Page 36 of Too Fast To Fall
Piper stood right next to him and put her hand on his shoulder, looking down at the photo, which was still in Emilio’s hands.Her touch and everything she’d said made him feel understood. Seen. “You’re so adorable. I can’t stand how cute you are,”she said.
He let out a quiet chuckle. “I was a pretty cute kid.”
“Who turned into a smoking-hot adult.”
He slid a questioning glance in her direction.
“Oh, please. Not this again.” She shook her head. “It’s objectively true. Not open for discussion, Speedy Spice.”
“I don’t think of myself that way.”
“Of course you don’t. It’s my job to tell you.”
“That isnotyour job.”
She gently elbowed him in the ribs. “We’re practically dating if you ask the internet. As your fake romantic interest, pleaseunderstand that I think you’re handsome. So handsome it boggles the mind.”
He could not stop smiling. And feeling a little embarrassed. He put the framed photo on the bookshelf. “If we’re fake dating,then I owe it to you to tell you you’re beautiful.” It felt good to say it, not simply think it. If nothing ever happenedbetween them, at least he got it out of his system. “I thought that from the moment we met.”
Her eyes went impossibly large—he loved seeing the adorable expression of shock on her face, even if he didn’t like that shewas in any way surprised by his appraisal of her beauty. “Yeah. Okay.”
“I’m serious. No double standard. If I have to believe you, you have to believe me.” He reached down and scooped up a fewempty boxes. “I’ll put these in the recycling, then I’m taking you out for dinner. To say thanks for the help.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“You sound hesitant. Do you have plans?”
“No. I’m just remembering you told me when I first arrived that we wouldnotbe hanging out.”
Emilio pressed his lips together and nodded. He could see now he’d been so desperate to turn things around, he’d been a bitsevere. “I’m sorry. I was so focused on finding my footing this season. A positive result in Imola helped me see I need torelax.”
“That’s great.” She smiled. “Where are we going? What should I wear? Do I need to change?”
“You’re perfect as you are.” If only he didn’t mean that so much.
“Are you flirting with me, Emilio?”
He stifled a grin. “Youaremy fake girlfriend. I think I’m entitled.”
Piper’s entire being was on fire as she dashed upstairs, put on some extra deodorant and grabbed her bag. Emilio being nice?Calling her his fake girlfriend? Well, she wasn’t about to get carried away with the second, but the first part? She likedthat a lot. Maybe coming to England had been the right call after all.
The only downside of going to the neighborhood pub was they had to leave Gus at home. “He’ll be fine,” Emilio said. “He’llsleep.”
Piper nodded as they started down the street. According to Emilio, the pub was only a few blocks away. “I know. I’m just soattached to him.”
“He does that to people. To pretty much everyone he meets.”
“Exactly why his social media is doing so well. I’m amazed by how quickly word moves through the F1 world. He gets hundredsof new followers a day without trying at all.”
“If only we all could be adored for simply being ourselves.”
Now, there was a statement she could chew on for a few hundred hours. “Amen to that. I guess that’s the advantage of beinga dog.”
They strolled through Emilio’s charming neighborhood with its brick row houses and shops with apartments overhead. Piper wasfinally getting used to London and almost loving it. It was easier on mild, bright days like today. Even now that the sunwas setting, the air still held a familiar warmth. With the fragrance of blooming flowers in the breeze, it even smelled likesummer. She loved this time of year.
“That’s where Tasha lives.” Piper pointed to a quaint house on the other side of the street.
“Tasha?”
