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  Her cheeks went red again, as she lowered her head and her bangs covered her eyes.

  With a smooth move, he moved the strand from her forehead and put it behind her ears. Instantly, an alarm sounded in her head.

  Warning! He has a reputation for being quite the playboy. This is the kind of distraction you don’t need right now. If she could, she would have rolled her eyes to her rational side. Couldn’t she just enjoy this flirting like a normal young woman?

  Yes, she had just said goodbye to her boyfriend Salvo, yes she was going to see Christopher a lot so getting involved wasn’t exactly the smartest thing she could do.

  So what? They were just fooling around, she surely didn’t expect anything else from Christopher. He was impossible to reach, he had plenty of women on his hands and besides they were just two adults working together, having a little fun while doing it.

  No harm in that.

  Isabella believed the lie the minute she thought of it. As it turned out, she was able to lie. To herself.

  She was very good at lying to herself about her feelings for Christopher.

  “I was referring to the countryside all around the circuit” he mocked her.

  “I’m sure you were” she said, playing his game again.

  “It’s getting late, I better go” he stood up, ran a hand in his hair as if he wanted to say more, but then headed to the door.

  Christopher turned around again, looking frustrated.

  “Have you ever been to Valencia before?” he asked out of the blue.

  She stood up and nodded. “Yes, but it was horrible”

  She laughed at the memory. Now she thought it was funny, but back then it had been a nightmare.

  “They lost my suitcase and then I got sick, so instead of visiting the city I spent five days in bed and on the phone, desperately trying to figure out where the hell was my ‘maleta’.”

  He turned all the way, he was facing her now with a surprised expression on his face.

  “You speak Spanish I see” he teased.

  “Oh yeah. Besides ‘suitcase’, I also learned many, many swear words to scream over the phone to the airline company” she fired back.

  “Well the trip sounds horrible” he said. “Never heard such bad luck on one single trip.”

  “Yeah, well…” she smiled resigned. She had been upset for weeks after her holiday.

  She told Christopher how her friends had seen the city, the buildings, the museums, even the food markets, which she absolutely loved and visited in every city she went to.

  Oh and of course they had gone clubbing without her, too. And all she got was take-away paellas and Spanish pills for her temperature.

  Who gets the flu in June? Me, obviously.

  “Well you won’t have much time to visit the city I’m afraid, ‘cause it’s going to get busy” he smiled and added “But If you like, I can introduce you to the best paella in town. We could have dinner together one night.”

  Although she kept her face relaxed, Isabella felt her whole body tense as a warm feeling spread in her chest.

  “That’s very kind of you, but I don’t want to change your plans. You are going to be busy…” she mumbled towards the end, unsure of what else to say to Christopher’s penetrating eyes.

  How could she tell a man she found so interesting, that she didn’t think they should spend time together after working hours? It felt wrong.

  Seeing doubt in her eyes he said:

  “You don’t want to leave Valencia again without happy memories, do you? You need to have a little fun and I know just the place” he smiled at her and searched her eyes. Isabella couldn’t hold her smile any longer.

  “Jokes aside, it would be a pleasure. Think about it okay?”

  Isabella couldn’t do anything else but nod.

  He walked to the door, Isabella right behind him, and he let himself out.

  “Thanks again for checking on me” she said when he was already outside her door. She looked him over one last time.

  That casual yet elegant look of his - military green button up shirt and scruff - made him even sexier.

  “I couldn’t go to sleep without saying hi” he said, his voice deep and serious now.

  Isabella cocked her head and let out a deep breath.

  It was so confusing how he went from being all flirty and funny, to serious and intense. So incredibly intense.

  She didn’t know what to think of that nor what to say. So Isabella decided not to say anything.

  “Good night.” And he walked in the corridor, his hands back in his jeans’ pockets.

  “Night” she whispered watching him leave, looking at his fit behind for a second too long. She shook her head, embarrassed at herself and giggled a little. Maybe it had been a while since she had slept with a man.

  Since she had broken up with Salvo, her friends had suggested some good old rebound sex with some hot one night stand. But Isabella had shrugged it off. It wasn’t like her at all. She knew she wouldn’t feel better after that, she would feel even more alone.

  Even if in a way she was responsible for the break up with Salvo, it didn’t mean she hadn’t felt sad and depressed. Their relationship had ended, their love had failed and a failure hurts like a failure, no matter whether it concerns love, career, health. No matter who or what is responsible for it.

  Once Christopher was half way down the corridor, she took her tired booty back inside her room.

  She walked towards her bed, meaning to take her phone and text her sister to apologize for hanging up like that. Instead she heard house music humming in the background. Where was it coming from? Isabella looked around confused.

  The TV was off, her laptop was on sleep mode. She took her phone and there it was. Her eyes went wide. She was still connected with her sister. What the ….?

  “Hello???” she shouted shocked, her mouth open. Had she been there the whole time?

  “Yeahy, it worked, you heard it” Emilia said, referring to the loud music on her end. She lowered the volume of the stereo.

