No, it had nothing to do with her father and everything to do with Tilney. Clarke had only come up to her once Tilney was beside her.
He didn’t like Tilney. That much was clear.
She didn’t care for the man either. But she might have to get used to having him around. The Blue Jet Lightning owners were talking about bringing on a third driver, and he was at the top of their list.
“Trust me, you won’t be disappointed,” she heard him say.
She blinked then, suddenly seeing the landscape outside the car as if for the first time, struck by the familiarity of it.
Where are we?
They entered a parking lot, and it hit her.
She felt tears prick at the back of her eyes. But they weren’t sad ones. She was smiling so hard her teeth hurt.
He brought me … here?
Chapter Twenty-Two
Clarke
Clarke watched her blonde curls tumble and caress her cheeks as she removed her helmet.
They were at an indoor karting facility and had just come off the track for a break.
Gazing at her, he wondered whether it was possible to swallow a moonbeam because her skin had a silver glow. It felt tangible, like the glow was pulsating in waves, reaching out like fingers, touching his skin, and even slipping beneath it. And once it did, those waves transformed into something like sugar—he could swear he tasted something sweet when looking at her.
“Sorry you got stuck at my father’s for that long.”
“I didn’t mind.”
“My father seems to like you.”
He likes my title and my trophies. And his wife likes the fact that I’ve been knighted and met the royal family.
But he kept those thoughts to himself.
She looked around. “I don’t ever remember this place being open this late.”
“It’s not. I called ahead and they were nice enough to open up for us.”
“That’s why we’re the only two people here.”
He nodded.
“I guess being Sir Clarke has its privileges.”
He bit his lip to temper his grin and shrugged.
“You ask and they just grant your request.” She snapped her fingers. “Like that.”
“Not exactly. I had to offer them some Paddock Club passes for a couple of races.”
“How did you know about this place?” she asked.
“Your aunt told me.”
“She just told you? Brought it up out of the blue?”
