Racing For Love

Chapter Thirteen

I'm packing my bag again, this time for Monaco. As a key race in the season, Kate decided that I should be there, but i've not told her about my history with the principality. My stomach churns as I fold clothes - partly because I was going to see Lorenzo again - this time with a plan, and partly because of my family.

I've only been to Monaco twice since the death of my parents - once to bring them home, and once on the five year anniversary of their death, when even then, it was far too overwhelming. Each year, Joe asked if I would visit for the Grand Prix but I never felt completely ready to be in the principality since there were too many memories. It was ten years since I'd heard the echo of a racing car along Beau Rivage because after their death, I couldn't face making memories there without them, especially since it was the place we were all happiest. This time the nerves were different - I felt like the support of the team and the intense workload would be beneficial - keeping me out of my own head over the weekend, and after ten years, it was time to face my fears and those memories I'd long buried.

Matt, James and I arrived on Wednesday evening with a larger group from Bianchi - it was nicer travelling with the rest of the team, rather than arriving alone as I did in Australia. Since it was late, the plan was a quiet one tonight with a team meal tomorrow, so everyone headed off to their rooms. I looked across to see the lights of yachts twinkling across the French Riviera, immediately taken back to race weekends as a child, and the excited anticipation of my father - my breath caught in my throat as I struggled to control myself. I tried to take a deep breath, but it didn't work - my brain a fog as I felt my legs falter, but I was pulled up as someone wrapped their arm around my waist. I looked up at Lorenzo - his dark eyes locked on mine. "Breathe Miss Annie - I have you." he whispered into my ear - his mouth grazing my earlobe as he continued to maintain eye contact.

I stayed focussed on his eyes as I managed to take a deep breath, and felt my heart rate slow. I don't know how he managed it, or how he knew, but I had never been more glad to see him than I was at that moment. "Are you ok, Miss Annie?" he asked, still holding me.

"Fine now, thank you." I managed, my voice wobbly with emotion as I moved away from him, and strode to check in to the hotel, trying to get some distance between us. I waited for the lift to my floor, lost in my own thoughts but as the doors closed, I realised that it was only Lorenzo and I in the small space. "Annie? I was hoping that I would finally receive my kiss, but you do not seem yourself?" his gentle questioning and concerned eyes focussed on me as I gripped my bag, not ready to reveal the reason I was struggling. "I'm ok, just a little jittery from travelling. I'll be ok tomorrow. Thank you." I gave him a slight smile - as much as I could currently manage. As the lift pinged, Lorenzo reached for my bag, taking it out of my hand as he guided me out of the lift and along the corridor. "I can help, please let me" he said quietly - somehow knowing that I wasn't quite ready to be alone.

"My room's this one - Room 305. Thank you for being my personal bellboy. Do I have to tip you?" I joked, because I couldn't manage the current emotional intensity of the situation, but I could see an flicker in Lorenzo's eyes as he looked at me, and a tingle of anticipation crept through my body, setting it on high alert. "Well, you already owe me for my win in Baku-" I cut him off as I reached up to kiss him, wrapping my hand around the back of his head and pulling him in closer, deepening the kiss as he gently pushed me into the closed door, pressing himself against me as my hands roamed across his back and down to his hips, holding him close before breaking away and breathing quickly. "Lorenzo, we need to talk" I managed. Our attraction clear in that moment, and I knew that trying to resist him was futile. "Would you like to go for a walk?" he asked and we agreed to meet in 20 minutes - allowing me time to get settled, and quickly change my clothes, but not enough time to change my mind. I threw on a linen shirt and loose trousers - the late May evening was still warm enough to warrant going out without a jacket.