Page 129 of Racing for Redemption
“Mmm.” She leans into my touch despite herself. “And what’s the price for these massage services?”
“Just your company.” I grin down at her. “Though, I’m open to negotiations on additional benefits.”
That earns me another swat, and a laugh. “You’re impossible.”
“I prefer ‘persistent.’” I continue working at the knots in her shoulders. “Is it working?”
She sighs, a sound of surrender that makes triumph surge through me. “Fine. Wait for me downstairs. I’ll be done in twenty minutes.”
I resist the urge to punch the air in victory. Instead, I lean down and press a quick kiss to her cheek.
“Twenty minutes,” I agree, heading for the door. “Then, we’re out of here.”
As I close her office door behind me, I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. Three days with Violet. Just us. No distractions.
I practically bounce down the stairs to wait in the lobby.
Chapter 38
False modesty is underrated
Violet
Iwrap up the last of my emails, shut down my computer, and gather my things. It’s only when I step outside the building that I fully process what I’ve agreed to—a weekend away, just us, no work. William leans against his car, and his face lights up when he spots me, making my chest all warm and fuzzy.
“Ready?” he asks, opening the passenger door with a theatrical flourish. I swear he gets more… adorable, with each passing day. Dorky, too. But hell if it doesn’t warm my chest, spreading throughout my body, making dark, cold days become colorful in an instant. When I notice, I’m softly smiling at him.
“As I’ll ever be.” I slide into the leather seat, my work bag clutched like a shield against my chest. “How far is this mysterious countryside retreat of yours?”
He grins as he settles behind the wheel. “About an hour and a half. Not too far.”
“And why exactly does an F1 driver live in the middle of nowhere? Wouldn’t a London penthouse be more your style?” I’m genuinely curious. Most drivers his age embrace the glamour, the nightlife, the constant spotlight.
William maneuvers the car out of the parking lot with the easy confidence he shows in everything requiring physical coordination. “That’s exactly why. I get enough noise and chaos at work.” His eyes remain on the road, but his expression softens. “Out there, it’s just… quiet. No cameras, no fans, no other drivers. Just space and green and sky. It helps quiet the voices in my head.”
He talks about his home with unexpected passion—how he found it three years ago after his first season in F2, how he’s gradually made it his own. He mentions a small go-kart track he built on the back of the property, his voice taking on a boyish enthusiasm that makes him seem younger.
“You race all week and still want to drive for fun?” I ask, incredulous.
His laugh fills the car. “It’s different. Pure. Just me and the track, no points, no pressure. You should try it.”
The image of me careening around a go-kart track in my work clothes makes me snort. “I’ll leave the driving to you, thanks.”
As we leave the city behind, the landscape changes—buildings giving way to fields, roads narrowing, trees clustering more densely. William relaxes visibly with each kilometer, the tension I hadn’t even noticed in his shoulders gradually melting away.
We turn onto a narrow lane bordered by ancient oaks, their branches forming a canopy overhead. At the end sits William’shome—not the sleek, modern mansion I half-expected, but a rambling stone farmhouse, with ivy climbing one wall, and windows that glow amber in the late afternoon light.
“Here we are.” He pulls up to the front door. “Home sweet home.”
I step out, inhaling air that smells of grass and wildflowers. It’s quieter than any place I’ve been in years. The only sounds are birdsong, and the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze.
“It’s beautiful,” I say, and mean it.
He looks pleased as he grabs a bag from the trunk. “Come on. I’ll give you the tour.”
The interior is a study in contrasts—original beams and stonework alongside modern furnishings. William moves through the space with casual grace, pointing out rooms as we pass: a state-of-the-art kitchen that opens to a dining area, a cozy living room with an enormous fireplace, a home gym tucked into what was probably once a study.
“Put your stuff anywhere,” he says, gesturing vaguely upstairs. “Make yourself at home.”
