Chapter 47
Niki
Rosie stands beside me as we travel down to the hotel restaurant. Occasionally her fingers brush mine. I want to be tactile with her, hold her, hug her.
I glance at her. Her lips are flush with pink lipstick, and her eyes capture me within their depths.
She bites the pad of her thumb, and the string that’s stopping me from pushing her against the lift frays. Her orchid and spice scent radiates around us.
Conflict rages inside my heart. One second I want to comfort her; the next I want to her to ride my mouth until she screams my name for everyone to hear.
The touches on the plane fulfilled my dreams. She cares about me and will do anything to ensure I’m okay. But I might never be okay. My health anxiety is improving, but what if it doesn’t go away? She won’t want a boyfriend who can’t even eat somewhere new without panicking.
“Are you okay?” she whispers. She cups my cheek, and I lean into her softness. “Worried about dinner?”
“Yeah,” I stutter. In her black chiffon skater dress, her curves make my mouth water.
“I’m with you every step. It will be okay.”
My chain around her neck makes her feel like she’s mine. I’m on the cusp of asking if she’ll be mine when the lift doors open to Senna and Connor.
Rosie jumps away from me.
“You’re not wearing your cap,” Senna says.
“Hey, sis. Hey, Con,” I say, voice strangled, ignoring Senna’s comment as the lift closes on the four of us. How many germs can survive in this metal box? I pull my shirt collar from my neck as heat climbs.
I croak. “Rosie’s joining us. She’s not been to a grand prix before, and Tabi, her daughter, is with her parents. She considered enjoying the city tonight, but decided to eat with us and—”
Rosie touches my arm and smiles. I take a deep breath. I’m babbling like a man caught in bed with his colleague’s wife.
“It will be great to have you with us,” Senna replies. “Are you prepared for my dad?”
“Yes,” Rosie says, worrying her kissable lips.
“We’ve got you.” Connor nods. “Jim hates me, so if he’s too much, give me the nod. I’ll say something stupid, and he’ll forget about you.”
“Thank you. I wanted to be here for Niki.” A warmth hits my belly even as Senna raises an eyebrow at me.
Dad stiffens as Rosie shakes his hand. He holds one out to me, and I nod my greeting.
His grumbles echo while my mum shakes Rosie’s hand before everyone sits.
Dad glares at Rosie and at me. I glare back at him, the tension rising with each passing second.
We’ve been in the restaurant for less than a minute, and it’s already awkward as fuck.
I’m used to it, but Rosie shouldn’t have to cope with his bullshit.
“You’re not wearing your cap,” Mum comments.
Rosie looks at Connor, taking him up on his offer to run interference.
He says, “Daddy Coulter, how are things?”
Senna rubs her forehead, and Rosie throws me a panicked look as I chuckle.
“You did well at qualifying today,” I say to Connor. “Tawny was great, too.”
“She showed Billy Nister he can’t mess with her,” Senna replies.
My dad still scowls at us, but we continue regardless.
“And how’s Layla?” I ask Connor, referring to his younger sister.
“She’s great. She’s been acting a bit weird about university and her degree. Maybe it’s anxiety. But she’s finishing university next year, and hopefully she’ll join us soon after. She’ll be a great addition. She’s so clever.”
“She’s top of her year and has social media ideas to help bring Coulter Racing into the modern age for fans. There’s a growing female demographic for F1 and—”
“We talked about dipping your pen in the company ink.” Dad stares at me and Rosie.
Rosie blushes bright red and drops her head.
“Jim,” Mum hisses.
“Dad, don’t start,” Senna warns.
“Of course you’d defend them. You’re living with one of your drivers.”
“I love you, Daddy Coulter,” Connor replies.
Dad’s eyes pinch.
“Let’s check the menu. They’ll take our drink orders soon. Who wants to share a bottle of red?” Mum points at the menus and clucks until we pick them up. “I’ve craved the pasta here all week. What’s everyone else thinking?”
My dad huffs. “I’m thinking—”
“Look at your menu, Jim.”
I shakily grab Rosie’s hand under the table. I must confront Dad about what he said, although what I do with Rosie isn’t any of his business.
The waiter collects our orders, and soon we’re staring at each other again.
Chatter surrounds us, but this is a meal where any of us could bring a storm. I resist the temptation to clean the cutlery with the cloth in my pocket. The waiter returns quickly. He pours a little wine into my dad’s glass, who sips it, scowling at us over the rim, before nodding.
The waiter fills each glass in turn. My shoulders tense when the waiter gets too close as he pours mine. I swallow a couple of times, but my mouth is painfully dry.
“Anyway,” Mum says, “you’re hardly one to judge work relationships. I was your assistant, remember?”
Everyone freezes, including the waiter, who’s still too close.
“That’s enough,” I croak at him.
He moves to Rosie, who shakes her head. “I’ll be fine with a soft drink.”
“You are old enough to drink, though?” Dad asks.
The waiter eases away from the table.
“Dad, it’s none of your business what’s going on between Rosie and me.” I squeeze her hand, and she returns my touch. “She’s an incredible assistant.”
“I’m old enough to drink wine, but I don’t fancy it. Last night, I was with my old rugby team. I don’t normally drink, but it was my first night without my daughter,” she babbles. “I’m here for Niki tonight as his assistant.”
“Have we got any secrets to share, baby?” Connor asks Senna.
“I’m waiting for you to propose, but aside from that, I’ve got nothing.” Senna winks.
“All in good time. It needs to be big enough to make my woman squeal with excitement.”
“I love you.” Senna chuckles. “Let’s put everything on the table. Mum, you said you were Dad’s assistant. He told me years ago you met at a pub.”
Dad grumbles as Mum says, “We met at work, but we got to know each other at the local pub. He pretended he went there by chance, but he heard me talking about it in the office.”
“Interesting,” Senna says.
“Sneaky,” I add.
“It’s not how it sounds,” Dad grumps.
“It’s exactly how it sounds,” Mum replies, rolling her eyes. “Rosie, you have a daughter. How old is she?”
“She’s four.”
“And she’s amazing,” I butt in. “Sorry, you tell it.”
She giggles.
“Do you have photos of her?” Mum asks.
“Only a billion,” Rosie replies.
“Come and sit next to me and show me. Move, Jim,” she says.
Rosie fumbles with her phone as she starts to stand. “I have one of me and Tabi in Rhodes last year as my screensaver.”
“One second,” Senna says, her hand in the air.
Rosie sits back down. “You said at the aerodrome that Niki was in Rhodes in some sliders. Did you two meet there last year? Is that why you called each other the wrong names in my office when I offered her the job? I’ve wondered about that for ages, but Connor said not to ask. ”
“I was the sensible one for a change,” Connor says with a smug smile.
“How long were you in Greece?” Dad asks me.
My stomach clenches at his pinching eyes. I swallow repeatedly and grip my glass like the stem is my nemesis. “Let’s wait until we have our food so I can explain.”