Chapter 24
JESSICA
I’m packing my bag when Luke comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“I don’t want you to go,” he says, and I lean into him.
“That makes two of us.”
The Star News team is arriving today, so that means I’m going to the paddock. These past few days have been incredible.
We’ve been exploring Melbourne and Luke’s favourite spots around the city.
At night, we’ve been discovering each other and every surface of his hotel room.
Reality is setting in, and I’ve been contemplating the possibilities ahead.
I haven’t found anything in my contract about having a relationship with a driver, or anyone else for that matter, but that doesn’t make it okay.
I want to be completely sure before I decide to make this public.
“I’ve been thinking,” I say as I turn in his arms.
“Yeah?”
“I just want to be sure that there will be no consequences of us being together before we tell anyone. So, for now, I’m all yours in private, but you’ll have to wait a little while before you can have me in public.” I tell him and kiss his lips.
He sighs into the kiss and pulls me tighter against him.
“Good thing I have the patience of a saint then, and that you’ll let me do anything with you in private.” He smirks at me, and I blush, thinking about last night.
Luke had bought handcuffs for the bedroom, and he put them to good use.
I finish packing, and Luke insists on giving me a ride into the paddock.
When he parks at a safe distance from the bus, we spend a few minutes making out like a bunch of teenagers. I don’t know when I’ll get the chance to see him next, so I try to enjoy these last few minutes together before everyone else wants a part of my man.
◆◆◆
I’m sitting at the makeshift office we’ve set up for the weekend when a beautiful blonde with familiar hazel eyes stands in front of me. She has a bright smile on her face, and she holds out her hand for me to shake.
“I’m Lily, and I hope to God you’re Jessica. If not, I really look like a lunatic right now,” she tells me, and I can already tell that we will get along.
“You’ve found the right girl. I’m Jessica. Nice to meet you, Lily.” I shake her hand, and we both laugh at the formal greeting.
“Did you just get here?” I ask her, and it’s almost scary how similar their eyes are, the most beautiful light brown colour. Her blonde locks stand in contrast to Luke’s dark hair.
“Yeah, I went to the hotel to drop off my things before coming here.” I start packing my stuff.
“Let me just pack up, and we can grab a coffee.”
We begin walking toward the part of the paddock that has small cafes and restaurants, mainly used by staff working or volunteering during the race weekends.
“So how did you find me?” I ask her.
Luke told me he’d talked to his sister about me, which made me feel special. Having her show up was a nice surprise. I’m excited to get to know another person in his life.
“Well, I went to see my dear brother and got him to show me some pictures. He’d already told me that you’re a reporter and working at Star News, so I hunted you down like the stalker I am.” We laugh before we order our coffees at one of the stands.
We find a table and then take a seat.
“So, tell me all the gossip from the paddock. Are there any eligible single bachelors out there for me?” Lily asks, and I can imagine her giving her brother a few worried wrinkles over the years.
She has a carefree personality, and combined with her stunning looks, I’m sure she could snatch up any driver in the paddock if she went for it. Her brother would probably have a heart attack.
I tell Lily about the latest gossip, which isn’t much since I don’t really engage with online stories about potential new flames and such.
Luckily for me, nothing has been written about Luke and me. Just as I think of him, the man appears beside us, smiling down at us.
“Hello, ladies, care if I join you?” Before we can answer, he slides right into the bench next to me and quickly kisses my cheek.
It’s still early, and the weekend’s buzz hasn’t started yet, so I let him off the hook for the public display of affection. He grabs my hand under the table and starts drawing circles on it.
“So, what have I missed?” Luke asks, and we tell him that we’re catching up on the latest gossip of the grid. Luke rolls his eyes at our gossip session but shares some interesting remarks every now and then.
As our conversation progresses with Luke and Lily sharing stories from their childhood, I notice a slight colour increase to Lily’s cheeks at the mention of Sebastian. Huh, interesting.
There must be more to that story.
I’ll ask her more about that when Luke isn’t around.
