Chapter Three
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SOPHIE
Race Day!
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THE ATMOSPHERE HEREnever gets old. The crowd milling around, Jack and the boys getting ready. The roar of the bikes. The atmosphere is buzzing with excitement.
I adore my job, but I have another reason to get excited today - Onzo will be here. He and his team are from Sicily, and they flew here this morning. Usually, he would arrive a day before the race so that we could get re-acquainted, but they came straight from another competition. I saw Dom, the rider, going past on his bike earlier - testing it out. I’ll find Onzo in a little while. This is what I need - a night of no strings sex and affection.
Robyn comes bounding over to me with her son, Eli.
I squat down so that I'm at Eli’s height. “Eli! How's it going, buddy? Have you grown?”
“I was five last week, you know.”
I hug him. “Well, that'll be why!”
I look up at a glowing Robyn. “Hi there, Jack’s future wife. And how are you?”
I haven't seen her since the surprise engagement.
“I'm great. I still can't believe I'm engaged. I'm going to be married! And to Jack, for goodness sake - I never in a million years would have thought he would want to get married.”
“He is besotted with you.”
She smiles so big. It warms my heart.
“Mummy, Mummy, I see Jack coming out.”
I turn around to see Jack striding towards Robyn in all his leathers. I've got to admit, he does look good. That roguish expression on his face will never go away.
He smirks as he gets to us, his eyes never leaving Robyn's. “Danish, come here and give me a kiss for luck.” He leans down to ruffle Eli’s hair and kisses Robyn firmly on the mouth - it goes on for a little longer than it should in public, especially with a six-year-old here.
I clear my throat. “Can you two not keep your hands or mouths off each other for longer than five minutes?”
Eli tugs my top. “They're always like this - always kissing. Sometimes Jack even hits mummy on the bottom.”
Jack sniggers and I raise my eyebrows at them both. “We have Eli here subjected to this all the time?”
