Racing Harts

Chapter 8

The sun hung high in the sky as Levi and Cara entered the quaint seaside restaurant, its tables adorned with crisp white linens and shaded by vibrant umbrellas. Cara, in her simple white summer dress, exuded an effortless elegance that turned heads as they walked in. Levi, the epitome of charm, followed closely, his presence commanding attention without overshadowing Cara's grace.

As they approached their table, a young girl, no older than twelve, approached with wide eyes, clutching a pen and a piece of paper. "Excuse me, Levi, can I have your autograph?" she asked, her voice barely containing her excitement.

Levi's smile, as genuine as ever, lit up his face. "Of course, sweetheart, What's your name?" he replied, taking the pen and paper from her. He signed his name with a practised hand, and

"Lucy." she responded the girl looked up at Cara with a questioning expression. "Is she your girlfriend?" the girl asked, her curiosity evident.

Cara smiled politely, her gaze shifting to Levi for guidance. Levi hesitated for a moment, his eyes meeting Cara's before he chuckled softly. "Yes, Lucy, she is," he said, his voice warm and sincere.

The girl's eyes widened in surprise, a mix of excitement and disbelief dancing in her gaze. "Wow, that's so cool! Thank you!" she exclaimed, her enthusiasm bubbling over. Levi thanked her for stopping by, his smile unwavering, before he placed his hand gently on Cara's lower back, guiding her toward their table.

The gentle murmur of conversations surrounded them as they picked at their food, both lost in their thoughts. Levi, ever perceptive, noticed the weight sitting on Cara's shoulders, her usual spark dulled.

Levi reached across the table, his hand covering hers gently. "Hey," he said softly, concern etched on his face. "What happened with Cian? Is everything okay?"

Cara took a deep breath, her voice steadier than before. "We talked. It was... intense. He's worried, Levi, and he's frustrated that I didn't tell him sooner."

Levi's eyes softened with empathy. "I'm sorry for telling him, Cara. I never meant for things to escalate like this. But he needed to know. How can I help?"

Cara hesitated, her gaze meeting Levi's. "I don't want you to get involved any more than you already are, Levi. Cian doesn't trust easily, and I don't want to complicate things for him. He's just protective because he cares about me."

Levi nodded, his expression understanding. "I get it. But I can't stand seeing you like this. If there's anything I can do, even if it's just being a listening ear, I want to help. I care about you too."

A small, appreciative smile tugged at the corners of Cara's lips. "Thank you, Levi. Right now, I think I just need some time to figure things out with Cian. He needs to understand that I can handle this, with or without his involvement."

Levi squeezed her hand gently. "I understand, Cara. Just remember, I'm here for you, no matter what. You don't have to face this alone."

Cara nodded, gratitude shining in her eyes. In that moment, despite the complexities of their situation, she felt a sense of comfort in Levi's presence. The genuine concern he showed reminded her that she wasn't alone in this struggle. They shared a quiet moment, acknowledging the unspoken words.

With a silent understanding, she took a sip of her drink, her eyes meeting Levi's with a playful glint.

"So, about this fake relationship," Cara began, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "We should probably establish some ground rules, don't you think?"

Levi leaned in, his expression serious, ready to establish the ground rules. "So, here's what I'm thinking," he began, his voice low yet firm. "We should act like a couple in public – that means holding hands, being affectionate, and attending events together. I'll introduce you as my girlfriend to everyone, and you do the same. We'll also post pictures of each other on our social media accounts, Instagram especially, to make it look convincing."

Cara nodded, absorbing the information, her fingers tracing absent patterns on the edge of her plate. "Got it. Public displays of affection, social media posts, and introducing each other as partners. Anything else?"

Levi continued, his tone businesslike yet considerate. "Whenever we're at races, you'll have full access to the garage and the team. I'll make sure you're treated like family there. And, of course, if there are any events or parties, I want you by my side."

Cara agreed. Levi's tone turned more serious as he added, "We can't tell anyone it's fake, not even Cian. This is worth too much."

"And we help each other out," Cara added, her tone earnest. "If there's a situation where we need to cover for each other, we do it. We're in this together, after all."

Levi's eyes softened with genuine warmth. "Absolutely. We watch each other's backs."

Cara's lips curved into a mischievous smile. "Oh, and one more thing. Whenever we're together in public, we have to be seen. No hiding away. We need to go out, be seen, and act like a couple."

Cara couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation. "Alright, then. Let's start sooner rather than later," she said, pulling her phone out of her pocket. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she angled her phone to capture their meals, ensuring Levi's hand was visible in the corner of the frame. She added a small white heart to it, posting it to her story.

Levi grinned, reaching for his own phone. "Might as well embrace the madness," he remarked, taking a photo of their meals from his perspective. "I'll make sure this ends up on my Instagram. People will start connecting the dots soon enough."

As Cara picked up her fork, she absently moved her food around her plate, her thoughts still lingering on the conversation with Cian. Her appetite had waned, replaced by the weight of the situation and the burden of her emotions. She looked at Levi, her eyes serious and sincere. "Levi," she said, her voice soft yet determined, "I want to thank you. For helping me navigate through all of this, with Ian and everything else. Your support means more to me than I can express."

Levi met her gaze, his expression serious and sincere. "Cara, you don't have to thank me. I care about you, and I want to help in any way I can. You're not alone in this, okay? We'll face whatever comes together. Plus you're helping me out too."

Cara offered him a small, appreciative smile, her heart warmed by his unwavering support. "I'm really lucky to have you by my side, Levi. Thank you."

Levi nodded solemnly, his gratitude mirrored in his eyes. "And I'm lucky to have you too, Cara. We'll get through this, no matter what."

Their moment of mutual gratitude hung in the air, binding them together in their shared struggle. It was a silent promise, an unspoken agreement to face the challenges ahead as a team.

Levi took a sip of his wine and looked across the table at Cara "On a different note, there's an event at the casino tonight. It's a formal affair, and I've been invited. I was just going to make a brief appearance and then leave before the meal is served. But if you'd like to come as my date, I'd be delighted to have you there."

Cara's eyes lit up at the invitation, her initial concerns forgotten. "How could I possibly turn down my first public appearance as Levi Ross' girlfriend? But I don't even have a dress for the occasion."

Levi leaned in, a playful glint in his eyes. "Don't worry about that. I'll sort it out. We can make a quick stop at one of the boutiques in Monaco and find you the perfect dress. It's on me."

Cara smiled, touched by his thoughtfulness. "You really don't have to, Levi."

Levi chuckled, his charisma shining through. "I know, but I want to.."

Cara considered his invitation, her eyes meeting his. A small smile tugged at her lips as she nodded in agreement. "I'd be happy to go with you," she replied, her voice soft. "But I hope you have a good sense of fashion."

Levi raised an eyebrow, feigning offence. "Of course, I do. You're in safe hands, Caro."

"Caro," Emily repeated, her eyes meeting his. "Thats not the first time you've called me that." She paused, her smile growing. "What does it mean?"

Levi's smile mirrored hers. "It means Dear in Italian," he said, his voice softening. "It's a name my father used to call my mother. They were deeply in love, despite the world around them."

Emily's eyes softened, understanding the depth of his words. As they finished their meal, Cara's heart swelled with gratitude for the unexpected connection she had found in him.