“Sure. What can I do for you?”
“Quick question. As a veteran driver, who are you rooting for this season?” The microphone was thrust in front of her face.
“I work for the academy. I don’t play favorites.”
“Yeah, but you’re human. Who do you pull for?”
Whether she wanted to admit it to herself or not, shewasstarting to root for one woman in particular, and nothing she didseemed to stop it. Reese’s triumphant smile when she waved to the crowd had done surprising, electric things to Sloane’s body, whether she wanted to admit it or not. For now, she was a professional at work and would stay that way.
She offered her most practiced smile. “If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”
It had been a while since she’d talked to the media, but she was surprised at how easily it came back—the switch flipping, the charm sliding into place.
“Fair enough. Who has the best shot at the drivers’ championship?”
“Too soon to say. Ask me in another two weeks.”
“You know we will. Thanks, Sloane.”
“No problem.”
She continued toward the paddock. Teams were already breaking down their setups. Mechanics rolling tool carts, crates slamming shut, crew members peeling tape from the concrete. The loud, frantic rush of race day softened into a tired hum as the night deepened.
All except Ravensport.
Their side of the paddock still buzzed with bright lights and leftover celebration. A speaker had been turned up, crew members were laughing, and someone was spraying down a champagne-sticky floor. A first-place finish did that.
Sloane smiled and scanned the scene just in time to spot Reese near the front of the garage, talking with Delaney. Delaney, calm and cool as always, stood with her arms loosely crossed, listening more than speaking. She’d finished P5—solid points for the team—and carried her success with her usual understated confidence.
Reese, by contrast, was still effervescent. Flushed from the podium, trophy tucked against her hip, she gestured animatedly as she recounted something from the race. Her hair was slightlymussed from the podium ball cap she’d worn, a loose curl stuck to her temple in the humid Singapore air. Sloane had the faint, ridiculous urge to brush it back. She could stand there and watch Reese forever.
Delaney noticed Sloane first. Her eyes flicked over, then she gave Reese a small nod, subtle but encouraging.
Reese turned, and when she saw Sloane, her whole face lit up. The smile hit Sloane square in the chest like a fastball.
Delaney murmured something. ProbablyGo.Reese dipped her head in acknowledgment and stepped away from her teammate.
“Hey,” Reese said when she reached her, a little breathless. “Did you see the race? Please tell me you saw the race.”
“Totally missed it.” Sloane winced immediately as Reese’s smile dropped hard and fast, like someone pulling the lights in a room. Guilt punched her straight in the gut. “Stop that. I’m kidding. Of course I watched. You were brilliant. Measured when you needed to be, aggressive when it was called for. A balanced, solid drive. You should be proud of yourself.”
Relief returned slowly to Reese’s features, softening her shoulders. “It was honestly a very satisfying race.” Her green eyes moved back and forth as she searched for the right description. “It was almost like I could, I don’t know, hold it in my hand.” She raised her gaze to Sloane’s. “I have no idea if that makes any sense.”
“It completely does,” Sloane said. “You were thinking just as much as you were feeling your way through. It takes both to win races.”
Reese’s mouth curled. “Turns out I actually don’t know everything.” Sloane hadn’t meant to laugh out loud, but she did. Reese brightened at that. “Well, until now, of course.” She flashed a sly smile. “Where are we eating?”
Sloane went still, and doubt filtered in. “I think they still have food in your hospitality room, but I’ve already had lunch.”
“Ourdinner,” Reese said pointedly, holding eye contact like she had no intention of letting Sloane wiggle out of it. Reese excelled at eye contact, always so steady and confident, a little too intimate for Sloane’s peace of mind. A shiver traced down her spine.
“Oh. Right. About that.” Sloane rocked forward and back on her heels, suddenly very aware of her body. “Weren’t we just playing around?”
“We definitely were not,” Reese said instantly. Her brows pulled in like rain just invaded her picnic. “But we can keep it 100 percent professional.” A beat. “If you want.”
It was the first time either of them had acknowledged there was a spark bouncing between them. Saying it out loud made Sloane want to run screaming, becausenoneof this was ideal, and she definitely couldn’t lean into it. She was here to coach, guide, set boundaries. And the last thing she needed, given her history, was to get involved with a driver.
But another part of her stirred too. The part that had been quietly, stubbornly imagining what would happen if she let herself linger on this crush she’d developed on this hardheaded, drop-dead gorgeous?—
