‘How’s your relationship with Ben’s parents now?’ Taz asked.
Millie sighed. ‘I haven’t spoken to them since the judge ruled in my favour. And because my parents supported my aunt and uncle’s bid to contest the will, my relationship with my parents is frosty.’
Taz squeezed her knee, a silent gesture of comfort.
‘I liked Ben,’ Taz quietly stated. ‘And I think he was good for Alex.’
Millie tilted her head, immediately curious. ‘What do you mean?’
Taz hesitated, his gaze drifting to the lilies on the dresser. Their sweet scent filled the room, a sharp contrast to the tension that had sprung up between them. ‘Ben was grounded. Sensible. Alex needed that.’
It wasn’t what she’d expected to hear. ‘Alex seemed to be pretty grounded and sensible already,’ she said, pressing for more.
Taz shrugged dismissively, his expression turning remote. ‘I don’t talk about Alex.’
The statement was blunt and final, but she couldn’t leave it alone. If he hadn’t wanted to talk about his brother, why bring him into the conversation? ‘You should. He’s your brother.’ Her voice softened. ‘Losing him like that must’ve been terrible.’
Taz’s jaw tightened, but his silence was as loud as a foghorn. He’d pulled back, and she couldn’t help feeling hurt at his sudden emotional distance. She knew she shouldn’t: There was nothing between them but chemistry, a fake relationship and a business deal. Despite knowing that, understanding that, she still desperately wanted him to trust her enough to open up to her. She reached out, brushing her fingers over the back of his hand. ‘I’m so sorry, Taz.’
He didn’t respond, but his hand tightened briefly over hers before he sat up and drained his water bottle, tossing it neatly into the waste-basket.
‘Show-off,’ she muttered, trying to lighten the mood.
He smirked, the tension easing slightly. ‘I’m multitalented.’
She could attest to that. Millie let her fingers trail over his hand, marvelling at the contrast between its strength and gentleness. These hands had given her so much pleasure—but they were also hands that could steer a car at rocket-like speed over twisty tracks.
‘How do you feel about going to Imola?’ he asked abruptly. ‘Are you going to be okay?’
Her chest tightened at the mention of the track where Ben had died. ‘I don’t know,’ she admitted. ‘I thought I’d be fine, but every time I think about it…’ She swallowed hard. ‘But I have to be there. It’s my job. I feel so guilty I didn’t see him before he died, but I’m so glad I didn’t witness his crash, Taz,’ she added.
‘Me too, Mils.’ Taz ran a hand over her shoulder, soothing and steady. He pulled her close, her cheek resting against his chest. His warmth, his presence, was an unexpected balm to her frayed nerves.
‘Families are so complicated,’ she murmured, her hand resting on his ridged stomach.
‘Aren’t they?’ he agreed, his hand covering hers.
But his touch, his proximity, stirred something more profound. Slowly, her hand drifted lower, her fingers trailing over the hard ridges of his stomach to his erection. Her fist encircled him, he hardened, and Millie felt, for the first time, powerful at raising such a quick response in such an alpha man. It was such a confidence-booster, but despite her increasing self-assurance, she knew she still had a way to go before she felt wholly at ease in her skin, secure in this world she now moved in.
And that was work she had to do. No man, not Ben and not Tazio De Rossi, could do that for her.
Two things could happen at once… While she worked on herself and learned to stand up straight and be strong, she could enjoy him and enjoy their off-the-charts attraction.
‘Whether they’re complicated or not,’ she said, her voice low, ‘this…isn’t.’
She did not doubt that tomorrow would bring its own problems, but tonight, being with him was all that mattered.
CHAPTER NINE
Imola, Italy
TWELVE DAYS LATER, at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Taz inspected the track with his drivers, debriefed the race engineers and strategists, and held a video conference with his research team in the UK. By mid-afternoon, he’d put in more than a full day’s work. Yet his temper simmered as he fielded endless questions from his employees, colleagues and the press about Millie’s whereabouts.
Before he’d had a chance to suggest that they meet up in London during the break, Millie told him she’d see him in Italy, and he hadn’t seen her since. As she’d done during the Shanghai race, Millie slid into his thoughts far too often and usually at inopportune moments. His thoughts often went to what Millie was doing, thinking,eatingfor God’s sake! For the first time in his life, being apart from his lover annoyed him. That he missed her irritated him even more. Exchanging work emails and brief PR-related calls didn’t cut it.
For the first time he could remember, theonlytime, work had competition for his attention.
Taz rubbed the back of his neck. Millie’d arrived in Italy six hours ago; she should’ve been at the track for hours now, but he’d yet to lay eyes on her. Where was she? They might be lovers, but he knew Millie well enough to know that her pride wouldn’t let her slack off on the job. And her job meant being at his side or, at the very least, within earshot.
