Chapter 16
Sixteen
Piper had worried the photos in the tabloid might make their lives difficult, but she hadn’t been prepared for what that looked
like. The next day, the photos were published, which only meant new photographers turned up, and they weren’t anywhere near
as nice or respectful as the first guy. They lurked outside Emilio’s house and even when the police shooed them away, they
always returned. It got so bad that Emilio had to put in a call to Mega about private security at his house. Just until the
British tabloids moved on to someone else. But that wasn’t something the team could put in place overnight. And they were
about to leave for Monaco.
Piper couldn’t figure out the exact reason for the frenzy, but Mia had shed a little light on it when she texted Piper.
Holy shit. Are you and Emilio in love? Sure looks like it in those pictures.
Do you really think so?
Piper pulled up the photos on her phone for what was probably the fiftieth time. Piper hated looking at herself in photos,
but she had to admit she and Emilio looked perfect together. And they were perfect together when they were in bed, and often
when they weren’t, but they had two very different lives, living on opposite sides of the Atlantic. How could they ever overcome
that? Plus, a photograph was not reality. She knew the hidden truth of the photos—she and Emilio had simply been trying to
get the photographer to leave them alone.
Yes. I think so. Count yourself lucky. I had the world’s most unflattering photos show up in a tabloid. You look amazing.
He does, too. (Of course.) You look like you belong together.
We’re friends. Victoria made too much of it and we fanned the flames by putting on a show in front of her. That was our mistake,
but she was being such a jerk to Emilio.
She’s insecure. I’m pretty sure of that.
How is that even possible?
Victoria had everything. She was Formula One royalty. Had won the genetic lottery. She could find a boyfriend by strolling
the paddock.
Beauty and money and a famous last name don’t buy confidence.
Then we have all been misled.
The whole thing made Piper exceedingly uneasy. She had so many warm and wonderful feelings for Emilio, but she felt pulled
in two opposite directions. One was toward her family and certainty. Her comfort zone. And the other direction, toward Emilio,
where things like photographers, gossip, vindictive exes and tabloids were part of everyday life. She knew he didn’t like
those things, either, but he was used to them.
She was so drawn to him, thought about him day and night, and cared for him deeply, but there were zero guarantees of anything,
especially a happy ending. She’d already had one unhappy ending. She wasn’t in the market for another.
Piper thought getting to Monaco might make things better, but it only got worse. Arriving at the Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo
was a nightmare. The fans were everywhere—in front of the hotel and behind it, in the parking lots and at restaurants, following
them and yelling both Emilio’s and Piper’s names. They were also screaming for Gus, which made Piper realize much of this
mess had been of her own making.
Piper and Gus stayed in the hotel on Thursday for media day, hoping things would calm down. It was easy to pretend things
were okay when you were hiding inside, but as soon as they went with Emilio to the track for practice on Friday, pandemonium
reared its ugly head.
Then on Saturday, the scariest scene played out when they arrived for qualifying. A swarm of fans screamed for them when they
climbed out of the car. The crowd rattled the security gate so fiercely it made a horrible scraping metal noise, and Piper
could only imagine what would happen if the barrier gave way. Gus barked like crazy. It was bedlam. Emilio rushed Piper and
Gus through the swipe gates, then begged several security guards to make sure no one outside would be hurt. It all happened
so fast. In a matter of moments, they were safe and order was restored. Still, Piper was frightened.
“That was so scary,” she said when they got to his driver’s room.
“I’m sorry. I won’t let it happen again. I’ll talk to Isabel about additional security.”
“I don’t like the idea of needing security in the first place. I don’t even understand why people are acting so nuts about
this. I’m just a normal person. How do you stand it?”
“Easy. I love this sport and it’s the only thing I want to do. So I put up with everything else that goes with it. It doesn’t
mean I like it.”
Piper shook her head slowly, feeling like she couldn’t possibly make sense of it, but his answer sure put a fine point on
things—this was his life, and it wasn’t changing. “I don’t think I can take Gus out to do photos. Not even in the paddock.”
“Remember, I’m the one who didn’t like the idea of Gus as a social media star in the first place.”
The tension surrounding them had crept into Piper and Emilio’s dynamic, which she hated. She prayed a good performance in
qualifying might make things better, but that didn’t pan out, either. Emilio only made it as far as Q2 and would be starting
the race in P12. He was not happy.
