Page 48 of Racing Hearts
Isabelle stiffened beside me.
Now where are you going with this one, Rossi?I thought to myself.
Luca smiled as if he was also amusingly surprised by the words coming out of his mouth. “Thanks for hiring me a racing coach,” he chuckled.
Isabelle waved him off with her hands.
“Now, I know everyone here is wondering what’s it like to date one of the most talented drivers in the paddock.” His eyes locked with mine before he continued. “And fortunately for you, when I’m done with this speech, you can ask Georgia herself.”
The crowd let out a few laughs, and Luca smiled at me from the stage.
“But in all seriousness, Georgia, thank you for pushing me. For believing in me. And thank you to everyone here tonight. I very much look forward to seeing all of you down from the Monza podium on Sunday. Thank you.”
The crowd’s response was electric, and as Luca walked off the stage, various people stopped him on the way back to his table, wishing him luck for the weekend as they snuck in a photo.
I’d seen a dozen versions of Luca Rossi over the years—cocky teammate, smug rival, tabloid bad boy. But this version? The one who let me see his fear, who stood in front of the entire industry and thanked me?
I didn’t know what to do with this version.
There was something about watching Luca confidently up there that filled me with an unexpected warmth. Luca had always oozed confidence, but this confidence was different.
He might think his charming, sly Cheshire cat smile was attractive, but there was nothing sexier than watching a truly confident man give the speech of his life. I wasn’t sure if it was the couple glasses of wine or lack of underwear, but all of a sudden, I found myself wishing that I could turn my dream from earlier this week into reality.
Chapter Twenty-One
Luca
Georgia had single-handedly calmed me down and given me the confidence I needed to own that speech. The little stunt she pulled with the underwear was so shocking, especially from Little Miss Prim and Proper, but it left me feeling more impressed with her than I cared to admit. From the moment I felt mysurprisein my jacket pocket, all I could think about was how much I desperately wished it had been my teeth that had removed her thong.
And it wasn’t just the teasing. Georgia noticed things—things I’d always thought I kept to myself. The bounce of my knee when I was nervous. The way I fidgeted before big moments. All my life I had been a closed book when it had come to my feelings, but in just a couple of days Georgia had somehow managed to not only open that book but read between the lines.
So as soon as we could make our exit, I called for a taxi and ushered her in, muttering something about an early start. Considering it was only Wednesday, the excuse was a bit weak, but she followed me anyway, her cheeks still flushed from the applause, her eyes sparkling in the dim cab light.
“Feeling a little cold over there,” I whispered, loving the blush that crawled up her chest.
“You offering to warm me up?”
Her voice was husky and low, and a mischievous smile played on her lips as she leaned in closer to me. My hand found her jaw, thumb grazing her cheekbone as she licked her bottom lip, and I swore the world stopped spinning for a second.
“Alright folks, we’re here!” the cab driver called out.
We practically jumped apart, murmuring awkward thank yous before bolting into the elevator. Neither of us said a word, tension pulsing like electricity between us.
As soon as the suite door clicked shut, she started, “Luc—”
But I didn’t let her finish, crashing my lips to hers.
To my delight, Georgia grabbed fistfuls of my shirt, pulling me closer as I wrapped my arms around her waist. Her lips were soft, but her kiss was hungry—urgent. Her body melted into mine, and everything around us faded until there was only heat and her and now.
Fuck. Georgia is a phenomenal kisser.
But I’d learned that from our kiss in Barcelona. Immediately, my mind wandered to what else she was good at. I pressed her back against the wall, hands skimming the hem of her dress, desperate for more. I was a man starved, and in that moment, Georgia’s kiss was the only thing that could quench my hunger.
Breaking away, we both caught our breath as I rested my forehead on hers. Words seemed to fail us in that moment, the silence stretching between us as we stood there.
“What was that for?” Her voice was all but a whisper and I attempted to regain some composure.
“I think you know what that was for,” I hummed.For how incredible you were tonight.
