Page 28 of Dream Chaser

I felt like Cinderella without a godmother or a glass slipper for the prince to follow.

For Cinderella, things worked out just fine.

Nova Lockhart wasn’t that lucky.

CHAPTER NINE

Alejandro

August

On Sunday, journalists and photographers swarmed the podium where Asher and his teammate Roy Myers stood. Roy had placed first, and Asher second. While it was an admirable result, I’d felt Asher’s frustration from the audience. He wanted the champion title for reasons beyond vanity, but Roy was hard to beat.

My gaze glided over the crowd, landing on Nova. There she was in a white T-shirt and jeans, snapping pictures with a focused frown. She was working harder than most people I knew, and I couldn’t help but admire that. The engagement on Asher’s social media had skyrocketed. The sponsors were thrilled.

I’d made the right choice hiring her.

She might’ve lacked experience, but she was eager to learn and went the extra mile. Like doing more overtime than what I was comfortable with. In almost four days in Barcelona, she’d hardly put her work phone down. Her personal cell, on the other hand, was something I never saw her use.

As if sensing she was on my mind, she turned and strolled toward me.

“Would it be okay if I posted some behind-the-scenes shots?” she asked. “Maybe a few pictures of Asher with Kaia? People respond so well to those.”

Sweat beaded along Nova’s hairline. I handed her a bottle of water I hadn’t opened yet. Our fingers brushed, and a tingle raced over my hand.

Nova’s gaze snapped up to mine as if she’d also felt it.

“Post anything you consider necessary,” I said, my voice unexpectedly hoarse. “You don’t need my permission.”

She opened the bottle. “Thank you. I’m a bit disappointed he wasn’t first, you know? I could sense how much he wanted it.”

“He’s working hard to make it happen. It’s only a matter of time.”

“Yeah.” A barely there smile lifted the corners of Nova’s lips. They glistened; so did her skin.

I cleared my throat. “Go stand somewhere in the shade, Nova. It’s too hot.”

She nodded, then hurried to the paddock, disappearing into the crowd.

Joder. Fuck. I shouldn’t have dismissed her like that, but looking at her the way I did had already crossed enough lines Thursday night.

Dining at El Buen Vivir had given Manu the wrong idea about my relationship with Nova. In his defense, I’d never taken a woman to his restaurant.

Then there was the stroll down Passeig de Gràcia and the photos of her I still had on my phone.

I hadn’t been acting like a boss should. I had a friendly relationship with all my employees, but Nova was different.

Gorgeous. Younger.

I squeezed the back of my neck, forcing myself to get a grip. Asher left the podium. I headed his way, craving a distraction even more than he craved first place.

***

The airplane engine rumbled steadily. Nova was curled up beneath a blanket in her seat, hands tucked under her cheek, eyes closed. She’d slept through the flight, only waking when the flight attendant brought dinner.

It was eight p.m. in Emerport. We’d land in no time.

“Nova,” I whispered, touching her shoulder.