Chapter 22
MONTE CARLO, MONACO
There was a certain possessiveness in the way he held her, showed her to the world, and kept her close as though they belonged together. There was a risqué gleam in his gaze every time their eyes collided, a salacious note in its negligence when his hand touched the small of her back and lingered there. But there was this longing, envious, adoring caress every time they moved in sync to pose for the photographers.
Being in Miles’ arms felt like being held by the universe—magnetised to the centre of gravity of her world.And she just wanted to bask in his comfort for an eternity.
Indy peered up at him, sighing softly. He was magnificent, standing under the blinding flashlights, dressed in an expensive suit, his hair pushed back and his jaw tight. Their gazes collided again, and she smiled. Instantly, tenderness drew upon his features.
“You’re doing great,” she encouraged as they moved to the last spot of the red carpet.
“I hate this,” he grumbled under his breath.
“I know,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.”
His thumb brushed her hip. “Don’t be. I’d do anything for you.”
When she had emerged from her room earlier, she found Miles standing in the foyer, fixing his tie, watching her utterly speechless. He’d blinked repeatedly, stuttering as she approached. A blush had bloomed on his face, and Indy had laughed at his expression. When she kissed his cheek, she thought he’d faint.
In the backseat of the car, she’d noticed how nervous he looked. She was aware that he didn’t enjoy these kinds of events, being under the spotlight like this, so she had grabbed his hand to interlace their fingers, and he had let her.
With his hand splayed across her back, they stopped in front of Carmen—who was conducting all interviews for the gala—and Indy smiled up at her boss. She offered a smile back, dipping her chin in some sort of approval after glancing at Miles, who had let his hands find shelter in the pockets of his dress pants.
“Don’t you two look dashing together,” Carmen commented, beaming.
“That’s all her,” Miles said, nudging her elbow. “She always steals the spotlight.”
“I can’t handle all those compliments,” Indy teased.
“Right. Your ego is going to inflate like a hot-air balloon.”
Carmen chuckled. “Give me a run-down. What are you wearing?”
“He’s wearing Armani,” Indy said, looking at him from head to toe. He kept stealing her breath away every time she’d look in his direction. “And a nice Tudor on his wrist.”
“And she’s wearing full Christian Dior.”
“You look beautiful, Indy,” Carmen praised.
Miles’ next words seared through her veins. “She really does.”
“And you look great, too, Miles. It’s great seeing you attending the event. Items will be auctioned to help children in need get access to education, medicine, and care all around the world. Did you donate anything?”
“Yes, the helmet I wore when I got my maiden win. It has a special design, and I think it’s one of the most beautiful helmets I used to own.”
“This is amazing.” Carmen turned to Indy. “All the drivers have donated an item, but did you, too?”
She nodded. “I’m not certain anyone will buy it, but I did donate a painting I made a few years back. It’s called Hope , and it’s one of my favourites.”
“I love this. Well, enjoy your night, guys.”
“We will,” Miles said. “Thanks, Carmen.”
He led Indy into the venue, still touching her lower back, like he needed to feel her skin to be grounded.
“So,” he started as they searched for their table. “I heard Rowan, Thiago, and a couple of other guys make a bet on how long you would stay put before leaving the gala.”
Indy huffed and threw him a glare. “Please, don’t tell me you bet with them.”
“I did,” he confessed sheepishly. “But I was the only one to bet you’d get through the entire evening without leaving.”
“Wow,” she drawled. “I don’t know if I should thank you or tell you to go fuck yourself.”
Miles chuckled, the warmth of his hand leaving her body but still lingering. “Just behave.” Gently, he took hold of her chin, and the tiny grip was what kept her knees from wobbling. All eyes were on them. All cameras turned towards them, yet he didn’t seem to care in the slightest. “I have faith in you.”
“Please,” she scoffed. “I know I used to be young and reckless, but I’m a sports broadcaster now. I can’t just get up and leave. Don’t worry, baby, you’ll win the bet.”
He grinned. “That’s my girl.”
“I want to leave,” Indy huffed behind the rim of her empty flute of champagne.
Laughter bubbled out of everyone sitting around her.
“I knew you’d say that ten minutes into the event,” Kamari said, feigning exasperation when amusement shone in her eyes.
“You can pay up,” Alex said from her side, facing his palm upwards and curling his fingers in a give me motion. “Huxley owes us a shit-ton of money.”
Indy narrowed her gaze. “How much?”
“A hundred bucks each.”
“Oh my God.” Indy threw her hands in the air. “I can’t believe you all bet that money because you don’t think I can stay here and have fun.”
“By all means, Indy,” Rowan interjected, smirking smugly, “show us how much fun you’re having right now.”
