Matteo leaned back, finally cracking a small smile. “Well, this should be fun to watch.”
“Oh, shut up,” I muttered, but I couldn’t help the smile creeping onto my own face.
Matteo might be a protective pain, but at least he was on board.
Sort of.
13
ALEXANDER
Ican’t believe I suggested fake datingLucia DeLuca, and she agreed. Even more shocking, Matteo is on board. Well,reluctantlyon board, but I’d count that as a victory.
As the door to my suite clicked shut behind Matteo, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My best friend’s halfhearted threat was still ringing in my ears. Not that I blamed him.
I glanced over at Lucia, who was perched on the edge of the couch, her arms crossed and her brows furrowed like she was deep in thought. Her lips were slightly pursed, and it hit me that I was staring way too long at them.
“This is insane, isn’t it?” she asked, pulling me out of whatever trance I’d slipped into.
“It’s notinsane,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “It’s…strategic.”
She snorted, giving me a look that said she didn’t buy it for a second. “Strategic. Right.”
“Look, it’ll work. The media will move on once they realize there’s no scandal here. No drama. And you’ll get to live your life without worrying about being involved in some scandal they make up.”
Her expression softened a little, and she sighed, leaning back into the couch cushions. “I guess it does make sense. But I still can’t believe Matteo didn’t completely lose it.”
“Trust me,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck, “he almost did. But he would go along with anything you wanted, it’s you.”
That earned me a smile—a soft one, but still. I found myself grinning like an idiot.
“So,” she said, looking at me with that sharp, curious gaze of hers. “How exactly is this going to work? Are we going to hold hands in public? Pose for selfies? Declare our undying love in front of the paddock?”
She was teasing, but her words still made something twist in my chest. “Nothing over the top,” I replied, forcing myself to keep it casual. “Public appearances together at races and events. A little PDA to sell it.”
Her eyebrow shot up. “Define ‘a little PDA.’”
I shrugged, trying to ignore the way my pulse kicked up. “Holding hands, an arm around your shoulder. Stuff that looks natural.”
She gave me a look that said she was clearly imagining how unnatural that would feel. I couldn’t exactly blame her.
“And how long is this supposed to last?” she asked, her tone all business now.
“The rest of the season?” I said. “Or long enough to convince the media and keep Belen Racing off my back, whatever comes first.”
“Right.” She nodded, chewing on her bottom lip like she was still trying to process everything. I didn’t let myself dwell on how distracting that was.
“You okay with this?” I asked, my voice softer than I intended.
She looked up at me, her eyes meeting mine. For a second, I thought I saw something flicker there, something unsure and vulnerable, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
“Yeah,” she said with a small smile. “I’m okay with it.”
I nodded, trying to ignore the wave of relief that washed over me. “Good. Because if this is going to work, we need to look convincing.”
“Convincing?” She tilted her head, her smile turning sly. “You mean likethis?”
Before I could react, she had crossed the space and was next to me, a hand sliding down my arm, making my body react before my mind could. My own hand wrapped around her waist and kept her against me. She leaned in and my entire body went on high alert. Was she about to kiss me? She paused, looking up with glittering eyes.
