‘Yes.’ She smiled gently. ‘I do know that.’
He ran his tongue over his dry lips. ‘Because you also know my parents died in a crash.’
Not on track, but in therain.
She nodded. Silence expanded between them. He’d left so much unsaid, but he would never discuss that day.
He cleared his throat. ‘We should shower before the doctor arrives.’
Lily ruffled her hair and shot Massimo a rueful grin. ‘I only needed a doctor, not Singapore’s best obstetrician and half his team to turn up. There weren’t enough chairs in the room.’
Massimo offered her a glass of juice. He’d clearly been on a room service ordering spree again. She took it and settled onto one of the sun loungers, unable to resist the dish of nuts located conveniently near.
‘I’m glad to know you’re in excellent health,’ he muttered softly.
‘The results of the blood tests will take a few days.’
‘We don’t need to wait until then to make plans,’ he said, then shot her a conciliatory smile. ‘Though we can if you want.’
She rolled her eyes. Going slow wasn’t in his repertoire.
In an ideal world, family ought to be close. Children treasured. This baby was agiftand she didn’t want it to pick up on conflict between its parents. The timing might be terrible, their compromise difficult given their disparate wealth and power, but surely theycouldmake this work without a wedding. Hell, maybe once they got this chemistry out of their systems they could even be friends.
Her heart puckered and she shrank into the seat. The fact was shewouldstep back from his life and be safe in hers. Only now she couldn’t help wondering what it could be like if he weren’t so beyond her reach. And she couldn’t resist indulging in a moment of curious fantasy. ‘What would you do if you weren’t Massimo Hearnshawe?’
‘What’s the point in wondering that? IamMassimo Hearnshawe.’
‘Humour me.’ What kind of life would he want?
‘Why would you think I’d want a wildly different life to the one I have now?’ He picked up a drink but didn’t sip. ‘Do you think I’m unhappy? I’m hardly working at gunpoint. I already have everything I’ve ever wanted.’ He paused. ‘Now, thanks to you, I’ll have a wife and heir shortly, too.’
‘But you didn’t want those before.’ He would have them already if that was the case. Had he ever wanted a family in the future?
He dropped his gaze. ‘I imagined Emiliano would take over eventually.’
So that was a no. Why? Surely, a man in his position would want companionship—an heir. But there was hurt in him. Deep hurt.
‘If you’re so happy to be Massimo Hearnshawe, why didn’t you tell me you were him when we flew back from Canada?’
‘I didn’t want anything to stop what was happening between us.’
She would have stopped had she known.Maybe. ‘You’re sure that I’d have recognised your name?’
‘Darling, you were wearing my team cap,’ he muttered.
The light amusement softened the defensive edge in him. She quickly sipped her juice to cover her melt. She’d been starved of affection for too long if a singledarlingcould have this effect on her.
He sat down on the edge of her sun lounger and picked up her hand. ‘If I could do anything, I would still work with the cars. I love their sleek beauty—low to the ground, slimline with subtle curves, screamingly fast, sensitive to the slightest touch, fiery and difficult to control. All responsive strength and power.’ He slid his fingers up her arm as he spoke, teasing ever so lightly.
‘That’s what you find irresistible, huh?’ She covered his hand with hers, trapping it right over her breast.
‘Yes. There’s nothing more beautiful.’ He fluttered his fingers and shot her a wicked grin. ‘What would you do if you weren’t Lily Jones, Hearnshawe Racing mechanic?’
She shook her head. ‘Working in P1 Global is my absolute dream. I would still strive to get there.’
‘And Hearnshawe was your first pick.’
Even though he was right, she couldn’t resist slapping his royal smugness down. ‘Actually, I really wanted to get into Fournier, but my French isn’t any good.’
