Page 57 of Formula Freedom
“Monte Carlo set?” Lara asks, eyebrows knit in confusion.
Posey grins and lifts a shoulder. “It’s a term that refers to the elite, fashionable social crowd in Monaco.” She waves her hand around. “Think influencers, heiresses, models and high-society types who frequent places like Monte Carlo. At least… that’s what I read in my research. I’m going to set one of my novels here.”
Lara chuckles and nods down to the red-soled shoes. “You’re the one who looks amazing. Are those Louboutins?”
“Yes, and they’re killing my feet,” she says from the side of her mouth. “But don’t tell Lex that as he took great joy in buying them for me.”
“I’m standing right here and can hear you, love,” Lex replies drolly.
Huh? So that’s the designer. I’ll tuck that away, but I probably won’t buy a pair for Lara if they’re so uncomfortable.
Lex eyeballs the rest of the group. “So, this is it, huh? The annual meeting of the Fast and the Famously Single.”
“You’re decidedly not single,” I say, nodding to Posey.
Lex smiles at her, leans in and kisses her neck. “I’m definitely taken.”
I curl my fingers gently around Lara’s and pull her close to me. Yeah, I’m definitely taken too.
Ronan raises a skeptical brow. “You’ve fallen fast, Hemsworth.”
“Considering I was fifteen when I fell for her,” I reply, voice even. “Not so fast, so get your facts straight.”
Eyes sparkling, he throws up his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, I’m just here for the charity and the wine.”
But it’s Lara I’m looking at. We haven’t progressed to getting deep into feelings for each other, but there’s no sense in hiding the fact that she’s been my girl for a long damn time. Even if neither of us fully realized it.
The way she smiles back at me tells me all I need to know… I’ve been hers for a long time too.
As the group turns toward the bar, chatting and laughing, I let my fingers drift to Lara’s back. Her posture’s relaxed as she chats with Posey, but she’s scanning—taking it all in. And I know what she’s seeing… polished people, practiced charm, the way some women glance too long at me or Carlos or Lex.
I lean down and murmur into her hair. “You don’t have to play a part tonight. Just be you.”
She glances up, her eyes searching mine. “And if that version of me doesn’t fit here?”
I squeeze her hand. “Then you’ll break the mold.”
Posey loops her arm through Lara’s, grabbing her attention from me. “Come on, let’s get drinks and hide in a corner and judge everyone.”
I think that might be code for “We’re demanding girl time.” I’m happy for her to take it, because Posey seems so down-to-earth and she’s exactly the right person to introduce Lara to this jet-set lifestyle since she’s just learning to navigate it herself.
Lara shoots me a quick smile. “I’ll be right back.”
I nod and watch them go, lapsing into a discussion with Lex and the other guys. I consider getting a drink, but before I can slip off, someone taps my arm. I turn to see two women—both stunning, both very aware of it—standing a little too close. One’s blond and tall, the other brunette with legs for days and a neckline that’s probably in violation of at least three dress codes.
“Reid Hemsworth,non?” the brunette says, her French accent lilting around the edges of each syllable. She smiles like she already knows I’ll say yes to whatever comes next.
“That’s me,” I answer, polite but edging toward guarded.
“We watched you in Melbourne,” the blond adds, her accent even thicker, flirtation fused in every word. She places a hand lightly on my forearm. “C’était incroyable.That last lap? You were unbelievable.”
“Thanks,” I say, offering a small smile as I glance toward the bar.
Lara and Posey are still chatting, but Lara’s eyes are on us now. While she stares at me without judgment or fault, her smile is dimmed. I know her well enough to see it—the shift. The flicker of discomfort as she stares at the brunette’s hand still lingering on my arm, all while keeping an ear on something Posey’s saying to her.
“Maybe you come have a drink with us?” One manicured thumb strokes my arm.
I shake my head and take half a step back, gently disengaging. “I appreciate the offer. Really. But I’m here with someone.”
