Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“Possessive, Accardi?” he murmurs, his voice a low scrape of heat. “Should I be flattered… or concerned?”
I tilt my chin up. “Neither.”
His mouth curves in a slow, knowing smile. “You were jealous.”
“I was not.”
“You were,” he says, leaning close enough that I can feel the heat of his breath on my cheek. “And it was sexy as fuck.”
I exhale. “Fine. I was.”
The smile that pulls at his lips is wicked and satisfied. “Good.”
“You realize by standing here, having a private talk like this, people are going to wonder what’s going on.” I keep my voice low, but my eyes flick past him toward the glittering crowd. A few heads are turned in our direction, subtle as they pretend to be focused on their champagne flutes. FI gossip is a full-contact sport, and this is prime spectator fuel.
Ronan glances over his shoulder, surveying the room like he’s assessing the line into Turn 1. When his eyes come back to me, they’re calm but sharper. “Which means I definitely won’t be kissing you right now.”
My lips twitch before I let out a quiet laugh. “That would cause the entire FI world to explode,” I say, picturing the headlines already forming in some reporter’s draft folder.
I take a small step sideways—not because I want to, but because I’m acutely aware of how close we are. “But on another subject… my parents are coming for Silvercrest. Whole weekend—practice through race day. Which means they’ll be at my place, and well… we won’t be able to…”
“Sleep together?” he hazards a guess, lips twitching. “I suspected that would be the case.”
I shouldn’t throw this out there… it’s way too soon, but I’m bolstered by his very public proclamation to Amelia that he’s mine. “Want to meet them?”
His look shifts and the faintest twitch pulls at the side of his mouth. “It’s race week and you know… I try to keep my head clear.”
I smile, although I acknowledge I’d expected this response. “That’s a very polite no.”
“Just… not sure it’s the right time,” he says, and I know instantly it has nothing to do with time and everything to do with what meeting parents represents. A relationship step. Commitment. Two things Ronan Barnes keeps locked in a box deep inside him.
I shrug, forcing my shoulders loose, like it’s no big deal. “Suit yourself.”
“But maybe at some point,” he adds, and there’s a guardedness in his expression—as if he wants the option but can’t commit to it out loud.
“Maybe,” I reply breezily.
His frown tells me I’ve given the wrong answer. He looks… unsettled, which is rare enough to make me soften.
I reach out, my fingers brushing his forearm, the muscle beneath the fine wool of his suit solid. “It’s fine, Ronan. When you’re ready, I know my parents would love to meet you. Whether that’s this weekend or a year from now. No pressure.”
His throat works, and then he nods, a little stiff. “Okay. When will your parents be in?”
“Day after tomorrow.”
A beat passes, and then his voice drops a fraction. “So… can I stay with you tonight and tomorrow night?”
That catches me deliciously off guard. My mouth curves before I can stop it. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The relief apparent in his features is subtle, but I catch it. It’s an unspoken admission that whatever he’s avoiding, he still wants to be close. His smile, when it comes, is small but genuine, and it hits me low in my stomach like the roar of an engine opening up down a straight.
CHAPTER 21
Ronan
This is it… my last night with Francesca until after Silvercrest. I’m sure I’ll see her around the paddock starting with tomorrow’s free practice, but I won’t be able to spend time with her. Certainly won’t be able to kiss her or even show that I’m kind of crazy about her. There’s no doubt, this has turned deeper than I’d ever expected, and yet… I wasn’t ready to agree to meet her parents.
I’m not sure where that comes from. It’s not like I’m hiding anything from them. I like her. She likes me. Meeting the people who raised her shouldn’t change that.
But the truth is, it’s a stepping stone to something bigger. And while I’m looking long term with her, I’m not ready to sprint headlong into that corner quite yet. I keep telling myself it’s because I want to take it slow. That if we keep our pace steady, there’s less chance of wrecking it before it has a chance to go the distance.
Still, the memory of her expression when I said no has been eating at me all day. I know I let her down to some extent, and she was kind enough to let me off the hook without any guilt trip. That took a load off my shoulders because while I’m thrilled to see where this is going, I’m still scared to make it official.