Page 47 of Hot Lap
Lina is the first to peel away from her group, her smile warm and welcoming. “Beautiful dress, Mai.”
Maiken smiles and it’s bloody dazzling. “Thanks. The credit goes to Reece’s thoughtfulness. I didn’t have time to shop before I left Las Vegas.”
Gudrun sweeps in with practiced ease, her presence deliberate. She gestures to Maiken. “Stunning from head to toe, particularly your makeup.”
They flank her like a velvet shield, making her a part of their circle with a kind of fierce, gracious choreography that leaves no room for predators to move in, and sends a clear warning to those gathered.
Reece exhales, gratitude threading through his ribs. He plucks a glass of white wine from a passing waiter and puts it into his wife’s hand. Another waiter appears with sparkling water. “Sir?”
“Thank you.”
Mai tips her chin at him before returning to her guardian angels.
After a few moments of chit-chat, Reece catches Claudia's subtle signal across the room. It's the choreographed dance he knows well — move to this group, charm that sponsor, keep the money flowing. A Nitro staffer materializes at his elbow, guiding him and Maiken toward a cluster of FuegoFrío executives. They're Telco sponsors who bring serious money to the table. The kinds of people who don't wear team colors but whose signatures keep the lights on, and PNW Nitro has been courting them all season.
Juanma Montero smiles. "Reece, good to see you again." He’s the youngest son of FuegoFrío’s owner Valeria.
“Good to see you, Juanma.” Reece shakes his hand. "I’d like to introduce my wife, Maiken. Mai, Juanma Montero is the head of sponsor relations for FuegoFrío Internacional."
His heart thuds a little harder than he likes to admit, as she releases his arm and steps forward with an easy smile.
"How lovely to meet you."
"You as well. How are you finding our little corner of the world, Mrs. Pritchard?" Juanma's eyes are keen, and Reece knows he’s sizing her up. All the sponsors want to know what Maiken Lange Pritchard is made of.
"It's unlike anything I've ever experienced." Mai's smile lights up her face. "Though I'm still learning all the rules. There seem to be quite a few."
"Ah, yes, Formula 1 is nothing if notstructured." Juanma laughs. "What do you think of Qatar?"
"Breathtaking architecture." She gestures toward the windows. "Sadly I haven't seen much beyond my hotel room and this lovely venue yet."
Sofia Bautista, Juanma's colleague, leans into the conversation. "You must visit the Museum of Islamic Art while you're here. The building alone is worth the trip."
"I would love to explore more of Qatar. Perhaps after the race weekend?" She glances at Reece. “If there’s time.”
He smiles and the executives nod.
Juanma swirls his drink. "I understand you’re a dancer when you're not at the circuit, Mrs. Pritchard?"
Reece locks down his expression. He’d hoped this wouldn’t come up tonight, but he should’ve known better.
"Yes, in Las Vegas." She straightens, professional pride automatic. "But honestly, I'm more interested in discussing Formula 1." She touches Reece's arm. "The technical knowledge required for these cars is absolutely mind-boggling, and I’m so impressed with Reece and the Nitro team."
He’simpressed with how skillfully she just redirected the group’s focus back to him.
Sofia smiles. "Reece is too modest to discuss his accomplishments."
"I’ve noticed that." Mai’s expression turns sly. Her lips curve into a smirk and she side-eyes him as she adds, "And I’ve heard rumors that drivers need to be quitefit. Something aboutg-forces?" That smirk’s become a devastatingly wicked smile.
Juanma chuckles at the subtle double entendre.
Sophia’s laughing as she says, "The physical demands are extraordinary."
"Reece mentioned the cockpit temperatures get so hot.” Maiken fans herself, and he can’t believe he’s married to this absolute minx. “Is that true for all drivers?"
Reece just shakes his head as she puts him in the spotlight while demonstrating how wittyandengaged she is. She’s daring without overstepping things, acknowledging the raciness everyone wants to pin on her without compromising her intellect, and the execs are eating it up.
After a few minutes of flirtatious back-and-forth, she returns to his side. He leans in, keeping his voice low. "You're dangerous."