“Another race with no points,” Emilio said in his driver’s room as he was about to head to the garage to get into the car.
Piper couldn’t argue. Monaco often wasn’t a race so much as it was a procession. The track was too tight and twisty for many overtakes, so most drivers finished in the same
position they started. “Try to stay positive. You never know what might happen.”
A knock came at the door. Another interruption, although Piper was thankful for this one.
“Come in!” Emilio called.
Isabel poked her head inside. “The good news is your dad made it. He just came through the swipe gates and should be here
any minute.”
“Does that mean there’s also bad news?”
“Your mom and her boyfriend are also coming.”
“It’s not her weekend. She and Rico didn’t even come to the race in Spain.” Anger and frustration radiated off Emilio. It
was so palpable it practically perfumed the air. He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I’ll call and tell her not to come.”
“I’ve already issued her passes,” Isabel said. “Both of your parents have standing orders. If they call us, we fulfill the
request.”
Emilio began pacing. Gus walked over to offer some comfort, which Emilio accepted. “This is a nightmare. There will be drama
if they’re in the same place at the same time.” He looked at Piper. “You saw how my mom acted in Spain. The divorce has made
her erratic. The same is true for my dad. It’s a miracle he made it today at all.”
“I’ll help keep them away from each other,” Isabel offered.
“In Monaco? Where everything is crammed together and people are tripping over themselves? How? Plus, my mother just had to
bring . . . Rico.” It was as if Emilio couldn’t stand to utter his name. “My father is going to freak out.”
“Oh,” Isabel said. “I guess that is a problem.”
“Look. I can help,” Piper said. “You take your dad to the garage, and I’ll take your mom and Rico to the VIP suites. It’s
where I would go with Gus anyway. It’s not a problem.”
“You’d do that? I’m not paying you to be a Rico nanny.”
The reminder that Piper was Emilio’s employee hurt in a way she couldn’t describe. She wasn’t making the offer as the dog
nanny. She was offering as someone who cared about him and his problems. But she couldn’t get hung up on that. Emilio wasn’t
himself right now, and it was too close to race time to rock the boat. “It’s no problem. I’ll brush up on my crypto lingo.”
There was yet another knock at the door. In walked a man who looked strikingly like Emilio, only a few inches shorter and
with a touch of gray at the temples.
“You’re here.” Emilio’s voice was thick with emotion.
Emilio and his father immediately fell into an embrace that took Piper aback. Aside from their time with his grandmother,
this was the most demonstrative expression of affection she’d ever seen out of Emilio. No wonder he’d been upset when his
dad had to miss the race in Imola.
Emilio stood back with a smile that was effortless. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
“Me, too.” Emilio’s father zeroed in on Piper. “You must be the new girlfriend. I’m Andreas.”
Piper shook his hand, feeling nervous. “It’s so nice to meet you. Emilio and I haven’t put a label on anything. The media
blew things out of proportion.”
Emilio looked at Piper questioningly, like he wasn’t sure what she’d just said. “Piper is a very good friend, Dad. Let’s leave
it at that.”
Andreas nodded. “Whatever works. I’m just here to watch you race.”
“I’m headed to the garage. Come with me?” Emilio asked.
“It’s my favorite place to watch,” Andreas replied.
“We should get going, then.”
Isabel held the door for Andreas, then she slipped out of the room, too. “You’re going to do great,” Piper said to Emilio.
“Thank you. For everything.” Emilio leaned in and kissed her softly.
She savored every second. How many more of those kisses would she get? Not many. “You’re more than welcome,” she said. And
then he was gone.
“My son,” Andreas said as he and Emilio walked to the garage. “How are you? Feeling good about the race? Monaco was yours
last year. You won so handily.”
“It’s different this year. You know that.” Emilio came to a stop behind the garage. “Dad, I need to tell you something. Mom
is coming today. I know it’s not her race, but she’s coming anyway. I’m sorry.”
To Emilio’s surprise, his dad’s face lit up. “Don’t apologize. I’m glad for it. Will she be coming to the garage? I’d like
to see her.”
Emilio didn’t know what to make of this. “Dad, she’s here with a man. She has a boyfriend.”
All color drained from his face. “Oh. I see.”
With a heavy heart, Emilio reached for his father’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”
He nodded and pressed his lips together like he was putting on a show of strength, but Emilio knew better. He hadn’t seen