AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Quid pro quo, sweetheart. If I bare my soul, will you bear yours?’
‘Would that give you something to live for?’
Raven could’ve sworn she heard the snap of his jaw as he went rigid in her arms. Grasping her by the elbows, he set her away from him and straightened to his impressive six foot three inches. His lids shuttered his expression and he returned to the seat behind his desk.
‘The amateur head-shrinking session is over, chiquita. Modify your regime to accommodate travel and liaise with Diego if you’ll need special equipment for where we’ll be travelling. We leave on Wednesday.’ He reeled off their intended destinations before picking up a glossy photo of the latest Cervantes sports car.
Knowing she wouldn’t make any more headway with him, she turned to leave.
‘Oh, and Raven?’
‘Yes?’
‘We’ll be attending several high profile events, so make sure you pack something other than kick-boxing shorts, trainers and tank tops. As delectable as they are, they won’t suit.’
* * *
Raven fought the need to smash her fist into the nearest priceless vase as she left Rafael’s study. Not because he would see her, although the glass walls meant he would, but because not losing control was paramount if she wished to maintain her equilibrium.
She’d fought long and hard to channel her tumultuous emotions into useful energy when, at sixteen, she’d realised how very little her father cared for her. For far too long, she’d been so angry with the world for taking her mother away and replacing her with a useless, despicable parent, she’d let her temper get the better of her.
Rafael could do his worst. She would not let him needle her further.
Taking the sheet into the vast living room, she spent the next hour revising Rafael’s regime and speaking to Diego about organising the equipment she would need. Again she felt unease and a healthy amount of frustrated anger at Rafael’s decision to return to X1 racing. She didn’t shy away from the blunt truth that she herself wanted to avoid the inevitable return.
Even though she’d been paid handsomely by Team Espíritu and treated well by the team, she’d always felt ill at ease in that world. She didn’t have to dig deep to recognise the reason.
Sexual promiscuity had been almost a given in the paddock. Hell, some even considered it a challenge to sleep with as many bodies as possible during one race season.
She’d received more than her fair share of unwanted male attention and, by the end of her first season, she’d known she was in danger of earning a frigid badge. Ironically, it was Sasha Fleming’s catapult into the limelight as the team’s lead racer that had lessened male interest in her. For the first time, female paddock professionals were seen as more than just the next notch on a bedpost.
‘A two-line frown. I don’t know whether to be pleased or disappointed.’
She looked up to find Rafael standing a few feet away, two drinks in his hand and his walking stick dangling from his arm. He held one out to her and she accepted and thanked him for the cold lime based cocktail she’d grown to love since coming to Leon.
‘I was thinking about how it would be to return to the X1 circuit.’
‘Shouldn’t that warrant a three-line frown since I feature in there somewhere?’
‘Wow, are you really that self-centred? A psychologist would have a field day with you, you know that?’
With a very confident, very careless shrug, he sank into the seat next to her. ‘They’d have to fight off hordes of adoring fans first. Not to mention you.’
‘Me? Why would I mind?’
‘You’re very possessive about me. If you had your way, I’d stay right here, doing your every bidding and following you around like a besotted puppy.’
Eternally thankful she’d swallowed her first sip, Raven stared open-mouthed. Several seconds passed before she could close her mouth. ‘I’m stunned speechless.’
‘Enough for me to sneak a kiss on you?’
Blood rushed to her head and much lower, between her legs, a throbbing started that should’ve shamed her. Instead, she exhaled and decided to give herself a break. A girl could only withstand so many shocks in one day.
‘Earth to Raven. I don’t know how to interpret a wish for a kiss when you go into a trance at the thought of one.’
‘I...what?’
‘I said kiss me.’
‘No. I don’t think that’s a good idea.’
‘It’s a great idea. Look at me; I can barely walk. You’d be taking advantage of me.’ His smile held a harsh edge that made the Rafael de Cervantes charm even more lethal.
‘Whatever. It’s not going to happen. Now, is there anything else I can help you with?’