After a while, Luke has to go attend some meetings, and he leans down and kisses my cheek. I sigh like a lovesick puppy. Lily smiles at us, obviously happy for her brother.
Next weekend, there will be a gala, and Lily and I go look for dresses to wear.
Every year, various galas are organized, and this one will honour some motorsport and F1 legends. An evening dedicated to the wonderful sport of Formula 1 and the legends who have given us many iconic moments over the decades.
I’m excited to attend the gala with Lily.
Hopefully, I’ll get my answers about the whole “Can I date a driver while on my internship?” and be able to go as Luke’s date if he asks me.
We’re browsing the hangers for the perfect dress when I spot a stunning green velvet gown. It’s a deep petrol green with a sleek, slender slit up the leg, making it sexy yet classy. The dress has no straps, and the top is designed like a corset.
“You have to try that on!” Lily urges, pushing me toward the dressing room with the dress in hand. I get ready, and the sales assistant helps me zip up the back.
When I step out, Lily gasps.
“Oh my God, Jessica! You look stunning, that colour is beautiful on you.”
I glance in the mirror, hoping the price tag isn’t too crazy because I agree with Lily, the dress is gorgeous, and the way it hugs my body boosts my confidence.
“Do you think he’ll like it?” I ask Lily, obviously hinting at her brother. She rolls her eyes.
“Well duh. He’s already looking at you like you’re the bane of his existence. In that dress, you’re going to bring him to his knees,” she tells me, sending a boost straight to my heart.
I change out of the dress and decide to buy it, even though it will put a small dent in my account. Lily doesn’t find her dress for the gala, so we decide to explore more stores over the weekend.
We spend the rest of the day together, and it’s nice having some girl time.
Shopping and drinking overpriced coffee are always a good idea.
◆◆◆
The next day, several of our team members call in sick to work. They all ate at the same restaurant the day before, and they’re all suffering from a bad case of food poisoning.
From there, the day becomes very hectic.
As a result, the rest of the team works our butts off to ensure the broadcast runs as smoothly as possible. Andrew is down, so they decided that I would handle the interviews.
My nerves are high during the first interview with the team principal from the Porsche team, but as I finish more interviews, I start feeling more comfortable and confident in my role.
I can do this.
I’ve been working hard to make it here, and I’m capable of pulling this off.
For every interview, I breathe a sigh of relief. This is good; we’re doing well.
When we finish the day without any mishaps, several team members praise me for stepping up to the challenge.
I’m proud of myself for managing the situation, which has made me feel more confident in my role.
I get back to the bus quite late and check my phone. I haven’t had time to look at it all day, and I find several messages from Luke, which makes me smile.
Luke: Missing you.
Luke: Not missing me?
Luke: You’re obviously busy conquering the world.
Luke: Call me when you get the chance, princess.
I hit the call button, and he picks up immediately.
“Is everything alright?” he asks me right away. His concern is touching, and I fill him in on the day’s chaos.
“Sounds like you did amazing, wouldn’t expect anything less from you, baby.”
His sureness in me makes me fall just a little bit harder for him.
It sounds like Luke is out and about, and I get comfortable in my bed while he tells me all about his day with Lily.
“She insisted that I get a new suit for the gala next weekend, and she just wouldn’t be satisfied until she found what she labelled as “the one.”” I can almost hear him quoting his sister, and I chuckle at him.
“Which also reminds me I have something to ask you,” he says, and I sit up in my bed.
“Yeah?” I feel my nerves start to rise, hoping he will ask me to be his date.
“Come out and find out for yourself.” Luke hangs up, and I sprint out of my room and toward the bus exit.
Outside, Luke leans against his car, holding a bouquet of flowers. I walk over to him and stand on my toes to kiss him.
“So, what did you want to ask me?” He pulls me closer and nuzzles his nose against mine.
“I was wondering if you’d like to go to the gala with me as my date?” He looks so hopeful, making all the worries about being out in public melt away.
How bad can it be?
It’s bound to happen soon anyway, so I decide to follow my heart and be my man’s date.
“Yeah, I’d like that very much.”