Trackside Temptation

Chapter Twenty-Four

MATTHIAS

This country had always been on my bucket list, with Queenstown at the top. I'd seen countless photos of its stunning view and videos of people indulging in thrilling activities. Even though my craving for adventure wasn't as strong as it once was, experiencing it all firsthand remained a must for me.

I stood on the rooftop balcony of our apartment as Francesca walked towards the hot tub. The lake glistened in front of us, surrounded by mountain ranges and the bright winter sun.

We decided to split up the holiday, visiting Queenstown midway through so Francesca could spend some time with her father before we flew back.

Fuck, Don McKenzie was a great dad. The way he cared for her was evident in everything he did. It was clear why Francesca had turned out to be such a compassionate person.

Francesca glanced back at me, clutching the red blanket wrapped around her shoulders. "It's forty degrees," she said, dipping her hand into the water. "Celsius. I'm not sure what metric you use, but this is perfect for a spa."

I laughed. "Shall we strip down and make use of it then?"

Francesca flashed a cheeky smirk as she walked closer to me. "I have a better idea." With a playful glance, she headed back inside the apartment, and I followed her closely.

"Keep what you're wearing on," she continued. "There's a car waiting downstairs. I'm taking us somewhere."

A strange sense of nerves settled in my stomach. I wasn't a fan of surprises. But despite my attempts to tease Francesca during the drive there, she merely shot me a sharp glance and told me to shush.

"Eyes on the road, sweetheart," I laughed.

Francesca rolled her eyes, returning her vision forward. "If you can scratch an itch while travelling at three hundred kilometres an hour, I can steal a glance at you for one second."

I shook my head. "This road is not straight. I only do that when I'm on the straights."

She smiled, keeping her head forward this time. Fuck, I couldn't help but stare. It had always either been me or the chauffeur behind the wheel between races, but there was something undeniably attractive about the way she seemed so at ease while driving here. The one hand on the wheel. The other placed gently on her lap. Even her most mundane actions were captivating.

"We're here," she said, turning onto an entrance. The crunch of gravel under the wheels made me momentarily worried she was taking me to a secluded forest to commit murder.

But then I saw the sign. Bungy Jumping.

"No way," I said in awe. I'd done numerous Bungy jumps all around the world. In fact, I almost found them more exhilarating than the skydiving lessons I used to take. Francesca knew all about my hobbies, but I didn't think she'd remembered every detail I'd shared.

"Yes!" she squealed as she reversed into the car park.

We walked through the entrance and were greeted by a petite woman with a smile almost as wide as Francesca's.

"Good afternoon," the woman beamed. "What can I do for you today?"

Francesca was the one to speak, pointing at the information board. "Hi, we're here for Matthias to do the bungy jump, please."

I raised an eyebrow and held up my hand in protest. "Uh, no. You brought me here, so you're doing it too."

She looked back at me in shock. "Matt."

I laughed and gently steered her towards the price list. "There's a tandem option. And would you look at that... it's cheaper than two individual jumps."