She rolled her eyes, then pushed herself to stand up when a host walked up the small stage. “Oh, look, I can’t. It’s about to start.”
Laughter reverberated again, and Indy longed to hear one particular chuckle that had the tendency of bringing her joy. She looked around the crowded place, finding Miles standing by the bar with Charlie. Miles was nursing a glass of water, calmly chatting with his teammate, but when his gaze collided with hers, time stopped.
The corner of his mouth ticced, his chest falling with a sigh as he stared at her from across the room, the softness in his expression almost making her weep.
“What?” she mouthed.
With a shake of his head, he smiled, and the cry in her heart was so desperately loud that she feared it could be heard through the entire venue. “Nothing,” he mouthed back.
The next heartbeat, his eyes slid to Alex, who was sitting next to her and sipping on his champagne. Miles’ features hardened, his eyes flaring with something she couldn’t name. As a muscle in his jaw jumped, he looked away.
Was he jealous? Of Alex ? Oh, this was good.
“I have a question for you,” she announced to her friends. They all turned to her, uncaring that someone was speaking on stage. “Is there something wrong with me? My dress? My makeup?”
“I feel like this is a trick question,” Rowan said, gaze narrowed.
“Nothing’s wrong with you,” Thiago shared. “Except for the fact that you can’t stay put. Also, you’re fearless sometimes, and it scares me to death.”
“Thank you?”
“You two can be such bellends sometimes,” Ava bit out with such gentleness that no one could ever strike her to be a bad person. “You look beautiful, Ind. Why do you even have to ask?”
“Everyone keeps staring at me like I’ve grown a second head or something.”
They all exchanged glances, turmoil overpowering her senses.
Ava was the one to speak again, “Have you ever wondered why the world is so fascinated by whatever is going on between you and Miles?” Indy shook her head. “There’s a reason why the tabloids speak a lot about him. This man is breaking all his rules for you. He doesn’t like to attend events. He will donate, he will invest in a cause, but he won’t step on the red carpet. He doesn’t smile. He doesn’t speak to anyone in the paddock except me, Enzo, Charlie, and his dad. Sometimes Tito and Rowan, but that’s about it.”
“So why doesn’t he tell me that he wants me?” she whispered. She didn’t want to attract any more attention. Her other friends had turned their focus towards the stage, anyway.
“He’s scared,” Ava said quietly. “He doesn’t know how to let anyone in. He doesn’t know what love is. But he’s slowly accepting the fact that you mean something to him. I’m sure he’s told you about his childhood, and you have to understand that he doesn’t know what love looks like. He never saw his parents show affection towards each other.”
Indy absently nodded. She understood his fears, his inability to trust, and all she could do was hold his hand through the storm and wait for it to settle down.
“He’s been abandoned in the past,” Ava continued. “All he needs is time. Reassurance. Stability and trust. He adores you?—”
“He just doesn’t know it,” Rowan interjected. “But the realisation will hit soon enough.”
She’d waited long enough for him, but for how long could she hang onto that thread of hope? For how long could she listen to her desperate heart calling out his name? Indy deserved to feel something real, something strong, something all-consuming—she was worthy of love the same way her friends were.
She sighed heavily. “Do you think it’s bratty of me to try and make him jealous?”
Ava chuckled. At her side, Rowan was shaking his head, yet a glint of mischief made his hazel eyes twinkle. “Oh, absolutely not. I’m sick and tired of seeing you two run around each other. We all know you’re into each other, so please, make him realise that he really wants you and put us all out of our misery.”
A general echo of agreement fled around the table.
Indy peered over her shoulder to look at Miles. His helmet was being auctioned, and he was nodding every time someone placed a bid.Why had he decided to sit at another table, though? The seat to her right was unoccupied, reserved for him.
“I have a suggestion,” Rowan said. “Try and break him. Tease him some more.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to do, but he seems unbreakable.”
“Trust me, from the look of it, my guy is about to snap.”
A little fun wouldn’t ruin the strong friendship they had built, right?
Indy leaned towards Alex. “Alex, I need you to act like you’re into me when we go out later.”
Her friend turned to her, his lips pursed before he barked out a laugh. “What? Hell no. Look, I like you. You’re stunning and really cool. But I just don’t want to fall in love with you.”
She reared back. “I’m offended.”
“You’re just the type of girl who makes everyone around you fall in love so easily. I don’t want to be heartbroken.”
“Is that a compliment? Alex, I’m not asking you to fall in love, get married, and have babies. I just need you to be all over me for a hot minute. I’ll buy you a burger.”
His beautiful, blue eyes raked across her face, trailing down to her body. He gave in with a sigh, but the amusement glinting in his gaze didn’t go unnoticed. “The stupid things I do for you, Ind… You owe me a week’s worth of food. Who are we making jealous?”