Chapter 3 #3
car? Would he ever again see a race win? Hell, would he ever again see a podium?
He reminded himself to focus. Just do the thing you love. Drive the car.
“Ugh. Poor Emilio,” Piper mumbled. “He’s stuck in a never-ending DRS train.” The DRS, or drag reduction system, allowed drivers
to open their car’s rear wing in the DRS zone, giving them additional speed. The problem was that the driver in front of Emilio
had DRS on the driver in front of him, so no one had a speed advantage. With only a few laps left, Emilio probably wouldn’t
be able to break out of the train unless someone made a mistake.
Mia glanced at Piper and narrowed her eyes. “Is Emilio your favorite driver? You seem pretty wrapped up in him doing well.”
Piper could feel the heat building in her cheeks. “No. I don’t have a favorite. I’m just feeling invested because he’s the
only driver I’ve ever met.”
“Hmm. Maybe I can introduce you to Xander some time. Then you can root for him, too.”
Piper had to wonder why she’d had any hope that Emilio would do well in the race . . . Perhaps it was because she wanted to
know what that hella handsome face looked like up close when it was delivering a smile. It had to be devastating. Which really
meant it was probably for the best she would likely never witness that. She might never recover.
As Brett Lockford drove across the finish line and won the race, exactly as she’d feared after qualifying yesterday, everyone
in the paddock club cheered.
Mia slow-clapped. “Fourth place for Xander is great, but I know he wants to be on the podium. Miami has never been a great
track for Mega, though. It’s probably just damage limitation at this point.”
Piper assumed that Emilio’s eleventh-place finish wouldn’t go over well, especially considering he’d won the championship
last year. She’d love to chat about it with Mia, but she didn’t want to ask too many more questions about Emilio.
Gus emerged from under the table and whimpered, then nudged at Piper’s arm with his nose. “I should probably deliver Gus to
Emilio’s driver’s room.”
Mia rose from her seat and held her arms wide for a hug. “It was awesome to meet you, Piper. I hope I get to hang out with
you at another race.”
“That would be amazing.” Piper sighed. Today had been such a dream come true, but it was coming to a close. Maybe she and
her dad really would go to this race next year. That would be lovely. She wouldn’t get the same VIP treatment, but at least
she’d have the memory of today.
Emilio needed to get the hell out of Miami. Get cleaned up, retrieve Gus, get on the plane and forget any of this happened.
He did a quick stint in the media pen under the watchful eye of Isabel. To no one’s surprise, he was asked multiple times
about his poor race performance and the mistake of leaving Vermillion. He gave the same tired answers, then hightailed it
out of there. They ducked through the paddock and headed back for Mega hospitality.
“Piper’s in your driver’s room with Gus,” Isabel said.
“A dog sitter lasted a whole day. Progress.”
Isabel stopped him before they entered his driver’s room. “We should talk about Gus. You need a full-time dog nanny. Someone
permanent. I love Gus, and I’m happy to watch him every now and then when you need help, but the reality is that it’s affecting
my job.”
Emilio had worried he’d been too reliant on Isabel. “Heard. I’ll make some calls. See about finding someone.” He hated the
thought of starting this process again, but he’d do anything for Gus.
“You don’t need to look. She’s about to be right in front of your face when you open this door.”
Emilio reared back his head. “The woman from today?”
“Yes. Piper. Piper Murphy.”
He knew her name. He’d just told himself it was okay to forget. “Making it one day is hardly a true test.”
Isabel cocked both eyebrows at him. “You know what? Let’s check out the scene inside that room and then tell me if you honestly
believe there’s a better prospect.” She opened the door and stepped inside.
He followed, and there sat Piper. On the couch with Gus curled up at her hip, his head in her lap.
She gently stroked his head, the exact spot Gus loved right above his eyes. “I’d get up, but he seems so happy,” she said
in the softest of tones.
Emilio’s breath caught in his chest. His race had been pure misery, but a contented, cared-for Gus was such a welcome sight.
A worry erased. “Was he well behaved?”
“A perfect angel. No trouble. I don’t understand how anyone could have any problem at all with him. He’s a bundle of joy and
sweetness.”
Isabel cast a look at Emilio. She didn’t have to say I told you. It was all over her face.
Gus raised his head slowly, looked at Emilio, then back at Piper, then again to Emilio before settling his head in her lap.
He sighed and closed his eyes. He’d never been like this with any of the other dog sitters. Ever.
“I don’t understand what these dog sitters are doing to make him run away.” Emilio inched closer.
Piper shrugged. “Dogs are sensitive creatures. Could be a lot of things setting him off. I guess the important part is that
we had no trouble today.”
No trouble. Good God, how long had it been since someone had sad that to him about anything? “That’s such good news.” He meant that.
He really did.
“I need to take care of a few things while the team is packing up, but it was really nice to meet you, Piper.” Isabel turned
and patted Emilio’s shoulder. “You know what to do,” she muttered.
“Bye, Isabel,” Piper called. “Thank you. For everything.”
“You’re more than welcome.” Isabel closed the door behind her, leaving them alone.
