Page 69 of Break My Heart

Because I can see it now.

This man who keeps everyone at arm’s length, who controls what he gives and what he withholds with precision, is laying himself bare to me to establish trust. Without hesitation.

As I did with him.

He didn’t react because of the feelings growing between us; he reacted because he’s never known how to trust them.

His fear of being vulnerable to love was what hurt us. It wasn’t intentional.

I turn before I can stew with these thoughts for too long. Stepping into the narrower paddock corridors, the noise fades. I catch the heat and light bleeding in just beyond the circuit walls.

Leaning against the barrier, I murmur to myself, “Just another minute.”

That’s when his voice reaches me. “You left.”

I don’t turn. “I relocated to get some air.”

“That’s not what it looked like.”

“That’s because you’re interpreting it emotionally.”

“Of course I was.” A beat. Softer, but no less certain. “It’s you.”

Pleasure sinks beneath my skin. The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. “You were amazing.”

He steps up beside me. “I couldn’t care less about how I performed. Nothing meant more than knowing you were watching.”

Something in my chest tightens. “You know I was.”

A quiet breath escapes him before he shares, “I could feel you with me every time I passed Turn Eleven. It was like the wheel was vibrating under my hands.”

I finally meet his gaze. “That’s not how telemetry works.”

A flicker of a smile lifts his mouth. “You know what I mean.”

“I do.” For a second, my heart overrules my head—warming to the emotions lacing his tone. I let it silence the warnings still coming from my head.

He edges closer but doesn’t crowd me. “I came to find you,” he says.

“I noticed.”

The intensity in his eyes causes my knees to tremble. “I don’t want the loud celebration tonight.”

“What do you want?”

“To spend time with you. Just you.”

“Leo…”

“I’m trying to show you I’m serious about making amends. I want you to feel safe enough to reach for me the way you used to.” His voice cracks on the last word.

That stops me because it’s not a rehearsed line, nor another apology. It’s Leo baring his deepest thoughts. While I’m processing that, he rasps, “I just want a chance to show you that if I have you, none of this matters.” He flicks his arm to indicate the paddock.

“I won’t be hurt again. Not even if you’re having a terrible day,” I warn him.

“You won’t,” he replies immediately.

Something shifts in me. When his attention should be on his driving, he’s more concerned about me.