“Lorenzo?” he asks, pointing toward my phone as he rests one ankle on the opposite knee. “I’m sure it did not a bit of good.”
“None. But I had to try.” I lean on the desk, closing my briefcase in further indication of my intent to leave.
Cosmin rakes both hands through his unruly dark-blond hair and blows out a dramatic breath. “You know Kalle is unlikely to secure any more points for Emerald than Jake. Possibly fewer.”
“Agreed. It’s a risk.”
Throwing a glance at the door, Cosmin drops his voice and notes, “Phaedra wants to cut Jake loose and has not been shy about it.”
My nod is tight. “Yes. She and I spoke earlier.Ifwe make the switch—and it’s not yet decided—Jakob stays for Monaco, then Kalle comes in for Baku. He has experience there. Montréal, I suppose, is a sacrifice, since—”
“I’m giving you a win in Canada,” Cosmin says with a gleam in his eye. “I can feel it.”
“I’ll take it,” I say with amusement. “At any rate, we get Kalle up to speed by Silverstone.” With a sigh of laughter, I smooth one tired hand down my face. “Though if he doestoowell, fans won’t let Sage forget it next year.”
Cosmin smiles. “She can handle it—she’s a bloody ace, that woman.”
Conversation falls into a brief lull, and as I’m shouldering my briefcase to make my departure, Cosmin speaks up. “I have a concern, if you’ve another minute.” He stands and shuts the door. “I… It’s something I overheard two days ago. Phaedra was in the bath and took a call from Natalia on speaker, and—” He shrugs. “The echo made it almost unavoidable to hear the exchange from the adjacent bedroom.”
“Yes?” I lower my bag, leaning again on the desk.
“She asked Phaedra if either she or…you… might have any ‘enemies’ within Emerald. Disgruntled employees at an executive level. Those with access to privileged information.”
I’m careful to keep my smile light and unconcerned. “Enemies? My, how theatrical.”
Cosmin mirrors my smile, but the set of his brow belies his worry. “I thought the same. But you know Phaedra can be hot tempered, and she demanded to know if Natalia had heard rumors in the press. The exchange became rather heated, and both of them seemed to be withholding information. I tried to ask Phaedra about it, and she pretended to have no idea what I was talking about. Then after the race yesterday, she avoided Natalia. Whatever this is, it’s contentious.”
I lift my eyebrows, attempting a blithe expression. “I wouldn’t be alarmed. Those two are like bickering sisters. They will—”
“It’s not the friendship that gives me concern,” he says quickly, angling his sober blue eyes my way. “I’m shocked you don’t appear to be disturbed by this yourself. Almost indicates that it comes as no surprise.”
My foothold seems to sink deeper into the mire. I try the distraction of turning the question around. “Does it ring true to you? Do you have suspicions about someone on the team?”
He takes a long, slow breath, as if weighing what to say. “I wouldn’t go that far, no. Though Jakob’s statements at the Thursday press conference were a bit salty. I have to wonder if he’s spouted off to the wrong people privately, and Natalia caught wind of it.”
My shoulders relax as Cosmin’s assumption shoots wide of the truth. Standing again, I shoulder my bag definitively. I don’t knowif I imagine the shifting weight of the packed manila envelope inside, like a hibernating bear with the potential for deadly chaos if awakened.
“I’ll talk to Jake,” I reassure Cosmin. “And it so happens that I’m meeting with Natalia shortly. I can mention the coolness between her and Phaedra yesterday and see if it throws light on the issue.”
I take my leave with all the appropriate pleasantries, but inside I’m in turmoil. For the past two months, I’ve been caught between two equally horrible choices: watch helplessly as Natalia dances closer to danger, possibly chasing a story so volatile that some people might kill to keep it from the press; or lie to keep her safe and risk destroying the trust we’ve fought so hard to build.
This can’t go on. I must confess tonight, no matter the consequences.
The sun is low as I cruise into the labyrinth’s deserted parking area. Only one other vehicle is here—a blue SUV with lightly tinted windows. As I’m removing my helmet and setting it on the back of the motorbike, the door of the SUV opens and Natalia’s unmistakable shapely legs become visible as she pivots out of her seat.
She’s wearing a skirt of tiered pearl-gray ruffles that stop just above the knees, like a cross between a cheerleader and a CEO, a pink cap-sleeve blouse, and strapless low heels.
I dismount the bike and meet her at the halfway point, both of us eager for the greeting. Sliding one hand lightly into her hair, I attempt to deliver a restrained double-cheek kiss when she intercepts me in transit and lands on my mouth. Her warmthintensifies as I respond, and she leans in, snaking her arms around me and clutching the back of my jacket.
“Talia,” I whisper as we re-angle before colliding again.
Her fists tighten on my jacket, and her lips part. Her tongue skims mine and I groan, one hand coasting down her back and splaying on the generous curve of her bottom, pressing her closer. I pull my head back for an instant, glancing at our surroundings.
Natalia smiles and rises on her toes to reclaim our kiss, murmuring against me, “There’s no one here. They’re closed—we got here too late. Plenty of privacy.” She nips my lower lip with a hum of laughter. “Now give me more of this.”
Every problem, every other person, even the world around us dims, eclipsed by the presence of this woman. The aroma of Spanish cedar and mastic trees, their mingled piquancy and musk, serves as a setting for the gem of Natalia’s own scent—her skin, her hair, the heat of her mouth on mine. We feast on each other, hands roaming. Time sags away, elastic, measured in kisses and the breaths to sustain them.
At last Natalia closes the interlude with a quick peck to my lips, tauntingly pulling back when I try to lean in again.
