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  Then his eyes do that thing they do, running the full length of my body, giving a lazy perusal. And it irks the hell out of me. He wouldn’t treat his male mechanics this way, so he definitely doesn’t get to do it with me.

  “Let’s just cut the comedy. You need to stop with the flirting and the sexual innuendos. You and me – not going to happen. I don’t go with drivers. It’s a rule of mine.”

  He frowns. “You don’t go with drivers?”

  “I don’t sleep with them.”

  “What I was suggesting wouldn’t involve sleep.”

  “Yeah, I got that memo. But if you’re wanting sex tonight or any other night, it’s not gonna be with me. Drivers are off-limits for me, especially ones I work for. Now, thanks for the drink.” I pick my bottle up. “And have a great rest of your birthday.” I turn to leave.

  “That’s it?” he says, his voice pulling me back to him.

  I give him a strained smile. “Yeah. That’s it.”

  “So, we can’t even be friends?”

  I give him a suspicious look. “You want to be friends?”

  “Why do you sound so surprised?”

  “Um…because less than thirty seconds ago, you were trying to get into my pants.”

  “Look”—he scratches his cheek—“the flirting…it’s just the way I am. I don’t mean any offense. But I like you. I think you’re cool. I’m guessing, as you’re new here, you don’t have many friends—aside from John—so I’m saying, let’s be friends.”

  I ponder on it for a minute. Is it a good idea to be friends with Carrick? Probably not. But I’m going to be working for the guy, so friends seems logical. Not good friends. Just work buddies.

  “Friends…okay, I can do that.”

  “Good.” He smiles winningly.

  “Carrick? You ready to go?”

  My eyes swing to the voice calling his name, and I see a group of guys and girls all by the main door, looking like they’re about to leave. I notice that Amy and Ben are with them. Amy is looking at me less than favorably. A definite frown is on her face. I get the impression the frown is because Carrick is talking to me, and she likes Carrick, which isn’t surprising.

  In this moment, I find myself comparing my looks to hers, not something I usually do. She’s pretty, womanly. She has definite hips and a bum and plenty going on up top. Me…well, my figure’s more boyish. I’m slender with no hips and very little arse. My cup size is generous but not too generous. I know my face is nice because people always tell me how much I look like my mother, and she is beautiful. And I have nice dark-brown hair—long, thick, and with a natural wave. I don’t wear it down often though as it’s always tied up because of work.

  “I’ll be there in a sec,” Carrick says to the group.

  “Well, the cabs are here, so hurry up,” someone calls out.

  I watch as they pile out the doors before I bring my eyes back to Carrick, who’s already looking at me.

  “We’re going clubbing. Do you want to come?” he asks with a tilt of his head.

  “No, but thanks for asking. I’m tired. The jet lag is catching up with me. I’m gonna head home soon.”

  He stares at me for a long moment, before he starts backing away. “Okay…cool. Sleep well, and I’ll see you soon, friend.”

  He gives a cheeky grin, one that I can’t help but return in the form of a soft smile.

  “Good night, Carrick.”

  One last dazzling smile, then, he’s gone, and for a split second, I regret not going with him even though I know that I did the right thing. Nothing good could have come of me going clubbing with Carrick.

  That becomes even more apparent in the morning when I go out to get some food from the local shop and see the newspapers in the stands. They are filled with pictures of Carrick leaving a club, looking the worse for wear, with a couple of girls hanging off of him, and I recognize one as Amy, the front-of-house girl.

  I’m guessing Carrick hasn’t learned his lesson about sleeping with coworkers.

  Seeing this picture and going by the icky feeling in my stomach at the knowledge that Carrick quite possibly had sex with both of those girls, probably at the same time, I’m starting to think that it’s maybe not a good idea for me to be friends with him.

  Because, if after a day of knowing him, I feel icky over a picture, then it can only go downhill from there.

  I’M IN MELBOURNE for the start of the season.

  It’s my first time in Australia. We’ve been busy since we arrived, preparing for the first race of the season at Albert Park, so I haven’t seen a lot of the sights, but what I have seen is amazing.

