Chapter 40
Alyssia
“Travis?”
I look into the living room from the hallway but don’t see Travis. A glance at the clock on the wall tells me we have about five minutes before our car arrives to take us to the gala.
On a hunch, I head down the hall to the bedroom we’ve chosen to use as the baby’s nursery. Travis stands in the middle of the room his back to me as he looks down at something in his hands.
“What are you doing?”
He turns to me, and my heart skips a beat at the picture he makes in the black and white tailored tuxedo and sheen in his eyes.
His breath hitches as he looks me over.
“What?”
“You’re wearing my color,” he says, his voice taut, as if being stretched to its limit.
Slowly, methodically, he draws his eyes down the length of my body, soaking in the fire engine red dress that I’ve chosen to wear to tonight’s gala.
The caped sleeve covers my shoulder with the tattoo while the other side leaves my shoulder uncovered.
“You …” He trails off as if words are too much to use right now.
Self-consciously, I pat the back of the French roll I’ve put my hair in, searching for nonexistent stray hairs. The dress is much more form-fitting than I was looking for when I went shopping with Annalise, but she and the store clerk convinced me that it was made for me.
“You take my breath away.” Travis takes my waist into his hands, pulling me into his body. “Did I ever tell you this red is my favorite color?”
“Once or twice,” I say, grinning. “What are you staring at?” My gaze drops to his hands.
He holds up the framed photo of him in his Amato Racing gear, standing beside his car, legs crossed, arms folded, grinning confidently. I bought the picture of him on our trip to Silverstone.
When I saw it, I immediately wanted it to put in our baby’s nursery. Travis asked what I bought, but I refused to tell him.
“I know it clashes with the teal and wood décor we chose …” I wave my hand around the partially decorated nursery.
So far, we have a wooden crib, painted the far wall a beautiful teal, and gotten a throw rug at the center.
“But I figured this one should go somewhere above our baby’s crib so whenever they open their eyes, they see their daddy,” I say, cupping his face.
He turns away, blinking rapidly.
My heart stops briefly. Did I do something wrong? I thought he would love to have our baby see him in this picture. Be proud to have it on display.
“I—”
He cuts me off, cupping my face and kissing me. “I love you so much.”
“I …” I sigh because I still can’t say the words. I know what I feel for him and that it’s real, but it’s as if I say them, I know I won’t ever be able to undo it. Not that I would want to, but still.
“Thank you.” He kisses me again before placing the framed photo back on the small table by the crib. “Ready?”
“All I’m missing are my shoes.”
As soon as I say it, Travis’ phone rings. It’s our driver, and he’s waiting downstairs. Travis groans and takes my hand to lead me out of the room. By the door, he stoops low in front of me, then takes one of my strappy red heels into his hand, holding it out for me to step into.
Little tingles of pleasure race up my legs as his fingers lightly brush against my skin while he fastens my straps.
“Are you sure you’re going to be comfortable in these all night?” He frowns, looking down at my four-inch stilettos.
“Why? You don’t like the look of them?” I kick one foot up.
“They’ll both look better resting over my shoulders.” He brushes his lips against my cheek. “But I’m more concerned about your comfort.”
“I’ll be fine. Let’s go.”
He holds the door open for me as we head off to our first formal date together.
“I told you he wouldn’t be able to take his eyes off of you in that dress,” Annalise says, a sparkle in her eyes as she looks over my shoulder at Travis.
We’re in the famous Salle des étoiles in the heart of Monte-Carlo. The venue is breathtaking with its floor-to-ceiling windows, panoramic views of the marina, and the retractable roof for us to socialize, dance, and dine underneath the stars.
I glance over my shoulder to find Travis looking directly at me. I’m instantly thrown to a similar type of event almost six months ago, where I spent most of the night doing my best to hide from him.
How times have changed. Now, I don’t want him to look away even though he’s probably in a serious conversation with his manager, Norm, and his team principal.
“He’s all in our conversation,” Annalise continues.
“You look beautiful tonight as well,” I compliment.
Annalise chose a sleeveless, gold-sequined gown that has a high split which shows off her great legs.
“What? This old thing?” she jokes. We bought our dresses on the same day. “Well, at least I have someone to tell me I look great in it,” she comments, glancing around. “Besides my friends and mom.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You could have anyone in this room you want,” I tell her because Annalise is not only beautiful, she’s stunning.
Her gaze drops and she makes a face that I can’t exactly read.
