Page 67 of Kiss & Collide
“Good?” he asked his son.
“Best I’ve ever driven.”
“Rabia’s a genius,” Violet added.
Nicole leaned forward to address Violet. “I’d apologize for all the car talk, Violet, but it’s clear you’re used to it.”
“I am.”
Nicole shook her head sadly. “Every single family meal, this is what it turns into with these four. Tire pressures and aerodynamics and engine power.”
“It’s nice you all have so much in common.”
“Everything I know about racing is thanks to Dad,” Chase said, smiling at his father.
Javier reached out to squeeze Chase’s shoulder. “I can’t believe my boy is driving in Formula One. I never dreamed …” He trailed off, choking up with emotion.
“Oh, here we go,” Tyler said. “You made the old man cry again, Chase.”
“He’s crying withpride,” Chase teased back. “Unlike his tears of frustration over you.”
Tyler laughed and tossed his wadded-up napkin at Chase, who was laughing too as he ducked to the side. “Better watch out. I’ll tell Sam about that time we went karting and you fucked with her carburetor when she wasn’t looking.”
They were … Jesus, they were fucking adorable. All of them. So affectionate and open. She didn’t belong here, her with all her hard surfaces and razor-sharp edges.
Violet was getting that overwhelming urge to bolt, the way she always did when she got too close to human emotions that made her feel uncomfortable. It was only good manners that kept her rooted to her chair, smiling and responding in all the appropriate places.
It didn’t help that Chase kept glancing over at her with that look in his eyes. That look that meant he was feeling things he shouldn’t be feeling. And he shouldn’t. Hereallyshouldn’t. Not for her, who didn’t belong here, and never would.
Chase reached out and nudged her knee under the table. “Hey. Mom wants to go see some band she likes that’s playing downtown tonight. Come with us.”
She forced a smile and shook her head. “I can’t.”
“Are you sure?” Nicole asked, having heard him ask.
“I have a million things to catch up on in my office,” she lied easily as she stood. “It’s been really lovely. Enjoy your night and I’ll see you at the race tomorrow. You’ll be watching from the garage.”
“Violet—” Chase protested, starting to stand up, but she put her hand on his shoulder to stop him.
“I really do have to go.”
And then she fled, as fast as she could go without breaking into a full-out run. Anything to put distance between herself and this clawing feeling of unease eating away at her.
CHASE WATCHED VIOLETstriding rapidly across the deck, her long black hair snapping behind her in the warm breeze, and something twisted in his gut. Everything had seemed fine. She was chatting with his family, and they clearly loved her. Then all of a sudden she got that hunted look on her face and bolted.
As she disappeared through the glass doors that led to the stairs down to hospitality, he told himself to forget it. His family was here for the race and that’s all that mattered. But as Mom and Dad chatted, he kept looking back over at the doorshe’d disappeared through. Finally he couldn’t stand it another minute.
He slid his chair away from the table. “Hey, there’s something I forgot to ask Violet about. I’m going to run downstairs and catch her in hospitality. I’ll be right back.”
“No problem,” Tyler said, but the slight smirk he threw at Chase said he’d clocked what was going on between them. Considering he was half obsessed with her, it was no wonder Tyler could see it on his face. He wasn’t sure how the whole world couldn’t see it.
Downstairs in the hospitality lounge things were relatively quiet. Pinnacle staffers were busy putting finishing touches on the space, but there were no guests. Violet was still there, across the room conferring with Liz from catering.
She finished up and turned, surprise in her expression when she saw him there.
“Oh, good. You’re here,” she recovered smoothly. “I just talked to Cam and Madison’s managed to clear her schedule.”
“What?”