  What, or I should say whom, I haven’t seen is Carrick—for two weeks now.

  The last time I saw him was the morning after his birthday. He came into the garage, wearing sunglasses and a ball cap pulled low.

  When he saw me, he stopped and stared at me in a way I couldn’t decipher, but I felt that look all the way down to my bones. Then his eyes cleared, he lifted a hand in a wave, and was gone.

  I felt rattled for the whole day after that, but then I quickly sorted myself out.

  Carrick is a player. And a driver.

  Drivers equal bad.

  And my little whatever it was—my-body-wants-his-body crush—is gone. Done with. Finito. It has to be because the racing season runs from March to November, and Carrick and I will be seeing a lot of each other. Nothing good could come of this my-body-wanting-to-jump-his-body thing for the next eight-plus months.

  Carrick is due to arrive in Australia today. We’re a few days out before practice sessions start, but Carrick needs to be here early to acclimatize to the weather.

  Nico’s also arriving. I have yet to meet him, not that I’ll have a lot of interaction with him as he has his own mechanics, but I’m still looking forward to it.

  From what I can tell of Nico from the press, he’s the complete opposite of Carrick. Very focused and dedicated, he’s never seen out partying, and he is very much a family man, married with children.

  I wonder how he and Carrick get along—if they get along at all. It’s not unusual for teammates not to like one another. Drivers might be paired under the same banner, but it’s a solitary sport and incredibly competitive.

  It’s coming up to dinnertime, and I’m in my hotel room, the room I’m gonna be sharing with one of the hospitality girls, Petra. She’ll be getting in soon. I haven’t seen her since I met her on Carrick’s birthday.

  To be honest, I’m surprised to be sharing a room with her. I thought she would have been sharing a room with the other front-of-house girl, Amy, the one who was photographed leaving that club with Carrick. I expected to be rooming alone. But it’s not a problem. I’m sure it’ll be fine. I guess it’ll be strange at first, sharing a room with someone I barely know, but I’m sure we’ll get on no problem,

  I don’t have a problem getting along with women. I just tend to get along better with men. I guess my interests, cars, aren’t that of a usual woman.

  I’m sprawled out on my bed, deciding what to do for dinner, while watching TV when I hear the door open. Petra comes in, dragging a suitcase behind her, sounding out of breath.

  “Hi.” I sit up, turning the volume down on the TV.

  She closes the door and props her suitcase up against the dresser. “Hey. Andi, right? We met at Carrick’s birthday?”

  “Hi. Yes, we did.”

  “Sorry. I was a bit drunk that night. My memory sucks when I’ve had a drink. So, we’re gonna be roomies for the next eight-plus months.” She drops down on the other bed, her bed.

  “I guess we are.” I slide my hands under my thighs, sitting on them.

  “Well, I don’t snore apparently. And it doesn’t matter if you do. I’m a heavy sleeper.” She shrugs.

  “Okay. Erm…well, I don’t think I snore. I mean, I’ve never had anyone tell me that I do.”

  “Awesome. So, what’s the plan tonight?”

  “Plan?”

&
nbsp; “Are the guys going out?”

  “Um, I think so.” I shrug. “Ben said something about going out for a beer later.”

  “Cool. We’ll text them and see what the plan is. Have you eaten? ’Cause I’m starving.”

  “No. I was just thinking about dinner.”

  “Fabulous. We’ll get something to eat, either here or out. Then, we can meet up with the guys for a drink.”

  “Sounds great.” I cross my legs on the bed, so I’m sitting Indian-style. “Are you not tired?” I ask her.

  I was zonked when I first got here. I’m still trying to adjust to the time zone now. I’d only just got used to being in England.

  “Nah. I had a good sleep on the plane, and I’m used to all the traveling around. Been doing this for years. I’m easily adaptable.” She kicks her flip-flops off. “And anyway, who needs sleep?”

  “People.” I grin.

  “Yeah, but I’m not most people. And in the wise words of Bon Jovi, ‘I’ll sleep when I’m dead.’”

  I laugh lightly. I’m starting to like this girl already.

  “Yeah, I guess you’ve got a point. I’m not usually one for lying in. But I was knackered when I first got here.”