  “Don’t tell me you were there all along…” Isabella began to say but was interrupted by her sister’s excitement.

  “I damn sure was. Who was that guy with the sexy voice???”

  Isabella rolled her eyes. She was not going to have this conversation with her sister, not now, not on the phone.

  “What sexy voice?” she lied through her teeth, but her sister didn’t buy it, not even for a second.

  “Don’t go Polly Anne on me, Isa. Anyway, you two are sooo flirting with each other. All the pauses and the heavy breathing…”

  Isabella’s eyes widened and her cheeks went up in flames. Again. “There was no heavy breathing!!!” she screamed. It was one of those moments when she wished she could lie.

  From Isabella’s room to the reception, Christopher walked with confusion written all over his face. Since they had met, he had had one thought on his mind: kiss her. Well, maybe he had had more than one thought on his mind...

  He walked down the stairs, not wanting to bump into anyone and feel the need to answer questions. He wanted to be alone. Besides, he needed to think. Should have he gone back? Maybe he should have kissed her there and then.

  Christopher couldn’t believe he hadn’t made a move on her that day on the track, when they had spent some time together.

  Normally, he would try kissing a woman whenever he felt like it and, if she didn’t reciprocate, he would just shrug it off and move on to the next.

  This time, to his surprise, Christopher had actually had doubts, doubts that Isabella would refuse him. This time her refusal would have made the difference.

  It wasn’t something he was used to. Christopher didn’t like to brag about stuff, but over the past few years he had had to actually dodge women.

  They had been all over him. Models, hot girls met in clubs, journalists, race hostesses, the lot. As a successful race driver, he had had his share of fans, flings and on and off girlfriends
.

  And although he felt there was a connection there with Isabella – and possibly a chance to sleep with her too- he knew instantly that this time it would be different.

  Isabella was no fling. She was a down to earth woman, the kind you don’t pick up in clubs because she would never go with a guy she had just met, the kind you don’t have a one night stand with.

  A woman who wasn’t interested in superficial relations. She was a woman that was only game for the real thing.

  Christopher understood this quite well. And even though it scared him, he couldn’t resist pursuing her. Isabella was anything like the women he had met so far.

  There was something different in her, something that he wanted so badly. What was it about her? She was incredibly beautiful –yes. It wasn’t just that, it was the smile that reached her eyes, the funny remarks, her manners, her sweetness and the way she seemed to listen, really listen to the people she spoke to.

  For the first time in his life, he thought about how to courtship a woman.

  Whatever he had felt in the room with Isabella that night, he had to have more. Whatever he had felt touching her hair, her skin – a heat in his stomach and a weight on his chest- he had to have more.

  Because there was only one thing in his life that made him feel that way and that was racing. Isabella made him feel alive.

  Chapter 6

  It was a short plane ride to Valencia. Isabella and Hillary spent the entire trip finishing up the first post on the blog. They were going live that day. Apparently, Isabella owed Christopher a drink as Mr. Jenkins didn’t have anything to say on the pictures she had taken of Noah and him.

  What was left now, was to submit the profiles she had drawn of the two drivers. Isabella was sure he would have plenty to say on that.

  She yawned as she took her coffee cup. Hillary eyed her then.

  “Late night?” she enquired with a grin.

  “Uhm no, I couldn’t sleep really” she answered after taking a sip of her drink.

  “You are excited aren’t you? First trip of the season…it’s normal” Hillary smiled at her, reminiscing her first trip, her first experience travelling around the world.

  Yeah, that too. Mostly I couldn’t get Christopher and his hands out of my head. Isabella decided to keep those thoughts to herself.

  Instead she nodded and got back to work. The profiles were ready and they looked good. She was happy with herself. Christopher and Noah had answered to both trivial and serious questions about their lives and their passion for the sport.

  It looked fun and interesting to read. Hillary agreed with her that every now and then it would be nice to have like a fans session, where people could ask questions directly to the drivers on the blog. Pending Mr. Jenkins’ approval!

  The captain informed all the passengers that they were now approaching Valencia.

  It was time for Isabella to switch off her laptop and start praying. My suitcases better be there.

  Isabella could only hope. She was travelling with her life wrapped up in two suitcases. This was no holiday, everything had better be there.

  She peeked in the aisle in front of her, seeing the flight assistants checking the tray tables and taking away what was left of people’s breakfast. She handed her empty cup of coffee and thanked the hostess in Spanish.

  Just then her eyes caught sight of someone peeking in the aisle too, looking backwards in her direction. His green eyes were fixed on hers. Christopher.

  Her face lit up instantly and he smiled briefly before Mr. Jenkins – who was sitting next to him- took hold of his attention.

  “Are you listening to me?” Hillary asked.

  Isabella turned to look at her colleague. Had she been speaking? Really? Isabella hadn’t even noticed. This was bad, really bad. Focus, focus. Cover it up, quick.

  “Sorry, I get a little jittery during landings and take offs” Liar, since when are you a good liar? You totally failed with Christopher and your sister last night!, she felt her conscience point a finger at her.

