Page 124 of Start Your Engines

Tears sting my cheeks, and I puff my chest. I smile at Tawny, who beams back so broadly that I bet her face will hurt tomorrow. You never forget your first Formula One podium.

I can’t see Senna without jumping out of position, but standing next to Billy in second is the love of my life. Today, Senna gets her first podium, too.

Maybe Billy senses my curiosity, because when I look over, he stands back, and there’s Senna, her eyes closed and breathing in the moment. She’s mouthing along to the anthem. And that’s when I start sobbing. We gave each other the best gift in the world.

I drove like an arsehole and risked it all, but it was worth it to get her up here. We haven’t been able to speak more than a couple of words to each other, so I don’t know if her smile is alsobecause her dad came through with the plan Ralf and I set in motion.

I pinch my bottom lip as I imagine what she’d want me to do right now.

It’s like her voice is in my head.Enjoy this moment, baby.I grasp it with everything I have. I take a deep breath and sing loudly.

As the anthem ends, everyone cheers with me. And that’s when I grab the champagne and rush over to Senna. I’m shaking it like I’m back in the garage dancing.

Tawny gets champagne on my face on her way to Billy. “Payback is a bitch,” she shouts at him, confirming their past rivalry. He could be her Connor, for all I know.

“Don’t you dare, Connor.” Senna points at me as I rush over. She’s thrown on a coat in preparation. She knows I wouldn’t do it if she were just in a white blouse. Although I’d love that sight, it’s not for anyone else. She’s mine to lust over.

I pop my bottle down and open my hands.

“You’re not even giving yourself a fighting chance, Dane?” she chuckles.

I fix her with my stare. “I want everything you give me.”

She stands on my step, so she has a bit more height on me.

My hands itch. I want to grab her, but I don’t want her to lose an inch of the respect she’s earned as team boss.

“But first.” I hold my hand up. “Please tell me one thing.”

“Stop delaying. It’s your turn to get wet.”

“Oi, no flirting while we’re up here. Tell me this. Will I be calling you boss after today?”

Her face softens, and fuck, I want to kiss her.

“Yes. I own the team, and as I told you on the day I walked into my boardroom and found your cocky face staring back at me: I own you. I’ve got you now, Connor, and you will do exactly what I say.”

It’s like my body lights with stars. “And I wouldn’t want it any other way. Now, champagne me up, boss.”

The crowd laughs as I open my mouth, and she pours the fizzing liquid into it.

We rush to the concert, Senna in those teeny shorts I love and our team hoodie and me in jeans and a Coulter Racing Team T-shirt. In seconds, Taylor Swift will sing to a maximum capacity crowd. Every boss, driver, and person at the race congratulated Senna and me. She reeled off motor racing facts about female drivers as I tried to push us through the crowd.

As we run from another team boss, she shouts in my ear, “They respect me. Me!”

“Of course they do, baby. Now, we need to hurry. Taylor doesn’t wait for anyone.” Her giddiness infects me like I’m high on her.

A hand flies in front of us, and we stop in front of Filip, the devilishly handsome Vessa team boss. He stands closer than I like, and I fist my hands to stop from moving him away to a respectable distance from my girlfriend. I’m not protecting her; I’m declaring she’s mine.

“Well done, Senna,” he says in his charming accent. He smells like a Greek god.

She smiles like a fangirl until she catches my raised eyebrows and sour stare. At her sheepish grin, I shake my head and mouth, “I’ll spank you when we get home.” She presses her lips together with her finger and thumb.

“Today, I congratulate you, Connor, and especially you, Senna,” Filip proclaims, oblivious to our communication. “MissCoulter, you brought your team back from the brink and made it a contender.”

She nods, although I’m sure she’s nervous when her fingers brush her tattoo and she tucks her hair behind her ear. He’s the boss of the most successful racing team.

“We did it as a team. One team, one family, and a whole lot of fight.”

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