“Say it once more with feeling,” Sasha teases.
Tabi, bored with her one seed at a time idea, throws all the seeds in the air and dances in a circle.
“We’ll discuss this more, including Niki’s playboy past, when Tabi’s in bed,” Sasha whispers as I shake my head and lift Tabi into my arms. “And I need to tell you about the size of the man’s…chicken I played with last night.”
Sasha holds her hands wide apart as I reply, “We need to get to the rabbits for the petting session.”
“Some of us had a very long petting session with the giant chicken last night.”
I cover Tabi’s ears as I giggle. “You’re the worst on weekends.”
“That’s not what he said.” She winks back. “You’ve considered the size of your new boss’s chicken. Maybe you can finally get your first…I’ve run out of euphemisms. Maybe you can get your first climax.”
I ignore her as we walk to the petting barn.
He’s my boss, and he’s out of my league and eight years older than me, so chickens, petting, and climaxes are off-limits.
CHAPTER 15
Niki
“Stop picking up that laptop and putting it back down,” Senna tells me from my door.
I open my mouth to gripe as Connor swaggers in and sits in my chair, saying, “What’s up, buddy?”
“Nothing,” I reply sullenly. “Why are you here? It’s seven thirty in the morning. It’s the first race of the season at the end of this week. Shouldn’t you be asleep or packing?”
“Grouchy bastard. I came in early because my beautiful girlfriend needed to sort out finance stuff I don’t understand, and I was bored without her.”
I roll my eyes. These two are damn cute with each other, but I don’t need it. The one woman I’ve let close will walk into my office in thirty minutes, and together we’ll confront what’s happening in my head rather than hide from it.
It’s time.
I want to wipe down all the equipment and recheck Rosie’s desk so it’s good for her, but I don’t dare with these two watching.
“Get out of my seat before I kick you out,” I grumble.
Connor sits further back in it and beams at me. Sennaclears her throat and gives a pointed stare, which has him rushing to a chair on the other side of my desk.
She stands next to me. “It’s going to be okay.”
She wants to hug me. I sense it from how she picks at her cuticles and looks at me with the longing she’s given me since I returned from Greece, but I can’t. She’s hugged me from behind a couple of times, but my shoulders still hunched and my insides frayed.
“Tell me about the season.”
Senna sits next to Connor, who stares at her with adoration, making my heart ache.
“We’re not starting as the underdog we were last year. We have investors and money. We were lucky at the end of last season.”
“Helped by yours truly.” Connor winks.
Senna continues, “Helped by a fantastic team who’ve remained on staff, including a certain arrogant driver and Tawny, our other awesome driver. The team has sorted out the twitchiness. Thank you for helping with that.”
I shrug. “What is Jacs saying about the cars? Does she think we have a chance?”
“Yes. She said after pre-season training the other week, we might have issues with drag, but she’ll monitor it this weekend in Australia and use it to inform her improvements.”
“Good. Should we aim for the top four, or is that too ambitious?” I drop into my chair, remembering my discussion with my counsellor about how not everything needs cleaning before I use it. I play with the beaded bracelet in my pocket to resist the urge to wipe Connor’s germs from the leather.
