Page 25 of Start Your Engines

She furrows her brow as I continue. “I knew a female racing driver who was better than every male. She won races all the time. The boys bullied her and told her she wasn’t good enough, and they tried to stop her, but do you know what she did?”

Margot shakes her head. Her eyes are wide, and I struggle not to smile.

“She beat them on the track. She also told them what she thought about them, and although that made them mad, they couldn’t say anything back to her because she was the best. I raced against her, and she beat me all the time. She was incredible, the best racing driver.”

Margot stares at me. “What happened to her? She’s not racing now.”

“She stopped, but what she’s doing now is better. She’s always been a pioneer for women in racing.”

“What is she doing?” Margot asks tentatively.

“She runs Coulter Racing,” I say. I sense someone other than Margot and her mum watching me. I look to the doorway of the display room, and my eyes lock on Senna’s beautiful hazel-eyed stare. How long has she been listening? Her soft gaze makes me want to tuck the wave of hair falling out of her ponytail behind her ear. She’s stunning. The corners of her mouth curve into a smile.

“She was the communications director but now manages the entire team. She makes the success of the entire team possible. She knows about cars, people, tracks, racing, and everything else! All the things that happen during a race and in the background during the week wouldn’t be possible without her.” I stare at Senna as I add, “She may not be racing as a driver, but she is a racing leader. She’s all-powerful, and I’m lucky I call her boss.”

Senna’s throat bobs as she swallows.

“She sounds amazing!”

“She is. And if you’re really lucky, she might say hello to us today.”

That gets me a full smile, and Senna walks up to us, tapping Margot on the shoulder as I introduce her. “Meet my boss, Senna Coulter.”

Margot gasps and beams as she stumbles over her hello.

“Hey, Margot. So you love racing? What’s your favourite track?”

Margot’s hands dance as she talks animatedly about the tracks she’s visited and the ones she wants to go to. Soon, they’re talking about races, and Senna is giving her tips on improving her corners and the tactics she used to overtake.

“Thank you,” I mouth over Margot’s shoulder.

She winks back at me, and my stomach does a weird bubbling thing.

“How would you feel if I watched one of your races sometime? Maybe I could chat with those boys and tell them about women in racing. I’ll bring my lead mechanic, Jackie Mackay, and one of my old helmets for you to keep when you’re big enough for it,” Senna says.

“Can she, Mum? Can she?” Margot screams.

Her mum nods, but her face drops. Senna picks up on it, too, and as I lead Margot towards another part of our display area, Senna remains with Margot’s mum.

“Miss Coulter also wrote ‘Boys suck’ on her brother, Niki’s, racing car. She doesn’t care what boys think of her and will fight them.”

Margot giggles. Senna’s laugh hits me hard in the chest. Her eyes twinkle as she shakes her head at me. “You’ll get me in trouble, Dane.”

I beam back at her before pointing out another car to Margot.

Senna and Margot’s mum are chatting. I miss most of it, but when Margot is distracted by one of Ralf’s old racing suits,I watch Senna pull out a business card and write something that could be a phone number on the back. A tear runs down Margot’s mum’s cheek.

“Thank you, Miss Coulter. My girl loves racing, but I didn’t think we’d have the funds to do it much longer.” She hugs Senna, and the bubbles in my belly turn into butterflies.

Shit.

CHAPTER 12

Connor

I stretchout on the weight bench in the basement of my Australian hotel and let out a puff of air. It’s been a month since Senna heard me talking about her to Margot, and I’ve tried avoiding her ever since.

I know she wants to talk to me about racing and the past based on something Layla said about their call. Every time she sees me, I’ve got Silas by my side, so she only manages a nod or a few words about training or a race. But when she pauses, I sense she wants to say more.

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