  “Aww. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. I was just saying that we will be spending the next three days on track in the mornings. The presentation of the cars and the test sessions are very important. The press will be there, I have to handle Christopher’s and Noah’s press releases and I will need your help with that. We need to work as a team. Journalists tend to get a little pushy, since these are the only moments they have to speak to the drivers properly. During races they normally get to ask a couple of questions each. Anyway, both drivers will be doing an interview for TUV channel. They cover all the races during the entire season, they have the exclusiveness…” Isabella nodded enthused. This job sounded better every minute.

  She so looked forward in being Hillary’s assistant as well as her colleague. She felt honored, there was so much to learn from a successful woman like Hillary. She was so determined, always knew what to say and how to handle critical situations. She was in control and Isabella couldn’t but admire her boss.

  “So, we have two dinners, a business lunch but here is the good news: we can go to spa together for waxes, massages, the works, in the afternoons. Oh and you are free the last day we are here so you can do some sightseeing. Maybe post some pictures on the blog too.”

  Isabella smiled to herself as she put her stuff back into the bag. Yes, she had made the right decision. It was exactly what she had always dreamt of. To write her own articles, to handle PR and press releases. She couldn’t have hoped for a better job.

  The group was divided into four smaller ones and organized into vans, that would take them to the hotel. Isabella walked around the airport with this satisfied grin on her face, even though the cold wind had tried its best to rip it off her a couple of times.

  She had never been so happy to be holding on to her suitcases, never minding the fact they were heavy as hell. Nope, the cold wind nor the heaviness of her suitcase would ruin this moment for her: she had found them on the convey belt. It was definitely going to be a good day.

  “Someone’s happy to have her suitcases” Christopher’s voice made her look to the side, where she saw him standing, sexy as hell with his ruffled hair.

  How come the wind made her look like a stray dog and it made Christopher look like a star? The mysteries of life…

  He took one of her suitcases with his empty hand and they kept walking towards the van.

  “Thanks. Is it that obvious?” she grinned again and shoved her hair behind her ear. Thank God she had decided to tie them up behind her head, otherwise she would have been blinded by her hair. Still her bangs and the ones on the side were causing her a little distress.

  Not as much as poor Hillary, who had worn them down that morning and was continuously battling with them. She shouted “This way” to Christopher and her.

  Noah followed behind in silence.

  After they handed their suitcases to the driver, they all took places in the van. Hillary and Isabella were sitting next to each other, Noah and Christopher followed, then there were Mark and John –respectively Noah’s and Christopher’s engineers- and then Fred and Simon – two mechanics.

  They were possibly the loudest van of the four. The air was dense with excitement, adrenaline, sugar rush. Whatever it was, it felt great. They were all hyper, laughing and looking forward to the events of the following days.

  Noah didn’t speak much but laughed along to Fred’s jokes and to Mark’s remarks.

  Isabella eyed the two drivers: if they had been tense at all, they were really good at hiding it, because they looked so at peace.

  After all they were in Valencia to test the cars before the beginning of the season in Australia, which was only two weeks away. Australia!!!! Isabella almost screamed.

  The hotel wasn’t that far away, it took them just twenty minutes to get there from the airport.

  But it had been no regular twenty minute journey. It had been all forbidden stares, eyes meeting briefly between her and Christopher.


  When he had touched her shoulder at some point, leaning forward to ask her about the blog, Isabella had jolted in her seat, causing Hillary to look at her confused for a second. She had then gone back to talking with Noah and Mark.

  Christopher had asked her about his profile, if his looked better than Noah’s –if not, she had to change it, because he was the cute one between the two.

  Noah had looked at him then and said something but Isabella couldn’t quite concentrate. Christopher’s hand was now on her seat, so close to her shoulder she thought she could feel his touch.

  Isabella shifted then, feeling a little uneasy and turned his way.

  “What did Alfred say about the pictures?” he asked, his hand still there, with his fingers brushing over her shoulder.

  Isabella’s concentration was really being put to the test here. How did he expect her to answer his questions, to even function with those hot hands on her. This was a man she was supposed to be working with, what was she walking into?

  “Who’s Alfred?” she asked, her voice a little surprised.

  “Mr. Jenkins” he laughed amused.

  Isabella frowned. Oh so he’s human, he does have a name after all.

  She rolled her eyes.

  “He said ‘ok’” she used the same flat tone he had. Isabella looked at him and sighed. She supposed she had to be grateful, he didn’t have something negative to say about her work – so far. Still, Mr. Jenkins kept giving her that look, the look she had seen before during her days at the office in Rome, the look that meant she was still being put to the test.

  The way to his trust was going to be a very, very long and steep one.

  “Someone owes me a drink, then” he looked triumphantly at her. His hand stayed exactly where it was -on her seat inches away from her shoulder - until the van stopped in front of the hotel. He smiled to her once more and then he was out. Christopher walked inside the building with his manager.

  “Those sound like some really intense three days” said her friend Maria.