Fuck me. I’ve been flirting with an F1 driver. My dad would kill me if he found out, never letting me off Bandini’s property.
Evan takes a photo of Liam’s face. “Seriously, this makeup is kick-ass. Great work. My daughter has loved Sophie ever since she saw her in the Bandini pit area. James Mitchell keeps this one hidden away, but I borrowed her talents for the day.” Evan looks over at me. “Don’t forget to remind me to pay you for your time.”
I brush him off, focusing on regulating my breathing instead of anything Evan says to Liam. Evan tells us a rushed goodbye after claiming he needs to check on the kids.
“So, you’re a racer.” My teeth grind together, my annoyance poorly hidden by the clenching and unclenching of my hands. I hate how much I like his eyes raking over me. He looks like he wants to memorize the way my stupid costume presses against my body, committing the whole day to memory. And worse, I love the way his attention makes me feel.
“Mm, that’s what they tell me. And you’re Sophie, a princess?”
My name rolls off his tongue like he wants to test it out, his German accent drawing out the e sound.
I stand taller. “You can say that. Except in this story, I don’t need rescuing.”
“No, you don’t. Maybe you’re the one who does the saving.” His lips twitch.
His charm covers up the weird sense of foreboding his words give. They sit heavy on my chest, along with curiosity to ask what he means.
He brushes his knuckles across my cheek, the rough texture setting off every nerve ending. A spark the equivalent of a blown-out fuse box. “But you’re too young and na?ve. And it’s not the right moment. Maybe if we meet again under different circumstances, at another time.”
Liam laughs to himself as his eyes roam down my body, not giving me time to respond, let alone process his words. “You’re no princess. You’re a motherfucking queen. Don’t let anyone forget it, not even yourself. People think the king matters, but the queen brings down all the other pieces. Good luck in uni and chug a beer in my honor.”
He reads books and uses chess references. Liam Zander is a closet nerd, and knowing this secret pulls a smile from me.
He tugs his hand away and stares at his knuckles. Confusion crosses his face before he covers it up and flashes me a smirk, the wicked paint covering up his perfect image. He winks at me over his shoulder as he walks away, leaving the party and me behind.
Damn. I think I just got mindfucked.
Liam
Two Years and Five Months Ago
My ringing phone pulls me out of my sleep. Sheets rustle as my hand fumbles for my phone in the dark. I press the green button without checking because few people would call me at this hour without an important reason.
“You need to get your ass over here now. Johanna woke up from a contraction, but we aren’t sure if it’s the real deal, gas, or a Braxton Hicks one. She’s too far along so I don’t want to risk it.” My brother’s statement wipes the grogginess from my eyes.
“You went to med school. How can you not tell the difference?”
“Asshole, I’m into neuro, not OB-GYN stuff. Just in case, I need you to grab Elyse and take her to Ma and Pa’s.”
I hop out of bed, nearly dropping my phone. “See you in ten.”
Lukas ends our call without a goodbye.
Thankfully, I decided to stay in Germany for the holiday season since Johanna’s about to give birth. I ignore the way my balls ache at the thought of labor.
I make quick time of getting ready, adrenaline coursing through my body. Within a few minutes, I hop into my SUV and make my way toward my brother’s neighborhood. He had this all planned out months ago to make sure I was in town for the delivery. With Johanna being due any day now, Lukas is on high alert. Really. He’s almost convinced Jo to go to the hospital once already for these “false alarms.”
I pull into their driveway, park my car, and get out. Lights shine from every window of their two-story house. My brother opens the front door as I walk toward the covered entryway, the chandelier casting Lukas in a golden glow. He runs an agitated hand through his blonde hair, wrinkles etching the skin near his baby blue eyes as he shoots me a nervous smile.
I pull him in for a hug, standing head-to-head with him. “If it isn’t the man of the hour. Tell me, how does it feel to see your handiwork coming to full fruition?”
“About as good as Johanna yelling at me to grab everything we need as a precaution. She’s worried this is it.”
“Her water hasn’t broken yet?”