  She chuckles. “You’ll adjust to it all soon enough.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure I will. Has the other girl, Amy, arrived, too?”

  Petra’s face frowns at the mention of Amy’s name. “No, she got let go.”

  “Let go?”

  “Sacked.”

  “Oh. Why?”

  “Because she shagged Carrick. I bloody told her not to, that no good would come of it, especially not so soon after what happened with Charlotte, but she didn’t listen.”

  “Oh, right. Yeah, Uncle John told me about the Charlotte thing, not that we were gossiping or anything.” I’m quick to clear it up. “Uncle John was just telling me how my position came up.”

  “Yeah, it was all a bit of a mess, to be honest.”

  “So, does every girl who sleeps with Carrick get fired?” At her expression, I clarify, “Not that I’m asking because I want to sleep with him. Purely asking out of nosiness.”

  She shrugs. “He’s never really bothered with staff before. I mean, he never tried anything with me, not that I’d let him. He’s not my type. But before Charlotte, it was Lea, and she was married. Then, she left to have a baby, and Rich got Charlotte the job, and we know how that ended—a big fucking tabloid mess. So, when Amy got the job, she had her eye on Carrick straight away, and I told her it wouldn’t be a good idea as Pierce is still prickly about the whole mess. Then, she goes and gets herself photographed with him and another girl. I mean, seriously!” She laughs, throwing her hands up in the air. “So, Pierce had my boss, David let her go, which David did easily as she was brought in only as a temp because Pierce didn’t want to risk any future problems arising, like what they had with Charlotte—you know, her suing them and all.”

  “Hmm. Not that it’s nice, but yeah, I guess I can understand Pierce’s point of view.”

  “Yeah, but now, I’m stuck working on my own. Pierce won’t let David hire anyone else because he’s worried that Carrick will shag the next one. And it’s not like David can hire a guy because you know it’s all about appearances in this business. So, he’s brought in Franco to add more hands in the kitchen to relieve me of that, but I’m up front, serving on my own.” She pulls a face.

  “Sucks,” I sympathize.

  “Yeah, but never mind. It is what it is.” She climbs up off the bed. “I’m gonna go shower the flight off me and get ready to go out. Text Ben, will you, and find out what they’re up to?”

  “Sure.”

  I grab my phone off the nightstand and begin typing out a text to Ben as Petra disappears into the bathroom.

  As it turns out, the guys are already out, so Petra and I catch a quick bite at the hotel.

  Now, we’re walking down to meet them on Fitzroy Street in St. Kilda. It’s a hive of activity. The street is lined with bars and restaurants. Petra told me that this is the best place to come drinking while we’re in Melbourne, not that I know how much drinking I’ll be doing while I’m here.

  The air is hot and humid, so I’m wearing jean shorts, a short-sleeved T-shirt, and flip-flops.

  As we arrive, we see the guys seated outside the bar, and Carrick is with them. At the sight of him, my heart does a little bumpity-bump in my chest. He’s wearing a team ball cap, a T-shirt, and jean shorts. He looks good. No, better than good. He looks gorgeous. Not seeing him for two weeks while trying to dull my memory of him has only made seeing him now fresher, like I’m seeing him for the first time, and my crush comes back with a loud bang. I feel that bang in all my girl parts.

  Crap.

  His eyes meet mine as I approach, and he smiles.

  I swoon. I actually fucking swoon. I’m so pathetic.

  “Ladies,” he drawls.

  His voice hits me in all the right places.

  “Hi,” I say to him.

  Casting my eyes around the table, I greet the rest of them.

  “I’ll go get us a drink,” Petra says. “What do you want?”

  “Beer would great. Thanks.”

  “I need another,” Ben says, getting up from his seat. “I’ll come with you.”

  “Sit down, Andressa.” Carrick reaches over and grabs Ben’s now empty chair and pulls it next to him.

  “Won’t Ben need that when he gets back?”

  Tilting his head, he smiles. “He can get another.”

  “Okay.” I slide into the chair, and I try not to be aware of him, but I am.

  “So, you missed me then?”

