Page 18 of Racing Hearts
“Well.” Edward sprung from the couch, downing the remainder of his coffee. “If anyone can teach Georgia how to become a charismatic, egotistical asshole, it’s you, Luca!”
I grabbed my dirty towel and threw it at him, but he was already out the door, cackling as it hit the floor behind him.
Chapter Eight
Georgia
“Georgia, are you there?” Standing behind my hotel room door was Lily, shit-eating grin included.
Ah, so Isabelle had decided to fill her in.
“Thought I’d check in,” she said in a voice that sounded like it was dripping in sweet caramel. “Make sure you’re ready for your firstdatewith Luca tonight.” Tonight marked the official start of my public relations romance with Luca Rossi: part media stunt, part horror movie.
“I’m just dandy, Lily. Managed to win myself that boyfriend the press are always so worried about,” I muttered sarcastically.
For months now, the media had been obsessed with my love life. Apparently, it was both appalling that I wasn’t dating, and scandalous that I might be. Lily snorted, helping herself to a cup of coffee before plopping down on my sofa.
“Keep your head up, Georgie. Who knows, maybe under that rugged, dark, handsome exterior, you might find something you like about Luca Rossi.” Grabbing a cushion from my couch, I hurled it in her direction.
“The only thing I imagine I’ll learn about Luca is that he is exactly as insufferable as I imagine him to be.” Lily’s look told me she was not entirely convinced by my performance.
“If I’d known we’d be given handsome boyfriends if we sucked at media, I would have started swearing at reporters weeks ago,” she teased.
“Happy to swap if you’d like.” I had no doubt she’d love to take me up on that offer, and I gave her shoulder a friendly shove before straightening a crinkle in my dress.
“So, you’re wearingthattonight?” Lily smirked at my outfit, and I knew we were both thinking the same thing. Wrapped in this royal purple dress, I looked like a Hermes present.
I nodded. “Nora dropped this off earlier.”
“Wearing Luca’s team colors on date one…spicy.” I flipped her off before giving myself one last solemn glance in the mirror.
A second knock rang through my hotel room, but I didn’t need to open the door to know who was standing on the other side.
“Georgia? You there?”
I gritted out a frustrated groan as my brother’s voice echoed through the hotel room, knowing full well that he’d also dropped by to observe my misery.
“Nice dress,” he chuckled.
Ignoring his amusement, I motioned towards the couch.
“Just wanted to pop by and see how you were doing. Big night. First date and all.” He took a seat next to Lily on the couch, the two of them now fully settled in like they were waiting for a reality show confession cam.
“Hermes booked us a little table at a Cuban restaurant on the water. Ninety minutes of Luca and I trying to survive each other.”
“Just try to talk to him about somethingotherthan racing,” Henri teased.
“Oh yeah, like yachts? Piracy?” The thin line of his lips told me he fully intended to ignore my pettiness.
“Maybe ask about golf? He’s very good.” My brother shrugged.
“Sure, let’s talk about the slowest sport in the world as we race in the fastest.” Henri and Lily both flashed me a couple of glares. “The only thing Luca and I have in commonisracing. I don’t see why it’s so taboo to talk about it.”
Over the course of the season, it felt like the moment I opened my mouth about racing, Luca was headed towards the nearest fire escape.
“Well, just don’t drone on about his dad. I know Michael Rossi is your hero and all, but Edward told me they got into a huge fight yesterday. Half the garage heard it.”
Perfect, another issue I had to dance around tonight.
