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And working with him like this is just going to make it that much harder to know he will never ever see me in the same way.

Chapter Three

I stand at the back of Mason’s garage, watching him discuss the data with Zach Brennan, his race engineer, after the conclusion of the first practice session. I see Mason pointing at something on the screen showing the layout of Zandvoort, and Zach nodding in affirmation.

Then Mason looks over at me and nods in acknowledgement. He’s got his black fire suit unzipped and hanging off his hips, and a backwards Collings Motors baseball hat is covering his hair. His arms are folded across his chest as he takes in what Zach is saying.

I don’t think Zandvoort is known for scorching heat, but my throat suddenly grows dry as I stare at Mason.

I can’t take my eyes off his lean, athletic frame, his fireproof undershirt stretched tight across his chest and hugging his sculpted shoulders and biceps. What is it about the unzipped fire suit that is so HOT?

Mason steps away from Zach, passing by the mechanics working on his car, and approaches me.

“Do you need time to do anything first?” I ask. “Like do you want me to come back after you’ve had lunch?”

“No, you can hang out whilst I have lunch. Did you eat already?” he asks as we walk back to the drivers’ rooms.

“I did.”

“Then as long as you don’t mind me eating in front of you, we’re good.”

We reach Mason’s room in the motorhome. Drivers have two rooms in the facility—one in the motorhome, which is more spacious, and a smaller one right off the garage where they get ready for racing. There’s a full picture of him on his door, in his racing suit, arms folded across his chest and smiling for the camera. On the wall next to it is the number five and his name.

Mason pops open the door and steps inside. I stop on the threshold, taking in his personal space. I’ve never been in here before, only popping my head in if he had his door open. I look at it fully now, seeing all the ways it’s identical to Caleb’s. We did an upgrade to the rooms for this season, and they are some of the nicest ones in the paddock. Both have a faux hardwood floor, a long black sofa, built-in cabinetry for suits and racing gear, two TVs, a mini fridge, a desk, and a private bathroom.

I sink onto the sofa, setting my tote next to me. When I look up, Mason is pulling his undershirt off over his head.

He turns and looks over his shoulder, holding the shirt in his hand. “You okay?”

I don’t respond as I take in the muscles I can see in his shoulders and his back. Drivers have to have superior upper body strength, along with strong necks, so they work these muscles hard. They can’t be bulky—weight is important for driving—but they are sculpted.

And Mason is sculpted beautifully.

“Catherine?”

I blink. Mason turns around, showing off his pecs and ripped abdominals, and I can’t stop staring at him.

“Erm, yes. Sorry,” I blurt out, lifting my eyes to meet his questioning ones. “I just remembered something I need to do for Caleb later.”

LIARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

He nods and drops his shirt into a basket at the bottom of his wardrobe. Then he retrieves a clean black undershirt and pulls it over his head, the fabric hugging his body nicely.

I pull out my phone and open my notes app, deciding it’s safer to stare at that than at Mason and his fit body.

“Want anything to drink?” he asks, moving over to the mini fridge.

“Water, please,” I say.

Mason retrieves a bottle and hands it to me. I thank him, and he goes back to the fridge and takes out a prepared bowl. He comes back to the sofa, sits down on the opposite end from me, and lifts the cling film off his chicken, quinoa, and veg mix.

“So what do you have in mind?” he asks, taking a bite.

“I want to start a ‘Fashion of the Grid’ type channel. Talking about drivers’ clothing. Like what they wear to arrivals. Then paddock fashion, including reporters, hosts, and guests. It’s something I could do every Grand Prix weekend to provide new content. Maybe I could compile some ‘Steal This Look’ type shorts, with links on where to get similar pieces at different price points.”

Ooh! I could also link those for commission bonuses, too. I didn’t think about that.

Mason considers this. “F1 and fashion are linked, and you have the advantage of being an insider. You’re not just ranking driver fashion from your living room. You can get out there and talk to us about it.”