Reese blinked, caught off guard. “Uh … both?” she said, forcing a laugh. “Humidity always wins.”
Sloane raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Always? I’m pretty sure you could survive a monsoon with that hair and still look like you own the place.”
Reese smirked, leaning slightly closer to the mirror. “That’s a very specific compliment. I’m flattered … and slightly intimidated.”
Sloane shrugged, eyes twinkling. “Good. Intimidation is part of my charm.”
Reese’s grin widened. “Ah, sothat’swhat I’ve been missing all this time.”
Sloane laughed softly, the sound low and easy, and leaned against the counter. “Don’t tell me you’re finally admitting I was right about something.”
“Nope. I’d have to hand over my hardhead card, and that’s not likely to happen.” A pause, as they smiled at each other. Reese turned to the mirror and attempted to fix her hair. “This humidity is a lot.”
Sloane leaned slightly, peering at Reese’s hair. “You know, I kind of like the tousled look. Makes you look dangerous.”
“Dangerous?” Reese echoed. “I don’t think anyone’s using that word about me yet.”
Sloane grinned, a slow, deliberate twist of her lips. “A day to put on the calendar.”
“For a lot of reasons.” Oh, she was just speaking freely now. Sloane had yet to turn and go, and that said something. “I guess we should get back to our respective tables, but it would be nice if we had dinner together sometime. I’d love to hear about your racing days. War stories.”
Sloane’s smile dimmed a touch, and Reese wondered what had caused it. “Tell you what. You win a race, and you’re on.”
“Wait. Really?”
“Yep.”
Reese turned to Sloane fully. “Let me make sure I understand this clearly. I take P1 in a race, and you’ll agree to have dinner with me. Just the two of us?”
“Yes. The answer is yes.” She didn’t hesitate.
“I can’t decide if you’re agreeing because you think I’ll win or because you’re confident I won’t.”
Sloane touched her shoulder on the way to the door. “Sometimes a little mystery is good.”
Reese laughed outright this time, the tension from earlier replaced by warmth—and a thrill. “Well … I’ll take my chances. And Sloane?”
Sloane’s eyes lingered a beat longer than necessary. “Yes?”
“I’m definitely going to win.”
Her expression was dialed to I’ll believe it when I see it, but Reese had never been so fired up about a race in her entire career. “Enjoy your dinner, Reese.”
“You, too, Sloane.”
Reese wasn’t sure if she’d imagined it, but just before Sloane disappeared back into the restaurant, her gaze drifted from Reese’s shoulders to her toes. “She just checked me out,” Reese murmured to the empty restroom before following Sloane back into the restaurant with a smile on her face. Things were starting to get so very interesting.
The visor of Reese’s helmet caught the reflection of a thousand city lights as she settled her car into the third grid slot. She’d take P3. She could work with that starting position.
Singapore at night always looked like a celebration, unless you were strapped into a race car with your pulse hammering harder than the engine beneath you. Reese took a deep breath to settle her nerves while still hanging onto the adrenaline she’d need to advance her position.
Julie’s voice filled her helmet. “Clean start. Be patient with Marissa ahead of you.”
Reese nodded out of habit, even though Julie couldn’t see her. Patience wasn’t exactly her defining trait, especially not tonight. Not with the deal she’d made with Sloane humming under her skin like electricity. A win meant an extended conversation. One-on-one time in a dimly lit restaurant. A chance to get to know each other. Hold eye contact. The thought alone sharpened every sense.
Five red lights came on one at a time. Reese gripped the wheel. Then they went out.
She launched hard, tucking in behind Marissa as the cars threaded through the impossibly tight first corners. The walls blurred past, inches from her tires. Fuck, this was tight. Singapore never forgave overconfidence, and Marissa drove likeshe planned to block every inch of track for the entire race. Why did she have to be so fucking good? If Reese didn’t like her so much, she’d really hate her right now.
