Page 69 of On The Edge

There is an air about this place. An opulence. A feeling that everywhere you look, money isn’t an object and whoever is in the luxury sports car passing us is off to jet-set to some exotic location.

Wait. Isn’t that what I just did and isn’t that like the car I’m in?

Pinch me.

“I can’t believe people actually live here,” I murmur, aware I sound like a kid and not really caring that I do. This is a bucket list city for so many, and I get to stay here. For now.

That doesn’t erase the chaos and cruelty of the media, but it does help a bit.

Cruz chuckles and pats my thigh. “People actually do.”

But when the pat is done, he leaves it there, oblivious to the weird things the heat of his hand does to my body. I stare at it. At his fingers that could easily slide their way and touch me like he did the other night. Pleasure me. Undo me.

I shift in my seat, needing to ease the ache, and when he glances at me, I simply pretend I’m looking ahead.

Does he think about it? Ever? Because I remember it all too well.

And just as the thought passes through my mind, he spreads his hand even wider on my thigh and then squeezes before lifting it and pointing to the large casino we’re passing, much like he has some of the other landmarks.

“Another place I’ll take you to while you’re here.”

But just as quickly as we see it, it’s in our rearview mirror as we begin to move toward a residential neighborhood.

“Cruz?”

“Hmm?” he responds absently.

“I thought I was staying at a hotel. Back there. In town somewhere.” I look over my shoulder and down to the hub of the city.

“I cancelled the reservation.”

“You what? Why?”

“It isn’t necessary.”

“But it is. I mean, we’re dating. Dating does not mean living together.”

I yelp as he swerves the car abruptly to the side of the road, right before a sign declaring the Fontvieille district. “You’re free to go back to Austin for a few days, but then we’ll have to start this process all over again. We could play the whole distance makes the heart grow fonder thing, if need be. But you can’t go to a hotel here. Do you know what that would look like considering everything that has transpired over the past twenty-four hours? I mean you want to throw fuel on their fire, be my guest.”

I look out the window toward the ocean sparkling beyond. There is no right answer in this situation. But my gut tells me he’s right. If a non-fight can be extrapolated into all of this online drama and speculation, then God forbid we stay in different places in Monaco.

“I have a guest room. Two actually. You can stay as far away from me as possible if that’s what you prefer. I’m rarely home as it is. When I am, I’m on the simulator training for the next race or working out so . . . I’ll be out of your hair. Besides, I have to fly to Spain in a few days. Make a trip there and back before the next race. That’ll give you time to yourself.”

“Fine. Thank you.” My words are a whisper of consent, my sudden longing for home strong. It’s ridiculous and silly but I think it’s just the emotions of the past few days hitting me all at once.

Comfort. Being able to head over to my parents’ house and sit at the kitchen counter eating some of my mom’s home-cooked food while getting her advice.

I can’t exactly do that when I’m lying to her.

Within minutes, we pull into the district and then into a garage of an unassuming structure. It has modern architecture—sleek lines and a minimalist exterior—in this town that feels old world.

Tension still radiates between us but it hits differently now, and I’m not sure why. We sit in the quiet of the car for a few moments as Cruz grips the steering wheel.

“THIS is the only place I can protect you, Madds,” he whispers. “It may not be what you want. Hell, you’re no doubt sick of me, but this is the environment I can control and protect you from the wolves.”

And with that declaration, he climbs out of the car and has my door open for me before I grab hold of my purse on the floor. “Thank you.”

A short elevator ride later and I walk into his penthouse. It’s open and airy with windows on every wall allowing in incredible views of the Mediterranean. The interior is minimalistic modern. Light woods and neutral colors mixed with creams and whites. It should be cold but somehow with the aqua of the sea beyond, it isn’t.