Modern Romance July 2016 Books 1-4. Miranda Lee
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don’t know that,’ Abby flustered.
‘Of course you do.’ Matteo stated it as fact. ‘And, as I said the day we met, I am very patient. So, don’t stress about cup-winning performances on that front either. We’ll take it slow, get you enjoying it. Just know that when we’re miserable exes, and loathe each other, I’ll still be here for the team.’
He meant it.
For the best part of the night and well into the morning he had been speaking with his lawyer and playing email ping-pong with him.
In between all of that though, he had been thinking about Abby.
A future for the two of them was impossible but a future for Abby he could envisage, and he knew that much he could help her with.
‘Matteo...’
‘I have to go,’ he said. ‘I’m heading back to New York. I’ve got a big meeting tomorrow. I know no one thinks I do anything but I do work...’
He’d just offered her millions in sponsorship and a few sex lessons to boot and now he was dashing off.
‘Get yourself on the pill,’ he said. ‘I’ll do all the health checks.’
‘Health checks?’
‘They’re not really necessary,’ Matteo said. ‘I always wear a condom but I shan’t with you.’ He gave her a smile that had her thighs squeeze together at the top. ‘We don’t want a break in proceedings,’ Matteo said and in the most awkward of subjects still he made her smile. ‘No pit stops to change the rubber. We’ll just keep the momentum going.’
Pedro came over then. ‘Are you okay, Abby?’ He checked, no doubt, because her face was on fire.
‘I’m fine.’
‘Well,’ Matteo said in his best business voice. ‘I’ve given you a lot to think about, Abby. I’ll see you in Milan.’
It was a month away!
‘As I said,’ Matteo carried on. ‘I shan’t be breathing down your neck.’
He shook her hand, shook Pedro’s and then he was gone.
‘Matteo said I could have his jet at my disposal for a week if I bring in the Henley Cup,’ Pedro said. ‘He’s my man crush.’
Abby shot Pedro a look. ‘Hands off,’ she said and they both laughed.
It was the first time she’d laughed with a friend about something so basic and nice.
MATTEO DID EXACTLY as he had said he would and was completely hands off.
Abby was the recipient of several emails from some virtual assistant with flight itineraries and suchlike.
The contract was signed and countersigned.
Sheikh Kedah wanted to sponsor them too, but of all the amazing things that were happening, the one that had Abby reeling the most was that she was ankles in stirrups and having a pelvic exam and that she left the clinic with six shiny packets of contraceptive pills.
She still didn’t know what would happen between them.
And that wasn’t Abby being coy or naive. She was seriously crazy about Matteo but she was also seriously crazy about her work. Yes, the contract might be watertight but sniping at her sponsor she didn’t need.
And Abby would snipe.
Oh, the giddy high of being with Matteo would be wonderful, Abby knew, but she’d been clearly warned that it would only be temporary.
Abby was a sore loser; it was the reason she’d got as far as she had in the racing world.
Losing Matteo, or rather the flirting and friendship and fun of them...well, it was something she treasured and Abby wasn’t completely sure she wanted to mess with what they had.
And he was reckless.
The more she knew him, the more she read about him, the more debauched Matteo’s lifestyle appeared.
Still, it was bliss to know that the flights were covered, and with that weight off her mind the race ahead had never had greater attention.
Abby even found the time for coffee with her friend Bella one morning, while Matteo took Pedro out for that shopping spree. Given that Bella was an engineer on the Carter team they had a very strict no-inside-info rule, but it was lovely to catch up.
‘Are you still walking on air after Dubai?’ Bella grinned.
‘I think we’re all just trying to get our head in the game for Milan, but yes,’ Abby admitted. ‘It still feels brilliant.’
‘And how on earth did you land a Di Sione as a sponsor?’ Bella couldn’t help but pry. ‘I’m not sharing details but you must surely know that everyone is put out? Who wouldn’t want a Di Sione sponsor? Even one as wild as Matteo.’
Abby smiled. ‘Just luck. I think he likes taking risks and, given our new status, we’re the biggest risk of them all.’
‘I think he’s the risk rather than you,’ Bella said and rolled her eyes. ‘Front page again.’
Abby frowned and Bella groaned. ‘Sorry, I thought you would have already seen the news. It’s everywhere,’ Bella said and handed Abby her phone.
There was Matteo, staring at the camera, but instead of his regular suit or slightly bleary-eyed look as he came out of a casino, this image told her that he came in just under the six-foot-three line.
It was a mug shot.
Abby briefly scanned the article and found out that Matteo had been arrested last night after a fight in a very exclusive restaurant broke out and management had had no choice but to call the police.
Patrons were shocked and distressed.
‘That’s Matteo.’ Abby shrugged and handed back the phone, and she managed a wry smile and a roll of her eyes while on the inside her heart sunk.
He was supposed to be picking up Pedro now and her young driver had been looking forward to the day with Matteo so much.
It wasn’t just that he had let down Pedro that upset her. Matteo created chaos; a night in wasn’t enough for him, nor a nice meal by the looks of things. It had to be drama; it had to end on a dangerous high.
That was the man she was considering sleeping with!
Well, not any more.
Abby truly didn’t know what to say. She could hardly tell Bella how crazy she was about him, nor how disappointed she was in him too.
Instead she called Pedro but, unable to get hold of him, she gave up and Abby did her best to forget about Matteo and whatever the latest trouble he found himself in. They chatted about some of the other teams, leaving their own out, and Bella also told her that she was serious about someone.
‘In the racing world?’ Abby asked.
‘Oh, no!’ Bella shook her head. ‘I had to change the battery in his car.’ She laughed. ‘He hasn’t a clue and that suits me fine. I’m keeping romance well away from work—I’ve had my fingers burnt way too many times in the past.’
It would serve her well to remember that, Abby thought as she drove home.
Tomorrow they flew to Milan. Once there, the car, which had been pulled apart and shipped after the Dubai race, would be meticulously put back together again and training would begin in earnest—fine-tuning the car and ensuring it was perfect for the practice race, and then she would make the final modifications for the race itself.
Now though, there was one brief night to relax.
Not