Page 54 of Fast & Reckless
“I’m just saying. It’s so pretty on you.”
“It was too much work to straighten it every day.” And the way Will’s eyes lingered on it whenever he was near her didn’t hurt either.
“And this dress. New, right?”
Mira squirmed under her mother’s scrutiny. Of course she’d notice every little change. The dresswasnew, and not her usual style. She’d seen it in the window of a fancy shop in Barcelona and it stopped her in her tracks. It was so soft and sexy, so … everything she wasn’t. The slippery silk, the tiny straps, all the bare skin … it made her feel confident in a way she hadn’t in years. Not confident about spreadsheets and customs paperwork. Confident as in … hot. She hadn’t felt hot in so long. She hadn’twantedto feel hot. Before she knew it, she’d bought the dress.
“I like Violet,” her mother said.
“She’s great. I’m so glad she’s out on the circuit with us. It’s nice to have a friend here.”
“And—was it Will?—he seems nice, too.”
“He is.”
“And hot.”
Mira made a face. “Mom …”
Cherie held up her hands. “Just making an observation. Besides, he’s only got eyes for you and that dress. He couldn’t stop staring.”
Her heart gave an unwelcome lurch, and her cheeks warmed. “You’re deluded, Mom.”
Thankfully, Cherie was already flitting off to the next subject, as usual. “How’s the job going?”
“Good. I had no idea how hard it would be. But I think I’m finally getting the hang of it.”
“And your dad? How has it been working with him?”
She could have tossed off a breezy “fine,” but her mother would see right through that. She knew how thorny the past seven years had been for them. At least she finally felt like she’d gotten that Singapore disaster behind her. Whenever he needed her, she was right there, ready with every answer, and it felt like they were regaining their equilibrium. “It’s getting better. I know he didn’t want me back—”
“You don’t know that—”
“I’m right though. I think it was Natalia who finally went to bat for me.” The subtle shift of her mother’s eyes away from her own made her suspect maybe she had both Nataliaandher mother to thank for the intercession. “But that’s okay. I’m determined to prove to him that he can count on me, and I think he’s starting to.”
Cherie laid a hand on her knee and squeezed. “You know your dad loves you, right, baby? Job or no job.”
She swallowed back an uncomfortable tightness in her throat. “That’s not enough. I want him to respect me, too.”
“I’m sure he does.”
“If he doesn’t, then he will. Look, we’re here.”
EVEN AT 9 P.M.the Texas air was muggy and hot as they waited outside the restaurant. Will tugged at the collar of his dress shirt, while at his side, Violet fanned herself with her hand.
“I found this place the last time we came through Austin,” Natalia said. “The food is delightful, and it’s a bit more off the beaten path.”
“Natalia knows every good restaurant in every city on the racing circuit,” Paul said, smiling at her. “And she can get a table with a single phone call. I don’t know how she does it.”
“I just hope it’s got air con,” Violet groaned.
Just then a car pulled into the circular drive behind them, and Mira got out with her mother. Every time he looked at Mira in that dress, his mind went to truly filthy places where it was best not to linger, especially as he was about to sit down to dinner with both her parents.
“Cherie! You look lovely.” Natalia and Cherie embraced and kissed cheeks. “How’s the business going?”
There was clearly no bad blood between them, which was not surprising for Natalia. She was a class act, and Mira’s mom seemed the same.
Mira tugged on Violet’s sleeve. “Come on. Mom will talk about work all night if you let her, and it’s hot. Let’s wait inside.”
