The Prince and the Player

“It seems dangerous,” Ava says, looking nervously up at him.

Cal’s right beside me, an arm draped around my waist, smiling so big. “Nah, Ro’s an incredible racer. He’s been doing it for years.” Sitting a little straighter, he hands Ava his binoculars. “Watch as he comes through that set of curves. He’ll ease off a little on the first one then let it rip as he pulls into the straight. It’s how he’s able to clock such a great time. He’s fearless.”

I can’t help a grin watching the enthusiasm in his eyes. “You’re really proud of him,” I say, kissing his cheek.

He leans back and gives me a smug grin. “It’s not very sexy, I know. I should be more brooding and competitive. Loki.”

Snorting a laugh, I press my face against his shoulder. “I think it’s very endearing.”

Rowan’s car flies past in another blast of noise and blaze of red, and Cal stands. “Come, let’s walk down. It’s his last lap. We can meet him at the finish line.”

Ava’s on her feet at once, and we follow him along the silver bleachers to the steps leading down to the tarmac.

“It’s too bad he doesn’t compete anymore,” he continues.

We’re holding hands, and Ava strolls beside us. It’s a sunny day, and she’s wearing a white halter dress that ripples in the breeze. She topped it off with a wide-brimmed straw hat, and I swear she looks like she just stepped out of Vogue magazine. I look like I’m headed to a racetrack in cropped khaki cargo pants and a thin sleeveless tank. Cal’s more my speed in jeans and a thin V-neck sweater.

“Why doesn’t he compete anymore?” she asks, placing a hand on the top of her hat.

We step out onto the track, and the wind gusts around us. The sound of Rowan’s car echoes from the other side of the track.

“Too dangerous,” Cal says. “When these guys crash… well, not much is left.”

Ava’s eyes go round, and her cheeks go completely pale.

“But don’t worry!” he hastily adds. “Rowan’s done this so long, the chances of him having an accident alone on the track are slim to none.”

She does a little nervous nod and looks back out to where a streak of red races toward us at blinding speed.

“I’ve seen some of those wrecks,” I whisper in Cal’s ear. “They’re pretty scary.”

“You’d be surprised how far they’ve come with safety on these things. From the suit he wears down to the cockpit design. They’ve got it to where drivers can be out of the vehicle in five seconds.”

“Five? Out of that tiny thing?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty impressive. They call it a ‘survival cell,’ and no fuel, oil, or water lines run through it. No more sitting, trapped in a fiery inferno, like Niki Lauda.”

My heart lurches. “The guy in that Ron Howard movie?”

He exhales a laugh and pulls my head to his lips, giving me a kiss. “Yes, the Ron Howard movie.”

I struggle to push the image out of my head. I can’t even think of Rowan burned beyond recognition. Ava’s up ahead waiting with the pit crew as Rowan coasts in to a stop. He slides out quickly, removing the helmet and giving her a smile. She’s less enthusiastic than when we arrived, and I can’t say I blame her.

“I’m sure your mother’s glad he doesn’t compete anymore,” I whisper.

Cal’s arm moves from around my shoulders to holding my waist, and despite the horrible “what ifs,” I can’t help a smile as I watch Rowan lean back against the car and pull Ava to him, kissing her lips. A deep, accented voice from behind us makes me jump out of Cal’s embrace.

“Yes,” Reggie says, irritation clear in his tone. “Her majesty is very glad he’s not racing anymore. Although, the crown prince seems to have a mind of his own these days.”

“Reggie!” My voice is too high, and I know he knows I know we’re busted. I could die. “What are you doing here?”

Cal’s eyes move from his uncle to me and back again. “Hello, Reg, what are you doing here?” He reaches out and takes my hand again, and Reggie’s eyes move to the connection between us.

I can’t pull my hand away without hurting Cal, but now it’s impossible to hide what’s happening. Ava’s blissfully ignorant of her audience, and when I glance back, she and Rowan are smiling at each other. He leans forward and says something in her ear, and she shakes her head. They’re so clearly new lovers with the way they touch each other, and while I’m dying standing here knowing Reggie’s watching them, deep down, I’m so happy to see her so blissed out.

“I actually came for Zelda,” he says, giving me a pointed look. “I received a call from the executor of your uncle’s estate, and I wonder if you might ride back with me to the hotel so we can discuss what he said.”

“Why didn’t he call me?” I say, trying to escape what’s coming.