Page 18 of Dream Chaser

Her lips tipped up in a smirk. “Are you interested? About time. She seems like a nice girl.”

Eleanor was way too smart to suggest something so ridiculous. “She’s my employee. I’ve never crossed that line and I won’t start now.” Not to mention the fact that I was nine years Nova’s senior.

Once upon a time, I knew someone who’d used his power and position to take advantage of a woman. I’d sworn I’d never be like him.

“Please.” Eleanor scoffed. “You work twelve hours a day. If I were your mother, I’d be seriously concerned about your empty social calendar and nonexistent dating life. And no, events with sponsors don’t count. Those are work.”

Like Eleanor, my mother was worried, too. My younger brother Fernando was married and had a daughter, but my path was my own. Eventually, I’d settle down—once I met someone who matched what I was looking for in a long-term partner. It was easier said than done when I worked eighty-hour weeks trying to make my US business grow.

I winked. “Fortunately, you’re too young to be my mother.”

Eleanor’s laughter rang out in the office. “I’m fifty-four. Do the math. And let me remind you, my son’s already married with children.”

Heels clicked in the hallway, then Nova cleared her throat, standing in the doorway. The interruption siphoned the tension from my shoulders.

“Good morning,” I said.

Her gaze shifted between Eleanor and me. “Hello.”

She rushed to her desk opposite mine. I worked in the meeting room if I needed quiet, but I spent most of my office hours with the rest of my employees.

“Nova,” I said. “I’m sorry for not giving you the in-person training yet. We’ll do it today.”

She glanced at me. Dark shadows tinged the skin under her eyes. Must’ve been the heat.

“Don’t worry. I did what you asked and analyzed Asher’s social media. I’ve got some ideas regarding his personal brand,” she said. “Last season was his first season with Vortex, right?”

I nodded.

“There’s a lot we could do during the second half of the season. I emailed you some ideas, but I need the list of all his sponsorship deals and the sponsors’ requirements.”

“On it,” I said, opening my email. “I’ll give you access to a drive folder now, and we can discuss your suggestions over lunch.”

On the opposite side of the room, Eleanor gave me a knowing smirk. Joder. Fuck. I didn’t have the energy to explain time and time again that my relationship with Nova would never be anything but professional.

***

Securing deals and networking over lunch or dinner was common in my job. Most people felt more at ease in informal settings, but that didn’t seem to be the case with Nova.

I took her to a Mediterranean restaurant by the ocean. It was symbolic, since the next race we’d travel to was in Barcelona. I wanted to get to know her better, like I did everyone who worked for me.

Judging by her refusal to look me in the eye and the stiff set of her shoulders, that might not be mutual.

As the waitress brought our sparkling water, Nova chose paella. I ordered it for both of us and leaned back in my chair, my gaze sliding over Nova’s face. “Your résumé said you studied in Emerport. Are you from here?”

She pushed her hair behind her ears. “No. I’m from Millford.”

That told me exactly nothing. I hadn’t lived here long enough to know all the neighboring cities except for the ones that had a racing circuit.

“It’s really small,” Nova said. “Too small. Everyone knows everyone.”

“So, that’s why you came to Emerport to get your degree?”

I did that once it was time to go to college—instead of staying in my hometown, I went to Madrid. Working evenings and weekends on top of studying to afford the exorbitant rent had been exhausting, but I’d always known it was going to be worth it in the long run.

A timid smile crossed her lips. “Yes, that’s why. There’s no college in Millford, and the other colleges in the area didn’t offer a digital marketing degree.”

Questions lined up on the tip of my tongue. Why didn’t she look for a job sooner? Why did she lie about her experience? And why didn’t the last name she’d given me match the one on the forms?