and sprayed around the place. It was a moment she had waited for her entire life and yet all she’d been able to think of was running to him. Not having Tristan in her life was like missing a limb.

‘You love me?’ he repeated.

‘I love you so much,’ she declared, allowing all of the emotion she felt to bleed into her voice without fear. She was done being afraid. ‘I want a future with you, Tristan, or at the very least I want the hope of one. I want to be yours and I want you to be mine, if you’ll still have me. You were right, love is about changing and growing and you make me want to grow. You see me and you make me want to be a better version of myself.’

He moved towards her in a flurry of motion, or perhaps she moved towards him. It all became a blur as they fell into one another’s arms, mouths meeting in a riot of heat and relief and love... So much love.

After she was pretty sure all of the breath had been pulled from her lungs and her heart grew a couple of sizes once more, she pulled back and met his eyes.

‘Do you forgive me for rejecting you and walking away?’ she asked.

‘Only if you forgive me for being an impossible fool. I tried to do my best to make good on everything, by encouraging Alain to take back control and returning the shares. But I know it’s not enough. I should have told you the truth from the start.’

‘It’s enough,’ she breathed, placing another kiss on his lips. ‘You are enough, Tristan, more than enough. Too much really, by most people’s standards, but I accept you just as you are. Flamboyant dress sense and all.’

‘Perhaps my dress sense will rub off on you?’ he teased. ‘I won’t lose hope just yet.’

‘Let’s not go that far, darling.’ An idea occurring to her, Nina took a step back and looked around the floor. Finding exactly what she wanted, she smirked and dropped to one knee before him.

‘What are you doing now?’ He smiled, then froze as he realised what she held in her hand.

---