Page 24 of Too Fast To Fall
Piper snort-laughed. “Those are dog treats.”
He coughed and grabbed a glass of water, quickly downing it. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You didn’t give me a chance. Don’t worry. There’s nothing bad in there. Sweet potato. Peanut butter. Whole wheat flour. Eggwhites. It’s pure nutrition.”
“Clearly, no salt or sugar.”
“Never for a dog. You said it yourself. Healthy.”
Emilio grabbed a duffel bag. “You’ve been baking these a lot. How many of these is Gus eating?”
“Only a few a day. I don’t just make them for Gus. I make them for the other dogs we come across when we go for a walk.”
He narrowed his stare. “You make them forotherdogs? Why?”
She wasn’t quite sure how to explain this. “You know how some guys will get a dog so they can meet women?”
Emilio shook his head, seeming befuddled. “No. Why would anyone need to do that?”
“Some guys do. Not you. Obviously.”
“Not me, obviously? What does that mean?”
Was Emilio unaware of his profound handsomeness? His otherworldly sexiness? How could he be? “It means you don’t need anyhelp with romance.”
He shrugged. “You’d be surprised.”
She laughed. She couldn’t help it. The idea was absurd. Frankly, she was shocked there wasn’t some new woman in the mix nowthat Victoria was so publicly dating. If Emilio wanted to, it wouldn’t take much to turn the tables on her.
“Why are you laughing?” he asked.
“You aren’t being serious right now, are you? You know the things people say about you, right? You have a million nicknames.Eye Candy Emilio. Hot lap Baquero. Speedy spice.”
He pinched his nose and shook his head. “I don’t pay attention to that. It’s a distraction from racing.”
“Right. Sure.” The tone of his voice made her realize that perhaps all the adoration from the fans might make him uncomfortable.Emilio wasn’t simply serious and stoic—she sensed he was sensitive, too. “Anyway, I bring treats with me, pretty much everywhereI go. So I can make friends with dogs. I’ve met a ton in the neighborhood since I got to London. Ladybug, Tank, Bones, Peanut,Barkley, Bitsy. Marshmallow. I know I’m forgetting one... Oh, I know. Tasha. Very sassy Pomeranian.”
Emilio gave in to a smile. It nearly made her legs crumple. “Youreallylove your job, don’t you?” he asked.
“Just like you.”
“I have a love/hate relationship with mine at the moment.”
“I’ve heard the Mega car is impossible to drive. Or at least that’s what Mia Neal told me.”
“Mia said that?” He genuinely seemed surprised. “Xander must have told her.”
“It’s no secret he struggled his first year with the car, too. It’s not you. It’s just that you’re having to make a big adjustment.”
“Most people would say I’m paid too much to struggle with that adjustment.”
“They can say all they want. It doesn’t make it any less true.”
Emilio looked at her in way that made her feel unsteady. Had she overstepped? Gone too far? “Thank you. For saying that.”
Heat rushed to her cheeks while relief washed over her. It was like she couldfeelhis appreciation from five feet away. Did he have anyone to talk to about his driving difficulties? Someone who was simplysupportive? After all, she couldn’t offer much in the way of advice. Still, she hoped she wasn’t his only outlet. “You hadsuch an unbelievable season last year. That’s not a fluke. You’ll get back to where you want to be. I know it. Everythingyou need is already inside you.”
“Huh.” He didn’t seem to buy what she’d said. Then his phone beeped with a text. “Our driver is here.”
