Page 53 of Formula Dreams
“You okay here for a few moments?There’s someone I need to talk to.”
“Of course,” she says breezily.Amelia’s the type who doesn’t mind striking up conversations with anyone who will listen.
I give her a brief nod, then turn toward the dance floor as the song ends.Lex and Posey are walking off, hand in hand, and I cut across to intercept them.
Posey’s eyes lands on me, and her steps falter, expression wary.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?”I ask her.
She hesitates, glancing at Lex who nods.“Okay.”
Lex gives me a look I can’t quite read—then claps me on the shoulder as he walks away.
I shift my weight, looking Posey in the eye.“I’m not good at apologies.”
Her brow arches.“That so?”
“Yes.But I need you to know I regret how I handled things before.I was a bastard.Didn’t give you a fair shot, didn’t give Lex the benefit of the doubt.I let my own shit color how I saw you, and that wasn’t fair.I was a bastard for outing you to the press, and I know it hurt both you and Lex.I’d even like to say that wasn’t my intention, but it was.I know I can’t take it back, but if I could, I would.”
She studies me, quiet, then says, “That’s quite a mouthful.”
“I practiced in the bathroom mirror this morning,” I quip, making a joke because I’m nervous.
Her lips twitch.“Lex mentioned you might say something.I wasn’t sure I believed him.”
“Well,” I say with a shrug, “believe it.I don’t expect your forgiveness, but I wanted you to know I regret it.”
“Why now?”she asks.“You and I don’t have to get along.We could happily ignore each other.”
I think about that a moment, and I wonder how much of this has to do with Francesca.I don’t have a good answer.“I know that you make Lex happy.And from here on out, I’ve got his back.Which means I’ve got yours too.”
Her eyes soften.“Thank you.And I know you don’t expect it, but I do forgive you.”
And then, to my utter shock, she steps forward and hugs me.Brief but warm, and before I can react, she’s walking away toward Lex.
I watch her for a second, a tightness unclenching in my chest, before turning back toward the bar.Amelia’s still there—now leaning in to talk to another driver, her smile practiced and perfect.I scan the crowd for Francesca, but she’s nowhere in sight.
That’s fine.I’ll be seeing her soon enough.
CHAPTER 15
Ronan
By the timeI pull up outside Francesca’s flat, my pulse is already a slow, deliberate thud in my ears.The city’s quiet for a Friday night, but inside, I am anything but calm.
I don’t know why I’m this keyed up.Maybe because I spent the rest of the gala pretending Amelia’s chatter was remotely interesting while counting down the minutes until I could get here.Or maybe because the last time I touched Francesca, it was in a locked bathroom with both of us one breath from tearing each other apart.
I kill the engine and sit there for a beat, running through the same useless questions:What are we doing?Is this just sex?Do I even care if it’s more?
The truth is, I want to see her and that won’t happen sitting in the car.
I knock twice and hear a muffled sound from inside, then the click of the lock, which sends my heartbeat out of control.It very nearly arrests when she opens the door wearing a barely there negligee in midnight blue.My eyes roam over her body and fuck me if she doesn’t wear that a little too well.
My body immediately reacts over those perfect curves and bare skin.It’s a Herculean effort to drag my eyes back to hers.
“Barnes.”Her voice is cool, but her eyes—fuck, they give her away.
“Accardi.”I lean one shoulder against the doorframe, trying for casual.“You going to let me in, or are we doing this for everyone to see?”