Emilio cleared his throat, wondering why he was hesitating to simply come right out with it. What would be so terrible about
having this lovely, agreeable person care for his dog? Nothing. Sure, she was attractive, but this would be a business arrangement.
How hard could it be to ignore her sweet smile or stormy blue eyes? He’d simply treat her as the solution to one of his greatest
problems.
“Piper, would you consider being a dog nanny? For me?” Embarrassment flushed his face. “I mean for Gus.”
Piper’s eyes went impossibly wide. “Seriously?” A nervous titter leaked from her lips.
“Is something funny?”
“No. Sorry.” She shook her head as if to clear it. “I’m just surprised. Are you serious? Like actually serious?”
“Extremely serious.”
“I’ve never been a full-time dog nanny. I think it’s pretty expensive.”
He wanted to laugh, but he didn’t. If only she knew what he’d be willing to pay for the peace of mind of knowing Gus was happy
and safe. Emilio’s financial situation and that of most people were not the same, but he didn’t believe in being rude about
it. “I’m not worried about the cost. Gus is too important to me. The question is whether you’d be willing to leave behind
your life and travel from race to race. Spend much of your time in London.”
“England?”
Emilio nodded and stepped closer. “That’s where I live. I moved there when I signed with Mega. I needed to be close to their
headquarters.” He still didn’t refer to London as home. Not yet, and maybe never. He hadn’t even unpacked all his things.
“Wow. Okay . . .”
Emilio didn’t like the sound of that. The hesitation. Was this going to be yet another thing that would go wrong? Then he’d
have to explain to Isabel he wasn’t competent enough to hire a dog nanny. “Do you have questions?”
“The big problem is my sister’s wedding. She’s getting married in five weeks. I have to be here for that.” Piper got up from
the couch.
“Five weeks? June tenth?” Emilio mentally shuffled through the F1 calendar. “You can come back for it. There’s no race that
weekend.”
Gus jumped down from the couch and parked himself next to Piper. He put one of his front legs around her calf.
“Right. But I’m the maid of honor. And I’m supposed to do a bunch of stuff for her. It’s more than just one day.”
Excuses. That’s all that was. “Sounds important.”
“It is. It’s my sister. My family.”
“I understand. I’m sure we can work something out.”
“Plus, Fido & Friends would have to assign someone else to my current clients. I have this one Australian shepherd that’s
very tough to handle.”
Emilio didn’t want to argue with her. She clearly didn’t want the job. He needed to move on. “Sounds like that’s a no. Gus.
Come.” Emilio patted his thigh. Gus did not move. Emilio could’ve sworn Gus gave him the stink eye. “Gus! Come!” he said more
forcefully.
Gus sat back on his hind legs and wrapped his other front leg around Piper’s calf. He pressed the side of his head against
her knee.
“Gus. Buddy. You’re so sweet, but I have to go.” Piper took a step with her free leg, then tried to shake her other leg, but
Gus wouldn’t let go. She peered at Emilio like she was helpless. “Maybe this is why you’ve gone through so many dog sitters.”
“This isn’t like him. He almost always listens.” Emilio stepped next to Piper and crouched down, threading his hands under
Gus’s belly to pull him off. The dog would not budge. “Gus. Off. Off.” Emilio tugged again. Gus growled. “Whoa. Okay.” Emilio
relented and stood.
“Gus. What is going on with you?” Piper leaned down to pet him, and he peered up at her, resting his chin on her thigh.
Gus had never acted like this around anyone. Clearly, he didn’t want Piper to leave. Emilio had to try one more time, and
since they hadn’t talked about money at all, he uttered a ridiculous number.
“What?” Piper asked.
“Dollars. A week.”
She blinked about a dozen times. “Are you being serious right now?”
“You keep asking me that. I don’t joke around, Piper. This is a serious offer, but I need an answer.” Emilio could see the
gears turning in her head, and being extremely competitive, he didn’t want to give up now that he sensed an advantage. Piper
could change the terrible trajectory of his life. If Gus was happy and Emilio didn’t have to worry about him, then Emilio
was sure he could turn his season around. One or two good races was all it would take to get the press, the fans and the powers-that-be
off his back. At that point, everything else would fall into place.
“How would it work?”
“You’d travel with us. Be on call at all times.”
“Where would I stay?”
“My row house in London. You can have the whole third floor.”
Piper bit her lower lip, her teeth pressing into the pink pillowy skin. He cleared his throat and averted his eyes for a moment.
“With that kind of money, I could afford a new apartment. Maybe a down payment on a condo.”
“That sounds promising.”
She shrugged with a sheepish look on her face. Her forehead wrinkled with uncertainty. “I don’t know. I’m not sure. My family . . .”
Her voice trailed off as she looked down at Gus.
He felt a twinge of sympathy for her. He was asking her to make a big choice. A big change. But frankly, he had some big problems,
and if she was going to say no, he wanted her to get on with it. Then he’d figure out how to get Gus unglued from her leg.
“I need an answer, Piper. Yes or no.”