5. Aurélie
I didn’t mean to get so vulnerable, but Callum has a way of bringing that side out.
It was a nice change—but not exactly the right setting for it, and definitely not the right time.
We were halfway up the hill overlooking the harbor, the Monte Carlo sun bouncing off every polished surface.
My phone buzzed every few minutes with updates from the team, the back of my neck damp with sweat and tension.
I was still grappling with the meeting I’d just gotten out of with the officials, and flirting with this man—this beautiful, smug, maddening man—was the last thing I should be doing.
But… he’d started it. And I’d never been great at following the rules, anyway.
“So, what’s with the outfit?” he asked me suddenly, eyes sweeping over me. In the Monaco daylight, they matched the color of the sky—so damn beautiful and captivating. It wasn’t fair for him to look this way.
I glanced down at my outfit. I was in my baby blue special team kit, khaki shorts, and white sneakers. It was simple and work appropriate for the event today, and I wanted to be comfortable. “What’s wrong with it? Do I… do I not look okay?”
Oh, God. If a man was pointing out my clothing choices, I was royally fucked and had lost all sense of fashion. I didn’t deserve to be in the public eye like this.
“You look like a tour guide.”
Of all the things he could’ve said, that was what he went with?
I blinked at him, then down at myself again. Now all I could see was an off-duty museum intern giving free tours of disappointment. Go figure. That seemed to be the story of my life. And now I was filled with a near crippling sense of insecurity.
“What do you mean?” I asked, trying to sound casual, but something about the way his eyes dragged over me made my skin burn. And not from sexual tension, but from embarrassment.
He tilted his head like he didn’t mean to offend me, as if the words had tumbled out of his stupidly pretty mouth before his brain caught up. “Just… you’re usually in jeans or a skirt. This is a different look. Like you’re about to offer a walking tour of Monte Carlo.”
I stared at him. How had this man earned a reputation of being a playboy?
Oh, right, he was so attractive, he probably barely had to utter a word before women were spreading their legs for him.
The thought made me scowl, because I knew just how smooth-talking and filthy his mouth could be, and that was what he decided to compliment me with?
Scratch that, this wasn’t a compliment. This was a joke . It had to be.
“Sorry I didn’t show up in thigh-highs and a come-fuck-me smile. Next time I’ll bring the heels and a laminated map in case it rains.”
Callum’s eyes widened just a fraction, as if he realized he’d fucked up and wasn’t sure if I was about to eviscerate him or laugh. Which, fair, because yeah, that pissed me off. I was happy to see him, but not if he was going to insult me.
Before he could decide how to respond, Kimi appeared at my side like an agent of chaos summoned at the perfect time.
“You two look like you’re having a good time,” he announced, slinging an arm across my shoulders and leaning dramatically on me.
“Didn’t realize Vanguard and Luminis were doing a merger. ”
Marco joined from the other side, grinning like the cheeky asshole he was. “They’re both too pretty. It’s a distraction. The FIA is going to fine us all for hazardous levels of sexual chemistry.”
“No sexual chemistry here,” I quipped flippantly.
Callum’s gaze slowly tracked Kimi’s arm, and I saw the flicker of something in his eyes. Not anger, and not jealousy, exactly. Just... something sharp and possessive that made my stomach flip.
“Right.” Marco snickered. “And the sky isn’t blue.”
I rolled my eyes and shoved Kimi off me with a laugh. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”
“Nope. Not with us all being stuck on this float,” Kimi said, tousling my hair like a little sister. I swatted at his hand.
“Don’t touch. My hair takes me forever to do.”
Kimi scoffed. “Such a girl.”
I caught Callum watching the interaction with a weird expression—part amusement, part storm brewing behind his eyes. An idea popped in my head, and I decided to be a little diabolical.
Grinning at my teammate, I made a whole show of checking Kimi out in his matching team kit. He had filled out since we were teenagers, and he was attractive, but we’d always been like siblings. We practically grew up together. “This color looks good on you. It really brings out your eyes.”
“You’re such a flirt, Dubois,” he teased, winking at me and running a hand through his hair.
I tilted my head. “Maybe. And for the record, I’m not a girl, Kimi. I’m a woman now. Don’t act like you haven’t noticed.” I batted my eyelashes at him, and Kimi’s light brown eyes widened. “C’est dommage que tu ne sois pas mon type… sinon, je t’aurais déjà embrassé.”
It’s a shame you’re not my type… otherwise I’d have kissed you already.
Callum choked. Like, actually choked. I looked over just in time to see him doubled over and coughing, and Marco rubbed his back sympathetically.
“So romantic, Dubois. And here I thought the French were passionate people.” Kimi gave me a knowing look.
I shoved at his chest. “We are. We practically invented the term. Fuck off if you disagree.” Kimi smirked and folded his arms across his chest.
“You good, mate?” Marco asked, chuckling, and I smiled like a fucking maniac. He deserved it.
“He’s fine,” I said quickly before Callum could recover. He is on my shit list currently. My voice came out syrupy sweet, dipped in mischief and just a little venom. “Maybe a bit… overwhelmed that I know how to flirt. You know, since I apparently dress like a tour guide.”
Marco gasped and took his hand off his friend’s back, looking offended on my behalf. “Tell me you didn’t say that to her.”
I crossed my arms. “He did. It’s a wonder he’s ever gotten laid at all, the way he talks to women.”
Callum blanched, looking as though he’d just been run over by the entire float, while Kimi and Marco cackled.
“Fucking hell,” Marco wheezed. “You’re ruthless.”
“She’s feistier than usual today. Is that because of Fraser?”
“No,” I snapped, because I didn’t want them to think my mood was all because of Callum. It wasn’t, but no one needed to know about all the pressures I was facing. “It’s Monaco. Brings out the drama in everyone.”
Callum opened his mouth to speak, but then the crowd roared, sweeping us into another round of waves as cameras flashed like fireworks. Somehow, through all of it, I felt him next to me—his silence, his heat, his stare.
God help me, I wasn’t ready to be near him, but I didn’t really want to be anywhere else.
We were sandwiched between Kimi and Marco, leaning against the railing, and our hands touched.
“Auri, I didn’t mean what I said?—”
“?a va bien, Fraser. All good,” I interrupted, not in the mood for half-baked apologies today. I didn’t look at him as I said, “Guess it’s true what you said. Ladies should always finish first, but if you keep opening your mouth like that, you’ll be lucky if you get to finish at all.”
Then I turned and walked to the other side of the float, needing the fucking space I asked for to begin with so I could put all these stupid goddamn rumors to rest.