Page 31 of Too Fast To Fall
“I try.” Piper brushed off her pants with both hands. “We probably shouldn’t let him off leash again.”
“Never. Ever.” Emilio laughed quietly. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m good. I once got knocked over by a Great Dane. That was a pain that lingered.”
“I bet.” In the fading light of day, he caught Piper still looking at him. Did she feel what he did? Was she as unsure ofwhat it meant? Was there part of her wanting to race toward it the way Gus had run toward her, with nothing but reckless enthusiasm?
“We should probably head back now he’s gotten out his ya-yas.”
Piper started back and Emilio waited for an instant, wondering why it felt like things had just shifted.
Back at the motorhome, Piper filled up Gus’s water bowl, then poured herself a big glass of water. “I guess I’m going to headto bed.”
“I should do the same.” Emilio followed her into the narrow corridor where the bedrooms were.
Piper reached her doorway, then paused and turned back to him. “I don’t want you to worry about tomorrow. You’re going tokill it.”
If only he had her confidence. Still, he loved that it was her instinct to be encouraging. She never questioned him. Onlyspread her particular brand of positivity. “I’ll try. No promises, but I’ll try.”
“Well, good. Because you are a champion.” She placed her hand on the center of his chest, spreading a wave of warmth throughhis shirt and across the plane of his chest. Again, he thought about a kiss... but no. Kisses would only make life complicated.“Like I said before, everything you need is already inside you.”
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
Imola, Italy
Piper was so excited for her second race she could hardly stand it. The paddock was abuzz with electricity, while her brainand body were still abuzz with the memory of the instant last night when she’d been in Emilio’s arms. His hand on the smallof her back. Peering up into his handsome face. God, she’d wanted him to kiss her. His lips on hers... wow. That was atantalizing thought, however irrational. It would never happen. Obviously.
“Excuse me?” Someone tapped her on the shoulder. “Is this Gus? Can I get a picture with him?”
Piper snapped back to reality. “Absolutely. No problem.”
A few more people appeared.
“Do you want to be in a picture with us?” one young man asked her.
“Absolutely not. But thanks.” Piper shook her head. “I’m more of a behind the scenes sort of person.” After all, she’d begone in a few weeks, and everyone would be left wondering months from now about the random person in Gus’s social feeds.
“Oh. I thought you were dating Emilio,” a woman said.
Piper froze. “What?”
“Yeah. There were those photos of him with his arm around you at the security gates the other day. Everyone assumed you’retogether.”
Somehow, Piper had missed that. Completely. “Uh, no. Sorry. I’m just the dog nanny. Nothing else.”
As it got closer to race time, the crowd around Gus dispersed. On her way to the paddock club, Piper spotted Mia, who wasdoing on-camera work for Cloud Sports, chatting with famous people and VIPs in the paddock. When she was done filming a segment,Piper popped into her line of sight and waved.
“Oh, my God. What did you do to Gus?” Mia asked. “You made him famous in twenty-four hours.”
Gus was obediently standing by Piper’s side. If he was famous, he sure didn’t act like it. Maybe that was the genius of beinga dog. He didn’t let it go to his head. “The fans love the drivers’ pets, don’t they?”
“It’s true. Kenji is always talking about his cats, and the fans go crazy for it. I can’t imagine the chaos if he ever broughtthem to the track. And I heard Florian got a puppy.”
“Aww. Maybe Gus can have a buddy.” Piper had never met French driver Florian Laurent. “Maybe his dog would like my homemadetreats.”
The mere mention oftreatsgrabbed Gus’s attention. In an instant, he was nudging Piper’s hand with his nose.
“Gus, sit. Shake.” Piper held out her hand and Gus offered his paw. She rewarded him with a treat.
