Lili came back inside, feeling a little shy. She wondered if she matched up as the wife of a billionaire/playboy/motor racing champion. She’d dressed in soft worn leather trousers, slim-fitting, with a loose silk shirt. Hair up to keep it from flying around her face in the open-top car. Minimal make-up.
‘Marcel, I’d like you to meet my wife, Lili.’
He bowed towards her. ‘A pleasure, Madame Corti, I will do my utmost to make sure your stay is as pleasant as possible.’
‘Oh, I don’t need much at all, please don’t go to any trouble.’
Marcel had prepared a light lunch for them and they ate it on the terrace. Cassian wiped his mouth, took another gulp of coffee and stood up. ‘I have to go, the guys will be waiting for me at the HQ.’
Lili lifted her head and shaded her eyes so she could see him. She hoped the disappointment she felt wasn’t on her face. It was ironic really, she’d longed for a life of solitude and security and now that she could have it, she felt lonely at the thought of Cassian leaving her for a few hours.
He frowned. ‘Is that okay?’
She waved a hand. ‘Of course, you’re here to work. Go.’
‘There’s a pool and a gym here…not that I’m suggesting you need to work out…there are designer shops on every corner…you should be able to keep yourself amused.’
Lili stood up and forced a big grin. ‘Please, don’t worry about me, I’m not here to distract you.’
Cassian moved towards her and snaked an arm around her waist, pulling her into him. She revelled in his touch, putting her hands on his chest.
‘Well you’ve failed miserably, I’m afraid, you can’tnotdistract me but I fear you would have been a bigger distraction not being here.’
Her heart leapt a little. Then he said, ‘What is it? Shopping doesn’t fill you with giddy glee?’
Lili grimaced. ‘I’ve either been cleaning houses or housekeeping since I left home, I’m not exactly used to a life of frivolous activities. And I’m still not really sure what suits me. Also, I know you gave me a credit card to use but I’m not really comfortable spending your money.’
Cassian’s head fell back and he let out a half laugh. He looked at her again, smiling wryly. ‘If I didn’t know you already I’d assume that’s a line.’
‘Okay then,’ he said. ‘Do you want to come with me?’
Lili grinned. ‘Could I? I wouldn’t get in the way, I promise.’
He stood back and looked her up and down. ‘In those trousers, and that shirt, it’s pretty impossible for you not to distract but if it gives me an edge this weekend, I’ll take it.’
He took her hand but she stalled for a second. ‘Seriously, I don’t want to be in the way.’
He pressed a kiss to her mouth and pulled back. ‘Today is just some practice sessions and checking out the circuit.’
‘Okay then.’ Lili couldn’t hide her excitement. This was much more fun than hanging around by a pool or shopping.
* * *
The paddock area, as Cassian had explained to Lili, was the area that housed all the different teams’ garages, hospitality areas and media pens. It was a hiving buzzing mini-city and Lili was awed by the sheer level of industry.
Cassian held her firmly by the hand as they made their way through to his team’s hub. People were constantly stopping him to say hello but he just greeted them and kept going.
He looked back at her. ‘Okay? Are the crowds too much?’
Lili shook her head. ‘No, it’s fine.’ Because she was with him and he was anchoring her to a sense of security.
Even when they got to his team’s HQ and he had to go and do his thing, he left her in the familiar hands of Ricardo who she’d met at Monza. He told her where to sit and made sure she was looked after. Lili soaked it all in and then watched as Cassian appeared again in that close-fitting driving suit and then contorted himself into the car before heading out to the track to do laps.
Ricardo gave her headphones so she could hear Cassian converse with the engineer and just hearing his voice was enough to send thrills through her.
After a couple of hours Cassian was ready to go again. The following day would be more practice laps and then Saturday would be the day he would have to try and attain pole position for the actual race on Sunday.
Lili’s mind boggled with everything.