Travis’ sister doesn’t lack confidence, and I can’t be the only one who’s noticed more than one guy checking her out whenever we’ve gone out together.
“That’s neither here nor there,” she replies. “It looks like tonight’s event will raise a lot for the upcoming projects your team is working on.”
I nod and drop my gaze to the glass of sparkling cider.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’ve just gotten clearer on what I want to do long-term, and market research to host million-dollar galas isn’t it.”
I tell her about my graduate school plans.
“Now that is one of the best things I’ve heard all week,” she gushes.
“It scares me to think about, especially when I’ll have a newborn soon.”
“You won’t be alone. You’ll have all of the help you need, and it’s not like you have to apply right away. You can take your time and figure out which school is right for you.”
Her words help ease the slight panic that’d started to well up inside of me. While I am more determined than ever to get my Ph.D., my main priority is adjusting to life as a new mom.
What really helps is her assuring me that I won’t be alone.
“I’ve spoken to my boss about it. éléanor said she’d be happy to work with the Foundation to offer me a part-time role once this year’s contract is up.”
“Excellent. Things are already working out,” Annalise says.
“Don’t they always?” a British-accented voice interrupts.
Annalise’s shoulders stiffen, a placid expression covering her face.
Max Ferreira stands behind her, his ghostly hazel eyes stuck on Travis’ sister. At this point, I’ve met him in person, briefly, before at the Monaco race.
Ferreira.
The name comes back to me from our museum visit. I briefly wonder if there’s a connection.
“Work out, I mean,” he says by way of explanation.
Max’s gaze remains fixed on Annalise.
“You weren’t invited into our conversation,” she snaps at him.
His grin stretches into a smile that if I weren’t totally in love with a man I know to be his rival, would make my heart constrict.
Max glances around. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is a public event, is it not?”
“Wrong,” Annalise answers tersely. “Just like you were wrong in that overtake attempt at lap thirty-six in Silverstone.”
Something in Max’s gaze sharpens to a flare, but then quickly extinguishes the moment he blinks.
“I had the position,” he replies calmly, but there’s an underlying strain in his voice. A marked contrast to his usual cool guy demeanor he gives the camera during interviews.
“Which you should’ve given back to me,” Travis says as he comes up behind me, wrapping an arm around my waist. “Why are you here?”
I turn to him at the hint of malice in his tone. I’m aware that Travis isn’t a fan of Max’s but don’t know the details of why. He’s friendly with every other driver he’s introduced me to.
“Travis.”
A muscle in his jaw ticks.
“You haven’t introduced me to your date,” Max says.
“Woman. Alyssia is my woman, not just my date,” Travis corrects.
Max looks down at me. “So I’ve heard. Congratulations. Pleasure to meet you, Alyssia. I’m Max Ferreira.”
“Nice to meet you, Max,” I say, shaking the hand he offers.
Travis tightens his arm around my waist, and I can’t decide if it’s to pull me closer or to restrain himself from grabbing Max by the collar.
“I’m going to go make my rounds before I call it a night,” Annalise says, standing as far away from Max as one can get while still being a part of this quartet.
“You’re leaving early?” I ask.
She gives me a half smile. “I’ll give you a call tomorrow.” She doesn’t give any further explanation before heading in the opposite direction.
“Why are you still here?” Travis asks Max, drawing his attention. I couldn’t help but notice Max’s gaze tracking Annalise walking away.
“That’s a little rude,” I tell Travis, not understanding the tension between these two.
He looks over at me. “Do you remember that broken arm that I told you about?”
The one he got as a result of an accident during a race. My heart lurches into my throat at the thought of it.
Since he told me about it during our first hospital tour, I haven’t looked up the details of that race or accident.
I nod.
Wordlessly, he looks over at Max. “Meet the man responsible for it.”
“You?” I say without thinking.
Max’s lips pinch.
“I take back my ‘nice to meet you.’”
“The accident was … well, an accident,” he says, an apologetic note in his voice. “It was many years ago at this point.”
“Not long enough,” Travis replies. “You’re standing too close.”
Despite Travis’ rudeness, I can’t say I can call him out. Max might be one of the most gorgeous men in this room right now—second only to the man with his arm around my waist, naturally—but finding out he’s responsible for hurting Travis in an accident sours the charm a bit.
“Don’t you think it’s about time we let bygones be bygones?" Max suggests, and then gives an elegant shrug. “You never know, we both may need one another someday.”