Page 69 of Fast & Reckless
Violet was still talking. “I know you’ve got a lot of time booked with Velocity, but there are other sponsors asking for time as well, so it would be helpful to know what your other plans are.”
He stopped and faced her. “What other plans?”
Violet shrugged. “Just wondering. If you’d … made plans. With anyone.”
Will scowled and looked back at his mobile. Plans? Right now he’d be happy if he could just get Mira to answer his text. They saw each other plenty of times during the day but always as coworkers, never as … whatever they were to each other. At this rate, he’d be sneaking into her hotel room after midnight. Again.
“No plans,” he snapped.
“So I can book the other sponsors?”
Will let out an annoyed huff. “Sure. Yes, book away.”
“Okay, great. Now, about your parents. Shall we clear out the VIP lounge, or do you want to have them to your motor home?”
“My parents?”
“They’re coming today.” Violet glanced at her phone. “In ten minutes, actually.”
Will stopped walking, dropping his head back and groaning. “That’s today?”
“You said—”
“I’m sure I did. I just forgot.”
“It’s race day. It’sSilverstone.”
“Iknow.” How could he forget? The Formula One circuit was on British soil, racing at Silverstone, which was like the home field for Lennox. His sister had told him she was dragging their parents here. It had just slipped his mind. Maybe on purpose.
“Oh, look, here comes Mira,” Violet chirped. “She’s sure to make you less grumpy.”
Will’s eyes snapped up and there she was, picking her way through the crowds, ever-present notepad clutched in her hands, her credentials swinging between her breasts. A few nights ago, when he’d stripped her clothes off, he’d left those credentials on and wrapped her lanyard around his fist as he’d—
“Hey,” she said when she reached them.
It took a herculean effort to school his face into disinterestedness. All he wanted to do was smile at her and say something to make her laugh, or maybe back her against the nearest motor home and kiss her senseless. But Violet’s voice was toobright and singsong to be believed. She could sense that something had changed between them, despite their best attempts to give nothing away.
“What’s up?” he asked, looking not at her, but at a spot over her right shoulder.
“The guy from Rally Fuel was hoping to get a word with Simone, but she’s tied up in the press pen. Do you have a minute for him, Violet?”
“Sure. If you can wrangle Will’s parents for me.”
Mira looked at him in surprise. “Your parents are coming today?”
He shrugged. “I forgot.”
“Okay, I’m going to go steer the Rally guy toward hospitality. Mira, here are the passes to the VIP lounge for Will’s family. I’ll send a photographer around to his motor home later to get some family shots.”
“No photographers,” Will said quickly. “My mother … she doesn’t like being part of this racing stuff.”
“Why not?” Mira asked.
“She’s okay with being in the press for one of her charity events, but sport isn’t her thing.”
Mira’s tone turned sharp. “Not even when her son is on track to win the world championship? Not even when he’s about to sign the most lucrative sponsorship deal in the sport’s history?”
Her offense on his behalf was sweet. And now he wanted to touch her again, but not with Violet here and photographers everywhere. He probably shouldn’t even be spending this long talking to her. “Not even then.”