  I turn my face to look at him. “With every fiber of my being,” I deadpan.

  A smile tips up his lips. “A simple yes would have sufficed.”

  “Why be simple when you can be amazing?”

  “True.” His eyes smolder at me.

  And I love the smolder too much, so I look away.

  “So, how has my new best friend been? Aside from being amazing, of course.”

  Moving my eyes back to him, I raise my brows. “Best friend?”

  “Oh, yeah. We’re best friends. Did you not know?”

  “Apparently not. So, how are we best friends again exactly?”

  “We’re best friends because”—he leans in close, moving into my space, with his lips next to my ear, and his hot breath makes me shiver—“you won’t let me shag you. Now, we’re going to be the next best thing, and that’s best friends because I don’t do things by halves, Andressa. I’m an all-or-nothing kinda guy.” He sits back in his chair, staring at me.

  I feel a wobble deep inside of me. I swallow down. “Um, yeah…I’m kind of getting that impression.”

  “So?” He’s still staring at me.

  “So…what?”

  “How have you been?”

  “Oh, good. Great. You?” I tuck a loose strand of hair that fell out of my ponytail behind my ear.

  “I’ve been good.” He shrugs. “Better now that I’m with my best friend.”

  “You really need to stop saying that. It makes you sound weird. And a little tragic.”

  He lets out a loud laugh, his eyes bright with mirth. I feel that smile radiate inside my chest.

  Petra comes back with my drink.

  “Thanks,” I say, taking it from her. I put it down on the table. “Do you want your chair back?” I offer to Ben, lifting my bum from the seat.

  “Nah, don’t worry. I’ll grab another.” He gets a couple of spare chairs from another table and carries them over, putting them next to me.

  Petra sits by me, and Ben takes the chair next to her.

  Reaching for my beer, I take a welcome sip.

  “How are you finding Australia?” Carrick asks me.

  “It’s great. I haven’t seen much of it yet, but I plan on doing a little sightseeing when I get the chance.”

  “I plan on doing some shopping,” Petra imparts. “Namely a pair
of Uggs. So much cheaper here than back home.”

  “I might tag along when you go, if that’s okay?” I love Ugg boots.

  “Sure it is.” She smiles. “It’ll be good to have another shopping buddy, seeing as though I lost my last one.” She leans forward and pointedly looks at Carrick.

  I see him shift in his seat, and then he’s standing. My eyes follow him up.

  “I’m going for a piss,” he says to no one in particular.

  I watch his back as he heads into the bar, feeling oddly bad for him.

  “Pet…”

  I hear the chastising low tone of Ben’s voice.

  “Go easy on him with the Amy thing.”

  “I know. I know.” She lifts her hand. “I’m just pissed off ’cause I’m serving on my own.”

  “I know, but that’s not his fault. That’s on Pierce. Carrick feels like shit about it. Told me himself. And I was there that night at the club. Amy did all the chasing. She wouldn’t leave him alone. He was hitting it off with this other bird, and Amy was in there. It was her idea for the three of them to leave together. Seriously, any guy would have had a hard time saying no to that. It was his birthday, and he was hammered. You know Carrick. He wouldn’t have touched Amy if he knew it meant she’d get sacked. He’s not exactly challenged for women.” Ben picks his bottle up from the table and takes a drink. “You know, he argued with Pierce about it the next day.”

  “He did?” Petra sounds surprised.

  “Yeah, I heard him and Pierce going at it in Pierce’s office.” That’s Robbie. “He said that Pierce was out of line for sacking her. Carrick tried to get her job back, but Pierce wouldn’t budge.”

  “And the job she’s got now—who do you think lined that up for her?” Ben adds.

  “Carrick? Did he really?” Petra asks.

  Ben takes a sip of his beer, nodding his head. “He’s not a bastard, Pet. You know that.”

  “I know he isn’t. Just…Amy never said,” she mumbles into her drink.

  “Yeah, well, she wouldn’t, would she? She was after more than the one night—like they all are. She’s gonna paint him in a bad light.”

  I see Ben’s eyes lift, and I turn my eyes to see Carrick heading back to the table. He drops into his seat and picks up his beer.