Epilogue
Abu Dhabi
MILLIE STOOD IN the centre of the De Rossi Racing crew, oblivious to the celebrations happening around her.
Droplets of sprayed champagne landed on her face and mingled with her tears.
It was the last race of the season, and Taz, despite racing his heart out, had ended the year with the same number of points as his closest rival.
But because Jean-Pierre won more races over the season, he’d snatched the world championship title from Taz at the very last moment.
De Rossi Racing winning the Constructors’ Championship was great news, and Taz would be happy with that, but she’d wanted the fourth championship for him.
Biting her lip, Millie watched Taz pose for photographs on the podium, looking festive and happy, his smile wide.
But her fiancé was exceptionally good at hiding his real feelings from everyone but her, and she knew there was pain behind his charming grin.
Because, despite telling her he was done competing with his brother, she knew a part of him still wanted to beat Alex’s record. She stamped her foot, wishing she could loudly announce that Taz De Rossi was ten times the man his brother was…in every way that counted.
But she’d promised Taz she’d keep his secrets, so she would. She wouldn’t do anything, ever, to jeopardise their happiness.
Taz jumped off the stage and pushed through the people swarming him to stand in front of her. His hair was wet from the champagne, his grey eyes sparkling. He clasped her face in his hands and swiped his mouth across hers, feeding her a kiss full of love and heat…
Bending his head he spoke above the roaring crowd. ‘You are looking a bit militant, my darling. What’s up?’
She shook her head and wrapped her fingers around his wrist. ‘I wanted you to win. You worked so hard, and you deserved to win.’
He shook his head, wrapped his arms around her and boosted her up. Her legs locked around his hips, and they were nose to nose, their focus on each other, both ignoring the cameras pointed in their direction.
‘Are you thinking about what happened in New York?’ he asked, his voice pitched just loud enough for her to hear.
She nodded and Taz shook his head. ‘I’m done competing with him, Mils.
I have been for months. I care about racing and the team, but it’s not my reason for living anymore.
You are, sweetheart.’ He lifted his hand to drag his thumb over her cheekbone, to let it rest in the middle of her bottom lip.
His eyes radiated sincerity, and Millie knew that he was well and truly done with competing with Alex.
That their relationship, their amazing life, was all that mattered and was his highest priority.
She brushed her nose against his. Millie had no doubt how much she was loved, but because occasionally she needed a little additional assurance, in a teasing tone she said, ‘Prove it.’
His eyes remained locked on hers, intensely determined, very Taz. ‘I swear I will. Every day, for the rest of my life, Mils. I also promise to love you more tomorrow than I did today, more the next day than I will tomorrow…you get the picture.’
That was a lot of love. Her eyes burned with unshed happy tears, and Millie pulled him closer. The world around them faded. The cameras, the noise, all of it disappeared as his mouth claimed hers, sealing his promises with a kiss that tasted like forever.